2.9

Harry pushed open the doors to the dining hall, leaving the crowded room as he took deep, steady breaths. Louis was nowhere to be found and hasn't replied to Harry's texts all day and it was driving Harry insane.

Harry had to admit, though, the morning had not gone very well.

"Holy hell, Harry, don't tell me what I can and can't do! You aren't my father!" Louis said with a roll of blue eyes, hands on his hip.

"Says the boy who's constantly calling me his daddy!" Harry snapped, glaring at Louis. "Take them off!"

Louis opened his mouth in a silent 'o' of horror. "Oh, hell no. Don't come at me with that daddy shit. It's a pair of jeans! Chill out!"

In Harry's defense, said pair of jeans were faded and extremely hole-ridden and extremely tight. Louis's ass was already captivating in even sweats, so Harry knew people would stare while the boy were these bloody jeans.

"You're the one who told me to be myself!"

"I didn't think being yourself meant dressing like a whore."

Okay, Louis had a right to be mad about that part... Harry had gone a little too far by calling his boyfriend a whore when he was far from that, but Harry was just so jealous that other guys were going to look at his Louis.

Louis, who hasn't spoken a word to Harry since that moment.

"Harry!"

Harry whipped his head towards the familiar voice, knowing it wasn't Louis, but nonetheless eager to see someone who could know of Louis's whereabouts.

"Ashton, have you seen Louis?"

"Yeah, he's in the music room, practicing a song or something."

"Thanks," Harry replied before taking off to find his Lou.

He was surprised when he nearly ran into Louis as he turned a corner, steadying himself by grabbing Louis's shoulders.

"Lou," Harry said quietly as he took in Louis's features.

Strong, strong Louis who's face and eyes were red, a heavy sign that he'd been crying. Tears were still fresh, swimming against the blue background, and they fell when he met Harry's own worried eyes.

"Baby boy, what's wrong?" Harry cooed, pulling Louis in, satisfied when Louis wrapped himself in Harry's embrace.

"I'm sorry I've been a whore, Harry," Louis whimpered and Harry could shoot himself.

"Louis, baby, please don't cry and don't ever say that again. I'm completely disappointed in myself for that- you are not a whore in the least and I deserve to be ignored by you, although it would cause me much pain," Harry said quietly, rubbing Louis's back. "You are not a whore, Lou, please see that. You are my perfect, lovely, beautiful boy."

Louis sniffled and let out a choked whimper before whispering, "Really?"

"'Course, baby, I just didn't like that other guys get to see you in those jeans and that made me say stupid things. Punch me next time."

To Harry's greater relief, Louis giggled, pulled back, and stood on his toes to kiss Harry and Harry certainly kissed back, regretting ever even saying anything about the jeans.

"I love you," Harry promised Louis, linking their fingers and beginning to guide Louis towards the washroom.

"I love you," Louis breathed, smiling warily at his boyfriend.

The rest of the day went pretty well, although Louis spoke a little less, even when his friends met up with them in the parking lot after school. It was snowing but that meant real swim meets and football tryouts were soon to come. Harry was pretty excited for both and Louis was excited to watch the meets and games.

"Let's go to my place," Harry said suddenly, causing everyone to look at him. "Hang out there?"

"Yeah," agreed Ed, who shrugged. "Why not?"

And they headed to Harry's. Once again, Louis was oddly quiet as Harry made three bowls of popcorn and brought out sodas for everyone. They all settled down and had conversations.

During the middle of Harry and Ashton's chat about swim meets, Louis caught Liam staring at the dimpled boy- Ashton, of course- and Zayn obviously saw as well because he smirked a bit.

"You really like Ash, don't ya?" Zayn asked quietly, so quietly that Louis leaned in a little to hear.

"Yeah, he's pretty amazing," Liam said with a blush. Louis was surprised that the two weren't sitting near one another, but, then again, he hadn't heard anything about them since the party.

"You should ask him out," Louis spoke up softly, almost as if scared to suggest it.

Liam hummed at the idea, shrugging a bit. "I will, just wanted to give it some time. Ashton's not out yet, not even sure of his sexuality. I think he's pansexual but he's not positive."

"That makes sense. Ashton himself is full of personality," Louis agreed and Zayn nodded once as if confirming it.

Liam smiled brightly again and Louis looked over to see Ashton laughing as Harry made a silly face. Louis found himself smiling, utterly in love with this boy.

There was a sudden squeal and everyone looked around to see Michael straddling Niall awkwardly, tickling him.

"Get off!" Niall squealed and Michael just laughed, tickling the poor Irish lad harder. "Not until you give me my chocolate back!"

"I don't have it!" Niall gasp-laughed. "Please, I swear!"

"Yeah, mate, I don't think he has it," Ed said as he watched the scene unfold right in front of him. "Luke is the one with Hershey fingers."

Everyone looked over at Luke, who glared at Ed but wasn't quick enough to hide his fingers.

"You ate my chocolate!" Michael wined, getting up from Niall's lap and pouting at Luke. "How could you?"

Luke smiled sheepishly and shrugged but the smile was quickly taken out when he was tackled to the floor by Michael.

Louis giggled and covered his mouth with his palm, shaking his head at the pair of boys. He watched as Michael leaned in and knew what was happening before Luke had even grabbed his face and kissed him.

Everyone was watching, so there were several whoops and hollers. Louis laughed louder and Harry looked up, making eye contact with Louis and grinned, eyes shifting his his lap as that sappy smile stayed on his lips.

Louis smiled as well and returned to his conversation with Liam and Zayn, happy that he could finally be himself. It was, really, his and Harry's relationship that had caused everyone to start coming out and being who they were and he had never been more proud of himself for anything.

~~~

Louis woke up early the next morning, clad in Harry's tee and no pants. He yawned and made his way downstairs, only to hear banging of pans and he was immediately back upstairs to pull on some sweats, walking hesitantly back down to the kitchen, where he found Anne flipping a pancake.

"Hello," Anne said when Louis entered, giving the boy a wide smile. "How are you this morning, Louis?"

"Well," he replied, yawning. "Do you need any help?"

"Would you set up the table for me? For us three, of course. I've made coffee if you'd like to fix you some."

Louis opened his mouth to reply when Harry's voice answered, "He only likes coffee if it's iced. I'll make him tea."

Anne smiled at her son as Louis blushed. "That's true," the older lad replied sheepishly.

"I'm sorry. I'll soon get accustomed to your ways," Anne said as she put the finished pancake onto a plate already full of them.

"How? You're never here," Harry grumbled as he filled the tea pot with water.

Both Louis and Anne turned to Harry in surprise. Anne looked a little hurt.

"Harry... You know I try-"

"Yeah, yeah," Harry said quickly, clearly ready to change the subject or maybe even completely stop this conversation. "Thanks for breakfast, Mum."

"You're welcome," Anne said quietly as Louis set up the plates and forks, also grabbing a bottle of syrup from the cabinet.

They all were sat down with pancakes and coffee (and tea for Louis) within five minutes. Louis wanted desperately to start a conversation with Harry's mother, whom he barely knew but allowed Louis to live in her house, but he didn't quite know what to say.

"So, how was school yesterday?" Anne asked.

"Fine," Harry grumbled, rubbing his temples. "This is great, Mum, but I don't think I can stomach anymore. I'm not feeling well..."

Immediately, Anne was up and feeling Harry's face, though he protested. "You're burning, Harry. Why didn't you tell me you felt ill when you first got up?" Harry shot her an annoyed look and she sighed. "Okay, I'll stay home to look after you-"

"There's no need. It's the second day back to school, I need-"

"You're staying here," Anne stated firmly. "I can call in-"

"Why don't I stay and take care of him?" Louis spoke up. "Although, I know Harry can take after himself," he added upon seeing the murderous look on Harry's face, "But I could be here in case he needs it. Work is important."

Anne sighed and gave a tight smile. "You're a lifesaver, Louis. I didn't want to miss work but-"

"Stop treating me like a kid!" Harry snapped before jumping from his chair and leaving the room. Anne stared at her plate and Louis fiddled with his fingers awkwardly.

Harry was never like this with Anne- or at least not in front of Louis. Then again, Louis's only actually been in the same room with Anne without her leaving after five minutes only a couple of times. He could see why this was messing with Harry.

"Anne, I'm going to check on Harry. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, Louis, thank you. You don't understand how glad I am to have you here for Harry," Anne said, looking Louis in the eyes. "I know you love him and that's all that boy ever needed."

Louis offered a small smile and excused  himself. Harry was in his bed, nearly asleep again. Louis climbed in with him and sat on Harry's lap, curling against his chest. Harry looped his arms around Louis's tiny body and kissed his hair, eyes tightly shut.

"I don't like you seeing me in that mood," Harry spoke, voice like gravel. "I did not mean it."

"You've been stressed lately... Why?" Louis asked.

"I'm worried," Harry admitted quietly. "If I lose you, Louis... I'm terrified I'll make a mistake and you'll leave me."

"I love you," Louis said softly. "And nothing can change that. Let's go watch tele and snuggle. Please?"

Harry chuckled and took Louis downstairs so they could snuggle. Anne left with a quick goodbye and Harry was soon snogging the breath from Louis, but the small lad was quick to halt it.

"I'm not getting sick," Louis answered without Harry even fully asking why he stopped.

"Lou," Harry whined, diving back in fro another kiss, but Louis tilted his head away.

"Harry, I'm serious."

Harry huffed but quit, soon falling asleep. Louis got up to shower and found a half-asleep, dopey-eyed Harry when he returned.

"Hey, you," Louis said with a laugh as he leaned over Harry. "Still sleepy?"

Harry hummed and agreement, pulling Louis to sit on his lap as he laid down, just like that morning. "You smell good. And no pants?"

"When you aren't sick," Louis reminded him as large hands roamed towards his bare bum.

"Lou-"

"I'm serious," Louis snapped. "I don't want- ah!" He blushed Crimson when Harry smacked his ass, whimpering. "M'sorry, Harry, I didn't mean-"

"Don't get an attitude with me. I'll respect your boundaries. It is no need for sass," Harry said firmly and Louis nodded his agreement. "Thank you, lovely."

Louis giggled and snapped at him, holding his fingers out like little guns.

Harry laughed and pulled Louis in for a peck of a kiss before coughing violently and requesting a bowl of soup.

"You can do it yourself, big boy," Louis said with a smirk, licking over his lips. Harry had to pull the little devil back in for a few more kisses.

~~~

I'm baaaaaack! I hope no one went anywhere, I've missed you all and hope you're still reading.

Was this chapter okay? First I've written in a while.

Xx