It's the soul that needs the surgery.

*LOUIS' POV*

"Where were you?" My dad let's the question slip as soon as I'm in the house, Phoebe slipping from my arms to run off towards the kitchen.

"Took Phoebe out for a snack." I lie by ommission and flop down on the couch opposite to the television. "Mom in?"

Phoebe comes in at that moment. "Daddy?"

"Mom's not here yet." He answers us both, straightening his newspaper after my baby sister squeezes her way onto his lap.

"When will she be home?"

"Don't know, darling."

He decides to distract her as I would, by showing her the candid photographs in the Middleston Daily. It's a technique that is of my standards.

"Pizza?" I offer them with my phone raised in the air.

"Sure. We should get some to your mom too." My dad replies.

"Alright." I lazily lift myself off the couch, an arm braced under my weight to prevent any haphazard falls.

My father briefly glances at me from his seated position on the couch with my sister on his lap. His frown lasts all of three seconds before he drops it for lack of the need to be noticed.
I already did. I self consciously fold in on my left side, holding onto my elbow to conceal the multiple marks. Everyone hates them, including me. They're ugly and they just make every situation that much more scary. I couldn't help it though, it was a part of me.

"I'll go down and get some, okay?" I tell them both before grabbing my keys and not forgetting my jacket this time.

I shout a goodbye to them and the silent house on my way out, and down the driveway to my Renault. Not wanting to be left at the mercy of my thoughts, I turn on the radio.

All of the stars,
you make them shine like they were ours.

I love this song, and bravely roll down my windows. Over a month ago, I'd have lit up a cigarette so I'd have reason to leave a trail of ash in my wake for the wind to take care of. I gave up smoking though, and now I've fallen victim to a method of coping with the harsh conduct of society in a way that was less harmful to the environment.

Yes, this song was dedicated to all those females out there with big insecurities but guys had them too. Once again, society stood between us and actually having heartfelt moments. Douglas never liked this song, so I couldn't sing along around him. Too slow, he said, the world didn't need fake love songs.

I guess that's why he opted to listen to Aerosmith instead of John Legend. Hmph.
I wonder if Harry likes John Legend. It's a fairly odd and unorthodox question, especially since I'm supposed to be furious at the curly-haired idiot. He just seemed too ignorant of everything to deserve that. Maybe he just needed someone to explain things to him?
I sigh and pull into Mikky D's Take Away. He served some of the greasiest, most delicious pizzas this side of town.

"Hey, Louis!" I'm immediately greeted by the owner. He has on a dirtied apron with a hair net over his bald head.

"Hi, Mikky." I greet, zipping up my Ecko Ltd jacket because it was nippy outside.

"What can I get ya?"

"Pizza. One of the usual and another with pineapple."

"Coming right up." He yells at what is the last remaining cook to hurry up with this order, before turning back to me.

I'm fiddling with the straws on the counter, counting which ones were fully covered and which had the paper covering torn off.

"Heard about what happened at the station, Louis." Mikky says slowly.

Damn! Why did everyone have to know? "Word gets around fast here."

"It's a small town. People look out for each other."

I look up at him for a split second before lowering my gaze again. "Yeah."

"What did he say to you? The kid."

Why did people always call him that? He had a name. I knew I had no business getting defensive over a culprit of mental instability. God knows how rumours of such a scandalous affair will spread then.

"Harry?" I respond. "Nothing."

"I know the boy myself. Really nice when he isn't.......you know-"

"Crazy."

"He isn't crazy." Mikky defends. "Dad left 'em so I guess he took that hard. How he went off his rocker, I don't know."

I nod solemnly.

"Don't treat him too bad, yeah? He doesn't deserve what he got out of life."

I frown. "What do you mean?"

"Mean he has a heart of gold. Gold thorns though." Mikky chuckles weakly. "Heard he's going to rehab."

"Yeah."

"Gonna visit him there?"

"Why should I?"

"Because of what I just said. Give him a chance, okay?"

"I have-"

"A boyfriend. We know." He grumbles and I blush. "I ain't asking you to share skin with him, Lou."

My cheeks heat up in spite of my reservations about any form of intimacy with Harry.

"Come on, Lou." Mikky takes the hot lids from behind him to be boxed and handed over since I've already paid. "Don't get me worried here."

I smile at him. "I'm fine, Mikky. Not a glass pot."

"Most definitely not that." He laughs for my sake. "Take care, alright?"

"I will!"

I exit the brightly lit store with a fading redness to my cheeks and white whispers being blown in the air with each breath of mine. With the food in my left hand, I open my car door with the right and get in.

The police station is partly my second home. It will fall in third place when I finally hear back from any one of the sixteen colleges I applied to, and I'd have to move there.

"Hey, Louis." The Deputy greets me with a smile. "Your mom's in her office."

"Thanks, Deputy." I give him a salute then head to my mom's familiar office.

"Hey, kiddo." She looks up from her paperwork with a tired grin. "That for me?"

"Yeah." I take a seat across from her on the cushioned seat. "When are you coming home?"

"When I can finally put this case to sleep. Anne's uh.....asked me for a favour."

"Favour?" I leave the pizza box on her table atop her current work and she scowls at me.

"Aha. She just wants me to get Harry his own room."

The mention of Harry's name stops me from leaning forward a few inches to steal a slice of pineapple encrusted goodness.

"He'd have to share otherwise and she doesn't think he needs that."

Needs that? My sympathy for the estranged and lanky individual just multiplies. "Oh."

"You went to see him?" She smirks. "Up on Lost Lake."

"Christ!" I slouch in my chair and let my arms flail about in an informal circle. "How do people know things so quickly?"

"Word gets around." She echoes me with a laugh. "I'm surprised you're not...."

"Pissed? Hateful? Angry? Depressed?"

"Sober." She quirks an eyebrow at me. "You were very stiff earlier on when Harry erupted on us all. Didn't think you'd give him the time of day."

Oh I gave him the time of day. "I'm not saying he doesn't scare me."

"He shouldn't though. He's a lovely kid, everyone knows him."

"Is that why everyone's asking me to cheat on my boyfriend?"

"No one's asking you to do that." She exasperates. "Douglas is a good guy too."

"But?"

"But I've only known him for two minutes at a time and-"

"Mom!" I whine. "Not this again."

"I worry about you, baby." She reprimands softly. "You're my son and I never want to see
you get hurt."

My shoulders hunch and I bring my knees up to hug my chest. "I'm not."

"You never had those cuts before Douglas, Louis."

"I smoked before him."

"And that is an improvement?"

I look away from her, at the floor where I know my rapid blinking to hoard back the tears will go unnoticed. I didn't need this right now, after today of all days.

"I don't know what you're saying to me." I speak quietly, I hardly think I can be heard.

"I'm saying that maybe you should take my advice this once."

"And break up with Douglas?" I shiver at the thought, the outrageous idea. I loved Douglas.
What would happen to him if I left? To me? He'd be so angry with me and I'd be heartbroken.

"Not yet. You were so taken with him that you never stopped to think." She rolls her pen between her hands. "Maybe just....evaluate all your options?"

I smile wryly and wipe my face with the back of my sleeve. "Don't tell me you think Harry's a saint too?"

"Not a saint." She sits back. "A good person."

"Unbelievable."

"What?"

"Everyone has the same bloody thing to say about him, everyone fucking loves him. Then why is he going to rehab tomorrow? Why is it suddenly my responsibility to make him better? I. Don't. Know. Him."

"First, watch your tongue." She sits forward. "Second, the boy's had a life harder than most. He'd appreciate some help with coping."

"And am I expected to be his coping method?"

"He won't use you, Lou. We'd never ask you to spend time with him if it would be beneficial to you both."

"Be my mom this once. Tell me what my mom wants to say." I look at her earnestly in the eye.

She sighs and gets up to walk around the table. "I'm asking for your help, so is Anne. I'm asking you to do me this one favour and help make someone else's son better. Can you help me, Lou?"

I take a deep breath to steady my rampant thoughts. Maybe I could do this for her, for Harry's mom. I won't let it go too far and I won't get carried away myself. Everyone couldn't be wrong about Harry.

I stand up and nod once. "Okay."

She smiles and extends her arm towards me. I shake my head and step back but she hauls me forward into a hug only mothers could give. "Thank you, Lou."

"No problem." And if my voice trembled a little at the thought of enlightening Douglas on this subject, no one needed to care.

"I want you happy, alright? If you can't handle it then you'll tell me."

"I will."

"Let's get to this pizza now, yeah?"

"Yeah."

[A/N: Just thought I'd let you all know: Douglas Booth is Douglas. Will be updating one more chapter for this weekend :) We're going on vacation and I really need a break so I'm so sorry :( but I beg of you, comment and let me know you're here, my loves.]

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