Keep Me Safe (Sequel to Take Me Home)

Chapter Forty-Seven

Everyone cheered when Louis put the angel on top of the tree, stretching up from the piggyback that his Papa had lifted him into. Everyone except Niall, that was. He just smiled.

Louis couldn't help but feel a little sad as he was set back down on the ground, Papa had to go out to a night shift, Dad wanted to clear out the kitchen, Harry was off to Ash's house for the night. The decorations were up and it was a winter wonderland outside, but he'd never felt less festive.

He knew he'd have felt a lot better if Niall was talking, but the other twelve year old hadn't said a single word in three full weeks now, and he'd have been lying if he said it wasn't bothering him. He missed their conversations. It felt like they were strangers living in silence with one another.

But, Louis being Louis, he didn't want to complain. He didn't want to give up either though, so he waited until bedtime rolled around before he decided to try to at least communicate with his brother for a minute or two.

"You awake?" he hissed through the darkness, praying he'd get an audible answer from Niall.

Instead the other twelve year old rolled over in his bed so that Louis could just about make out his open eyes through the pitch blackness.

He forced a smile. "It's only five days till Christmas...what did you ask for?" he asked, voice barely a whisper. He just wanted a little input, just one word.

But he didn't get one.

Niall gave a small shrug and Louis couldn't help but let out a sigh.

"Okay," he mumbled, wishing he hadn't bothered because now it really felt like he was never going to get his brother, his best friend, back. He stared at the other bed for a moment, before rolling over to face the wall instead, tugging his duvet up over his shoulder. "Night, Ni," he said softly.

He didn't expect an answer this time. Instead, his phone buzzed on the mattress beside his pillow and he winced at the light that came from the screen as he clicked on the message notification. He grinned when he saw the name 'twin'.

twin : goodnight lou

He lifted himself up onto his elbows and looked at the other bed again, smiling at the other boy who was still holding his phone in his hand. He typed a quick text back.

louis : can we talk? i promise i won't tell.

He held his breath after pressing send, hoping his brother wouldn't react badly. Another message replied quickly enough.

twin : i'm sorry. i know i'm ruining things.

He let out a sigh at that, setting his phone down and sitting up in his bed. "You're not ruining things, Ni," he said gently, turning to look at the blond again, who looked teary eyed even in the dark. "I just miss us, that's all. We talked a lot about everything and - and I guess it just sucks that we can't talk anymore," he murmured, words as honest as he could allow them to be.

He knew that it wasn't Niall's choice to not speak, that was what his parents had told him anyway. He just couldn't wrap his head around it - the other boy knew how to talk, so why couldn't he just open his mouth and say something?

He heard a small sniff and felt his shoulder sag with guilt when he realised his brother was holding back tears.

"Ni, I didn't mean to upset you, it's okay," he said, quickly, chewing his lip anxiously, eyes flitting to the ajar door. He didn't want their Dad to come bursting in and making a big deal out of things. "You don't need to speak, you - you're still you. I just...I wish you could just talk to me," he mumbled.