Drew calls Louis down for dinner at 6.

"I'm not hungry" Louis tries, he's about to panic about confronting the boys.

"Doesn't matter, get downstairs" Drew says and it's an order Louis would usually always listen too.

"Drew, I'm fine please just let it go" Louis says.

"Louis, so help me god, get your butt downstairs before I drag you" Drew responds.

Louis holds back his tears and gets up, Drew rests his hand on Louis lower back as both comfort and incase Louis decides to try and run.

When they make it to the dining room the boys are all waiting to eat, takeout is on the table and they boys are all still in their suits, their shirts are untucked, ties and shoes are off and hair messy after a long day. They all have a beer each and are obviously waiting for Louis and Drew.

"Wholly shit Louis, what the fuck" Harry asks upset as soon as he sees Louis face.

He gets up and rounds the table, gently lifting Louis chin to get a better look at Louis cheek.

"I'm fine" Louis whispers.

"Who did this to you" Harry asks angered.

"Look, fuck, just stop getting angry at me, I can handle my own shit, it was an accident okay, stop overreacting" Louis nearly yells.

"Overreacting...we're overreacting because we care?" Scott says getting angry.

"And don't speak to us like that thank you" Harry says.

"Just drop it" Louis says and he goes to leave the room.

Harry grabs him by the arm though, not letting him go and Louis hisses in response. Harry looks at the boys concerned before looking back to Louis and lifting his t-shirt up and revealing the bruise on his arm.

"If you don't start talking and tell us the truth about these bruises you're going to be in so much trouble Louis, starting with no Phone or TV privileges and no friends or football for a month" Harry says fiercely.

Tears prick Louis eyes.

"We just want to help you kiddo, what's happened" Edward speaks up.

"Nothing, honestly.... I....skipped third period to go to the fields to play football with Noah and Cody and a few of the boys. I copped an elbow to the cheek and Max grabbed me too hard around the arm, we were playing and that's it. I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want to get in trouble for skipping" Louis says, trying to sound believable.

It's silent while the boys take in Louis story.

Harry is death staring Louis and Louis knows Harry does not believe him one single bit.

The boys sigh.

"Fine, sit down and eat your dinner while we think of your punishment" Scott says.

Harry can think of one he'd like to give Louis, that's for sure.

"Why am I being punished?" Louis asks

"For skipping third period and lying to Drew about what happened" Edward says.

Louis huffs and tries to discreetly wipe the tear that's fallen, he sits down but doesn't make a move to eat.

The boys eye him worriedly and Drew fills Louis plate up. Louis just plays with his food not hungry at all.

"So what do you think is a fair punishment Louis" Harry asks sternly.

"I don't think I should have one" Louis says back

"You don't think skipping school and lying should result in a punishment?" Drew asks disbelieving

"Can you please just give me a break this one time, please" Louis says and it's vulnerable and choked and the boys are shocked.

"Louis, we punish you because it's a fair consequence for your actions, it's because we love you that we do it" Edward says.

"I'm not a little kid anymore okay, you can't tell me you didn't skip school" Louis says back upset.

He's right, they all used to skip together and go off to smoke blunts and much worse than play football.

"If you think punishments will stop when you turn 18 you've got another thing coming. As long as you're under our roof you will play by our rules and we are your guardians, protectors and we will do every single thing we possibly can to keep you safe, we don't care how 'little' you are" Scott tells Louis firmly.

"No TV for a month and no going out with Noah for a month, that includes to and from school. I will go back to driving you" Harry states and Louis is about to protest.

"That's an extremely lenient punishment Louis and you say a single word and I'll make it worse" Harry says voice full of authority.

Louis shuts his mouth and goes back to playing with his food.

"Eat Louis" Drew says.

"Please stop ordering me around, please" Louis says brokenly

"What's gotten into you?" Edward asks.

"You know, for once, I'd really like you to say something like "oh Lou, glad you had fun, don't get caught if you skip a lesson again, but don't make a habit of it" or "we used to skip too, we got up to so much shit" it would be nice if you could be my brothers and not my parents it really sucks sometimes alright. I get it you have to be both but I really miss my brothers sometimes" Louis says and that hits the boys hard.

Louis gets up and no one stops him as they watch him walk out of the dining room and back to his room.

When Louis leaves they look at each other.

"He's right, we used to do a lot worse guys" Drew says

"Yeah but he's lying" Harry says.

"How do you know" Edward asks.

"Because I know Louis" Harry says like it's the most obvious thing in the world.

"Well, we need to keep an eye on him, something has happened and we need to find out why he won't open up to us" Scott says.

"I'm worried, he's never not opened up before, I know we can be a little hard on him but nothings changed" Drew says.

"The anniversary of Mum and dad's death is next month, he always acts out around this time, maybe we should be a little more understanding" Scott says.

"We can be understanding and still lay down the law" Harry says.

"We know Haz, just he might need a little more love right now" Edward says.

Harry sighs and the boys go back to eating, missing Louis loud chatter they haven't heard in so long.