4.2

~continued from last chapter~

Louis woke up to the sound of thunder, shooting up in bed and taking a breath. He checked the clock, frowning as he saw that it was around eight in the evening. He grunted and slowly got out of bed, hearing the faint sound of a shower running. He sighed and made his way out of his room. He knocked on the bathroom door and then peered in, seeing Harry's clothes on the floor.

"Harry," he said softly, stepping into the bathroom and taking a breath. He was so tired of fighting with the man. He missed him so much, and he just wanted his attention.

Harry slid open the glass door of the shower, surprised to see Louis. "Oh," he muttered as he saw an unfamiliar, very large sweater on Louis's tiny frame. "Where did that come from?"

Louis was confused, still half asleep, looking down at the sweater. "Oh," he mocked, frowning. "I .. Well, you know cabs make me uncomfortable. Ashton .. he rode with me. I didn't have a jacket. It's.. Harry. Don't give me that look."

"Why didn't you call me?" Harry asked before closing the shower door back, feeling highly annoyed with Louis.

"I .. don't know, Harry. I was going to. He distracted me. Don't you try to turn the cheating thing on me when you've been sneaking around-"

"Going to therapy."

There was a pause.

"What?" Louis breathed.

The door pushed back open and Harry gave Louis a cold look, not wanting to have this conversation at the moment but, knowing it was already out, he had to.

"I've been going to therapy, Louis. To try to work on myself, to be better. For you," Harry announced, and Louis felt dead stupid, and ashamed.

"Oh," he whispered. "Harry.. what? Why didn't you just tell me?"

"That's not an easy thing to 'just tell'. I tried telling you a few times but it always seemed like you had too much of your own stuff going on, and then you were accusing me of cheating. You weren't there when I needed you, and I was okay with it. But I wasn't there when you wanted me, and I'm suddenly cheating? I just.. it's been hard to tell you. It didn't feel like you deserved to know after that," Harry said, turning off the water. He grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist, stepping out and sighing. "I just.. haven't been ready to tell you. And I was, today, and you were getting in a cabbie with someone else and now you're in his clothing. I did not immediately accuse you of cheating, Louis, but that's... that's too far. Especially when I'm your boyfriend, we live together, I have a car, and I have lots of sweaters."

Louis felt the guilt washing over him. "Harry.. I'm.. I'm sorry. Please, forgive me. I didn't mean to accuse you of anything, I just got worried when you weren't spending time with me."

"So you went to someone else for attention," Harry said easily.

"I ... yes," Louis admitted. "But - Harry. We both are taken. Ashton and I - we .. We just have conversations, good ones, because we are friends. We know it would never progress."

"Ashton is a big reason we started this," Harry said quietly. "You wanted Ashton. You wanted to be confident with yourself, and then you were going to tell Ashton how you felt."

Louis felt his shoulders drop. He was dreading this moment, feeling like Harry was about to break up with him, and it was scary.

"Harry, I fell in love with you," Louis countered, moving towards Harry, who shook his head. "Harry - seriously. You cannot hold that against me. I did have feelings for Ashton, but they are gone."

"I don't think they are," Harry snapped. "Because.. you have feelings for everyone! It was Ashton, then Ed, then me, then Ed again, then me again, and now it's Ashton. You have big feelings. You have a big heart. But you are seeking attention, not love. It's okay to fight in relationships but as soon as there's a problem, you're running to someone else."

Louis was just listening, tearing up because he knew it was true. That's what he did.

"I'm sorry.. Harry -"

"I just don't think this is working."

There was silence and Louis was crumbling, tears falling. "No - no, I'm sorry. Please, Harry, please," he mumbled, stepping forward again and Harry had to move away, which caused Louis to sob out gently. "Harry. Give me another chance. I'm sorry. I didn't - I'm sorry."

"I want you to take time and decide what you want," Harry said quietly, rubbing Louis's shoulder. "I love you so much but you have some things to work out. You need to work on not needing so much attention, on letting one person loving you and that being enough."

"You are enough! Please don't," Louis whimpered. But, deep down, he knew Harry was right. He knew that he had a problem, where he needed attention, and he needed to work on it. He sighed, looking at Harry, melting when the man gave him a soft kiss. "Harry.."

"I am here. I'm here for you. I'm not mad at you," Harry said quietly. "But I am getting the help I need, and I am working on myself. I need you to work on yourself as well, if we want this to work."

Louis nodded slowly. He'd do what he can to get Harry back, because he definitely loved this man. He knew this wasn't the end for them, but he also knew that space needed to be taken in many ways. "I'll go stay with Ed."

"No," Harry said, shaking his head. "Bad idea. You need to be alone. I can.. get you a hotel room for a little bit? Or I'll go somewhere. That way you can be here alone."

"It's your house, Harry.."

"I'm not the one who needs to be alone, though," Harry said softly. "You do. You need time for yourself. Stay here. I'll talk to someone else, stay with someone else."

Louis just nodded again, looking over Harry, feeling the tears. "Okay." He left the room, breaking down once he was alone in his bedroom.

~~

Harry kicked off his shoes, taking a breath as he looked over the room. He wouldn't have imagined himself here, honestly, out of all of the lads in the friend group, he talked to this person nearly the least, but he knew it would be a comfortable place to stay where he wouldn't feel forced to say anything.

"Thanks, mate," Harry said quietly and Zayn shrugged.

"You're all good."

"How do you have your own place already?"

Zayn laughed quietly and sat on the edge of the couch. "I have a job, where I make money."

"But good enough money for a two bedroom apartment?" Harry countered.

"Would you like for me to ask you why you're here and not in your fancy home?" Zayn asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Fair," Harry agreed. "It won't be long. I just need.."

"Space," Zayn finished. "And that's fine, honestly. I already told Ed I'd rather go to his place so you can hang out here alone."

Harry gave the lad a grateful smile and moved to text his mother about the situation. He was proud of himself, because he surely wouldn't have bothered to text her before he started therapy. But he was working on forgiveness.

Harry honestly didn't know what to think about the situation with Louis. He loved the boy tremendously but they needed this space or else it just wasn't going to work between them. They had too much going on in their lives and Louis.. well, he was just so much different than Harry. They loved one another, and Harry did want to be with Louis. But he couldn't take the constant attitude and need for attention.

He moved to go into the guest room, starting on some homework and keeping himself together.

~~

🥺🥺 our baby boys aw

So NOW Louis has to work on himself ! This has been a big plot idea of mine, which is why Louis has been so infatuated with so many people! What do you think his problem stems from?

Hopefully this will be my last time saying this I'm assuming some people don't read the AN but guys I have a child! She's nearly two and she's a handful. Pls don't push me into writing or be rude about me not updating or leaving "cliffhangers", I'm trying my hardest! ❤️ love you all

Ps If y'all have any Larry edits, Manips, etc., pls send them my way 😍 I need some for my upcoming story covers.

x Queen B