Red Herring (Larry Stylinson)

010

Louis was sitting around the dining table, a cup of tea in his hand, sipping lightly. Isla was sitting across from him, a cup of tea in her hand as well.

"So he just left? Just like that?" Louis nodded, twirling the spoon in his cup before taking another small sip.

"That's not like him. I also haven't seen him in days since he's been back, and it's almost been a week now." She said, and grabbed a scone and took a bite of it, the jam spilling onto the table.

"Really? I haven't seen him much either, but he usually just shows up without warning." He laughs lightly.

"Off topic, but have you told him how you feel yet?" She asked, wiping the jam off with a napkin, and then using another to wipe her mouth.

"No, I haven't had the courage to. What if he doesn't feel the same way?" Louis doubted, and began twirling the spoon instead of drinking the tea, frowning.

"You don't know if you don't try. You've liked him for years, there's no harm in trying." She encouraged.

Except, not everyone has the courage to tell their crush how they feel. Louis wasn't that confident of a person to just express how he feels.

"I guess I could try...."

"Brilliant!" she chirped, clapping her hands. "Let me know how it goes."

If all goes well that is.

___

"The body of 38-year-old, Catherine Anderson, was found this evening in the backyard of her house after neighbours reported a horrible smell."

Louis sighed and rubbed his face in
disappointment; disappointed that he failed to save her.

If Harry hadn't interrupted everything, she would be safe and alive. He guessed now that he had already been arrested, as they did say he was a suspect. He also showed them the pictures as proof.

"Mr White claimed that Ms Anderson showed up to his house that day and mentioned a supposed love letter that she assumed he wrote for her, but was unaware of what she was talking about." The news reporter stated.

"Bloody liar!" Louis spat.

He suddenly heard someone knocking at the door, and stood up from the sofa to see who it was.

He opened the door, revealing his curly-haired friend.

"Hello, mate!" He beamed.

"You actually knocked this time instead of just walking in." Louis teased, and stepped aside to let him in.

"Uhmm yeah, sorry about that." He chuckled lightly.

They walked back to the sitting room, and sat down next to each other on the sofa.

"James got arrested today." Louis said, satisfied that the loon finally got what he deserved.

"Did he now?" He responded, sounding surprised.

"Yeah, now Mia, Daniel, and all his other victims can get justice." Louis replied.

"Justice won't be given until the body is found, Lou." He said impatiently.

"They're currently searching. I went straight to the station after I dropped you home the other day." He tells him.

"Okay...but there's something I have to tell you." He said hesitantly.

"There's something I have to tell you too. Can I go first?" Harry nodded.

Louis took a deep breath and bit his lip nervously, before saying, "I like you."

Harry didn't seem too surprised, but his eyes did show shock by the confession.

"I know you do." He admitted, which made Louis knit his eyes in confusion.

"You do?"

"Yes."

"But how?" Louis asked, wondering how he knew.

He shrugged. "I suspected it, but wasn't sure. Until now."

Wow, he's smart.

"So...how do you feel?" Harry tensed, making Louis even more nervous than he already is.

"Louis, I— we can't be together." He said, looking into his eyes with what looked like a pained expression.

"Why not?" Louis wondered.

He stayed silent for a moment, fidgeting with his fingers. "We just can't. I'm sorry." His voice cracked.

"I don't understand, there has to be a reason. Do you just not feel the same way?"

There was another moment of silence, before Harry nodded, saying, "Yes....and I'm not gay."

Louis' heart felt like it was just ripped in two by what Harry said.

"I'm sorry, Lou. I know that took you a lot of courage to admit." He said, feeling guilty already.

"It's fine. You don't feel the same, I understand." Louis' voice didn't sound fine, because he wasn't.

He stood up from the sofa and walked to the kitchen, not wanting Harry to see the tears that were forming.

Louis gripped his hands onto the countertop, and tried to hold back the tears, but they fell anyway.

Harry didn't like him.

He didn't feel the same way.

And Louis felt like an idiot for even admitting his feelings in the first place.

He wiped his eyes and walked back into the sitting room, but Harry was gone. Louis felt kind of glad, as he needed space at the moment.

But he still felt hurt. He knows he can't force someone to like him, but the thing is, he really expected Harry to like him too, and that was what hurt the most.

___

Louis scrolled through Twitter, cringing at the tweets that people posted.

"How do these people type this stuff and not feel embarrassed?" He whispered under his breath.

"Sir?" Louis looked up and saw Charlie, and placed his phone down.

He smiled kindly at him and said "Hello, Charlie."

"I uhh— finished the painting I didn't get to complete the other day." He said, and showed him the painting.

"It looks ace! You've definitely improved from the last time. You followed my secret technique?" He smirked.

"Yeah, I did. It was very helpful." He answered, smiling widely.

Louis picked up his pen and graded it. "100. Great work."

Charlie's smile grew wider, and he thanked him and walked away.

Louis suddenly got a text right after, and picked up his phone and read it.

UNKNOWN: I know it was you.

Louis furrowed his eyes, confused about who this person was.

ME: Who is this?

UNKNOWN: I think you know who I am.

A wave of fear came over Louis, and he gulped, believing he knows who it is.

ME: Leave me alone, I know it's you, James. Stop it. You're sick!

UNKOWN: Oh? Now what gave it away?😏

Louis wasted no time and blocked him.

He wasn't going to report it to the police, the bloke was already in prison. Or almost, considering he had a trial first. A simple block should suffice, because he had no time for some foolishness.