Chapter Text
It's been 2 and a half weeks since Harry left. Louis couldn't bare it. He was neglecting himself. He rarely showered, he barely ate, he drank a bit. He was a mess. He couldn't sleep, and he knew Harry couldn't either, which didn't help him sleep. He couldn't stop thinking about Harry. He missed him so much. Harry was his whole world. He was the love of his life.
It's been 2 and a half weeks since their biggest fight. ain't was honestly Louis' fault it went so far. Basically, Harry wanted to adopt a baby, but Louis didn't think they were ready. He felt like they still had so much more to do with their lives before they settle down. He probably translated in a way that Harry didn't quite like.
"You need to stop thinking about yourself for two seconds!" Louis snapped, instantly regretting what he had said. Harry scoffed and gave him a shocked look.
"Stop thinking about myself?! Excuse me?! I thought having a baby would be good for us. Something new, something great, you know? I spend at least 15 hours nearly every day working to keep this fucking house up. You cannot tell me to stop fucking thinking about myself for once, because we both well know, Louis Tomlinson, that I don't do that very often." Harry growled, tears brimming his eyes as he glared at Louis.
"I-I didn't mean-" Louis stuttered.
"No! I heard what you said." Harry said, standing up from his chair in the kitchen and making his way to the front door.
"W-Wait.. Where are you-"
"I need a break."
And so he left.
He left Louis right there. Louis overthinks that sentence, "I need a break". A break from Louis? A break from this lifestyle? A permanent break? So many questions. Louis has left Harry a few voicemails here and there saying that he loves and misses him, life updates, etc. He never gets anything back. Nothing.
Louis felt gross. That's the only way he could describe it. Physically and mentally. He was drenched in sweat, he smelled so bad because he hadn't showered in days, maybe even weeks, who knows, he's been wearing dirty laundry, he rarely goes out, he hasn't been going to work, he just hurts all over.
Louis forced himself out of bed and shook his head. He needs to get back up on his feet and do stuff. He called his best friend, other than Harry, Liam.
"Louis?" Liam asked.
"H-Hey..." Louis croaked. He hadn't properly spoken in days.
"What's up? You alright?" Liam asked softly. Liam obviously knew what had happened. He was the first person Louis called when things went down. Liam used to come visit him often, but not much anymore.
"Could you.. Come over, maybe?" Louis asked, feeling as though he could cry at any second, as he usually feels, but never cries.
"Um.." There was a pause, "Yeah, I'll be over in a few."
"Thanks." Louis mumbled and hung up. He's never let anyone see him in this condition, not even Harry.
Louis started to walk to his kitchen, where he rarely goes anymore. His knees wobbled as he went to his tea kettle and put on his tea. Soon, there was a knock at his door, and Louis hesitated to open it. He quickly pulled a blanket that was on the couch over his head and wrapped it around himself. He opened the door and weakly smiled at the boy beaming at him.
"Hey, Lou! How're yo-Aw, that's rank!" Liam cringed and plugged his nose.
"Oh shut up, asshole." Louis chuckled.
"Seriously, Louis. When was the last time you showered or cleaned up?" Liam asked, Louis just shrugged, receiving a disgusted look from Liam.
"That's why I wanted your help. I need help cleaning up and putting myself back together." Louis looked up at Liam with big, blue, begging eyes.
"Of course, mate! That's what I'm here for!" Liam smiled big, and smacked Louis' back, resulting in Louis yelping in pain and calling on the floor. "Aw, jeez, Lou. I'm sorry, mate. Here." Louis cheek was against the ground and he could barely lift himself, so Liam was really helpful. The blanket fell off of him, revealing his noticeably skinnier appearance. He had much more protruding cheekbones and lankier arms and legs. "Shit, Lou. Why aren't you taking care of yourself?"
"Ah, just leave it alone, okay?" Louis frowned and turned to walk away.
"No, Louis. I really care about you and I will not just sit here and let you neglect yourself." Liam said.
"That's why I called you. I was afraid I would let myself." Louis frowned and made his way to him and Harry's room. Liam soon followed.
"Alright!" Liam beamed, "Time to clean! First, let's gather the laundry." Liam picked up the empty laundry basket. The floor was covered in dirty clothes.
"Harry used to do the laundry." Louis sulked. Liam smiled sympathetically and started to pick up the clothes.
"Ew ew ew ew this shirt is hard ewwww" Liam threw the crusty shirt in the basket, making Louis chuckle. Louis rubbed his eyes with very dark circles around them. "Have you been getting much sleep, mate?" Liam asked. Louis shook his head in response.
They continued to clean until everything was decent enough. Liam had opened some windows to make it smell better. After a while, Louis' legs gave out and he fell to his knees. Liam rushed to his side and helped him back up.
"Let's call it good for know, yeah? I'll go start your bath. Put some swimming trunks on." Liam sat Louis down on his bed and walked into the master bathroom. Louis just sat there as he heard the water running. He eventually got up and did as he was told. He dragged his own weak body to the bathroom when he heard the water stop. He looked in and saw that Liam lit a candle and filled the tub with water and bubbles.
"It smelled repulsive in here so I lit a candle, if that's alright. Also, they're quite relaxing, yeah? And you need to relax, mate. Come on." Liam said. Louis nodded and dragged his feet to the tub. He held on to the wall as he stepped in. He sat down and his muscles instantly loosened up. Liam grabbed a rag and put it in the water and started washing Louis. Liam watched the hunched over Louis, whose hair was blocking his face. Liam gently dragged the cloth on Louis back. Liam put some shampoo in his hands and started washing Louis hair. After a few minutes, he saw Louis raise his hand to wipe his face.
"Oh! Did I get some in your eye? I'm sorry, ma-" Liam was interrupted by Louis' sniffling. Liam scrunched his eyebrows and bent forward to see Louis was indeed crying. Liam had never seen Louis cry before, nor has Harry. "H-Hey... You're alright." Liam said softly. Louis kept rubbing the tears from his face and soon he began shaking with sobs. He hunched further down and raised his knees to his chest. Liam didn't know what else to do other than rub Louis' back.
Louis sobbed for a good 10 minutes before calming down. During that time Liam continued to wash him. By the time he was done Liam just had to rinse his hair.
Liam helped Louis out of the bath and dried him. Once he was dry Liam pulled Louis into a hug. Louis instantly hugged back, he's needed a hug for a while.
"Everything's gonna be alright, I promise." Liam whispered.
Later that night, Louis had asked Liam to sleep over. Louis fell asleep on the couch, so Liam took his bed. Louis actually fell asleep tonight. Crying exhausted him. He always regrets falling asleep, because something bad always happens. He got another nightmare. This time it was a replay of what happened the night Harry left. He hated it. He hated it so much.
"Louis! Louis!" Liam called, shaking Louis awake. Louis felt his cheeks were wet and he was shaking. "Louis, you're alright."
That's not Liam.
Louis' eyes shot open to see Harry standing above him.
"H-Harry?" Louis whispered. He was feeling so many emotions. Sadness, Anger, Happiness, Confused. "What are you doing here?" Louis sat up, covering himself with the blanket, giving Harry a wary look.
"I..." Harry started and looked at his hands. "I wanted to come home."