Young & Beautiful

softening, and the electricity turns into a fire.
With hot, burning coals that ignite Louis’ insides, flare his temper.
“Stop fucking telling me what I deserve!” he snaps, angry, exasperated, gripping onto Harry’s
wrist and securing it in place. Okay, maybe he will be a little bit selfish. He deserves to be. “Don’t
just leave your messes behind, Harry. Just don’t. We’ll sort it out. Both of us. Me and you.” As
Harry begins to shake his head, Louis growls, grips tighter to Harry’s wrist. “Yes. Just—just don’t
leave this time, okay? Stay. Please. Please stay.”
Harry regards him, eyes cloudy, hand limp against Louis’ cheek as he holds it up. Doubt reigns in
his features.
“Please,” Louis says again, softer.
Moments drag by, moments filled with the sound of Louis’ body thrashing in agony.
Then finally, finally, Harry’s eyes clear the tiniest bit, his lips quirking down a bit more, and he
nods. Just once, quickly, but he nods, and Louis breathes as he releases Harry’s wrist, letting his
hand fall back to his side.
“Good,” he breathes, “good. Stay tonight, yeah? And lemme just—lemme talk to Zayn. I think
he’ll listen to me. If I just put some perspective into him…we can work on this, all right? I know
you didn’t want to hurt Liam—“
“Never,” Harry interrupts, impassioned, pained, eyes wide and lost. “I would never want—I’d
never want that.” He swallows.
Louis nods. “I know. And Zayn does, too. He does, deep down. He’s just upset right now. He’s
not thinking clearly. I’ll talk to him.”
With determination, he begins backing away, confidence pairing with the adrenaline in this body,
the hysteria and the panic and over-abundance of emotions and sleep deprivation.
“What—now?” Harry asks, brow furrowing. “I can’t ask you to do that, Louis.” His voice is
doubtful.
“Let me talk to him. Stay here. I’ll be back, okay? Just let me talk to Zayn and I’ll be back.”
Please don’t leave, is what he means.
Harry doesn’t reply.
“Please,” Louis says, pausing, because Harry isn’t agreeing anymore, is just standing there. He
needs to agree. “Just stay, okay?”
Another beat of silence from Harry.
Louis’ heart is quivering, bruising.
“For me.”
At that, Harry starts.
“Please stay for me.”
More silence passes, more drags on.