(Authors note: I have struggled with writing for an extremely long time. I'm sorry if this is terrible. I am finally finding my feet again. I hope you enjoy) 

Louis can't help how ashamed he feels, as he stares at the floor ahead of him. He can't even make eye contact with Eleanor, who is calmly sitting across from him on the couch. Louis was exhausted, he only had a few hours of sleep. It wasn't until the sun had started lighting up the room that he had fallen asleep. Eleanor had ducked in quickly to check on Louis; mostly wanting to see how his date went. However, when Eleanor arrived she could tell there was something off. She was completely right, because when she walked into Louis' room, all she could smell was sweat and alcohol. It was enough to make her feel ill.

"I had too much to drink last night. He told me that he didn't want to pursue anything and he felt like I was emotionally unavailable. How fucked up am I?" He laughed to himself, eyes stinging with tears.

"You're not fucked up Louis. You're going through a lot now and it will take time. You took the first step and it will get easier. You need to stop being so hard on yourself,"

Louis looked up from the floor and made eye contact with Eleanor. She was watching him carefully, eyebrows furrowed and smiling sadly at him. She was right, but he doesn't know what to do next. What is the next step forward?

"What do I do? Just pretend this never happened and fake a smile?"

"No. Not at all. Everything that has happened has made you who you are. Instead of dwelling on the past, focus on the things in front of you. You have an amazing job doing something you love. You have a reason to get up of a morning. There are kids out there that need your help,"

"For something that isn't really that important. Drama? It'd be different if I was a surgeon or some bullshit,"

"Stop thinking like that Louis, those kids really enjoy your classes. You know they do,"

Louis chuckled to himself, shaking his head. The first thought that popped up was Harry.

"Some, not all,"

"I think you need to go have a shower, and I'll make you some tea. I want to try and help you, because despite everything that has happened, you're still one of my best friends okay?"

Louis nods his head, and forces himself up off the couch and trudges upstairs towards his bathroom. He's so fucking tired.

Whilst Louis is in the shower, Eleanor begins to assess her options. She could either stay here until Louis is comfortably on his feet again, she could get him more psychological help. Or she could try and heal the issues that are deeply troubling him. She could reach out to Louis' parents and try and fix this issue once and for all. Whilst she goes over this in her head, she makes Louis and herself some tea and gathers Louis' medication which she knows he hasn't been taking properly.

When Eleanor passes Louis' alcohol cabinet, she stares at it for a moment. She knows that in Louis' weakest moments he'll turn to the alcohol. He'll drown out his sorrows, even if it is for just a night. She knows how bad he can get, and she knows he's going down that path again. If she cleared the cabinet, he'd kill her. He'd have a mental breakdown. Eleanor continues back to the lounge room and sits down on the couch, resting her face in her hands. She's overwhelmed. Louis needs her, more so than ever. Eleanor knows if she doesn't help, Louis might successfully kill himself this time. She knows over this weekend, she's not going to leave his side. She needs to make sure by Monday, he's able to teach with a clear mind. She wants him to find happiness in a job that he once loved.

****************************************************

(Monday)

The entire class Harry could feel Louis' eyes on him. It was like they were burning holes into his skin almost. Harry barely made eye contact with Louis, he focused on his work and kept silent the whole lesson. He was dreading when the class ended because he just knows he'll be kept back. He hasn't spoken to Louis much, and he is trying to keep it that way. He's paranoid, especially since the psychologist appointment.

As soon as students started to put their belongings away, Harry slowly looked up at Louis' desk. Louis was sitting calmly with his arms crossed. He was looking straight at Harry. As soon as his eyes locked with Louis, he felt like he was suddenly in flames. His skin became hot and clammy. Harry swallowed thickly and continued to stare. Louis raised an eyebrow. It was truly like Louis was speaking with his eyes. Harry remained seated, and watched everyone leave. His anxiety was rising with every second that passed. Once the room was empty with only Louis and Harry, Harry was the first to speak.

"Is there a reason you've been throwing daggers at me all day?"

It came out a lot more abrupt and rude than Harry was anticipating, he tensed slightly as Louis took a moment before replying.

"I haven't had much of a chance to speak about how you're going. I know we ran into each other at the psychologists. I'm glad you're getting continual support for what happened,"

Louis fidgeted with the sleeve of his shirt nervously, watching as Harry frowned back at him. He doesn't even know why he kept Harry back. The entire lesson he couldn't help but find himself watching Harry.

"I'm doing a bit better I suppose. I'm trying to focus on other things rather than what happened. So this conversation isn't doing much," Harry suddenly stood up, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

Louis was lost for words, he really didn't know what else to say. He just clenched his jaw as Harry made his way to the door. Louis' eyes were drawn to his long legs. Louis closed his eyes and clenched his jaw, exhaling fast. He wanted to stop Harry from leaving but he couldn't. Louis doesn't know what's come over him, he doesn't understand why Harry has made his way under his skin. It was like Harry was in his blood. Before Louis could even stop himself, or had a second to register what his own body was doing, he was up out of his chair and striding towards Harry. Harry still had his back to Louis, almost at the door. Louis hand suddenly was on his arm, and he stopped. Harry was tense.

He stared ahead at the door, and could feel Louis' grip on his arm. It was tight but his hand was so warm. His touch set off almost an electric reaction to his skin. Harry turned to look at Louis. Louis was a lot closer than Harry was expecting. His senses suddenly were on overdrive. He could feel Louis everywhere. He could feel his warmth radiating all over him, he could smell Louis' cologne. He was stuck looking at wide, bright blue eyes. Louis looks startled.

Louis watches as Harry's face flushes a dark red, and his lips slightly part. His green eyes glisten under the lights of the room. They're full of confusion. Louis knows he should let go, but he doesn't think he can. He's lost every sense of control. All he can think about is how close Harry is, and how much closer he could be. Louis can barely hear anything apart from Harry's heightened breathing, and his own heart thudding against his chest.

Harry's eyes wander to Louis' lips. They look so soft, and so pink. Harry's mind is running a million miles an hour. Reality starts crashing down on him. He's suddenly aware of his surroundings. Harry's eyes quickly look back at the classroom, Louis' hand and then back at Louis. Louis drops his hand suddenly, as if he's touched a hot stove plate and takes a step back.

"Forget it. Forget it," Louis says quick, turning his back to Harry.

Harry doesn't say another word, he's out the door and slamming it behind him. His legs can't take him away fast enough.

As the door slams shut, Louis runs his hands through his hair. He pulls at his slightly as he mutters to himself under his breath.

"What in the ever-living fuck was that," He groaned, walking towards his desk

Louis can't think straight. He can't believe what just happened. Nothing happened, but something happened. Everything about those few seconds felt like an eternity.

"He's a fucking student, what is wrong with you,"

Louis needs to lay off the alcohol, Eleanor was right. All weekend she'd been drilling it into him that alcohol was eating at him. Alcohol made him do stupid things and this was by far the most stupid thing he's ever done. He replays it in his head, over and over whilst sitting at his desk. Louis can only thank his lucky stars that it didn't go any further. He doesn't know what would have happened, he was in a trance. Louis is suddenly aware how empty the room is; how quiet it is. He can hear his own heart having palpitations almost. He puts his head on his desk and inhales deeply. He needs to get himself together, and quick.

************************

"Wait. Hold up. You're telling me that you and Mr Tomlinson had a moment?" Niall's eyes widen

"I don't know, I don't fucking know. Nothing happened," Harry was hyperventilating.

"Everything happened," Ed spoke calmly.

"Repeat it, all of it. I need to understand," Niall watched Harry, as he ran his hands through his hair.

"He kept me back after class, because he wanted to see how I was holding up. I mean that's normal. Completely normal. Right?"

Niall had a pen and was writing fast on a piece of paper. Harry's eyes widened and he tried to focus on what Niall is writing. Ed watches silently, as he assesses the situation.

"I mean it's pretty normal for a teacher to be worried about a student's mental health," Ed nods

Niall looks up from his paper, and suppresses a grin as he is met with Harry's fury filled eyes. Harry lurched forward, grabbing the paper and quickly reading it. Niall tried to grab it but Harry has the height advantage.

"Do you think it's funny? Why the fuck are you writing this down like it's a play script? Do you not understand the repercussions if this gets out you fucking idiot?" Harry is suddenly yelling angrily, ripping the paper into shreds.

"Jesus christ, calm down. It was a joke."

"This isn't a joke. What the fuck do I do? Do I need to go tell someone? Do I talk to him about it,"

Ed suddenly stands up, and puts an arm around Harry.

"I think telling someone would be the most stupid thing you could do. He could lose his job, you could be expelled. Imagine what your mum would do. I think you should talk to him, maybe explain that something like that is inappropriate. Give him a chance to rectify it,"

Harry looks between Ed and Niall, mentally trying to weigh up the situation. Harry feels like he might genuinely spontaneously combust. He has too many emotions at this current moment. There's anxiety, terror, fear, confusion and anger. He doesn't know what the fuck to do. Every time he closes his eyes, all he can see is Louis' eyes and the way there were looking at him. He gives up. He knows Ed is right.

"Okay. I'll talk to him. I can't go see him right now, not after that. I'll give it a couple days and then I'll talk to him."

This could potentially be the worst decision of his life. All Harry can think about is his psychologist's words. Harry can't help but wonder if he does have feelings for Louis after all. He shouldn't, not after the way Louis has treated him.