After the concert, Harry can feel the tension. The tension wasn't obvious during the concert, but it did loom in the back of his thoughts. Sam didn't say much about it then. Now, it's only the two of them and Harry knows it'll come up. 

Harry fears that this will be the end of their relationship as he knows it. How can both of them simply go back to how things were when Sam knows such a looming fact about Harry's past? Surely something will change. Harry fears that more than anything. 

The one thing that Harry loves the most about Sam is that he's real and doesn't see Harry in the way Simon made Harry out to be. He didn't know about the fame, the money, the riches, the lies that Harry was so engulfed in. Sam was like a fresh of breath air. 

They're in the car now and Sam hasn't looked at him. He just sits quietly in the driver's seat of the beat-up, green truck. Harry decides to break the ice first, "I understand if you want me to pack my things."

Slowly, Sam looks up at Harry as if he's lost his mind and shakes his head lightly. "No. I don't want you to get up and leave, Harry. I'm just... I'm trying to process everything right now. You can't expect me to just understand and come to terms with something like this in one night," Sam explains. 

Harry threads his fingers together and can't make himself look away from them. Tears have started to threaten his eyes. He feels so stupid. How could he think that keeping this a secret from Sam would ever work out? It was obvious that Sam would find out one way or another. There's no possible way that they could just live out the rest of their lives without Sam ever finding out about it. Harry just thought it wouldn't be so soon. 

"God damn it, darlin', why're you crying," Sam asks. There's an uplift to his voice that clues Harry in that Sam isn't upset. There's no trace of malice in his voice. Harry wipes at his eyes as a stray tear falls. He spares a glance at Sam who has tears brimming his eyes too. 

"I just feel dumb for keeping it from you. I don't know what I expected to happen," Harry sighs. A frown sits deep-set in his cheeks. He feels like a fraud as he glances down at his engagement ring. He doesn't even deserve to wear such a thing. 

"Well, I'm not gonna lie and say that I'm not hurt that you lied to me. I am. It ain't all bad though. My fiance is a pop-star," Sam laughs. He reaches across the counsel of the truck to grab Harry's hand. Harry can't help the smile that forms at Sam's poor attempts to make him feel better. 

"I shouldn't even be upset. You shouldn't be making me feel better. You should be mad at me," Harry protests. Sam rolls his eyes and brings Harry's hand to his mouth to kiss. 

"You're an emotional person and I am a laid-back person. I said that I'm a little mad, but I know why you kept it from me. I can imagine how horrible that must've been back then. You must've wanted an escape from all of that. I can't imagine you ever wanted all this drug back up again. It would've been nice if you've told me so I could've gotten a refund for the tickets though," Sam explains. Harry wipes his eyes but shakes his head. 

"No. I think that this was an overall positive experience. Um... well Louis and I didn't really end on good terms and it was really sudden. I think it was good to see him and finally shut that part of my life out. A final goodbye to all of it," Harry explains. It makes sense in his head, but he has no clue how to articulate that to Sam. 

Seeing him... Louis after all these years was one of the most painful things he's ever had to do. Having to stand next to him and be so close after everything that went down. At times, Harry can still hear Louis shouting at him.

You said it yourself. I see what you're picking. Go! Leave! When you do, know that whenever you see my name anywhere that everything I've done has been for you. That even though you're leaving me right now, I'll always love you.  

Be a man, Harry. If this is what you really want then fucking leave. 

FUCKING LEAVE! DON'T MAKE THIS HARDER ON ME THAN IT ALREADY IS AND JUST FUCKING GET OUT

"I know you probably don't want to talk about this now, but at some point--if you're up for it--I would like to know what happened," Sam says. Harry nods. 

He wants to tell Sam. He wants to tell Sam everything. Even though this has been a horrible experience that Harry never wants to experience again, he will admit it's like a weight lifting off his shoulders. Never has Harry talked about anything that happened with anyone he cares about. His mum still doesn't know certain things about what happened. 

"At some point," Harry promises. 

~_~_~

By the time they get home, Harry is the most emotionally drained he's ever been. It feels like an eternity since he's been in bed and the only thing he wants to do is sleep and pretend none of that ever happened.

Sam is fast asleep beside him already, but Harry's on his phone. Although he's dead tired, he can't see to fall asleep. Just as he's about to put his phone down, he gets a text. 

Unknown number

Harry?

You

Who is this?

Unknown number

It's Niall Horan. We need to talk. 

~_~_~

Hey guys! It's been a long time coming and I feel so bad!! I had SERIOUS writers block for this chapter. I finally just forced myself to sit down and get through it and I don't think it turned out that bad. Tomorrow is my last day of school, so hopefully I will be able to get more frequent updates out for you! Thanks so much!

QOTC: What do you think Niall wants?