Smile For Him
Chapter Three
“Where the bloody hell have you been?” Robin hissed into Harry’s ear as he reappeared in the large hall. Harry gulped and winced as Robin’s claw-like hand cut into his shoulder. “I-I just went outside.” Harry stammered. Robin shook Harry’s shoulder aggressively and lent in closer, “You don’t go anywhere unless I say so, okay? You’re a God damn embarrassment. Do you know how humiliating it is having to take you places? You’re pathetic. Try and act more like you sister.” Harry’s heart began to beat quicker – for some reason he was scared. Robin scared him. He’d never hit him before, but the words Robin used always made Harry a little anxious. He looked away from Robin’s piercing eyes, but he wished he wouldn’t have because he saw someone watching him from across the room. Louis – he was stood leant against the wall with a white cloth hung over one arm. He didn’t appear to have any expression on his face. Just blank. A thin line for a mouth as he stared right back at Harry. It was Harry who had to look away, breathing heavily as Robin removed his grip. “We’re leaving soon, make sure you’re ready.” Robin nudged Harry’s shoulder forcefully and plastered a fake smile on his face before walking up to the dance floor to join his laughing Mother.
Harry nervously looked back to where Louis was standing to see if he was still watching. He was. He didn’t even seem to blink. Harry took a deep shuddering breath before grabbing his dinner jacket and leaving the room to stand by the front door.
As he stood waiting for his parents he couldn’t help but worry. Louis, the common boy who was practically a stranger to him had seen his encounter with Robin. Even his Mother wasn’t quite aware of how nasty Robin was towards him. It probably meant nothing. If he ever saw Louis again, Louis probably wouldn’t even mention it. Louis probably wasn’t even that bothered. He’d most likely seen even worse abuse than that given the part of town he lived in. Harry didn’t have to know anything about Louis to know he lived in the rough part of town. And it made Harry interested – excited even. Had he made a friend? No, it wasn’t probable. But there was no doubt he was interested in Louis. And as he waited he couldn’t help but think would he really see Louis again? After all, Louis had said, “See you around.” That was a promise, right? It had to be.
“What are you smiling about?” Gemma slurred, her heels scrapping against the marble floor as she walked up to him. “Nothing.” Harry almost whispered, following his merry Mother out of the door as she hummed a tune to herself. Gemma just huffed and staggered out of the door and towards the car that was waiting for them. The curly haired boy sat himself by the window and ignored his family’s drunken cackles. His eyes drooped suddenly, his head feeling heavy. He yawned as he watched the posh houses fly by his vision until the car pulled into his own. Springing out of the car Harry was the first one to the front door. As always Tobias was on the other side and swung it open for the seventeen year old to race in and up the stairs. “Mr. Styles?” Tobias called in confusion. “Goodnight, Tobias.” Harry yelled before slamming his door shut – his parents were barely through the front door.
Shoes flew through the air as Harry kicked them off. Next his bowtie was ripped from around his neck and dropped to the floor. He sighed in relief at the loosing around his throat. He’d survived the night without Bert and his friends even bothering him. And he even made a somewhat friend. An older boy that showed some kind of interest in him. Harry didn’t know what it was, but the fact that Louis was older than himself sent a thrill through his body. No one in his year ever spoke to him unless it was to taunt him, and tonight an older boy was the first to strike up conversation. Harry bit his lip to stop the slight grin that was trying to break free. Outside his window he could see a bonfire, its red flames wavering in the wind. There was a crowd of people outside the barn, and most probably more inside. They looked like they were having fun, and Harry was mesmerised. He suspected they weren’t anyone from his school, or from his Year at least as they would all still be at Bert’s dinner party. That must mean they were the other kids from the other side of town. The rough ones. Harry couldn’t help but wonder if Louis would have been at this party was he not working. Louis on first impression seemed to be the kind of person who had lots of friends due to his tendency to talk to strangers. Harry moved away from his window and changed into his pyjamas. He slid under his warm covers and let his head be cushions by the soft pillows. He sighed in content with the knowledge that it was Saturday in the morning, meaning he didn’t have to wake up, or even come out of his room if he didn’t want to. Blue eyes flickered into his mind before he succumbed to sleep.
-
“Alright, weirdo? Finally decided to come out of your room then?” Gemma teased as Harry groggily entered the dining room. He chose to ignore her as he sat himself down into his usual space and grabbed an apple from the fruit basket. “Mum and Dad have gone down to London for the day. Something about horse riding in Hyde Park.” Gemma shrugged, cramming toast into her mouth, “Although they said they may not be back until tomorrow. They might just check into a hotel for the night to get some privacy, if you know what I mean?” Gemma wiggled her eyebrows while Harry made a noise of disgust. Gemma rolled her eyes as Harry got up from the table. “Where are you going?” Gemma asked, although she didn’t really seem that bothered. “Back to my room.” Harry mumbled. “Seriously, Harry. You need to get a fucking life. Some fucking friends or something. You’re such a loser it’s unreal. Do you know what it’s like having to tell people you’re my brother? It’s emba-”, “Embarrassing. I know.” Harry interrupted before exiting the room and shutting the door behind him.
He sniffed and walked back to his room, ready to spend the day reading on his window seat, or staring out of the window wishing he was anyone else but Harry Styles. But once he walked towards his window and saw the abandoned barn the curiosity got the better of him. He changed into some clean jeans and a woolly jumper, tugging the cuffs down over his wrists. “I’m going for a walk.” He muttered to Tobias as he walked past him on his way down the stairs. Tobias only nodded, but secretly he was confused. Harry never went anywhere unless he had to. He couldn’t remember the last time Harry went out on the weekends out of instinct. Harry grabbed his red scarf and wrapped it snug around his neck before braving the cold outside.
He shivered as the winds hit him, but he ignored it and continued walking through his garden. Past the swimming pool, the fountain, the flower garden and the tennis courts before coming to the hedge wall that blocked him from the field behind it. He looked around but found nothing to help him climb it. He sighed, knowing he’d have to do it the hard way. He studied the hedge for a few seconds before grabbing a handful of branches. He gritted his teeth as his hands burned from the friction, but regardless he pulled himself, branches and twigs scratched his face. But eventually he made it to the top, straddling the hedge and looking out towards the barn. He swung his legs around and dropped to the ground, the open field in front of him, wide and inviting. Harry stared at it, breathing heavily and wiping his face with his sleeve. As he stood up he saw the knees of his clean jeans were now dirty, but he didn’t care. He trudged through the thick grass for five minutes until he reached it. He could still smell the bonfire from the night before, and beer bottles were littered around it. Harry jumped slightly in shock when something that he previously thought was just a brown sack grumbled and moved. As he edged closer to it he saw it was in fact a sleeping girl curled up on the grass, using the sack as a blanket.
He backed away from her and nudged a bottle with his foot so it clinked in the morning silence. He touched the damp wood of the barn wall and picked off part of its red paint and watched it flutter to the floor. Harry didn’t understand what he found so fascinating about the place. It was merely a large shed that teenagers used for parties. But as a teenager never invited – Harry loved it. He was just about to enter the barn itself when he heard groggy voices from inside. “Shit, Zayn, what time is it?” an Irish voice spoke. Harry panicked and ran to the side of the barn, peaking his head around the corner to see a blonde boy and a dark skinned boy walk outside. “I dunno, like, ten?” the dark skinned boy said. The blonde boy stretched, “Wanna go to town and get some breakfast? The other boy shrugged, “Yeah okay. Should we ask Liam?”, “He’s not here. He walked home at like, four this morning.”
“Oh.” The boy Harry assumed to be Zayn said, “Well what about Louis?” Harry’s hear skipped a beat. Not the same Louis, surely? “Never came, did he? He was working at that fucking dinner thing last night and didn’t get home until two and said he couldn’t be arsed to get out here.” The blonde boy stretched his arms up and yawned. “That sucks. Oh well, come on, Niall. I could murder a fry up.” The Zayn boy said as they both turned towards the direction that Harry was hiding. “Shit.” Harry whispered. Crouching down on the floor and praying that they didn’t see him. They didn’t – they walked straight past him muttering about hash browns. Harry stayed in his position until they were out of site before he legged it back to the hedge, taking a running jump at it and scrabbling to the top until he was back in the garden. Harry’s chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath, thinking over what the two boys were saying. ‘Working at that fucking dinner thing last night.’ So it was the same Louis that they were talking about. Those blue eyes popped into his mind again, as did the slight stubble on his cheeks and the soft but firm grip he held on Harry’s shoulder. Harry didn’t know why, but he laughed to himself. “Stop it, Harry.” He said as he sat in the grass, his jeans dirty, and his mind even more so.
Harry nervously looked back to where Louis was standing to see if he was still watching. He was. He didn’t even seem to blink. Harry took a deep shuddering breath before grabbing his dinner jacket and leaving the room to stand by the front door.
As he stood waiting for his parents he couldn’t help but worry. Louis, the common boy who was practically a stranger to him had seen his encounter with Robin. Even his Mother wasn’t quite aware of how nasty Robin was towards him. It probably meant nothing. If he ever saw Louis again, Louis probably wouldn’t even mention it. Louis probably wasn’t even that bothered. He’d most likely seen even worse abuse than that given the part of town he lived in. Harry didn’t have to know anything about Louis to know he lived in the rough part of town. And it made Harry interested – excited even. Had he made a friend? No, it wasn’t probable. But there was no doubt he was interested in Louis. And as he waited he couldn’t help but think would he really see Louis again? After all, Louis had said, “See you around.” That was a promise, right? It had to be.
“What are you smiling about?” Gemma slurred, her heels scrapping against the marble floor as she walked up to him. “Nothing.” Harry almost whispered, following his merry Mother out of the door as she hummed a tune to herself. Gemma just huffed and staggered out of the door and towards the car that was waiting for them. The curly haired boy sat himself by the window and ignored his family’s drunken cackles. His eyes drooped suddenly, his head feeling heavy. He yawned as he watched the posh houses fly by his vision until the car pulled into his own. Springing out of the car Harry was the first one to the front door. As always Tobias was on the other side and swung it open for the seventeen year old to race in and up the stairs. “Mr. Styles?” Tobias called in confusion. “Goodnight, Tobias.” Harry yelled before slamming his door shut – his parents were barely through the front door.
Shoes flew through the air as Harry kicked them off. Next his bowtie was ripped from around his neck and dropped to the floor. He sighed in relief at the loosing around his throat. He’d survived the night without Bert and his friends even bothering him. And he even made a somewhat friend. An older boy that showed some kind of interest in him. Harry didn’t know what it was, but the fact that Louis was older than himself sent a thrill through his body. No one in his year ever spoke to him unless it was to taunt him, and tonight an older boy was the first to strike up conversation. Harry bit his lip to stop the slight grin that was trying to break free. Outside his window he could see a bonfire, its red flames wavering in the wind. There was a crowd of people outside the barn, and most probably more inside. They looked like they were having fun, and Harry was mesmerised. He suspected they weren’t anyone from his school, or from his Year at least as they would all still be at Bert’s dinner party. That must mean they were the other kids from the other side of town. The rough ones. Harry couldn’t help but wonder if Louis would have been at this party was he not working. Louis on first impression seemed to be the kind of person who had lots of friends due to his tendency to talk to strangers. Harry moved away from his window and changed into his pyjamas. He slid under his warm covers and let his head be cushions by the soft pillows. He sighed in content with the knowledge that it was Saturday in the morning, meaning he didn’t have to wake up, or even come out of his room if he didn’t want to. Blue eyes flickered into his mind before he succumbed to sleep.
-
“Alright, weirdo? Finally decided to come out of your room then?” Gemma teased as Harry groggily entered the dining room. He chose to ignore her as he sat himself down into his usual space and grabbed an apple from the fruit basket. “Mum and Dad have gone down to London for the day. Something about horse riding in Hyde Park.” Gemma shrugged, cramming toast into her mouth, “Although they said they may not be back until tomorrow. They might just check into a hotel for the night to get some privacy, if you know what I mean?” Gemma wiggled her eyebrows while Harry made a noise of disgust. Gemma rolled her eyes as Harry got up from the table. “Where are you going?” Gemma asked, although she didn’t really seem that bothered. “Back to my room.” Harry mumbled. “Seriously, Harry. You need to get a fucking life. Some fucking friends or something. You’re such a loser it’s unreal. Do you know what it’s like having to tell people you’re my brother? It’s emba-”, “Embarrassing. I know.” Harry interrupted before exiting the room and shutting the door behind him.
He sniffed and walked back to his room, ready to spend the day reading on his window seat, or staring out of the window wishing he was anyone else but Harry Styles. But once he walked towards his window and saw the abandoned barn the curiosity got the better of him. He changed into some clean jeans and a woolly jumper, tugging the cuffs down over his wrists. “I’m going for a walk.” He muttered to Tobias as he walked past him on his way down the stairs. Tobias only nodded, but secretly he was confused. Harry never went anywhere unless he had to. He couldn’t remember the last time Harry went out on the weekends out of instinct. Harry grabbed his red scarf and wrapped it snug around his neck before braving the cold outside.
He shivered as the winds hit him, but he ignored it and continued walking through his garden. Past the swimming pool, the fountain, the flower garden and the tennis courts before coming to the hedge wall that blocked him from the field behind it. He looked around but found nothing to help him climb it. He sighed, knowing he’d have to do it the hard way. He studied the hedge for a few seconds before grabbing a handful of branches. He gritted his teeth as his hands burned from the friction, but regardless he pulled himself, branches and twigs scratched his face. But eventually he made it to the top, straddling the hedge and looking out towards the barn. He swung his legs around and dropped to the ground, the open field in front of him, wide and inviting. Harry stared at it, breathing heavily and wiping his face with his sleeve. As he stood up he saw the knees of his clean jeans were now dirty, but he didn’t care. He trudged through the thick grass for five minutes until he reached it. He could still smell the bonfire from the night before, and beer bottles were littered around it. Harry jumped slightly in shock when something that he previously thought was just a brown sack grumbled and moved. As he edged closer to it he saw it was in fact a sleeping girl curled up on the grass, using the sack as a blanket.
He backed away from her and nudged a bottle with his foot so it clinked in the morning silence. He touched the damp wood of the barn wall and picked off part of its red paint and watched it flutter to the floor. Harry didn’t understand what he found so fascinating about the place. It was merely a large shed that teenagers used for parties. But as a teenager never invited – Harry loved it. He was just about to enter the barn itself when he heard groggy voices from inside. “Shit, Zayn, what time is it?” an Irish voice spoke. Harry panicked and ran to the side of the barn, peaking his head around the corner to see a blonde boy and a dark skinned boy walk outside. “I dunno, like, ten?” the dark skinned boy said. The blonde boy stretched, “Wanna go to town and get some breakfast? The other boy shrugged, “Yeah okay. Should we ask Liam?”, “He’s not here. He walked home at like, four this morning.”
“Oh.” The boy Harry assumed to be Zayn said, “Well what about Louis?” Harry’s hear skipped a beat. Not the same Louis, surely? “Never came, did he? He was working at that fucking dinner thing last night and didn’t get home until two and said he couldn’t be arsed to get out here.” The blonde boy stretched his arms up and yawned. “That sucks. Oh well, come on, Niall. I could murder a fry up.” The Zayn boy said as they both turned towards the direction that Harry was hiding. “Shit.” Harry whispered. Crouching down on the floor and praying that they didn’t see him. They didn’t – they walked straight past him muttering about hash browns. Harry stayed in his position until they were out of site before he legged it back to the hedge, taking a running jump at it and scrabbling to the top until he was back in the garden. Harry’s chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath, thinking over what the two boys were saying. ‘Working at that fucking dinner thing last night.’ So it was the same Louis that they were talking about. Those blue eyes popped into his mind again, as did the slight stubble on his cheeks and the soft but firm grip he held on Harry’s shoulder. Harry didn’t know why, but he laughed to himself. “Stop it, Harry.” He said as he sat in the grass, his jeans dirty, and his mind even more so.