Clarity

After my first brilliant time of topping me, and Harry talked for a good solid hour before we both got up, got dressed, ate lunch, and then he gave me the work I missed Friday so I could finish it before the day was over.
I had wanted to spend the rest of the day with Harry, really I did, but I had to do my homework, some paper work for tomorrow's game, that was suppose to be today, but was moved due to the other team's coach getting sick, and they couldn't find a replacement.
That night had been long, and boring, my mind consumed with thoughts of Harry, and my eyes filled with the words of my homework. Luckily though with the help of a sleeping pill, I had managed to get some sleep before our game.
Harry couldn't make the game that day though, he got called out to London for the day for a buisness meeting, but we texted through out the day.
My team had won with a exceptional 10-3, making the other team look like a bunch of weiners. That day we celebrated again, only this time with a big pizza party at Pizza Hut, one that Shailene attended because she had come to the game with me that day to fill in for Carson, even though she didn't know much about football, because I had been informed that he did indeed quit.
Honestly I think he was blowing this whole thing way out of proportion. I could understand him not wanting to see me, but to quit his good paying job that paid some of his collage funds? That was a bit drastic.
Marcus had also decided to spend the day with me, and Shailene to. The three of us went to the mall to walk off our pizza and shop for some clothes for the winter weather that was getting colder day by day. After we were all shopped out we went to see Prisoners by Shailene's request, and I had to admit I enjoyed it. I was definately going to buy a copy of the film for me and Harry to watch.
Through the day I had managed to sneak in some extra texts to him, making sure he was okay, and that everything was going well.
When the three of us had finally departed for the night I was exhausted. It had been a good day though, I actually couldn't remember the last time I had been so happy. I mean I was happy before, but this was a different kind of happy, a kind where you felt more light weighted, and free.
This morning I had done my usual rutial of getting up, eating, showing, getting dressed, and then heading to work. I almost wish I didn't have work today, because I really missed Harry, one day being apart to much for me, and I'm sure him because he kept randomly texting me about how much he missed me.
Practice was a bit choppy today, because it was just me and twelve reckless kids that were all acting up today. I wouldn't exactly call it stressful, because I was used to it from my sisters, but it was a little hard to teach them new kicking techniques when the boys were wrestling, and girls placing bets on who would win. My trouble makers also kept acting up, usually Carson would keep them in line because they were scared of him, but no one scared of 'Coach T', because I was so care free, and let things slide all the time.
Might not've been my best coaching technique.
Finally though the practice had ended, and I was free to go back home and unwind with another hot shower, and catching up on 'The Fosters' while texting Harry about it, and the upcoming Rugby game.
I had to admit though it was a little lonely in the apartment with out Scruff to keep me company. I had been considering getting another pet, but I just couldn't find the heart to replace him yet. And also not to mention the pet shops rarely had big dogs, mostly the little annoying ones, and there was also the fact Scruff had something special that other dogs didn't.
I think really that was the only tear jerker in my life, Scruff dying, but other then that I think everything else was going pretty good.
Because Carson had quit, my pay had doubled, I still had Shailene and now Marcus, and I had the best thing anyone could ask for. Harry. That thought most definately brought a smile to my face.
Finally the time had come to go to school, and I was beyond eager to see Harry. I knew I'd have to restrain myself from tackling him until after class, but I was willing to wait. I drove in my car today for the first time, me and Harry had picked it up when he drove me home Saturday night.
Saturday had definately been an interesting day, also speaking of Saturday I had decided to join the drama club, I knew I was already in theater class, but we didn't do preformances, we just learned how to preform, and the history of theater. I wanted to preform.
Once I had parked, and locked my car I strolled across the lot and into the school. Shailene hadn't been out there today waiting, so she was either late, already in class, or not coming.
Or dead, but that was a drastic thought.
When me and Shailene were kids she used to tease me about how I always assumed people were dead if they didn't show up or pick up their phones. Those assumptions had left though by the time I was sixteen. She still didn't let me forget it, Shailene didn't let me forget alot of things.
"Louis!" A familiar voice then called out, as I took the short cut through the hallway that led to the teachers lounge because I didn't feel like being in a crowded hallway. On our mall day, Marcus had told me about the shortcut, and since that moment I had decided to use it.
"Harry?" I called back, turning around, and I saw my curly haired boyfriend stepping out of the teachers lounge with a lollipop, and steaming cup of coffee in his hands.
"Hey! What are you doing down here?" He asks, peeking to the left and then the right before moving everything to his right hand, and he wrapped his arm around me then kissed my head. "I missed you." He say, pulling away the instant the action was carried out, and a goofy grin was present on my face.
"I missed you to." I say, so much truth present in my tone. "What are you doing in this hall?" He asks, and I shrug as I point down to the end of it where there was a turn. "Shortcut. Marcus told me about it." I say, and he nods as he takes a sip of his coffee then holds out for me. "Want some?" He asks, and I shake my head.
"No, I'm good." I say, and he nods. "Want to walk with me? Don't worry, there's rarely people there, no one importent will see us." He assures. "Okay, I have nothing better to do anyways." I tease, making Harry stick out his tongue as the both of us begin to walk side by side.
"How did the buisness trip go?" I ask, and he shrugs. "I'm not sure if I'm going to get the deal or not, things are undecided right now. Still being working out." He informs, taking another sip of his coffee. "What kind of deal is it?" I ask, and he smirks into his cup. "A good one." He says, and I intake my breath a little deeper. "Oh one of those deals." I say, and he nods once more.
"How did practice go?" He asks. "It was a little tiring. It's hard not having an assisstent coach." I admit. "I'm sorry baby, I wish I could've helped out today, perhaps I can find someone for the job?" He asks. That was actually a really tempting offer, I could use help managing the team. "Hey, if you know someone then give me their number." I say and he chuckles. "Will do." We both then became quiet as he started sipping on his coffee, and I hummed softly to fill the silence.
"I'm going to part with you here." He then says, the class room door about five feet away from us. "Okay talk to you after class." I say, watching him blowing me a kiss as he walked ahead of me, across the hall, and into the class room.
"You took the shortcut!" Marcus then calls out, coming into veiw from the direction I usually went, and I grinned. "Yeah, it was very convient actually." I inform, walking over to join him near the classroom door.
"Me, and Shailene were waiting for you near the hallway intersection, we thought you weren't going to show." He says, poking my side and I swat his hand away.
"And I thought you were going to take the shortcut." I protest, the both of us stepping to the side to clear a path for other people to walk by, and to their desinations. "Well I was, but I didn't." Marcus said, the both of us shaking our heads at the other as the warning bell rang.
"We better get in, don't want a bad mark on our record. Usually the other teachers don't care, but Mr. Styles is all over us." He says, taking a step back, and opening the door open for me. "That's because he cares about our education, and not the money." I say all to quick and Marcus gives me a weird look before shaking his head. "Okay." He simply says, and I mentally slap myself. I had just defended Harry, I probably shouldn't have done that.
Also come to think of it on our mall day I had talked about Harry alot, only I didn't mention that he was my teacher, and I said he was a friend. Oh course, naturally Marcus and Shailene had inquired why I kept mentioning the lad, and I had blown off their questions with a simple, "I can't think of any other conversation topics." Luckily though before the end of the night I had gotten myself under control.
"Hi boys." Harry mumbles in the mist of drinking his coffee, already settled behind his desk as if he had been there for hours, which we both knew he hadn't. "Hey Mr. S." Marcus says before slidding into his desk. "Hi." I say, shooting him a quick wink as he returned it quickly.
I then turned to walk up the isle to my seat, and saw much to my disappointment that Carson was here again. Only he was sitting a couple of seats away from me with that group of druggies again, so I guess having him here wasn't all that bad. "Look it's the teachers pet." I heard a soft voice whisper, and I turned towards it but saw no one peering in my direction. Shrugging I walked over to my desk and sat down.
"You gonna pull something today, or act like a princess today?" Another voice said, and I turned, but again no one was looking at me, but I had a feeling it was the two lads behind me because they were snickering like the girls from Mean Girls, a movie I had watched with my sisters way to many times. Shaking my head I focused my attention back to the front where Harry was now standing, his coffee no longer steaming as it rested on his desk.
"I wrote your assignment on the board today, because my throat is a little sore from all the talking I've been doing so please read it, and do it." He says, me noticing the slightly more defined rasp in his voice, and he cleared his throat as he sat back down.
The assignment today was to edit our papers on the historic writers, or rewrite them if we hadn't finished the draft, then we had to read a chapter out of history books.
Sighing softly, the amount of work not appealing to my nature, I pulled out my phone, and earbuds then popped them in before turning on my music and putting the volume all the way up.
Music helped me concentrate, music was an escape from the world around us, our problems, everyone needed music whether they'd admit it or not.
For the next hour I worked furiously, editing my paper, reading the chapter carefully, and fighting the temptation to peek back at Carson who threw a piece of balled up paper at my head. Jerk. Finally though the moment had come, Harry told everyone to pack up, and the bell rang releasing all the anxious students.
The homework tonight had been to answer the questions in the chapter, and study it because it was the start of our new unit.
While the large body of students filed out, I took my time in writing the last of my homework down in my planner, then slowly packed up my stuff, being slow now had become a basic habit.
Finally the final student had filed out, which had been Carson who gave us a knowing look as he disappeared out of the room.
"He didn't look happy." Harry chuckles the instant the door is shut, and I pull out my earbuds, turning off my music. "Nah, that's just his normal expression." I say, the both of us snickering at my statement. "I think he needs a face lift, or facial surgery." Harry adds, biting his lip and grinning as he looked down and begin to pack his stuff as I walked over to give him a hug.
"Yeah." I say, walking around the desk, and hugging him from the side, causing him to turn a light pink as he draped one of his large arms around me, and continued to pack his stuff with the other.
"I lo-" He starts, but then the sound of someone knocking on the door rings out, and faster then a cat being chased by a dog, me and Harry pull away from each other and I move as far as I could from him before the door opened. "Mr. Styles?" A preppy voice giggled, and the door swung open to reveal on of the petite blondes that was in Harry's fan club in the front, Kenlor I believe.
"Yes Ms. Hale?" He calls back, the smile fading slightly on his face as she stepped in and closed the door behind her. "I need your help with-" She then noticed me. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were busy, with him." She says, a dash on venom on her tone as she said 'him'.
"Oh no, Mr. Tomlinson was just leaving, he was asking me about the homework." He covers quickly, and I nod. "Yeah, the old coop isn't much help though." I say, and she gives me a dirty look. "Oh Louis, Mr. Styles isn't an old coop." She defends, doing that hand flicking gesture, and I shared a look with Harry, both of us equally diserved. "Whatever." I say, looking at Harry for a moment and I shook my head as I mouthed, 'parking lot', and he nodded as I walked across the classroom, past Kenlor, and out the door.
Walking down the almost empty halls now felt boring. I hated walking alone, it wasn't much fun. Sucking in a deep breath of cool air when I stepped outside, I pulled out my keys so I could sit in my car while Harry "helped" Kenlor.
Humming some oldie song I had heard the radio this morning, I unlocked my car, and threw in my back pack. "Well who do we have here?" A voice then cooed, and I bit my lip hard as I naturally turned and two guys just a little bit bigger then me came into view.
"Um...do I know you?" I ask, never seeing the guys before, both of them unfamiliar. Both had long greasy brown hair, one was chewing tobacco, and the other had a strong smell of smoke circulating his figure.
"No, but we can change that." The tabcco freaks said, spitting out the wad in his mouth as the other smirked.
Suddenly I felt my stomach twist. This two looked like trouble, lots of trouble, I was getting bad vibes from them.
"Sorry, I don't have time." I say, turning to get in the car, but one of them grabbed my wrist tightly. "Aww, c'mon! We just wanna have some fun with you shortie." The smoker coaxed, pulling me towards him as I struggled.
This was bad, this was really bad. Where was Harry? It had already been about ten minutes, what was holding him up?
"Define fun." I say, hoping if I stalled Harry would come to the rescue. A hope I was hoping wouldn't be false. "You know, fun." He says, emphazing the word as he pulled me closer to him, and they both shared a smirk.
"I don't do fun." I say, managing to squirm out of the guys grip, my smell consumed with his disgusting smell. "Well you do now." He growls, a dangerous look crossing his face as he grabbed for me, and I panicked so I swung out my foot and kicked him in the shin, which caused him to yelp.
"Did you just kick my friend?" The other guy said, his voice scary low, and he grabbed my shirt. "Did you just kick my friend?!" He repeats, only screaming in my face this time which caused flecks of spit to hit my face.
"Harry!" I shouted, fear sweeping over me as I struggled to get away from him, but he was stronger.
"I think you need to learn a lesson!" He says, and my body is thrown down to the concrete, the air being knocked right out of me, causing me to gasp and heave.
"Lets see how you like it." The smoker snaps, and the toe of his shoe swings out and connects with my ribs making me yelp as I reach down to protect myself, but he kicked me again in the same place before I got a chance to protect myself, and I hissed as his friend kicked me in the leg.
"Hey, I think he likes it." He snickers, my leg being kicked again, and I struggled to squirm away, pain present in my side, and my leg pulsing. "S-Stop!" I beg, not knowing how to fight back. "Nah." He says, raising his foot, and my leg is kicked again.
"He said stopped!" A demon like voice barked, and a ghost of figure dashed past me, knocking the guy kicking my leg clear off his feet, and I sat up on my elbow expecting to see Harry, but instead it was Carson.
"Don't hit him!" Carson yells, slamming the guy into the car, and then pushed him hard, causing him to stumble as he gave him a petrfied expression before taking off, followed by his friend who missed Carson's rathful fist by an inch.
"And stay lost!" Carson shouted, flipping them the birdy, as his rock hard expression then soften and he dropped down to his knee's next to me.
"Are you okay? Oh gosh, that guy hit you hard." He says, and I feel welling tears start to slip down my cheeks. "Where's Harry?" I ask, and he blows off my question as he wraps his arms around me, and pulls me into his lap. "Shh..it's okay.." He says, and I struggle.
"Carson where's Harry?" I ask, my tone raising and he let out a sharp breath. "Louis don't worry about him right now." He says, annoyance obvious in his tone, and I let out a soft breath as I bite my trembling bottom lip hard. "Thank you." I say, feeling a bit rude now for blowing Carson's heroism off to ask about my boyfriend.
"No problem." He says, holding me tightly as he rocks me back, and forth but I felt uncomfortable.
"Carson I want Harry." I sniffle, wiping at my eyes but he only holds me tighter, causing the pain in my side to increase. "Want me to bring you home?" He asks, and I shake my head rapidly. "Carson I want Harry!" I demand, my body shaking still from the event, I wanted my boyfriend to cuddle me not Carson.
"Louis-" He starts, but I apruptly cut him off as I struggle to get out of his grip. "Harry! I want Harry!" I shout, not caring if he did save my arse or not, he wouldn't bring me to my boyfriend or tell me where he was when I was in a state of terror still, and it was making me uncomfortable.
"He-" Carson starts once more but is cut off by Harry's masculine voice. "What happened?'' He asks, the sound of his suitcase hitting the floor and Carson instantly released his hold on me. "Go to your boyfriend." He growled, and Harry instantly drop to his knee's as fresh tears begin to damp my cheeks, and Carson stormed off.
"Louis did he hurt you?" Harry asks in concern, his arms wrapping around me, his big, strong, warm arms. ''N-No, two guys tried to get dirty with me, and when I kicked one they started b-beating me up!" I choke out, my throat getting tight with my seeping emotion.
I had been afraid to demonstrate my feelings about the boys hitting me to Carson because I didn't want to look like a wimp, but I didn't mind Harry seeing me upset.
At my information Harry's face then darkened as he inhaled deeply.
"Where are they?" He asks, his voice dangerously low. "I don't k-know. Carson scared them o-off." I say, cuddled in Harry's lap now as I buried my face in his chest and wrapped my arms tightly around his waist. "Oh gosh baby. I'm so sorry I should've been there. That girl tied me up." He appoligizes, kissing my head as he begin to stand up and I hissed as pain shot down my side so fast I nearly lost my lunch.
"Sorry, but I need to get you back to my place so I can see if we need to bring you to the hospital." He says, kissing my temple as he managed to get on his feet, his arms craddling me like a baby as he walked over to the passenger side of my car and opened the door with one hand, before placing me in the seat.
"I'll get my car later." He says, closing my door as I rested my feet up on the dash board, and he walked around the front of the car, grabbing his suitcase and got in on the drivers side. "Can you breath okay?" He asks, starting the car and pulling out. "I can now." I said in reply, clutching my ailing side as I felt a soreness smear across the skin of my thigh.
"What did they do exactly?" He asks, obviously about to bombard me with questions. "The one guy tried to grab me and I kicked him, then his friend pushed me to the ground and they started hitting me." I breath, shivering at the memory. Getting hit by two total, druggie, perverted strangers wasn't a five star give me a champane experiance.
"What did they look like?'' Harry imquires, pulling into the stream of cars on the highway. "Both of them had dark, long, greasy hair. One smelled like smoke, and the other was chewing tabocco, and both were bigger then me, but smaller then Carson." I say, feeling like a screw up because I couldn't recollect their exact appearence. "Alright sweetheart, well don't worry. I'll deal with them." He assures, resting a hand on my knee and gave it a gentle squeeze.
For the rest of the ride we both remained quiet, me trying to focus on Harry's changing facial expressions that depended on his thought, while he tried to concentrate on the road. Finally though we had pulled up the long driveway, and parked at the bottom of the front steps, leaving enough space for him to open the door and pull me out.
"C'mon Lou." He sighs, opening my door, and pulling me into his arms bridal style. ''I can walk if I'm to heavy." I say, laying my head on his chest as I curled my arms in. "No. Youe not heavy in the slightest, and even if you were, I'd still carry you." He assures, kissing my head as he walked up the steps, and used his elbow to ring the doorbell. "I wouldn't let you." I mumble as Maddie opens the door.
"Hi Har- What happened?" She exclaimed, noticing the faint tear streaks on my face, and Harry's stern expression.
"Some kids beat on him after school, I was tied up in class so I didn't catch it in time." He informs, his tone thick and tight as Maddie opens the door wider to let us in. "Bring him inside." She says, and Harry nods as he steps inside and she closes the front door. "Bring him into the kitchen and lay him on the island." She adds, and I bite my lip as I nuzzle my face into Harry's chest, a little embarassed because I wasn't fond of people fussing over my injuries.
"Here you go." Harry says, laying me on the counter once we had walked into the kitchen, and they both hovered over me like two doctors about to operate. "Where does it hurt?" She asks, and I point to my left rib cage. "Lets see." She mumbles, pulling up my shirt, exposing my skin and she gasps softly.
"Harry look at this." She says, and he moves over to her side as a look if concern crosses his face, "Baby you have a nasty looking bruise on your rib cage." He says, and I inhale deeply as he presses his finger tips to it, and then I wince when he touches one of the tender spots.
"Ouch!" I exclaim, and he pulls his hand away. "His ribs aren't broken, just bruised. We should give him some ice, and a pain killer though." Harry says, his hand resting on my stomach now as he rubbed it over my skin in soothing circles, and I relaxed as I sat up on my elbows, watching Maddie move around and grab this and that.
"Oh but Harry the pain killer will make him sleepy." She says, pressing a paper towel wrapped in ice to the bruise, and I bite my lip hard. At first I had been embarassed to have them fuss over me but now I kinda was enjoying it.
"That's okay, it'll give me an excuse to cuddle him." Harry says looking down at me with a grin. "I think he'll like that." Maddie says, giving me a knowing smile as I looked away with a small blush. "Yeah that'll be nice." I say, and Maddie shakes her head as she gives me a capsle and bottle of water.
"Thank you." I say, downing the pill and a few sips of water. "Good boy." Harry says, kissing my forehead. "Can I get off the counter now?" I ask, my back starting to ache and Harry nods as he grabs the ice pack and picks me up.
"Lets go cuddle." He says, shooting a grin in Maddie's direction as he carried me out of he kitchen and out into the hall as he carried me up the stairs, and down the hall his lips pressed in a silent smile.
"There you go honey." He says, laying me down on the bed, and he crawls over me carefully before laying next to me and pulling me into his arms he sighed. "I'm so sorry about today, that girl had every excuse in the book to keep me longer, I should've been there." He appoligizes for the hundredth time, and I shake my head, laughing softly.
"Harry it's okay, it's over with. The bruise will fade." I say, the medicine already kicking in as I nuzzled my face into his chest. "But I should've been." He mumbles, kissing my head. "Well you are now, and that's all that matters." I say, my body relaxing, happy to be in his arms after my long day, and he sighs.
"I love you." He says softly, rubbing my back, and a gentle smile crosses my face.
"I love you to Harry."

Notes