I help Harry take off his shirt and gasp. 'What the fuck? His entire torso is covered with scars and bruises.' I look at him and see tears streaming down his cheeks. "How?" I ask and he shakes his head. Mum comes in and I can tell that she too is shocked. She sits by him and quietly observes the bruises.

"What hurts the most?" He points at a particularly large bruise on his left side. "I figured. It needs to be bandaged, in fact, the whole of your torso needs to be bandaged." She says and takes out the bandage.

Harry looks at me with anger and fear.

"I'll do it Mum, I promised you wouldn't touch him." Mum purses her lips in disapproval but nods curtly.

I help Harry sit up and bandage him the way mum tells me.

"Rest, love. Louis call his mum and tell her he is staying over tonight." I nod and mum walks out.

"Your mum is a lifesaver." Harry mumbles gratefully. I smile and tell him to rest. "Stay?" He asks softly as I turn to leave.

"Of course Harry." I sit by him and talk to him telling him of all our crazy antics till he falls asleep. That's when it hits me. 'Liam!!' I pull out my phone I text Niall and Zayn.

They text back their okay a few minutes later.

At 3:20 I pick up my car keys and place a few painkillers by Harry's bedside along with a note I'm going to look for Liam. Take the painkillers. I'll be back soon. Call me if you need to -Louis xx

"Mum I'm going out. Take care of Harry for a while.

"Wait a minute!" Mum stops me.

"What mum?"

"I'm taking care of someone I've never met, what's the deal." She places her hands on her hips.

"Mum, please, I have to go. He's a friend, just don't touch him or try to get him to speak. Love you, bye." I run out before she stops me and quickly drive to school texting them to let them know I'm here. The bell rings and a few minutes later they rush out and get in the car.

I start driving as Niall asks "What happened to Harry?" I explain briefly as I pull over in his driveway.

The house is locked. We give each other the 'what the fuck' look as we lean against my car.

"Did he move?" I voice my biggest concern.

"He better not have!" Niall says angrily.

"His number is unavailable." Zayn says.

"Exactly. What is happening?" I murmur.

"Maybe they went on another one of the camping trips but Liam forgot to tell us, thinking he already did?"

"Sounds far fetched, he doesn't forget shit but I'm hoping you're right." Zayn sighs.

"Let's head back. We aren't doing any good standing here like idiots." I say and we get back in the car.

"Mum I'm home." I call out, dropping the car keys in the bowl and heading straight for the guestroom only to find Harry missing. "Where's Harry?" I ask mum.

"I think he went upstairs." I nod and head to my room where Harry is lying on the bed.

"How're you feeling Hazza?" I ask, lying down next to him.

"Okay I guess." He tells me.

"Well, what do you think of my room?"

"It's happy. I mean no offense but the guestroom was kinda dead and depressing."

"I know, I hate it."

"Did you find Liam?"

"No, he's just disappeared off the face of the earth."

"Don't worry, Lou. He'll be back soon." He comforts me, turning on his side and pulling me into a hug.

"What if he's moved? He's my best mate." I mumble, my voice muffled by his shirt.

"Don't talk like that, Louis. He'll be back. He'd tell you if he was moving." I nod into his chest and he plays with my hair making me laugh. "What is it?"

"Usually I'm the one who holds you and comforts you and plays with your hair, so this is kinda ironic." This makes him laugh.

"Yeah, I suppose so."

"Harry?"

"Mmhmm?"

"What is it with the scars on your chest and back?" This makes him pull away with a frown.

"It's my childhood. I'd rather not speak of it."

I nod. "Tell me when you're okay with it. I'd never judge you."

"I know. Just give me some time, yeah?"

"All the time you need, love. We do have a lot of free time, what do you wanna do?"

"Do you, by any chance, have a guitar here?" He asks.

"Actually, I do, why?"

"We could work on our music we need to compose."

"You think you can walk? My piano is there in the same room."

"No Louis I can't walk. I flew up the stairs, you know." He rolls his eyes.

"Don't sass me, Styles." I warn him playfully as we get off the bed and walk to the music room.

"Do you wanna try singing together?" I ask him.

"I- I've never sung in front of anyone." He hesitates.

"Let's change that, yeah?" I smile at him and he nods nervously.

He slowly starts strumming his guitar.

I

He finishes the song and looks at me. "Well?" I gape at him "Say something, Louis."

"Fucking hell."

"That bad?" He looks down.

"No that good." I say firmly. "That was amazing. Shit, Harry. You're going to own the song."

His face splits into a 1000 watt smile and he giggles. Fucking giggles. "Your turn."

"I don't sing. You four are going to sing and Josh and I will play."

"I don't care. I wanna hear you sing."

"Okay. J- just don't murder me after I tear apart your eardrums.

"I won't." He laughs. I nervously clear my throat and begin to sing with closed eyes.

You tell me that you're sad and lost your way

You tell me that your tears are here to stay

But I know you were only hiding

And I just wanna see ya

You tell me that you're hurt and you're in pain

And I can see your head is held in shame

But I just wanna see you smile again

See you smile again

But don't burn out

Even if you scream and shout

It'll come back to you

And I'll be here for you

Oh, I would carry you over fire and water for your love

And I will hold you closer, hope your heart is strong enough

When the night is coming down on you

We will find a way through the dark

I wish that I could take you to the start

I'd never let you fall and break your heart

And if you wanna cry or fall apart,

I'd be there to hold ya

You tell me that you heart it's all in vain

But I can see your heart can love again

And I remember you were laughing

So let's just laugh again

But don't burn out even

If you scream and shout

It'll come back to you,

Back to you

Oh, I would carry you over fire and water for your love

And I will hold you closer, hope your heart is strong enough

When the night is coming down on you

We will find a way through the dark

And you don't need, you don't need to run

And you will see it's easy to be loved

I know you wanna be loved

Oh, I will carry you over fire and water for your love...

Oh, I would carry you over fire and water for your love

And I will hold you closer, hope your heart is strong enough

When the night is coming down on you

We will find a way through the dark

Oh, I would carry you over fire and water for your love

And I will hold you closer, hope your heart is strong enough

When the night is coming down

We will find a way through the dark

I finally finish and keep my eyes closed waiting for a response.

"Louis open your eyes." Harry breathes and I open them to find Harry kneeling on the floor. "That" he tilts my chin to face him "was the most gorgeous sound a human can produce."

I look in his eyes and almost believe him. Almost. But then I burst into laughter. I'm crying tears of laughter till I feel a hand on my knee.

"I mean it Louis and you will be singing. I have you videod and I won't hesitate to put it on YouTube. You are singing Louis Tomlinson." He says threateningly and I nod fearfully. 'That'd be a nightmare.' He smirks in satisfaction.

"I hate you Harry."

"Love you too LouLou." He singsongs.