Clarity

Somewhere during our cuddle session I had drifted off into a peaceful sleep with Harry's warm breath fanning my exposed skin.
I didn't have any dreams that night, my mind was blank, but I do think I had one starting when Harry shook me awake the next morning.
"Louis, Loubear, c'mon baby you have to get up." He whispered, shaking me gently as he pressed his lips to the back of my neck, and I groaned loudly prior to digging my face into the pillow after rolling over on my stomach.
"Go away, I want to sleep." I whined, wondering why he was waking me up so early. The reason I could tell it was early was because there was very little sun beaming through his curtains that clothed his window.
"No Louis, you have to get up, it's Monday." Harry informed, and I instantly felt my stomach curl into a tight knot as my heartbeat began to pulse in my fingertips. If it was Monday, and he was waking me up early then that meant he wanted me to go to school!
There was no way I was even near mentally prepared to be in the mist of all those kids who would indefinately point fingers at me, and call me names.
I was just starting to drift back into my peaceful state of mind I had been in a couple of month's ago, I didn't want it to be driven out with stress.
"Harry please don't make me go to class." I begged, sitting up instantly to see he was dressed in his usual teacher attire, and Harry sighed with the shake of his head.
"Trust me going to class would be a blessing." He said, sliding off the bed, and walking over to his vanity to fixed his neatly combed hair. "What do you mean?" I asked, frowning as I snuck a peek at the clock, and saw much it was a little bit after eight.
Classes would start in twenty minutes.
"We are going to the University today, but not to attend or teach the classes." He then sucked in a sharp breath as he looked over at me.
"We're going to talk about what happened with the headboard, they requested both of our presence's." He informed, and I felt the knot get tighter in my stomach. How on earth was I suppose to face the people in charge of the school, and tell them about our relationship?
I don't think I even met these, meaning it'd be like talking to complete strangers. In that moment I silently agreed with Harry that going to class would be more of a blessing then reciveing a punishment from the headboard.
"Do I have to come with you?" I asked, throwing the covers off of my lower half, and slipping off the bed as well into the grasp of the chilly morning air that was circulating in the bedroom.
"Yes, they want to hear both of us speak about what happened." He said, adjusting his tie before looking over at me as I rubbed my exposed arms to get rid of the goosebumps.
"Trust me sweetheart I tried really hard to get you out of it, but they wouldn't have it." He admitted, and I sighed deeply. "Do you think they'll punish me to?" I asked, fearing the threat of being expelled.
That would not look good on my record, it would make it hard to get into another school, or get a job.
"Maybe. I think the threat of punishment is greater for me though." Harry said, sighing as I nodded quietly and walked over to the draws to dig out a pair of Harry's skinny jeans to wear with the t-shirt, even though they were far to big on me.
"What's the worst that can happen?" I asked, not really wanting to know the answer.
"Fire me, but I don't think the charges will be that extreme. I will indefinately getin trouble, but I'm not sure about how much." He shrugged, sitting down on the bed while fiddling with his tie, and watching me pull on the skinny jeans.
"And as for me?" I inquired, also not wanting to know that answer. "I'm not sure quite honestly, there's a chance they'll just let you off the hook since your a student." He said, which made me feel a little better, but not by much.
"Okay." I simply said, then zipping, and buttoning up the jeans prior to going over to the mirror so I could fix my mop of hair. "How long will this take?" I then found myself asking, hoping it wouldn't be one of then five hour meetings.
"Depends on the board." He said, standing up, and walking over to me before hugging me from behind as I fixed my hair. "Are you nervous?" I asked, feeling my tensed body relax a bit under his touch, and Harry nodded.
"Yes, I'm nervous for you, because I don't want you to get in trouble. If they try to punish you I will put my billion's to good use, because you did nothing wrong. Neither of us did, Carson did." He shuddered, his grip tightening on me at the name, and I felt my body pulse.
I really did hope that Carson got in trouble for exposing us like that, it had to count as some kind of illegal, or rule breaking charge. I swear if he gets spared I'll let Harry put those billion's to good use alright.
"I'm sure they'll prosecute whoever was involved." I assured, just hoping me and Harry wouldn't be the one's getting prosecuted. I really did hope all this didn't get back to my mum, I mean, I know the school wouldn't call her, because I'm an adult, but you never know.
"They better, this wasn't our fault. Our relationship didn't interfere with the way I graded you, or the way I treated you in class." He mumbled, burying his face in my hair when I finished combing it, and I bit my lip softly as I placed my hands over his.
"If they ask for proof how can we prove that?" I asked, and Harry shrugged.
"We just got to hope it will all work out."
-
After our little talk in the bedroom, me, and Harry made our ways downstairs to eat some breakfest but neither of us were very hungry so it mostly considered of us nibbling on the tanned toast, and, boiled eggs.
When we had finished eating the both of us took part to his car outside, neither of us making any suggestion to take different cars since that didn't seem to be nessicary.
During the whole drive we were both quiet, the two of us drowning in nervous thoughts about what may or may not happen. I wasn't sure if I was more concerned about my future at the school or Harry's.
In some ways I was more worried about his future in teaching, because if Harry got fired for being with a student it would be a bad mark on his record that would pretty much end his career.
Yet if I got expelled for sleeping with a teacher, which was actually making love, then I might have difficulties getting into another school which would make my parents angry if they found out, because they paid alot to get me started in collage.
Also it wouldn't nessicarily be a nice greeting to introduce Harry as the one who got me expelled, they would indefinately dislike him immediately before giving my charming lover a chance.
Then there was the concept of Carson getting in trouble, it was one thing for him to go tell on us, and show the board the picture but to post them all over the school had to be a felony of some kind.
I was nearly positive that it was considering stalking to follow us all the way to Cheschire, then take pictures of us everywhere we went.
It made me sick to think Carson would do such a thing. I don't think he was really in love me, because if he was he would've let us be happy, but instead he was giving us more hell then we needed.
I think when he said Harry was obsessed with me he was admitting his own sin, but trying to turn it around it make it seem as if Harry was the one with the unhealthy addiction.
By the time we got to the school I was trembling all over, and felt like I was going to throw up because I was beyond paranoid about this meeting.
We didn't park where we normally did, we drove to the otherside of the campus instead, and parked our car there a little ways from the door of the office where the headboard was waiting for us.
To evluated our relationship, then potentionally throw one of us out. "I'm scared Harry." I admitted as he turned off the car, and we both removed our seatbelts. ''I know baby, but don't worry.
No matter what happens I promise I'll try to use my money to fix it." He assured, which made me feel a bit more relaxed, but not enough to make my ailing stomach go away.
"Alright." I sighed, the both of us getting out of the car in union, and instantly I went to his side so he could wrap an arm around me. If I didn't get some kind of contact from Harry, who seemed to be composed, then I was going to faint.
"Do you think Carson will be in there to?" I asked, and immediately Harry's grip tightened on me as we walked in. "If he is I'm going to need to mantain a strong sense of self-control." Harry breathed, his teeth gritted, and I felt my nerves skyrocket again.
This was going to be a long meeting. Once we were inside the both of us grew quiet again, neither knowing nessicarily what to say as we walked down the well polished heated halls of Doncaster University into the office.
I must admit Harry did look professional, he was wearing a white button up with a dark colored lazer, and had on dress pants where as I had on jeans, and, one of Harry's t-shirts. I guess you could say we both dressed well for the occasion.
Sorta, my appearance wasn't much really. "I can feel you trembling Loubear, calm down." Harry informed, rubbing his fingers over the bone on my hip, and I felt myself calm a bit.
"Sorry, I'm just scared." I sighed, placing myself further under his arm as he sighed softly. "It'll be okay." He said as we both then walked into the pine smelling office. I kid you not the place look like something out of the office tv show, not something you'd see in school.
"Hello, how can I help you?" The lady asked, looking up at us with a smile as we walked up to her desk. How dare she smile at our pain.
"Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson to see the headboard." Harry told her, and she nodded as she typed something into her computer before nodding.
''Yes, their waiting for you in the meeting room, would you like me to show where to go?" She asked, but Harry shook his head. "No that's alright Miss, I know where it is, but thank you." He said, then guiding me away from the desk while I felt my throat clog up for a series of nerves.
"You sure I can't sit this out?" I asked softly, but Harry shook his head. ''No, their going to need to ask you some question's to make sure our stories add up." He said, then stopped at the door of the meeting room.
"Don't worry Louis, just act calm, act like you have nothing to hide." Harry said, raising his fist before knocking on the door as he pulled his arm away from me, and I wrapped my arms around myself.
Words could not describe how badly I wanted to run right now, but my feet stayed mounted because I didn't want to make the situation worse. "Come in, the door's open!" A gruff man's voice called out, and instantly I turned to walk away, but Harry grabbed my arm.
"Don't." He warned, slipping his fingers into mine, and giving my hand that still had the plastic wrap on it a light squeeze. "It'll be okay." He promised, kissing the back of my hand before letting it fall to my side as we walked inside.
The room wasn't as big as I had been expecting, it was like a Principal's office in a way, only there were two men, and a woman standing there next to a desk, and their attention turned to us when we walked in.
"Mr. Styles, and Mr. Tomlinson I assume?" One of the older men said, looking us over with an upturned nose, and I could see Harry's paranoia began to slip out. "Yes sir." He said, clearing his throat, and I felt myself grow more unsettled.
"Good." He said, standing up straight with a hand on his hip as the other two remained quiet, I could then see there was a flyer on their desk. If I made it out of here with out fainting Harry better reward me, because my legs felt like jelly right now.
The man who had first spoke then sighed as he sat down behind the desk, and the other two took a seat next on each side of him in chairs they had obviously pulled up.
"I would like to speak to Mr. Styles first, can Mr. Tomlinson please step out of the room?" He asked, and I looked up at Harry for approval upon me leaving, and he nodded. With that I then slipped out of the room as Harry sat down in the chair opposite of the desk.
When I walked outside I sat down in one of the waiting chairs outside, and sighed heavily. I didn't see Carson anywhere's in here meaning they probably hadn't discovered he was the culprit.
Or he was already prosecuted.
In the room I could hear the muffled voices of Harry, and the headboard talking, and, both sounded angry. It was unerving sitting out here while they were in there.
I had no idea what was going on, and that put my gut into a twist because the choices made in that room could change mine or Harry's educational future.
Maybe both!
For the rest of the time I sat out there I forced myself to destract from any thoughts circulating around the headboard, meaning I used my phone to warp my mind into something else.
I must've sat there a good half an hour, repeatedly looking up random things on my phone, turning it off, then turning back on, anything to keep my mind straight foreward.
Finally after a good fifteen minutes had passed Harry stepped out of the room in a fluster, his face red from either embarassment or anger. I would only hope it was embarassment. "Well?" I asked, rising quickly to my feet, and he glanced at me with the shake of his head.
"They want you to tell them how we met, and everything to make sure no rules were broken." He sighed, then opening the door wide for me to go in as he pressed his lips in a thin line.
Taking a long, shakey breath, I slipped my phone into my pocket, and comb my fingers through my hair as I stepped inside, and Harry closed the door behind me. "Hello Mr. Tomlinson." The lady said, a bit of stress creasing in the wrinkles on her face.
Mumbling a soft 'hello' I sat down in the same chair Harry had which made me seated directly across from the elder headboard.
"So what would you like me to tell you about the whole thing?" I asked, trying to sit up as straight as possible, and one of the men tipped his glasses at me as the one seated behind the desk pulled up something on his laptop.
"It would seem Mr. Tomlinson your grades have remained fairly the same in your History class no?" He asked, and I sat back as I bit my lip harshly with a nod. "Yes sir." I said quietly, and he nodded as he clicked on something on his computer.
"Yet you do have some failing, or missing grades from assignments, now why is that?" He asked, and I swallowed thickly. "I've been busy, it's been a rough year, but I am currently catching up on my missing work." I said quickly, begining to shift around in my seat in a state of discomfort.
I thought collages weren't suppose to criticize your grades, they just took your money, and didn't get involved unless you misbehaved.
What did my grades have to do with this all anyways?
"I see. Have you considered taking online classes to keep up with your peers so missing school wouldn't be an issue?" He asked, raising a white eyebrow at me, and I sat back even further into my seat.
''No sir, it never crossed my mind." I admitted shamefully, and he nodded as he closed the computer. "Mr. Tomlinson we take our education, and student safety very seriously here." He informed, and I couldn't help but scoff a bit.
"How does mine, and Mr. Styles relationship endanger students?" I blurted out, and he gave me a disapproving look.
"Student favortism can be a danger in many ways. If your peers began to view you as the teacher's pet then they might make your time here unpleasent." He said, and I could feel another remark coming up, but I bit my tongue to restrain it.
"I see." I said quietly, looking down at my feet, and he sighed. "Mr. Tomlinson may you please tell us the story of how the relationship formed between you, and Mr. Styles?" The lady asked, noting the other man's frustration where as the one sitting off the side remained quiet.
For a long moment I was quiet, watching the three pairs of wrinkled eyes watch me with genuine curiousity. If I was going to tell this story it might've been in my best interest to leave the dirty bits out.
"Well for starters I can assure you the relationship was formed off of school property." I said, sitting up perfectly straight as I looked the man behind the desk dead in the eye to show I wasn't ashamed even though I felt feverish.
"We both met in a bar after school hours, talked a bit, then started to hang out. We were friends for a bit, then later engaged in a relationship. It's as simple as that." I said, shrugging at the end of my short tale as I sat back.
"So you aren't doing sexual favors for Mr. Styles to get better grades?" The lady asked, and I shook my head quickly.
"I can't deny we haven't done anything intimate, but I can assure you it had nothing to do with grades." I said, deciding to be up front since I saw the flyers on the desk. They already knew so there wasn't much to hide.
"And tell me Mr. Tomlinson do you know who made these flyers, and placed them all over the school?" The man that was sitting off the side asked, and everyone in the room looked over at him.
This was my big chance, I could tattle on Carson right now, and get him in serious trouble. Yet there was the threat that Harry had beaten him up, and I was almost positive he'd use it against us so I decided to be oblivious to who the culprit was.
''No sir I'm afraid not." I said as calmly as I could, and he nodded.
"That will be all lad, please give us a few minutes to discuss what consiquences need to happen, and don't need to happen." He said, waving me off, and quickly I jumped out of the seat, and, walked out of the room as fast as I could.
The instant I stepped out Harry shot to his feet with an anxious expression. ''Well?" He asked, and I shrugged.
''I answered their few questions, tried to be as honest as possible, and they told me to step out while they discussed everything." I informed, and Harry nodded as he wrapped his arms around me, and hugged me tightly.
"Did you tell them who did it?" He asked while I wrapped my arms around his waist, and I shook my head. ''No. I was scared to, I don't want Carson to get you in trouble." I mumbled, and he nodded as he kissed my head prior to pulling away.
''I didn't tell them either for the same reason. Damn I wanted to though, but I felt like my beating was punishment enough." Harry sighed, and I sighed as well as we both sat down next to each other on the chairs.
"Do you think their going to expell me?'' I asked quietly, and Harry shook his head. ''I won't let them. I don't care if they punish me, but if we're be honest here the relationship is far from your fault." He said, grabbing my head, and squeezing it assuringly.
"I hope your right." I whispered, running my thumb over the soft skin of his hand while letting my mind drift. There were so many bad things that could come of this, and many of them scared me.
I do admit I've gotten in trouble at school before, but all that didn't really count it was getting in trouble at Collage you needed to worry about.
In Primary school I usually got in trouble for talking to much, or pulling pranks on teachers and other in students never for being with a teacher. I couldn't imagine how my parents would react to this.
They would be beyond angry. The thought of having my parents mad at me made my stomach curl. I hated getting them mad, especially my mum because I was a mummy's boy by a long shot!
It unsettled me to think she could blow up at me for this, which I honestly think she would.
"Mr. Tomlinson, Mr. Styles? We're ready for you to come in." The lady informed, poking her head out of the room, and the both of us let go of each other's hands as we stood up. "Both of us?" Harry asked, and she nodded holding open the door for us to walk past her.
"Both of you." She confirmed, and we both quietly rose to our feet, and walked inside. This was it, the absolute moment of truth. "Please sit." The man behind the desk said, and we nodded as we took a seat quietly in the empty chairs in the room.
"So what have you guys decided?" Harry asked. Way to be up front Harry. "We have carefully analyized the story you both told us, and both match up meaning neither of you shedded a lie." The man behind the desk said, then turning to the lady, and gesturing for her to continue.
"We have decided since your relationship hasn't seemed to infere with Louis' school work, and there seems to be no record of class favortism we're going to let this slide." She informed, and I almost screamed with excitement.
They were going to let it slide?! That mean me, and Harry weren't going to get in trouble!
"Seriously?" I asked, sitting up, and she nodded. "Yes, but if he infere's in any way we will intervene immediately." She said, and Harry nodded in understanding as he stood up with a relaxed smile.
"So as long as I don't interfere with his studies, and he doesn't interfere with my teaching we're good?" He asked, and she nodded giving Harry a strange look. "Yes, yes it is." She confirmed, and I rose to my feet.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you so much!" I said, feeling like I needed to show my grattitude. This was much easier then I had been expecting, we weren't going to get in trouble in the slightest from the way things were sounding.
"Your welcome." She simply said, and the man behind the desk sat in his chair unamused. "You both are pardoned to go." He said, then raising an index finger.
"But if you do discover who's responsible for this it will be in your best interest to report him or her." He warned, and me and Harry both nodded with a knowing glance. There was no point in ruining our moment of glory now.
"Thank you, I'm pleased you understand." Harry said, licking his lips, and the lady looked down. "Your welcome once more." She said, and I could tell by her tone they wanted us to go now.
"C'mon Harry, I'm sure they have plenty of work to do, we should go." I said, grabbing Harry's wrist, and tugging on it. Nodding quietly Harry then followed me out of the room.
Not a word passed between us until we signed out of the office, and were walking down the hallway to go back to our car. "That went exceptionally well." I said, shoving my hands in the pocket of my coat, and Harry nodded in agreement.
"It did, but not originally." He said, opening the door for me so I could step outside into the nose nipping November air.
"Not originally?" I asked in confusion, and he nodded as we began to walked to the car. "They wanted to suspend you, but I changed their minds." He informed, and my confusion only deepened.
"How?" I asked, and a smirk appeared on his face as he unlocked the door.
"I may or may not've told them a bit of dirt I knew about the school, and threatened to use my billions to put it on the cover of every magazine.
That factor was very convincing, also I used the argument that we did nothing wrong on school property, and that your current grades were proof I wasn't effecting your average because it hasn't changed." He said, and I felt my jaw drop.
"You tosser." I sighed, a smile tugging at my lips as I grabbed his face so I could press my lips to his.

Notes