Louis had gone back into his shell.

He hadn't gone to school in a month, only slept for 2-4 hours depending on the nightmares and had only come from his room to eat dinner with the family.

His parents had decided to stay longer than only a few days. They wanted to spend time with the boys before they graduated, knowing they would be on business when May came around, only one month from now.

Harry still hadn't talked to anyone. No one had seen him at school, and Liam and Jay, no matter how many calls they made, hadn't been able to reach him.

"Lou Lou?"

Louis didn't move from his bed, not turning his head from the window, waiting for his daddy to come back.

"Hmm?" Louis hummed. Liam sighed.

"Bubby, it's time for dinner, why don't you come downstairs?"

This had become routine. Liam would ask

for Louis to come downstairs and Louis—

"But I have to wait for daddy, Li. He'll be back soon, you know? He said so. If I go downstairs I can't watch when he comes back."

Liam nodded and walked to Louis, grabbing his hips and lifting him away from the bed and onto his hip. "I'll place you in front of the window, bub. You'll be sure to see him there."

"Do you promise?" Louis wiggled in Liam's hold trying to get back to his own window before Liam assured him he would be able to see Harry the second he walked in the door.

"Hey, Louis! How was today?" Johanna questioned. She always asked. After Geoff had been so tough on Louis, she only thought it was right to make up

for it.

"Good! Daddy didn't come home but that's okay, he'll be back soon. We have to get through dinner quick! I don't want daddy to see I'm not waiting and leave again!" Louis immediately loaded his plate with chicken and mash his mum had made. She smiled sadly but nodded, trying to understand why her son was like this. She knew it was wrong for him to isolate himself like this but she didn't have a way to fix it in any way.

Geoff came from down the stairs and sat at the table silently. He hadn't spoken a word to Louis since the events of Harry and although he did speak at dinner, it wasn't as bold as he once was.

Liam knew it was because their parents were thinking of getting a divorce.

Jay didn't agree with Geoff on many things but unfortunately they would always be business partners; marriage wasn't part of that anymore.

Louis didn't know he'd split them up and no one knew how to tell him without making him feel worse than he was right now.

"Liam, how's school?" Geoff asked before taking a bite of his food.

"Good. Lou, I have some more homework for you," Liam informed.

Louis nodded. "I have my homework from yesterday done; will you take it to school tomorrow?" Liam nodded. "How's daddy?!? Is he getting work done?"

Liam nor Jay told Louis about Harry and how he had seemingly disappeared.

Liam hesitated. "Lou, love," he took a deep breath and watched his mum for any sign of permission to tell Louis. She shook her head. "Yes, Louis, he's doing great. He said he might be busy tonight so he won't stop by so maybe you should go to sleep or we can have a movie night with mum or-"

"No! No, Liam! He'll come!" Louis suddenly cried out. "He'll come back! Daddy will come back and if I'm not waiting when he's here, he'll leave me for good next time, Liam. You get it, don't you?"

Louis was completely oblivious. He didn't realize this isn't how he should live. He was hurting and right now, only Harry made sense.

"That damn kid isn't coming back, Louis William!"

Geoff's fist slammed on the table, making Louis' drink spill onto the wooden surface and his jeans. "He's not coming! He doesn't love you, you little freak. You've waited for a month in your room and he's not coming back for you because he doesn't love you and he doesn't care. I ruined you and he's going the same. You call him daddy because of what I did but I am never leaving and now he's gone," Geoff sneered.

Something snapped in Louis. He immediately began to sob, scratching at his wet jeans and forearms. Liam grabbed at Louis' hands while Jay tried her hardest to drag Geoff away from the kitchen table.

"Daddy! Daddy, please!" Louis sobbed loudly. "Please come back! He's coming back." After crying out for 5 minutes, Liam's grip keeping him from scratching at himself, Louis finally tired himself

into sleep.

--

Graduation was coming quicker than expected.

Because Louis hadn't skipped school a day in his high school career, mostly because Stan wouldn't let him when they were together, the office was okay with him finishing the last semester at home (Liam had to do some convincing too) but now it was finally time for Louis to return; just to finish the last week before graduating on Thursday night.

"Li, does everyone hate me?" Louis was messing with his hair in the car on the way to school when he spoke up.

He'd finally gotten out of his rut, falling from headspace hard after their parents left, and become much different than he once was. He wasn't ever little anymore and Liam had given up trying to make him slip.

"No, Lou. No one hates you," Liam reassured, trying to soothe his brothers nerves.

"Do," Louis sighed and thought about what he was truly about to ask. "Do you think Harry will ever come back?"

Louis hadn't spoken his name in a month. Following the actions of his father, Louis was terrified to speak about what had happened. For him, he liked to pretend it wasn't real.

"I honestly don't know, bub. Harry hurt you really bad; I'm not quite sure it'd be good to let him back into our lives regardless."

Louis didn't know if he agreed with that completely but nodded anyways, not wanting to disagree with Liam.

Louis had become much more aware. He didn't say things without a filter anymore and he always was very timid when talking to everyone. Including Liam. He didn't want to disappoint anyone, ever. He was convinced he'd already messed things up enough; he couldn't ruin anything else or he'd be left behind for good.

Liam pulled into the school, smiling at Louis comfortingly. "Go through all your classes and I'll meet you at lunch. Niall has a class with you because he got his schedule changed so rely on him sometimes, okay?"

Louis nodded slowly and didn't mention that they didn't even have the same lunch. He wouldn't burden Liam with it though and continued to walk into the school, waiting for someone to say something to him.

No one did.

Louis saw Stan and other footballers against the lockers but no one in particular caught his eye. Harry wasn't there.

Louis kept his head down and he went to the office to make them aware he was back and Liam wouldn't have to pick up his work anymore. The office ladies hugged him sweetly, wished him good luck, and bid him goodbye.

As Louis was turning around to exit the office, a hard chest knocked him down.

"Oops!" His bum hurt from the fall on impact. Too afraid to look up at who he had just bumped into, he kept his eyes down on his books, scrambling to collect them, wanting to leave before he caused anymore trouble.

"Hi, Louis."

Harry voice was raspy and rough. Louis hadn't heard it in so long and it had his ears ringing.

Louis eyes snapped up, seeing Harry's hair had grown back to its length before he cut it 5 months prior. His eyes were a deeper green than before, his skin tanned and face smooth. He looked like nothing had happened.

"U-Um, Harry. Hi." Louis stood, embarrassed he had already caused problems and he had only just returned. "I-I'm very sorry, I wasn't paying much attention. I've missed y-"

Louis thought about what Liam had said earlier. He couldn't talk to Harry anymore, Liam would be so angry.

"I-I must go. Have a good day." Louis rushed from the lobby, speeding into the hallway and to his next class.

---

Louis' day went by quickly.

His mind was wrapped up in his altercation with Harry. Did he miss Louis as much as Louis missed him? Had he been gone from school too? Did he still love Louis the way he had before his dad ruined it all?

Most teachers had wrapped up their lesson plans for seniors, just trying to get them out of the school. He did have one class with Niall but he only talked about Liam and Louis didn't want to feel jealous because Niall had a daddy and he didn't so he stopped him before it got out of hand.

The last bell rang loudly and Louis was excited to get home. He knew Niall was going to ride with Liam in the corvette so he had to ride the bus but he didn't mind. It gave him time to do his homework or read. He would just drive his own car tomorrow.

On his way to the bus area, Louis saw Liam talking to Niall.

"Hi, Li, I'll see you when I get-"

Liam cut him off harshly, "where the hell were you? I said meet me for lunch and you didn't even show up. You had me worried, Louis. How inconsiderate could you be?" Liam huffed.

Louis' eyes got wide, his breath hitching. "I don't have the same lunch, Li, I thought you knew...I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, I swear!" Louis promised, hoping the look on Liam's face would go away so he could calm down.

Liam suddenly understood and relaxed. "Oh," he sighed of relief, "I forgot, I'm sorry, Lou."

Louis looked down, still hurt that Liam was upset with him but nodded and made his way to his bus.

"Wait!" Liam called out. "Niall drove his car, today, Lou. He'll meet us at the house."

Louis felt stupid for being wrong about the bus but didn't say anything to worry anyone and got into Liam's car anyway.

As they began pulling away from the lot, Harry stepped outside. Louis eyes transfixed to his and for a long second they held eye contact. Harry flashed a sad smile before putting his head back down and going to his own truck.

Without thinking, Louis pulled out his phone and texted Harry.

He hit send before he could think but didn't regret it regardless, setting his phone back down onto his lap and singing along with Liam.