Young & Beautiful

XXI
Chapter Summary
Harry laughs.
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Louis doesn’t see Harry the next day.
He arrives for tutoring early, his anxieties numbing his fingertips. He’d been thinking about this
moment all day, through every never ending course and half-assed conversation. Through every
note scribbled down, every turn of the page in his textbooks, and every attempt at ignoring the
whispered rumors that surrounded him involving the lads (at one point a girl smugly claimed to
her friend that Zayn and Harry had broken out into a fisticuffs over her—Louis snorted so loudly
the professor paused, mid-sentence, startled), he had only half paid attention, his thoughts and the
beatings of his heart trapped somewhere within Harry’s rooms, stirring the unanswered questions
that were dripping from his tongue. In fact, he’d been so eager for today’s session with Harry,
he’d even rejected Niall’s invitation of steak and wine at his favorite restaurant. It was that serious.
But now he’s arrived and when Louis makes to open Harry’s door, it’s locked.
And when Louis knocks, it doesn’t open.
And when Louis texts ‘where r u?’ it goes unanswered.
And so Louis’ insides deflate.
And he walks back to his flat, disappointment and a new sense of dread settled into his bones and
twisting the hairs at the back of his neck.
Excellent.
**
“If he’s missing again, so help me God!” Louis greets thunderously as soon as he enters the flat.
Niall looks up from his drum set, his large, pale sweater pushed up to the elbows, drumsticks
poised above his head, ready to crash down. “Huh?” he asks, snapping into attention.
“Harry. He’s not in his rooms. He’s gone, isn’t he? He’s gone again, and we’re all just going to sit
around looking pretty while he’s off in a ditch somewhere, probably dead, and nobody’s going to
even—“
“What the fuck are you talking about, mate?” Niall asks, face utterly bewildered as he lowers the
drumsticks, tossing them to the side, and giving his full attention to a very flustered Louis—who is
now ripping off his jacket with more force than necessary.
Perhaps he’s wound a bit too tightly today. Anxiety and all that.