***

TW: Mentions of self-harm.

***

*Liam's POV*

I returned from Malibu with Maya just yesterday, we had gone for a vacation. The news about Harry was viral, and I felt bad for the poor guy.

I came over to Harry's mansion with Maya, to help. I was introduced to a Zayn, who used to be Louis' personal assistant. It was surprising that the enemy's best friend was helping Harry.

I wished I could provide Harry, Niall and Gemma jobs, but my field is completely different- Microbiology.

Zayn requested me to take Harry out, for a walk. He told me that the paps were finally gone, so Harry should finally step out after three weeks. So, I went with Harry for a walk.

I tried making small talk with him, but he didn't really speak. It shocked me to see Harry be like this. He wore a hoodie to cover the bandages and cuts on his arms, and track pants to cover those on his legs.

We were walking when we came across a lady selling matchsticks. She looked poor, with worn-out clothes. She said, "Matchsticks, sirs?" Before I could say anything, Harry said, "Ma'am, we'll take a few." I was surprised that Harry had finally spoken, but didn't say anything.

As I began buying a few matchsticks, Harry walked to behind her stall and stopped there. He bent down there, and I could no longer see him.

I walked over to where he was kneeling down, and saw him facing a small blue-eyed girl. The girl was sitting with a book, holding it upside down. Harry was holding his hand out, talking to her. The girl was shaking his hand and smiling. I had to smile. Despite everything, Harry's kind and selfless nature hadn't faded away.

Harry said, "Li, we should help with her education." I nodded and decided to talk to the lady, her mother, about it. Harry's phone was ringing, and he walked over to a corner to talk. I hoped it was someone who could cheer him up.

I saw a black Bentley car parked at a distance, and someone looking at us through the glass. I turned towards the car and tried looking at who was inside. I saw a pair of black sunglasses, but couldn't make out who it was.

I chose to ignore the car and began talking to the lady.

***

*Louis' POV*

After Zayn left my cabin, ending our friendship, I was completely broken.

I couldn't stay at the office anymore; I was too weak to do anything. I just wanted to go to my house and get drunk. Who cared if it was eleven in the morning? There was no other option. I wouldn't help Harry, even if Zayn wanted me to.

I went to the washroom and tried to look better. I couldn't leave the office looking like a cry baby. I saw my own reflection in the mirror; I indeed looked like a cry baby whose candy had been taken away. (Yeah, I know what I did here) I splashed cold water on my face, even got my messy quiff wet in order to keep it in place. When I decided I looked better, I left the washroom and my cabin, calling my chauffeur to get the car.

He came in a few minutes and I got in as soon as I could. Usually when I was depressed, I had Zayn with me. But now when I'm depressed because of Zayn, I have nobody.

I thought for a while and decided to talk to Lottie. But when I rang her, it went to voicemail. Well, I was indeed alone, but that didn't mean I was going to help that asshole Styles at any cost.

I looked out of the window, to distract myself from myself, when I saw a familiar figure standing behind a matchstick stall across the road.

Harry asshole Styles.

I asked my chauffer to stop the car. My first instinct was to run over to him and throw some absolutely kind words at him. On second thoughts, I decided not to go over and talk to him, but maybe ring him and tell him how disgusting he looked.

That was a great idea.

I dialled his number and waited for him to pick up. After he picked up, he hummed into the phone, and I realized he hadn't checked the caller ID. What a nice time to treat him with an extra bit of kindness.

"So, Styles. How does it feel, to be completely ruined, huh? I'm so sad for happened to you and your company, you know. I cried for an hour when I first read the news, honestly. I wish it happens to you again. Oh, I meant never happens to you again. So, how are you even alive after all this? I thought you would be dead with embarrassment by now, but I see you're fit and fine. Doesn't look like your company mattered anything much to you, did it?" I said, voice laced with sarcasm.

What surprised me was Styles hadn't said anything so far, which was something new. He would always cut me midway, when I spoke really kindly to him. But he hadn't done that this time, which made me...confused?

"Hello? You there?" I asked him.

"'M just waiting for you to finish." He finally said.

That surprised me but I said, "I'm done."

"Alright. Thank you." And he hung up.

That shocked me to an unknown extent. Harry Styles, being kind, to me? I looked out of the window, wear he stood leaning against a wall, eyes closed. I saw him wipe his eyes with the back of his hand, which was when I remembered what Zayn had said.

He was self-harming.

His palm was bandaged.

Shit, shit, shit. How the fuck did I forget that? I hurt someone who was already hurting beyond extent. I saw him rub at his eyes repeatedly, I suppose he was crying.

Because of me.

I mean, it's not like I cared, I never cared about Harry. But what I did was probably wrong.

I saw his knees buckle, and he fell to the ground, still crying. I saw another figure rush to where he sat kneeled down, who I assumed was a friend. The person took Styles in a hug and began rubbing his back, while Styles sobbed into his shoulder.

Without any thought, I just got out of my car and crossed the road as fast as I could. Neither Styles, nor his friend were seeing me, which was great.

I walked over to where Styles' friend was helping Harry stand and was talking to him. His back was facing me, but Styles was facing me. I heard Harry's brunette friend tell him, "Breathe, Harry, breathe. Everything will be alright. Remember what Zayn said? We'll be a fine line, H, just breathe. Stay positive."

So, Zayn was also giving free therapy to Harry. The fuck?

Styles finally lifted his head from his friend's shoulder, and he ended up seeing me. My first thought was that he would run away but no, he didn't. Instead, he tapped his friend's shoulder and said, "L-Li, look."

Whoever the fuck was this 'Li'? 'Li' turned to look at me, and said, "Mr. Tomlinson? Why are you here?"

I looked at him and said, "Yes, I was just there." I said and pointed to my car on the other side of the road. "So that was you!! I should've known!" He exclaimed and I looked at him confused. He then told me he had seen my car already, but didn't know it was me.

I sighed and said, "Harry. What I told you over the pho-"

"It doesn't matter. You were probably the only person who didn't tell me that, so it's okay. Anyways that's what the entire world is telling me every minute, so you telling the same didn't really matter." He said, shrugging his shoulders.

"But you were crying." I reasoned, scowling at myself internally for caring.

"I'm used to it." He said, still looking at his feet.

And then, I said, "Why do you do it? Cutting?"

Before Styles could say anything, 'Li' said, "Mr. Tomlinson. You do realize we are standing on a footpath, talking about topics we shouldn't in the public, especially when Harry could get papped. Would you want to...come over? And talk?"

I didn't even think twice before nodding.

"Alright. You can follow us; we'll take you to Harry's."

"Okay. What's your name?" I asked.

"Liam Payne, Niall's friend, and therefore also Harry's friend." He said. I nodded and asked, "Would you want a ride?"

Liam shook his head, "No, we're fine. The house isn't too far anyway, we came walking so we'll also go back walking. Thank you, you may ask your chauffer to follow us."

That was the first time someone had rejected help from my side, but it was fine.

"Alright then, see you." I said, Liam nodded, while Styles didn't say anything and just continued looking at his feet.

I crossed the road, got inside my car, and asked my chauffeur to follow the two boys.

Well, I didn't know what to expect in Styles' so-called 'house'.

*** 

1543 words...Y'all are happy with Louis' reaction, right? ;)

Also, I was horny when I wrote this chapter so...you can see what I did in certain places lol.

Anygays...What do you think will happen in the Styles' mansion?

Vote and comment please besties!!

Im writing this sitting on my bed, with Fine Line playing out loud. I think my parents are asleep but listening to this, they're gonna wake for sure.

Lots of love,

S

P.S. Lots on the wayyyy xx