Louis wakes from a nightmare, he looks at the clock and it reads midnight. The city lights are shining through the windows and he tries to calm down when he realises where he is. Louis hasn't had a nightmare in months, he then realises his shirt is completely soaked through with sweat.

Louis doesn't even think twice before he's getting out of bed and walking next door to Harry and Scott's room. He opens their door slowly and sees them fast asleep, he doesn't want to disturb them but he desperately wants their comfort right now.

He walks over towards Harry's side, which is closest to the door. Their room is massive, so much bigger than Louis, with floor to ceiling windows that go most of the way around the room.

"Harry" Louis whispers

Harry stirs instantly and so does Scott

"Lou?" Harry asks as he wakes up

"Darling what's happened" Scott asks concerned as he turns the side light on

"Jesus Lou, you're soaked sweetheart" Harry says as he sees Louis.

"I had a nightmare and I.....I...." Louis says as his breathing picks up.

"It's okay darling, just breathe" Scott says as he gets up and moves around to Louis side quickly.

Louis latches onto Scott as he kneels down in front of Louis.

"It's okay darling, we're here, it's okay" Scott reassures

Harry reaches out and swipes Louis sweaty fringe off his forehead.

"Let's get you changed sweetheart" Harry says and he gets up off the bed, he goes to his and Scott's wardrobe and gets out a black pyjama sweater, he brings it over

"Here Lou" Harry says gently

Louis releases Scott and they both help him take his sweaty shirt off. Louis is so small but he's toned and so tanned and Harry and Scott in any other moment would admire him.

When Louis is in the dry comfy sweater he relaxes, it smells of both Harry and Scott and Louis is so thankful. The sweater is huge on him and it falls off his delicate collarbones.

"I'm sorry" Louis says quietly

"For what sweetheart?" Scott asks

"For waking you up, I just......wanted you" Louis confesses

Harry and Scott look to each other and smile so wide

"We're so glad Louis, you have no idea" Harry says

"Come on, you can sleep with us tonight" Scott says smiling

Scott moves around to his side and Harry puts Louis in the middle of the bed, they settle down and turn the light out. Louis rests over Scott's chest and Harry spoons him from behind.

"Comfy?" Scott asks

"Yeah" Louis says relaxed

"Do you want to talk about your dream?" Harry asks carefully

Louis doesn't respond for a good minute

"My dad" Louis whispers into the dark

Harry and Scott don't say anything, they just grip Louis tightly and coax him gently back to sleep.

The next morning Louis wakes alone, the clock on Harry's nightstand reads 7am and he sighs, he has to get up for school. Louis knows Scott and Harry are already awake, they will drop him to school on their way to the hospital

Louis goes to have a shower, he's so thankful for Harry and Scott and their comfort last night, he's tired, but he managed to sleep without another nightmare

When he's dressed in his uniform he heads to the kitchen, Harry, Drew and Scott are dressed in their dark blue scrubs ready for work, while Andy and Edward are shirtless in sweats. They are all eating cereal or toast and drinking their morning coffee

"Morning kiddo" Andy says when he sees Louis

"Morning" Louis says with a slight smile

"Okay darling?" Harry asks and Louis nods blushing

"What would you like for breakfast" Edward asks

"I'm, not hungry, I'll eat at school" Louis says

The boys don't push, Louis hardly ever eats breakfast

"Here's your lunch money"'Edward says as he pulls a $20 note from his pocket.

"I still have money left over from Monday" Louis says

"Okay, well just keep it on you just in case okay" Edward says

Louis sighs but puts the money in his pocket, he's got about $200 stashed under his bed from the lunch money he doesn't use. The boys have no idea that he doesn't eat lunch at school

"You okay if you and the boys catch the bus home this afternoon?" Drew asks

"Yeah of course" Louis says

"We will have your room set up for you by the time you get home" Andy says smiling

"Thanks Andy" Louis says sincerely

The boys all smile at Louis and they say their goodbyes to Andy and Edward as they make their way to school and work.

Once Louis is dropped off he heads to his locker and his friends

"Hey Lou!" They all greet him

Louis returns the greeting with a big smile on his face

"All set for tonight?" George asks

"Yep! Although, can we please order something other than Chinese" Louis teases

The boys chuckle, George always wants Chinese for dinner and the boys tease him about it all the time.

"Fine! As long as it's pizza" George smiles

Louis and the boys laugh

"I'll take anything else" Louis laughs

The boys first two periods of the day are spares so they decide to head to the football fields to catch up on homework and plan their night

When they sit down on the grass they get their books out

"You okay Lou? You seem tired" Noah asks

Noah, George and Jake are the only people who know what happened with his dad. He hasn't told anyone else and he won't. They are very overprotective of Louis, him being the smallest and youngest of the group.

"I'm okay, didn't sleep that well" Louis says a little ashamed

"We told you not to worry about Robbie and his stupid goons, we won't let him hurt you" Noah says

Louis smiles

Before he can respond, Robbie and his three goons walk over to Louis and his friends

"Well, well, well, I see you're a weakling after all Lewis" Robbie says and his goons laugh

Louis and the boys stand up

"What's your problem Robbie" Jake asks angrily

"Louis is my problem so stay out of it" Robbie says harshly

"You have a problem with Louis, you have a problem with all of us" Noah seethes

"I don't know why you hang round him honestly he's nothing but a weak fag, he went and told on me and now I'm supposed to apologise and stay away from him" Robbie says laughing

Shit, Louis thinks, the boys really didn't fix anything

"Well, we're yet to hear an apology" George says sarcastically, waiting for Robbie to speak

"Watch your mouth, there's no way I'm apologising, or staying away from you Louis, you just made things worse for yourself" Robbie smirks

Louis has had enough, he's so sick of being treated like shit, like he's nothing, he's sick of not standing up for himself, he's sick of being blackmailed and bullied and he's not going to let Robbie win

"Maybe you should just leave the team now Louis, before everyone finds out you're a fag" Robbie says and Louis steps forward about to go at him, but he's pulled back by the boys.

"Just ignore him Lou, it's okay" Jake reassures

Louis calms down and the boys let him go,

Robbie and his friends are laughing

"Jesus you're so weak you can't even fight your own battles, what a fag, no wonder your dad disowned you! I wonder how long it will be until your brothers do too" Robbie and his friends laugh.

That hits Louis hard and before the boys can stop him, he's punching Robbie straight in the jaw

Everyone goes quiet and Louis is shocked that he just hit someone, he doesn't have time to react before Robbie is tackling Louis to the ground and gets a hit in to his face, Louis fights back and the two go at it as their friends try to break it up.

It's not until the principal races over that they are pulled off each other

"My office now" Principal Jones yells

"Boys get to class" He then says to the others

George, Jake and Noah look on sympathetically as Louis and Robbie are escorted to Mr Jones office.

Louis eyebrow is bleeding and his shoulder is really sore, he hopes he hasn't done any damage to it, he's supposed to be careful with it. Louis starts to panic the closer they get to the office, Louis knows his brothers will be called and he doesn't want to get into trouble.