The two were dancing around the kitchen, and by this point most of the cake mixture had ended up in the floor.

It was safe to say that two clumsy people did not cope well when dancing and making a cake.

Harry was singing along to the music, and Louis joined in every now and then. The cats were now sat on the chairs, watching them- and most definitely judging them.

Louis loved seeing Harry like this. Seeing him carefree and happy. And though he knew that deep down Harry wasn't completely happy, it was nice to see him letting go a little.

Louis held out his hands, looking at Harry expectantly and Harry took them, allowing Louis to guide the both of them around the kitchen in some sort of hoppy dance.

Harry let a smile fall onto his face, watching as Louis grinned at him. "You have batter in your hair curly."

"I need to wash it anyway." He shrugged, leaning into Louis ever so slightly- so little that it was hardly noticeable.

"Do you wanna do something tomorrow?" Louis asked him. "We could go to the mainland if you wanted?"

"Don't you have to work? I feel like I keep taking you away from your job."

"H, you're way more important. Way, way more. I have other people who can take over for the day."

"I just don't want to bother you." Harry admitted, "I'm perfectly fine staying in my room."

"Let's go to the mainland tomorrow. We can go shopping and visit the art museum."

"Okay." Harry nodded quietly. It wasn't like he had anything better to do. And spending a day alone with Louis would be fun. "Yeah, okay."

"Good. So, we'll leave at 7 tomorrow morning."

Harry nodded again. "Bright and early."

"Bright and early." Louis repeated with a chuckle.

//

"I can't call her." Harry huffed, looking like he was on the verge of tears. "I just can't do it." He whimpered, and Louis sat next to him looking at him pitifully.

"Hey, you don't have to right now. It's going to be hard, but if it's too hard right now don't stress yourself out about it. Do you think you could call Niall or Liam instead?"

"I don't know. I don't-I just don't know. It's all-" He stopped talking, shaking his hands out slightly before wiping them on his trousers.

"Hey," Louis's voice was soft and soothing, "hey. Don't work yourself up about it. Everything's gonna be fine."

"This has been a rollercoaster of a few days." Harry forced a laugh. "Do you think I should like, um, message them or something first?"

"If it makes you more comfortable, absolutely."

"Yeah. Okay, okay. I'll text them both. We had a group chat."

"Do you want me to stay here?"

"I don't know." Harry murmured. "I think I might do this on my own if that's okay. I know texting people isn't that big a deal but..." He trailed off.

"I'll leave you to it." Louis smiled reassuringly, "I'll be here if you need anything."

Harry nodded, looking down at his phone and tapping his thumbs against the black screen.

Eventually he turned it on, for what might be the first time since he arrived. Surprise took over him as his phone was flooded with notifications, although they were most likely just emails from random websites.

As he went onto his messages his eyes widened. Niall and Liam had messaged him at least once a week since he left, some weeks most days. And he hadn't replied.

Gemma had messaged him too. Only a couple of times, just asking how he was but it was obvious she'd given up after a little while.

Harry opened Niall's messages first, his heart dropping at the concerned messages:

And then Liam's,

Harry wiped his eyes, swallowing the lump in his throat. How did he find a way to hurt people when he wasn't even there?

Slowly he typed out a short, simple message to the both of them.

Immediately a bubble popped up by Niall's name, followed by:

Nialler: HARRY

Nialler: OMG

Nialler: OMG HI

Nialler: are you okay? Are you safe?

Li: Jesus Christ, Haz, how are you!? Where have you been?

Harry:

He took a deep breath, though his heart warmed at the fact they actually seemed to care.

Nialler: abso-fucking-lutely

Li:

"Um, Louis. I'm gonna call Niall and Liam." Harry said anxiously as he walked past, heading to his room.

"You'll be okay yeah?"

"Uh, yeah. I think so."

His phone started ringing and he took a deep breath before answering it, taking the last few steps and shutting his bedroom door behind him.

"Hi." He breathed out as Niall's and Liam's faces appeared on the screen. They were both using one phone, meaning they still shared the flat.

"Harry? Oh my god!" Niall's smile lit up the screen.

"It's so good to see you mate." Liam beamed, "how've you been?"

"Um, I've been uh, yeah I've been better. I'm really sorry I didn't reply." He murmured, avoiding eye contact.

"I'm just glad you're safe. Where are you?" Niall asked, trying to look for any signs in the background.

"I'm on an island down south."

"South of where?" Niall frowned.

"South of England."

"So you're not in the country?"

"What? No, I'm on an island in England."

"But you're not attached-"

"Right Niall, that's not important right now." Liam cut him off. "I'm not mad at you, you know? You can come back."

"I know you're not. But I can't come back yet. I know this is that cliche thing people always say when they break up but it's genuinely not you, it's me. I have stuff I need to try and sort out first before I even think about coming back."

"That's absolutely fine. Have you got someone to talk to about shit down there?"

"Yeah," Harry nodded, "two people and two cats."

"You bought people?" Niall asked, immediately correcting himself, "I meant cats."

"No," Harry shook his head with a small smile. He'd missed them both. "The people come with the island and the cats are Louis's neighbour's."

"And who's Louis?" Niall raised an eyebrow with a hint of a smirk.

"His boyfriend." Liam muttered, though the both of them heard him- Niall cackling and Harry scowling.

"No. He owns this place."

"What? The island?"

"No. The inn I'm staying in."

"Can we meet him?"

"No! You'll embarrass me. Plus, he's busy."

"Busy wan-"

"Oh Jesus." Harry cut Niall off, he definitely had not missed this part. "He's just a friend. A close friend."

"How long have you known him?"

"Only since I came here."

"Ah, so a very close friend." Liam murmured.

"It's not like that." Harry sighed, "he's just a lifesaver."