After (Larry Version)

~*Chapter 39*~

Nick walks in and right away wraps his arms around me. It's odd that he can feel so comforting.
"Thank you for making him leave," I say, sobbing, and he hugs me tighter. My tears really are flowing now and I don't see an end in sight.
"Harry may be my friend, but so are you, and I don't want him upsetting you. I'm sorry, this is all my fault. I knew I should have given my key to Melanie, and I shouldn't have let him come around you all the time. He can be a real dick."
"No, it's not your fault at all. I am sorry, I don't want to come in between your friendship."
"Oh please," he says."

"I pull out of his embrace and see the look of concern on his face. I appreciate him being here with me more than he will ever know. I feel completely alone Elijah's taking time to decide whether to break up with me or not, Harry is an arsehole , my mother would lose it if I talked to her about this, and Liam would be disappointed in me if he knew the depth of my situation with Harry . I literally have no one except this flame-haired, tattooed guy who I never expected would become my friend. But I'm really glad he did.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
I do, actually, I want to get it all off my chest. I tell him everything, from the first time I kissed Harry , to our day at the stream, to the orgasm I gave him and how he called my name in his sleep, to the way he destroyed every ounce of respect I had for him when he made me tell Elijah. His face goes from concerned to shocked to sad during my story. My shirt is soaked with tears by the time I finish and he is holding my hand.
"Wow, I had no idea that so much happened. You could have told me after the first time. I knew something was up when Harry showed up here the night we were going to the movies. I had literally just got off the phone with him, then he shows up, so I'd suspected he came here to see you. Listen, Harry is a good guy, sometimes. I mean, deep down he just doesn't know how to really care for someone the way that you—well, most people —need to be cared for. If I was you, I would try to make things work with Elijah because Harry isn't capable of being anyone's boyfriend," he says and squeezes my hand.

"I know everything he is saying is true and he is right. So why does it hurt so bad?"
                      ____________

"ON MONDAY MORNING, Liam is leaning against the brick outside the coffeehouse, waiting for me. I wave when I see him, but then I notice he has a blue-purple ring around his left eye. And when I look closer, I see another bruise on his cheek."

"What happened to your eye?!" I exclaim, running up to him.
Realization hits me like a truck. "Liam! Did Harry do this?" My voice is shaky.
"Yeah..." he admits and I am horrified.
"Why? What happened?" I want to kill Harry for hurting Liam."

"He stormed out of the house after you left and then came back about an hour later. He was so pissed. He started looking around for more stuff to break, so I stopped him. Well, I fought with him. It wasn't so bad, actually. I think both of us got a lot of our anger toward each other out. I got quite a few good hits on him, too," he boasts.
I don't know what to say. I'm surprised at Liam's light tone while talking about fighting with Harry.
"Are you sure you're okay? Is there anything I can do?" I ask him. I feel like this is my fault. Harry was mad because of me, but assaulting Liam?"

"No, really, I'm okay." He smiles.
While we walk to class he tells me how Harry's father broke up their fight, luckily arriving home before they killed each other, and how his mother cried when she realized Harry had broken all her dishes. Though they didn't have any sentimental value, she was hurt that Harry would do that nonetheless.
"But in other news, much better news, Niall is coming to visit next weekend. He is coming to the bonfire!" He smiles.
"Bonfire?"

"Yeah, haven't you seen the signs all over campus? It's an annual thing, to start the new year. Everyone goes. I am not usually into stuff like that, but it's actually a pretty good time. Elijah should come up again. We can make a double date out of it."
I smile and nod. Maybe inviting Elijah would show him I do have some good friends, like Liam. I know Harry and Liam —I mean, Elijah and Liam would get along great, and I really want to meet Niall.
Now that Liam has mentioned the bonfire, I notice signs littering almost every wall. I guess I was just too distracted all week to notice.

Before I know it, I'm in Literature and begin scanning the room for Harry , despite my subconscious shouting at me not to. When I don't see him his voice plays in my head, I will ruin him.
What could he possibly do that's worse than outing me in front of Elijah? I don't know, but I start imagining things until Liam breaks me out of my zone.
"I don't think he's here. I heard him talking to that Zayn guy about switching his classes around. Darn, I do wish you could see his black eye." Liam smiles at me and my eyes snap to the front of the room.
I want to deny that I was looking for Harry, but I know I can't. Harry has a black eye? I hope he is okay no, I don't, actually. I hope it hurts like hell.
"Oh, okay," I mumble.
Liam doesn't mention Harry for the rest of the class."
                    ____________

"THE REST OF THE WEEK is exactly the same way: I don't talk about Harry to anyone and no one mentions him to me. Melanie has been hanging out in our room all week, but I don't mind. I actually really like her and she makes Nick laugh, and even me, too, sometimes, despite what seems to be the worst week of my life. I've just been wearing whatever is clean and handy and just brushing my hair.
By Friday, Nick  clearly making an effort to get this spinster out and about.
"Come on, Louis , it's Friday. Just come with us and we'll drop you back off before we go to Har... I mean the party," he begs, but I shake my head. I don't feel like"

"doing anything. I need to study and call my mother. I've been dodging her calls all week, and I need to call Elijah and find out if he's made a decision. I've been giving him his space all week, only sending him a few friendly texts in hopes that he will come around. I really want him to come to the bonfire next Friday.
"I think I will pass... I'm looking at cars tomorrow, so I need my rest," I half lie. I really am going to look at cars tomorrow but I know I won't be getting rest sitting here alone with my thoughts about Elijah uncertainty, about how Harry was obviously serious about staying away from me—which I'm really glad he's done. I just can't shake him from my thoughts. I just need more time, I keep telling myself."

"But the way he acted like he wanted something from me the last time I saw him, that got under my skin.
My thoughts drift off to a place where Harry was pleasant and funny and we got along. A place where we could date, really date, and he would take me out to the movies or to dinner. He would put his arm around me and be proud that I was his; he would drape his jacket over my shoulders if I was cold and kiss me good night, promising me that he would see me tomorrow.
"Louis ?" Nick says and my thoughts disappear like a puff of smoke. They weren't reality and the boy in my daydream would never be Harry .
"Oh come on, you've been wearing those fuzzy cloud pants all week," Melanie teases and I laugh. These pants are my favorite to wear to bed, especially when I am sick, or going through a breakup, or two. I'm still confused about how Harry and I ended something that was nothing to begin with.
"Okay. Okay, but you need to drop me off right after dinner because I have to get up early," I warn."

"Nick claps and jumps up and down. "Yay! Just please let me do you a favor?" He asks with an innocent smile while he bats his lashes.
"What?" I whine, knowing he's is up to no good.
"Let me give you a little makeover? Pleeeaassee!" He draws out the word for dramatic purposes.
"No. Way." I can picture myself with pink hair and pounds of eyeliner.
"Nothing too dramatic, I just want to make you look... like you haven't been hibernating in pajamas all week." He smiles and Melanie tries to stifle her laugh.
And when I give in and say, "Fine," he begins clapping again."

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