February 1 2008

"How'd your classes go today?" Harry asked as he and Louis walked hand in hand, on their way home from school together.

"They went fine.... I guess." Louis sighed. "I just.... I dunno what's up with me. I can't focus!" He was so frustrated. Why couldn't he do his schoolwork? He was failing all his classes and he couldn't figure out why.

Harry looked at him concern evident in his forest green eyes. "Are you still failing?"

Louis nodded, embarrassed. He'd always been the top of the class, but now he was failing. It's not like he wasn't trying, because he was trying. So hard!

"Have you been sleeping better?" Harry asked, knowing Louis had always had a habit of staying up late into the night.

"Yeah, I've been making sure I get 8, sometimes even 10 hours of sleep a night!" Louis exclaimed sighing heavily and running his free hand down his face.                                                                                                 
Harry gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "I'm sure you'll get back to normal soon. You maybe just need to catch up on all that sleep you've missed in the past."                                                                

"Yeah, I guess." Louis muttered, before perking up. It was Harry's birthday. They shouldn't be focusing on him, they needed to focus on Harry. Louis shook his head. "Let's not talk about that right now yeah? It's supposed to a happy day." He grinned, kissing Harry's cheek. "We have a party to get ready for."                                                                                                                                                   
Harry giggled, "I suppose we do." Although, it wasn't really much of a party, just a few of Harry's closest friends who were getting together to spend the night, and play video games. "There's not much to get ready for though."

Louis stopped walking, and gasped, his mouth hung open in faux shock. "Umm no!" He sassed, "We have video games to pick, food to get out-"

"Yeah, yeah, come on you." Harry cut Louis off, tugging his arm to make him start walking again.

Louis grinned cheekily, and shook his head. "Nah, I'd rather you carry me."

"And why should I do that?" Harry inquired, a subtle grin tugging on his lips.

"Because you love meeeee" Louis said, rocking on his heels, "and it's cold, and my feet hurt and-" Louis was cut off again, by Harry scooping his tiny body up into his arms.

"Really though, it is cold." Louis said as Harry carried him along. "I swear, this weather is going to be the death of me."

"It better not be." Harry chuckled, "Because I don't think I could live without you."

"You sap." Louis rolled his eyes, and kissed Harry's cold cheek.

Harry carefully set Louis down on his feet when they reached the doorstep, opening the door for him. "After you." He said with a laugh.

"Such a gentleman." Louis replied teasingly as they stepped inside, Harry closing the door behind them.

"Mum! I'm home!" Harry called out, as he and Louis took off their coats and scarves, their cheeks and ears turning red as the blood inside them warmed up.

"I'm in the kitchen!" Anne responded.

The young couple headed toward the kitchen to greet her. "Hi mum" Harry smiled, coming up behind her and wrapping his long arms around her.

She laughed a bit, turning around in his arms and kissing his forehead. "Hello birthday boy." She smiled and turned to Louis. "Hi Louis."

"Hey Anne. Thanks for letting me spend the night." He responded, opening the fridge and grabbing himself an apple and making himself at home -after all, Harry's house was his home away from home.

"It's no problem dear. What time are the others arriving?" She asked, wanting to know when she should order the pizza.

"The others?" Louis asked, confused.

Harry furrowed his eyebrows, he and Anne sharing a look. "Yeah, Niall, Liam, and Zayn..... remember?"

Louis blinked a few times, "Oh yeah of course. Sorry." He mumbled, "it's uh, it's been a long week."

"No need to apologize dear." Anne said smiling sweetly.

"Oh and they're coming at 6." Harry added, answering her question.

6? Louis could've sworn it was 7....

"Alright, thanks." Anne replied going back to cleaning the kitchen.

"Lou is pretty tired, so we're gonna go take a nap before they come. We'll be in my room if you need us." Harry informed, getting a nod from her. Louis looked at him strangely as Harry took his hand guiding him off to his room.

"A nap? Haz, I'm fine. We don't need to take a nap." Louis said softly, feeling bad.

"You've been trying to catch up on sleep lately though babe, and tonight's gonna be a long one. I really think it's a good idea. Plus, you can give me some birthday cuddles." Harry grinned.

"Okay, okay. A nap does sound pretty nice right now." Louis consented as he climbed into bed with his boyfriend, cuddling up close to him.

"Yeah? I think so too." Harry said kissing the top of Louis' feathery hair.

Louis smiled up at him, letting his cerulean eyes flutter closed, as he drifted off to sleep.

***

"Dammit Liam! Why do you always have to wiiiinnn?" Niall whined, as the five boys were sprawled across Harry's living room playing some Xbox game Harry had just gotten for his birthday.

"Because I'm better at it than you." Liam said with a shrug, earning a slap on the arm from Niall.

Niall stuck his middle finger in the air, before yawning. "I dunno about you guys, but I think it's time we call it a night."

"I second that." Zayn nodded tiredly, the others nodding in agreement.

"Alright, everyone claim a spot." Harry said as he shut off the game system.

"Wait, Hazza! You didn't open your presents." Louis said, wanting Harry to be able to enjoy all the traditional aspects of a birthday.

"Yes I did Lou. I got that Xbox game, some gift cards, and the gorgeous ring you got me." He said softly, making eye contact with Louis, seeing a look of confusion in the boy's eyes.

"Oh, I guess you did." He said quietly, scratching his head and feeling incredibly stupid. "You know I'm not feeling so good, I think I'm gonna head home."

Harry immediately frowned. "Are you alright?" He asked, taking Louis' hands in his.

"M'fine... just got a bit of a headache." He lied. "Just wanna go home and sleep it off. I'm sorry Haz." Louis said kissing his lips.

"It's okay babe. Just get some rest and feel better yeah?" Harry said sweetly.

"Yeah." Louis replied, shuffling toward the door his mind racing with worries.

"Wait, don't you need to call your mum to pick you up or something?" Harry asked, "It's late."

"She's working the nightshift." Louis sighed, his mum was a nurse, and her hours were scattered.

"Well, let me wake my mum. I'm sure she'd drive you." Harry said,

"No, don't do that. I live like two blocks down. I'll be fine." Louis promised.

"She really won't mind." Harry said with a slight pleading tone to his voice.

"Harry." Louis put his hands on his shoulders. "I'll be fine."

Harry sighed, it was only two blocks. It was a safe neighborhood. Nothing could happen, right? "Okay Lou, but promise you'll text me to let me know you get home safe."

Louis nodded, "Course I will." He said grabbing his coat, putting it over his arms, and zipping it up, as his friends, and lover stood watching.

"I'll see you guys on Monday." He said with a small smile, wrapping his scarf around his neck.

"See you Lou." Zayn said.

"Feel better." Was Niall's sweet reply.

"Be safe." Liam told him.

"Love you." Were the words that came from Louis' favorite deep, raspy voice.

Louis smiled at them all, nodding. "Happy birthday babe." He said, blowing Harry a kiss, before quietly closing the door behind him and stepping out into the chilled, February night. It was late, and the only light that shown was the yellowed, dying street lamp at the end of the sidewalk. Slowly Louis began to walk through the dimly lit darkness, his mind wandering and returning repeatedly. It was like a game of hide and seek, but inside his head.

***

"Do you think he's okay?" Harry asked twenty minutes later when he hadn't heard from Louis.

"I'm sure he's fine. He seemed exhausted, he probably fell asleep straight away when he got home." Liam said assuredly, "Before he had the chance to text you."

"Or maybe he forgot to text you." Niall added. "He's seemed pretty spacey lately."

Harry sighed, not knowing whether to worry.

"I'm sure he's fine." Zayn assured putting a hand on Harry's shoulder. "There's been plenty of times he's left my house and never texted me to say he got home safe."

"Yeah. It's sometimes just something people say, like 'oh yeah let me know your safe' but no one does it." Niall added, "He's fine."

Harry nodded quietly, "You're probably right."

"We always are." Liam chuckled, and Harry shook his head switching off the light, as everyone got comfortable.

Louis was young. He was smart. They were in a nice part of town. He had to be fine. Right?

***

It was hours later, as Jay was in the break room, sipping at some coffee to keep herself awake, when she felt her phone vibrating in her pocket.

"Hello?" She answered with a yawn.

"Hello, is this Johanna Tomlinson?" A male voice spoke.

"Yes, it is. May I ask who's calling?" She asked, as the voice and phone number were unfamiliar to her.

"This is Sheriff Callister. We have your son, Louis." He said, his voice monotone.

"What?! Did he do something wrong? Is he okay?" She asked frantically.

"He's perfectly fine and has done no harm." He assured her.

"Well, then what's the problem?" She responded, setting her coffee on the table.

"We found him in a neighborhood that based on our records, was nowhere near your home. We asked him what he was doing wandering the streets at this hour, and he said he was lost." The sheriff explained.

"Oh.... I'll be right there." She responded, ending the call. Wasn't Louis supposed to be spending the night at Harry's?

Well there you have it. Chapter 2 is complete. I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter, I had a bit of writers block today... Anyway, Please comment if you have any feedback and vote if you enjoyed! :) Thank you so much for reading!!

-Sunnie