"Wow, that was low. Stupid of me to ever think you were different. Did your mother never teach you any manners?".

If Harry had known where this innocent and happy day would lead to he maybe would have stayed in bed or at least, wouldn't have visited Louis. Or maybe he simply would have practised to shut his mouth and be less insensitive and ignorant sometimes. No matter what he would have done he couldn't undo it anyway because sadly, Harry couldn't predict the future.

Two hours earlier, Harry had just left his flat and was on his way to pick Louis up from work as a surprise. It was Harry's day off and he really wanted to spend his time with Louis to get to know him better and see where this was going, whatever this was. Hopefully, Louis was on the same page. But they had decided to start anew and Louis had introduced his friends to Harry. That had to mean something, right?

The school building was slowly coming into view and the first students crossed his way, chatting lively. This reminded Harry of his own school time and he felt a shudder going through his whole body. That part of his life was something he really only wanted to forget. Of course, the only person he kind of cared about had to have a connection to school.

"Harry? What are you doing here?" walked Liam straight towards him right out of the building.

"I'm here to pick Louis up. It's a surprise" let Harry him know, not anxious at all.

"That's amazing. He's still in the auditorium. Always the last to leave. It's like he has a connection to that room. You can go in and surprise him there" was Liam positively beaming.

"Okay, great. Where exactly is that room?" grinned Harry sheepishly. He has forgotten where everything was except the detention room.

"C'mon, I show you quickly" signalled Liam to follow him.

In a heartbeat, they made their way through the school building up onto the fifth floor over to the first door. In total, they were three, according to Liam all belonging to the auditorium. One was the big entrance hall while the other was the back door for the stage. Harry realised he has literally never been here throughout his whole High School time and was wondering why.

"He's in there. Don't scare him though. I have the feeling ... never mind" seemed Liam to hesitate for a second.

"No, what is it?" wanted Harry to know nosily.

"I just always get the feeling this is his safe place, as stupid as this sounds. So, don't do anything stupid, please" revealed Liam surprisingly to him before he left.

Now even more anxious than before, Harry carefully opened the door and peeked inside. Immediately, he spotted Louis in front of the big stage but he couldn't tell what he was doing. As silently as possible, Harry walked over to him and just watched him for a minute. It seemed like he has been writing something into a journal.

"I have to say this place seems special. Too bad I have never been here as a student" made Harry notice of himself, causing Louis to spin around to him in an instant. "Woah, slowly or you'll get whiplash, Lou".

"Harry" breathed Louis out frozen.

"That's me" grinned Harry broadly.

"What are you doing here? How did you know ...?".

"I've wanted to pick you up from work as a surprise and then I met Liam and he told me you're normally here for a while after class. He showed me the way. Guess, he wanted to keep me from waiting so long in the cold" explained Harry himself, trying to come off as nonchalant and not nervous.

"Why do you wanna pick me up?" asked Louis in a weird voice, not helping Harry's nerves one bit.

"Don't know. I thought maybe you'd like to um ... do something together. No matter what, you choose. I just um ..." became Harry suddenly aware of the fact that he had nothing planned.

"I'd like that" rushed Louis out, making a smile grow on Harry's face. "Just let me finish up here".

"Sure".

Half an hour later, they found themselves back at Louis' flat seated on the couch with Italian food on their laps and a movie playing on the TV screen. Harry had suggested a cosy evening inside instead of going somewhere. No clue why he suddenly wanted to stay in so much and just talk but he didn't question it for now.

On their way back, Louis had told Harry about his workday. The principal had agreed on the musical idea and now the Drama students were supposed to decide on which one they wanted to adapt. No matter how excited Louis tried to sound something about this whole musical thing seemed to bother him. His whole body was tense and his jaw was tight when he talked about it. Harry wanted to know why this was such a big deal for him but he didn't ask.

During the movie, Harry caught himself looking at Louis rather than the screen more often than he liked but not for the obvious reason he tried to ignore. No, he was watching Louis eat ... or rather not eat. While Harry was almost done eating Louis had barely touched his food. By now, it was probably cold. This wasn't the first time Harry had noticed this but this time he couldn't ignore it. Not even the random action movie on the screen could distract his mind from working overtime and making stupid decisions.

"Why aren't you eating?" asked Harry before he could stop himself.

"M' not hungry" mumbled Louis, playing with his noodles.

"Why did you agree on ordering in then?" checked Harry sceptically.

"Because you wanted to eat. There you go" dropped Louis his food and stared at the screen.

"You said you're hungry too" Harry didn't let up.

"Well, I was" claimed Louis almost believable.

"And you're not anymore? Louis, you barely ate anything. Your food is literally untouched" pressed Harry the matter.

"So, now you watch my every move, huh? Why can't you just watch the movie?" lost Louis his patience.

"Because I wanna know you and not the movie" countered Harry dumbly.

"By stalking my eating behaviour? That's not the way to get to know someone, Harold" snorted Louis in disbelief.

"You're not really making this any easier, so what am I supposed to do?" groaned Harry frustrated.

"Just take it easy maybe? Stop forcing things. Don't push too much" suggested Louis sassily.

"I only wanted to know why you're not eating although you said you were hungry. What's wrong with that?" grew Harry louder, stopping the movie.

"Everything, Harry. Absolutely everything" insisted Louis stubbornly.

"Yeah? Maybe there's something wrong with you then, Louis. All of this to me seems like you wanna cover up the fact that you don't eat. Looks like your mind is fucked up and my asking is just pissing you off cause I'm seeing things you want to hide. You're not dancing anymore, Louis. No need to keep on being a walking stick with an ass. Eating won't kill your past career" hissed Harry ignorantly and regretted the words as soon they sank in. Sometimes he deserved to be slapped with a stick. Very hard.

"Wow, that was low. Stupid of me to think you were ever different. Did your mother never teach you any manners?" fought Louis back his tears.

Hearing Louis mentioning his mother made Harry snap and talk before thinking about his words again. "No, guess she was too busy killing herself".

Silence. Tension-filled silence. Only heavy breathing was heard in the room until Louis dared to speak up. "What?".

"Nothing. Forget that I said that" coughed Harry weirdly, rubbing his nose and trying to leave the room.

"No, Harry. Wait" took Louis a hold of his wrist and turned him back around to face him. "I ... I'm sorry".

The softness in Louis' voice was tearing at Harry's heartstrings and he did something he hasn't done in forever. He broke down crying right in front of Louis, letting all of his tears and emotions out in the open after years of keeping them in with all his power. Obviously shocked, Louis stood there for a second before he pulled Harry into a comforting hug. This hug just made him cry even more.

"Sh, it's okay. Let it out. I'm here" soothed Louis him gently.

He let Harry cry for another five minutes onto his shoulder before Harry tried to calm down and stop crying. He let go of Louis, rubbing his swollen red eyes. With his fingertips, Louis wiped away the last tears from Harry's cheek and offered him an encouraging smile.

"Wanna sit down and talk?" tilted Louis his head aside.

Harry only nodded absently and followed Louis back to the couch. Louis turned the TV off and faced Harry patiently. Hesitantly, Louis took Harry's hands into his own and made him look up into his understanding blue eyes.

"You don't have to tell me anything, Haz. You know that, right? Just know that I'm here for you, no matter what" clarified Louis softly and how was this boy real?

"I know. Thank you, Louis" smiled Harry tearfully at him. "But I feel the need to tell you. I don't know why".

"Take your time, Love. Do whatever feels right" caressed Louis Harry's hands gently.

"My parents had a complicated relationship. Whereby, complicated is not the right word. No, it was a very toxic and sadly, an abusive relationship. My Dad was horrible. He was very demanding and controlling and possessive over my mother but never cared enough to show her affection. I really don't see why they ever got married or even together, but who am I to judge this? Without them, I wouldn't be here. Anyway, my mother's life was hell and me and my sister didn't have it any easier. We were never allowed to do anything and he tried to force us into the people he wanted us to be. Alex, my sister, hated him for that and always misbehaved on purpose to piss him off. She had enough of this life and only wanted to leave. When she turned 18 she was planning her move but he tried to stop her, which ended in a huge argument. She ran away to her friends and got drunk off her ass. That night she was in a car accident and died at the scene" told Harry him his story in tears.

"I'm so sorry, Haz. I don't know what to say" snivelled Louis lightly.

"You don't have to say anything. I'm glad you're here listening to me and you're not leaving" admitted Harry shyly.

"Never" assured Louis him.

"Thanks. Um ... after my sister died my father pissed off to America overnight without saying a word. I wasn't really sad about this but my Mum was devastated. This has all been too much for her. The abuse of her former relationship, then her daughter dying because of her husband and said husband just leaving her. I wasn't enough to keep her alive. She killed herself a month after my sister died, leaving me all alone" tried Harry to get to the end of his story.

"Where ... um where did you stay then?" dared Louis to ask emotionally.

"My aunt took me in. My mother's sister. Andrew's Mum. She did her best to make my life better but I was beyond salvation, to be honest. I felt empty. Totally emotionless. I didn't cry at the funeral and I never talked to anyone about this. I just wanted life to move on without me. Everyone I had was gone and I ... I was too blind to see that I still had a family. Part of it. I made it really hard for Luca to handle me. I was 16 and rebellious because I felt like I had nothing to lose. I skipped most of my classes and always got drunk and high and slept around to keep that numb feeling going. Well, at least I found out that I'm gay like this. Also, something I was never able to tell my Mum ... Andrew and Luca really tried to save me from ending up on the street but I ignored all of it. At one point, she had enough and kicked me out. I took it too far. I had to leave and life decided to save me again. One of my former hook-ups managed to get me a job as a security guard at the club I'm working at now. He helped me get my flat and all I did was kick him out of my life because he grew attached to me. I just ... I accepted this to be my life now" answered Harry his question honestly.

"I think she was hoping for you to get your shit together if she gives you an ultimatum. She loves you" was Louis sure of it.

"Yeah, she did. I know now that she saw something in me. Hope, I guess. She never gave me up but she had no strength left to fight a lost battle. She um .. got sick and died two years ago. Cancer. Her last wish was for me to get the bakery. She never liked my job because it's kinda dangerous and she wanted me to be safe. But I never wanted it. Now I have to deal with owning a bakery on top of all of this crap. Andrew wants me to take responsibility for the bakery because he has no time due to having his own business to run but I just can't" revealed Harry the last bits to Louis. "I guess that's why I'm always so ignorant and insensitive. I know I am. You're right when you're telling me this. It's just ... everyone always leaves. I can't have a good thing in my life without it being taken away from me in one way or another or not being good enough to fulfil someone's expectations. She's dead but I feel like I let her down".

"Oh, Haz" pulled Louis him into another hug.

He couldn't help but let out a few more tears while burying his face into Louis' neck. Having him this close after opening his heart to him felt strangely relieving. Like a huge stone was lifted off his shoulders.

"You might not believe me but I understand you. I know how you feel, partly. My Mum died of cancer when I was eleven years old and since then I tried everything to make her proud. To be what she wanted me to be, what she dreamt of but I feel like I let her down big time. I failed her when I got injured. I ... You're not alone, Haz. I'm here for you if you need me to" told Louis him surprisingly. Harry did not expect to hear any of this. He never expected Louis to open up to him in any way but something was different now.

"I'm sorry, Lou. For your loss and that you feel this way. I'm also sorry for what I said earlier. I never meant to hurt you. It's not my place to ...".

"It's okay, Haz" cut Louis him off tenderly. "I understand".

Harry felt like those two words meant so much more right now and he could only agree. "Me too".