A one shot where Harry leaves his boyfriend, Louis, after he becomes famous. 

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"I'm glad to welcome Harry Styles to our studio today!" Louis didn't know why he was watching. He hadn't talked to Harry in five years. He hadn't seen the man in person for four. Louis reaches out to turn the TV off, but stops as he sees his ex-boyfriend walk on. 

Louis' heart stops. Louis tried his best to avoid everything and anything with Harry Styles on it. He went to great lengths to avoid the magazine aisle because more than likely the boy's face was on the front cover. He couldn't much avoid hearing about him since he was one of the biggest stars out there and he was about to release a new album. It didn't help much that his best friend, Liam Payne, still talked to Harry either. 

"Hello! It's great to be here," Harry's voice was deeper than Louis remembered. Louis takes a moment to scan over his face. 

Harry's hair was a little longer than Louis remembers. Louis knew that the boy had cut his long hair about a year ago, but he hadn't realized how long it had gotten since then. His face was more defined now then it was when Harry left him. Louis finds his whole body clenching as his mind starts to wonder towards the old memories they shared. 

"So, you're album is dropping soon. Tell me about that, how is this album different from the ones in the years past?" Louis knew he couldn't watch much more. He wouldn't allow himself to fall for Harry all over again. 

He grips the remote tight in his hand as Harry smiles, "This album is a lot more personal than the last couple have been. I really dug deep and poured my heart out into these songs. The fans will get to hear more of my feelings in this then anything else." 

A knock at the door sends Louis jumping. He leaps out of his seat and fumbles to turn the TV off. He refused to be caught watching Harry's interviews. Louis makes sure the TV is off before opening the door. 

"Hey Louis!" Louis' best friend, Liam, walks inside and sets his bag down on the couch. Louis raises an eyebrow before closing the door and following Liam. 

"What's up?" Liam grabs the remote control and turns the TV back on before taking a seat on Louis' couch. Louis takes a hesitant seat next to him. 

"Har--uh, H, told me he had a surprise for us on his segment today. He wouldn't tell me what it was about, but he said it was a big deal and that I needed to watch it with you," Liam explains. 

"He talked about me? I thought you said he never brought me up in your conversations. That's the rule, Liam! You can't talk to Harry about me or vice versa! I thought I was--"

"Shut up, alright? This was the only time he ever talked about you so I figured it must be something big if he wants you to watch it too," Liam says. Louis groans, knowing he wasn't as mad at Liam as he was letting on. 

Louis was always hurt that Liam still talked to Harry. The three of them were really close when they went to school together. In fact, Liam was the only person besides the families that knew Harry and Louis were dating. Neither boy wanted to make it a big deal and decided to only tell Liam and the family to keep it that way. However, when Harry moved to LA he only ever talked to Liam. Louis would try to keep in touch with Harry, but Harry burned the bridge between them without an explanation. Liam suggested he cut off contact with Harry too hoping it would make Louis feel better, but it really didn't. Nothing would make Louis feel better about it. 

"So what are your plans for after the album drops? Big party maybe?" Louis watches as Harry plays with his rings. Those stupid rings were the only thing that made Louis want to forgive Harry. Louis got Harry most of the rings while they were dating and Harry kept all of them and still wore them. The rings were the only thing keeping Louis curious about Harry. If Harry really didn't want to talk to Louis he would've sold them or stopped wearing them, but he didn't. 

"I'm actually going to go off the grid for a while. All the stuff with the album has really been making me miss my roots. So, when the album drops I'm going to be with the people that helped get me here and the people that have been by my side since the beginning." Louis' stomach clenches. He couldn't come back. Harry hadn't been back here since he left. Louis couldn't face Harry. 

"You okay?" Louis stood and dragged his hand through his hair. He didn't know what he was going to do. He couldn't face Harry. He knew he couldn't. 

"I can't, he can't, no. He's not allowed to come back here! He can fly out however he wants, but he can't...he can't just come back like that!" Liam stands, knowing that this wasn't going to be good. He brings his friend into a hug and holds him. 

"When? Do you know when he's getting here? I can't leave my house, Liam, I can't," Louis sobs. He finds his eyes starting to water and curses himself as he wipes them away. 

"Well the interview was pre-recorded, so I have no clue. I'm sorry, Louis, I wish I could tell you. Why don't we go to Lottie's? I'm pretty sure he doesn't know where she lives." Louis nods and grabs his wallet and phone. He couldn't be here, especially knowing that Harry could show up at any point.

Liam drives them to Lottie's house. Lottie was used to having Louis come over at random times whenever he needed her and she didn't mind at all. Louis doesn't bother with the door on the way in and instead just barges in. He instantly regrets it as he sees his sister talking to someone. 

Louis feels himself tensing up. His toes curl in his shoes and his heart leaps to his feet. He steps backwards and grabs for the door as the person turns around. No. It wasn't possible. Lottie wouldn't have gone behind Louis' back and done something like this. 

"Hi, Louis," Harry mutters. Liam gulps and looks between Harry and Louis, obviously uncomfortable. 

"Sorry, Louis. He just showed up and I was about to tell him to get the fuck out of my house when you came. I have no clue how he knows my address," Lottie snaps. She folds her arms across her chest and purses her lips. Harry scratches the back of his neck as he looks at Louis brokenheartedly. 

"I came back to see you, Louis. I'm sorry for the shit I put you through. I just wanted to apologize and I thought Lottie could help," Harry explains. Louis couldn't move and couldn't speak. His eyes shift to Liam's soft brown ones. 

"Harry, you can't just do that! I told you that Louis wanted no interest in seeing you. Not now, and not ever," Liam says. If it came down to Louis or Harry, Liam was prepared to take Louis' side. Liam had spent the last few years of his life helping Louis get over Harry and he knew what Harry did was unjust, so of course, he could take Louis' side. 

"I'm sorry. I just wanted to talk to you. Not very long at all, just like 20 minutes, please Louis," Harry begs. Louis takes a moment to gather himself. He looks between Lottie and Liam. Both of them looked ready to fight, but that wasn't what Louis wanted. 

All these years of planning what he would say to Harry if he ever saw him again and no he was tongue tied. Louis had no clue what to say now that the love of his life was standing in front of him. 

"Okay," Louis breathes. Harry visibly relaxes and takes a step towards Louis. Louis panics and jumps back, farther towards Liam. Liam reaches out and sets a hand on Louis' waist protectively. Harry puts his hands up and gestures for Louis to take a seat on the couch. Louis nods for Lottie and Liam to leave and after a moment they do. 

Louis looks back to Harry and realizes that this was his worst nightmare brought to life. He casually sits on the opposite end of the sofa as Harry, too scared to make a move. 

"Let me start and say that I'm sorry. I was being dumb and irrational. I should've told you sooner or at all, even. It was so not okay for me to just get up and leave for LA without telling you. I'm sorry for not responding to your texts. I really wanted to at first, but I knew I couldn't. I would've turned right back around if I texted you back. When I got there and told my management that I had a boyfriend back home they told me to forget about you. They warned me that nobody would accept me or take me seriously, and I believe them. I'm sorry I believed them, Louis. I really am. I'm sorry that I took every opportunity to sleep with whatever girl I saw to keep a straight reputation. I never even considered how it made you feel, until now. After I took that break and went to Jamaica I realized how shitty I was being. I wrote so many songs, Louis, and so many of those songs were about you. I don't know if you've heard it, but it's called Sweet Creature. It's about you and our time together and it's one of my favorites. I just really need you to forgive me," Harry sighs. 

Louis didn't know what to do. He was torn. "I shouldn't forgive you. You made me hurt so much. I thought I wasn't good enough for you. I thought that I was disgusting and gross and so replaceable. I figured you never loved me and that it was all a game. I developed so much anxiety and self-hate. It took years to get even remotely close to who I used to be. All because you were being a dumb boy. I shouldn't forgive you, but I am," Louis says. He can feel himself starting to choke up as he remembers the hardships he faced. Harry looks up at him, nearly in tears himself. 

"Do you uh...want to hear the song?" Louis chuckles and wipes the tears from under his eyes and nods. 

"Of course I do. I want to hear all the songs," Louis says. Harry smiles brightly and pulls out his phone. 

After listening to the album Louis was in tears again. Harry explained to Louis throughout the listen what the lyrics meant and explained the songs in detail. 

"So, do you like them?"

"I love them. I'm so proud of you, Harry, always," Louis mutters. Louis feels himself leaning in and bringing Harry back into his arms, where he belonged.