Harry's POV

"Thank you Haz, for being there for him" Scott says to me when we are in the car. Louis is snuggled into my chest fast asleep.

"Scott I...... I think" I start, trying to find the words to tell him how I feel.

"I know Haz, its ok, we wouldn't want anyone else. I trust you" Scott says sincerely meeting my eyes in the rear-view mirror.

"We all trust you Haz, just...... Please don't break his heart" Edward says from next to me.

"I...never, you have my word" I say. The boys all give a silent acknowledgment and I relax knowing I have their blessings. I can't help the smile on my face. I need to be alone with Louis and tell him how I feel.

When we get back to the house, I carry Louis upstairs to bed. I lay him down and kiss his forehead. I wish I could stay but I need to get home. I take his jeans of leaving him in his shirt and boxers and I promise him I will come back tomorrow, even if he can't hear me. I smile at him and leave the room. I cannot wait to see him again tomorrow.

Louis POV

When I wake up the next morning, I'm in my own bed, I'm in my boxers but my shirt from yesterday is still on. I get up and put my sweatpants back on and walk downstairs. I find everyone outside by the pool already. I didn't think I slept that late. I don't want to face the boys right now so I decide to go straight to the living room and watch some TV. I turn on some mindless reality show. I don't end up watching it as my mind starts re-living the events of yesterday. How am I supposed to get over this? The bruises over my skin are a constant reminder that I can't escape. I don't know how much time has passed but my thoughts are interrupted when Drew walks into the room with a plate of toast in his hand. He hands it to me, but I shake my head no. I'm not hungry, my stomach is too uneasy to be thinking of food.

"Babe I understand you're upset and hurting, but I really need you to eat" Drew says.

"Drew, please don't start. I can't handle anyone else being disappointed in me, especially you. I'm eating ok. I just don't feel like anything right now" I say back tiredly.

"The last thing I am, or anyone else for that matter is, is disappointed in you, why would you even think that Louis?" he says kindly to me, moving closer and putting his hand on my thigh.

"I'm such a failure D, how can you not see that. I couldn't even defend myself. What kind of idiot gets himself in that situation Drew? And now...now it's haunting me. I can feel him, I can smell him, the bruises are still there, and I want them to go away. I don't want to think about it anymore, I'm so fucked up. I have had two panic attacks over what happened. I'm pathetic D" I breathe out heavily.

"Lou you are not pathetic. You didn't put yourself in that situation. None of this is your fault do you understand, none of it. You're going to be jumpy and panicky for a while. It's ok. It's a natural reaction to what's happened. We are all here for you though Louis, to talk to and help you through it. Please don't shut me out, we are a team you and me. You may be my little brother, but you're also one of my best friends, and I don't want to lose you Louis. I need you to talk to me, please" Drew says.

I look towards his blue eyes pleading with me. I feel horrible for shutting him out, he is right, he is my best friend and I need him to get through this, I need to open up to Drew about this. I can't do it on my own.

"Okay" I whisper out "I'll talk to you, but I don't want to talk to anyone else, I don't want to be looked at pitifully and I don't want people feeling sorry for me, please" I say back looking him in the eyes.

"Ok, deal, I can work with that, but you have to promise to come to me when you need to Louis"

"Yeah, I promise D" I say, and he smiles at me.

He brings me in for a huge hug and I can't help but cuddle into him, I've missed my big brother, I love him to death. I know Drew will be there for me, I can count on him the most. Even though I know all my brothers would do the same as Drew, we just have this connection that no one else has.

"Now can you please eat some toast? I made it especially for you and I would be really upset if you didn't eat it" he says fake pouting at me.

"That's because the only thing you know how to cook is toast D" I say with a laugh.

"Hey that may be true, but I make the best toast" he says making me laugh.

I pick up the toast and take a bite. My stomach makes a slight protest, but I push through it and eat the whole piece.

"Good we need to fatten you up; you're wasting away on us" he says.

I don't think I'm fading away at all, and now I actually feel guilty about eating the toast, before my thoughts can get too carried away, I'm interrupted by Drew's voice.

"Harry is coming over later on" he says smirking at me.

"Oh" I say blushing and looking down.

"Yeah, what's up with you two?" he asks treading carefully.

I trust Drew with everything. Even though him and Harry are best friends too, I know whatever I say to him won't leave the room, he would never betray me like that.

"What do you mean what's up with us? He helped me with my biology, and he took me to your game...... But I know he just sees me as a little brother" I say sighing.

"Do you want him to see you as something else?" Drew asks turning serious.

I sigh a huge sigh, and look down at the floor, I start fiddling with the hem of my shirt.

"Well...... I-I I feel comfortable with Harry, I always have. He makes me feel things though, like butterflies in my stomach and he is warm and smells like vanilla and cinnamon. He doesn't look at me like I'm a freak and he makes me feel really happy, and special when I'm around him. I know I don't mean anything to him though D, but I can't help how I feel" I say.

I get the courage to look at Drew and I see him smiling at me.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that babe; I've really noticed how weird he acts around you, and he doesn't just come over to see me anymore. The way his face lights up when you smile at him and the way he was when you had that panic attack yesterday was.......... Different. I've seen him with other guys and girls Lou, but I can't put my finger on why he is different with you. It's like you're the only one in the room when he sees you. It's like the only thing I can relate it to is me and Ness and I love Ness so......"

My breath catches in my throat love!!! There is no way Harry would like me let alone love me. I don't know what to say to Drew's words, my head is spinning. I can't believe he would think of me as anything special. Before I can respond Edward is in the doorway.

"There you two are, we've been looking for you both, is everything ok?"

"Yeah, everything's great, we are just having a chat" Drew says smiling.

"Good I'm glad" Edward says smiling back "Do you want to come for a swim Louis? The pool is really nice" Edward finishes.

"Ummmm, my, my bruises are...... I don't feel comfortable"

"Louis it's just the boys, just us, no one will look at you any differently I promise. You can wear a shirt if you're more comfortable" Edward says coming over and kneeling in front of me.

"Yeah Lou, we're your older brothers, our job is to look after you, we would never think a bad thing about you. Remember our promise, no pity and no sorry looks ok" Drew says.

"Yeah, yeah ok" I say, giving a slight smile.

I want to get back to normal and this is the first step to doing so, Edward and Drew both smile back at me. I head upstairs to go get into my board shorts, I put on my navy and white shorts, and they are really loose on me. I can't help but be happy about it, I'm still nowhere near my goal but at least my clothes are getting too big. I look at myself in the mirror before heading back downstairs. The bruise on my ribs is still there but it's yellowing and doesn't look that bad. My ribs still hurt but nothing I can't handle. My neck bruises are slowly fading, and I only have a slight bruise on my cheek. I can see my ribs are sticking out more, but my stomach still sticks out more than I'd like. I can see my collar bones sticking our more as well. I don't look overly skinny though, but skinner than I was definitely. I hope the guys at school will see how much I'm trying to lose weight to fit in with them.

I decide to put on a blue T-shirt I'm still not comfortable enough to swim without one. I walk out of the bathroom and down the stairs into the pool area. The boys are all there waiting for me.

Our pool is really big with waterslides and waterfalls and even sand like a beach, It's great to hang out around the pool, It's like our own private beach with a huge outdoor entertainment area with a bar and a fire pit.

I slowly hop into the pool its lovely and warm. I can see the boys trying not to watch me but failing. I get over it when I'm emerged in the water. I just hope they aren't offended by my fat body. I don't worry for long as the boys start splashing around and causing a ruckus around me. I'm still sore so I just watch as the boys throw each other In and out of the pool and wrestle with each other. I'm having lots of fun and soon forget about my problems. After a while I get out of the pool to get a soda from the bar.

"Lou, can you get me a coke too please" Drew yells.

I nod my head and grab Drew a coke, me a diet coke, just thinking about the number of calories in a normal coke has me feeling sick.

As I'm walking back to the pool, I stop in my tracks, Harry is standing by the pool in a pair of yellow board shorts with aviators on, his muscles and six pack on full display, his tattoos make his body look amazing and I can't help but stare. He has two friends, Cameron and Ed behind him, also in their board shorts, ready to get in the pool. They are both good looking but not anywhere near Harry. I walk slowly over smiling shyly as I hand Drew who is on the edge of the pool, his coke.

"Thanks" he says, and I nod.

I feel really self-conscious and intimidated with 7 older guys in the pool and me being the youngest by far. They all have muscles and are toned and good looking. I will never compare to any of them, I'm not attractive at all and I really don't want to embarrass the boys. I just stand awkwardly by the pool, my shirt clinging to me, and I just want to go inside. Harry struts over towards me and I nearly choke on my own spit, he is so sexy. He reaches me and leans in and kisses me on the head and puts his arm round my waist.

"Hey Lou, how are you feeling today?" he says so only I can hear. I feel so comfortable in his arms I can't help but lean into him.

"I'm fine H" I say smiling at him.

"You remember Cam and Ed?" he says introducing me again.

"Yeah, uh hi" I say shyly.

I see them trying not to look at my body, I don't know if it's because of the bruises or because I'm so fat.

"Hey Lou" they both say.

They don't mention anything that happened with Mr Charles, but I know they know. It doesn't bother me, the whole school probably knows, I'm just glad they don't mention it.

Drew hops out of the pool at that moment and walks over to us.

"Listen guys that's my little brother, if I catch any of you looking at him, perving on him or even attempting to make a move, you're out, got it" he says seriously.

"Yes Drew, we get this lecture every time we come here" Ed says dramatically.

"Yeah, D, we know, we would never disrespect your brother man" Cam says.

I take a sip of my coke, trying to distract myself from the awkward moment.

"Even though he is super hot" Ed says.

I can't help but choke on my coke and spit it out as I do. Drew and Harry's friends think I'm actually hot? They aren't disgusted by my body? I'm sure they are just being nice, but it's still really surprising. All the boys laugh and go to jump into the pool.

"You should learn to take a complement" Harry says to me as he kisses my head and leaves my side to hop into the pool.