the nightingale

Chapter Twenty-One

⚠️ Warning: domestic violence
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Scott was in a horrible mood.

Something must've happened at work that he didn't tell Louis. Louis knew he was going to have to take the brunt of it. That's how it was in their household.

It seemed everything Louis did, had to piss him off. It's been like that for years.

Louis forgot to toast his sandwich. He also spilled the milk and breathed too heavy for his liking. Scott started to rant angrily.

"I work all day. I don't want to come home to a lousy boyfriend who does nothing all day, only for you to mess up my sandwich," Scott growled.

Louis sniffed and mumbled, "You're the one who doesn't let me work."

Scott got in his face. "Don't back talk me."

Louis got a sudden confidence. "Don't call me lousy when you don't let me work. You make me clean all day and make you breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I do a lot for you and you can't even give me some bit of respect. You used to love me. You used to shower me with affection and let me see my family. I had friends too."

Scott growled. "Don't you fucking start. If you're saying what I think you're saying, it's not happening."

Scott knew what was on Louis' mind. Louis wanted to break up. Louis was at his breaking point.

"You're mean to me," Louis sniffed. "You tried breaking my plants. I love my plants."

"Where are your plants anyway?" Scott asked, glaring at him.

"I'm not telling you," Louis said with a glare that matched his.

"You're really pissing me off, Louis," Scott said, his voice raising.

"I just want to see my family. Please let me see them," Louis begged, tearing up.

Scott got angry. Before Louis had time to think or breathe, Scott threw him to the floor and Louis landed on his knees.

"I'm the only one that loves you! No one will ever love you like I do!" Scott screamed. "And you should be fucking grateful for that!"

"That's not true!" Louis screamed back.

Scott backhanded him. He started to scream at him louder. Louis wondered if the neighbors could hear. It bothered Louis that not once has anyone came to his rescue out of the two years of them dating. He knew they could hear the fights, the screams, the violence... But they did nothing.

"You don't speak to me that way!" Scott scowled.

Louis held his cheek, feeling the bruise coming, and sobbed. He wanted nothing more than to be with Harry.

Harry would never, ever hurt him like Scott did. He was positive about that.

He knew Scott's recent hatred towards him was because of Harry. Harry scared him. He felt threatened by him. Their relationship was on the line when Harry was around.

And Louis was right. Scott didn't love him. He never did. This wasn't love.

Scott dragged him by the hair and flung him across the kitchen floor.