Straightened Out: Chapter Ten

After giving that cheeky remark Mark falls silent as he takes in Louis' appearance.

Louis' jaw is set, looking away from his friend and glaring down at the floor. His hands are balled into fists as his mind replays the events of the afternoon over and over like a broken record. His eyes are burning with hatred, but behind the fire is another emotion. One Louis seems to portray a lot lately. Sadness.

But it's not only his general depressed aura that has mark worried, it's the bruise on Louis' jaw that's got him panicked.

Mark pushes his body up off the bed, as fast as he could, his hands grip onto his best friends shoulders and he forces Louis to look at him. His hand goes to Louis' jaw and he turns his face to the side, examining the forming bruise on his face.

Mark swallows, forcing himself to stay calm even though he really really wants to hit someone. Preferably Harry. "Did he hit you?" Mark asks through gritted teeth, his stomach flipping at the thought of anyone hurting Louis.

Louis looks down, still avoiding Mark's eyes.

"Louis..." The taller boys tone is warning, as he forces Louis to look at him. "Did Harry hit you?" Mark says the word a bit slowly, stressing his serious tone.

Louis blinks a few times, debating his opinions. Eventually he just shakes his head and wraps his arms around Mark's waist, burying his face in Mark's baggy blue jumper.

"I hate it here Mark.." He trails off, fighting away the forming tears.

Mark wraps his arms around his friend, acting as a shield as he pulls the distressed boy closer to him. Here, shielded away, they both feel a little safer. Like the two of them could easily fight away any evil, as long as they stick together.

Mark opens his mouth to say something comforting but his phone goes off, the shrill alarm slicing through the silence and reminding Mark he unfortunately had to leave to catch his train soon.

Mark sighs, reluctantly peeling away from Louis. "Sorry... The train.."

Louis just nods, stepping back. "Text me?" He asks, changing the subject.

Mark nods, picking up his laptop bag and night bag. Mark pulls down the hem of his jumper then grabs his coat, shuffling inside his bag (luckily it fit without the bag looking like it was pregnant). It was still rather warm out and he didn't need the extra layer.

Mark repositions the strap of his laptop bag and smiles at Louis, hoping he looked sincere and not like he was pitying the other boy.

Both of them make their way out of the room in silence, walking close for both comfort and that feel of having something that was secure and safe, someone that would always be there.

Just as they approach the stairs down to the main hall on the ground floor Harry appears in front of them. His earlier hoodie had been removed, leaving him in a light grey top and jeans. His arms seemed as endless as his legs as he stares at Louis, his fingers curling around the spine of the notebook he held.

Louis stops, staring back at the curly haired boy. The abrupt stop meant that Louis' arm was against Mark's side and Harry's eyes briefly glance at the contact, as if he were waiting for one of the two friends to break it. Neither of them moved for a few moments.

The air around them was tense and Mark was racking his brain to think of anything he could do to make the feeling disappear. He was angry at Harry, of course he was, but he didn't want Louis to cause a drama or to get hurt again. Mark was just about to take hold of Louis' elbow and steer him away when the sort brunette moved himself.

Louis tilts his chin up a little and walks around Harry. Mark awkwardly trails after his friend, pride bursting through him at Louis' actions. When he glances over his shoulder (hoping to see Harry looking shocked and confused) he sees Harry looking down at the floor, a smirk on his face.

All the frustration and worry rushes back to the writer, hitting him like a speeding train. The worry quickly fades when he notes Louis' head still held high, leaving only his anger.

The feeling bubbles up in Mark, coursing through his veins like an overly addictive drug as he takes in that stupid smirk on the curly haired devils face. Without thinking Mark twirls on his heels and marches up to Harry, poking his chest once he was close enough.

Harry's head snaps up, still smirking as he looks at Mark. Harry is barely budged by the rather force poke of Mark's index finger, it was bound o bruise and yet Harry hadn't so much as flinched or winced.

The writer feels a tremble go through him as he suppresses his urge to slap that look straight off the taller boys face.

"What the fuck is your problem?" Mark glares at him.

He'd immediately taken a dislike to Harry, from the moment they met, and recent events were just proving that he was right to not give him the benefit of the doubt.

Harry raises an eyebrow, his smirk widening as he looks over Mark's face.

"No problem" Harry shakes his head, glancing around Mark to look at Louis, who had frozen in place, half way down the stairs. "Right, LouLou?"

Louis just nods, still facing away from both of them. What the hell? Mark is seriously starting to question Louis' sanity.

Mark frowns, poking Harry again. "No, you don't get to bully him. Just leave him alone, go find someone else's head to fuck with!"

Harry steps back "Don't touch me" He gives Mark a disgusted look but his tone is otherwise emotionless.

Mark steps closer, getting in Harry's face. He raises his eyebrow, challenging the slightly taller boy. "And what if I.. do?" Mark poked Harry with the last word.

Harry growls, grabbing hold of Mark's extended arm and twisting it. He continues to twist until he has Marks arm behind his back and he then pushes, sending Mark face first into the pretty wallpapered wall. Harry glares, pressing his elbow into the writers back.

Mark let's out a hiss of pain just as Louis spins round to face them, knowing he now had no choice but to get involved. Mark attempts to send him an apologetic look but he wasn't sure Louis could tell the difference between Mark's face and the wall right now.

"I said, don't touch me" Harry digs his elbow into Mark's shoulder blade as he snaps the words.

You'd think Mark had committed a highly immoral crime with the way he says the words, carefully and polite. He sounded so innocent, like it was Mark who was in the wring and not him.

Louis rushes up to the platform in the middle of the stairs, eyes wide as he take in how defenceless Mark is. He attempts to pull Harry's arms away but it was like trying to poll a metal pole out of concrete, a complete waste of energy. Harry was stronger then Louis and there was no chance of Louis being able to physically get him to stop.

Louis looks pleadingly at Harry "Please, you're hurting him" He doesn't even care that he sounds like a desperate teenage girl. He just wanted all this to stop. For someone out here to hit the restart button and allow them to prevent any of the past week happening.

Harry looks back at Louis, mentally debating his opinions. Louis' eyes tear up a little, hating this rivalry that had formed. Harry's own eyes were cold and calculating. They soften, however, as his green eyes lock with Louis' grey ones.

Mark stood there uncomfortably, almost feeling some kind of pulse passing between the boys behind him. They had some kind of weird connection and Mark had no idea if it was a good thing or a bad thing. It was like a bolt of energy was literally darting between the space between them, trying to get inside them but they were resisting it.

The moment their eyes lock Louis starts seeing all the pain in the others eyes for the first time at this proximity. Ignoring the hole that was practically tearing through his chest because of all he was seeing, Louis pouts a little, hoping to sweeten the deal in convincing Harry to release his death grip.

Harry nods at Louis "Fine, for you" He smiles a little, leaning over and pecking Louis' cheek before he let's go of Mark and sprints up the stairs, his lon legs taking three steps at a time.

Mark watches him go before looking at Louis. "Okay... I'm getting the feeling I've missed something huge"

Louis shakes his head "Nope, as usual I'm confused about what he means too" Louis looks up the stairs before shrugging and turning on his heels.

Mark nods, following Louis again. He had a feeling this was Louis' way of telling him to let it go. In fact, he knew it was Louis' way of saying that. But how in God's name could he let it go? 'For you'? What the hell did that mean? He made it sound like he and Louis were an item. As if he was Louis' boyfriend. Mark didn't like it. Harry had stolen all of Louis' attention and now Louis was most definitely keeping something from him.

His best friend is slipping away and he hasn't got a single clue how he can stop it.

"What did mean? For you? It sounds like he's your boyfriend" Mark speaks just as they get to the foot of the stairs.

Louis shrugs, avoiding eye contact again.

Mark huffs, tugging on Louis' arm and bringing them to a stop at the foot of the stairs. "No, I'm not having this Louis. What aren't you telling me?"

Louis sighs, glancing up the stairs again and biting his lip. "Nothing. He's just confusing the hell out of me and I have no idea if he's just messing with my head or what"

Mark nods "Okay, but what happened to cause that?" Mark gently touches the bruise on Louis' jaw "And to make you come in, screaming that he's a psycho?"

Louis let's out a sigh before he crumbles against Mark. "He has a girlfriend"

As Louis says those words his heart cracks, he was surprised there was any of it left to crack really. Everything that had happened and he still felt more pain and heartache each time he thought about it. Maybe his heart wasn't being cracked, but it was being sliced at by a dagger and now the bittersweet knife had covered the surface of his heart, it was taking another lap and opening up barely healed wounds left mere hours ago. The beats of his heart reacting to each knew slice, working double time to repair itself only for another stab of pain to tear open another wound. A never ending cycle of pain and repair.

Mark frowns, his words bring Louis out of his little trance "A girlfriend? And he acts like that towards you?" Mark points towards the stairs.

Louis nods, confused about it himself. The guy had a girlfriend, a very pretty girlfriend in fact and yet he did everything he did. He'd kissed Louis on the cheek, flirted and even got off to images and thoughts of him.

"But he came in drunk, saying he fucked a pretty girl..?" Mark was obviously confused. "Did he mean his girlfriend or is he a cheating bastard?"

Going by all the facts Louis had a sinking feeling it was the latter. Louis just shrugs in response, afraid of the answer. Maybe, just maybe, not voicing the views would make them less real.

Mark points at the bruise again "And how'd that happen?"

Louis was man enough to admit that he blushed at that question "I, er, I got mad at Harry after I found out about his girlfriend. I tried to slap him but.. his girlfriend got in the way and punched me before I had a chance" His last words are rushed, in a vain attempt that he could speak fast enough for Mark to miss it.

After a tiny bit, a very very tiny bit, of his anger towards Harry leaked away Mark couldn't suppress a smirk "His girlfriend hit you?"

Louis glares at his friend "Shut up"

Mark smiles a little bit before they enter the reception area, the door creaking loudly and alerting anyone within ten metres that they were entering. Liz was sat on her chair, behind her desk, and gave them a big grin as they sign out. The older lady was wearing a bright pink top (which hurt both boys eyes) in an attempt to look younger. She had more make-up on then usual and it just made her seem ten times creeper to Louis. Her eyes were on the pair of them right up until they got out the main door but she never sad a word.

Once in the fresh air Louis doesn't hold back his shudder as he glances backwards, in the general direction of Liz. Mark just nods, cringing a little bit himself before they walk towards the town.

It was an unspoken agreement that Louis would be going all the way to the train station. As they walk in silence Louis takes the chance to scan his friends face, searching for any sign that Mark was angry or upset.

Suddenly the writer let's out a long sigh and Louis looks up to see they were at the station. They enter the small building, which was just a little way away from all the shops they'd been in during Mark's visit.

The weight of his friend leaving seems to hit Louis with extreme force as they enter and see all the people walking briskly, in a hurry to get somewhere. The two of of them seemed like they were in slow motion as they stand within the crowd looking to the train schedule. Louis glances at the notice board, trying to figure out which platform Mark needed to go to and when.

Somewhere along the way their hands had slipped together and they were clinging to each others hands for dear life as Mark finally broke the unnerving silence that had formed.

"Platform two, I've got ten minutes" He says, voice unusually low as he glances at the entrance to the platforms and licks his lips.

Louis suddenly feels his stomach drop, guilt overpowering him. He slides his arms around his friends waist, clinging to him tighter then he ever had.

"Sorry, I've been a pain all weekend. It was just Harry this, Harry that" He sniffs a little "I'm a terrible friend"

Mark drops his bags, using his hip to swing the laptop behind him as he pulls his best friend close and hugs him back with just as much raw emotion running through him. He chuckles lightly, his fingers threading through the others hair soothingly. "You have been a pain. A right pain in the arse, but.. look up me Lou" Mark uses two fingers to tilt Louis' chin up, so their eyes meet "You've had a rough start here, I get that. Things will calm down and before you know it you'll find the right balance"

Louis buries his face into Mark's shoulder again, squeezing the other boys waist gently. "You're the best"

"I know" Mark chuckles.

Louis rolls his eyes and looks up. He opens his mouth to say something but he quickly forgets what as they both just seem to freeze and stare at one another.

Before either of them can fully register what's happening to them, their lips are being pressed together. It wasn't clear who leaned in first or who kissed who but none of that matters as they press closer, their minds fuzzy like a drunks. It's a messy kiss, quick and clumsy but still sweet and gentle. And there's something... Something there. An underlying, unannounced, unknown... something.

Mark jerks away the same time Louis wiggles backwards, their eyes wide as they register what just happened. They continue to stare for a moment, before fulling stepping out of their embrace. Then Mark clears his throat and glances at the train timetable.

He steps forward and presses a kiss to Louis' cheek, right where Harry had kiss him twenty minutes go. "Bye Lou.." He hesitate "Love you"

Then he's rushing towards the platforms. He puts his ticket into the machine and goes through the barrier. The writer turns briefly and gives a little wave before he disappears up the stairs leading to platform two.

Louis was left standing, frozen in place, with a confused heart and swollen lips.

*

He didn't want to. He really did try not to. But he couldn't see an alternative. He didn't to talk to someone, to vent and not be judged. It was this, or he opens up and spills everything to Eleanor. And considering she was convince Louis was in love with Mark, he decide that this was better.

He just couldn't help but feel his was burdening her. It was right, was it? Should he really be telling his younger sister all this?

He'd been Lexington his bed, staring at the ceiling. He had typed out a message but he couldn't bring himself to click send. He wanted this feeling to go away, though. The uncertainty in himself. He didn't know what he felt, or wanted, and he needed his little sister.

With a sigh Louis finally taps the little send button on his phone.

Louis: I fucked up.

Lottie: Did you kiss him badly and he saw you trying to take the notebook?

Operation Notebook had completely slipped his mind. He wasn't even sure it was a good idea to go through with that now, everything considered.

Louis: It wasn't Harry I kissed.

Lottie: Explain

Louis: There was a whole load of drama with Harry (he'd been all flirty with me and stuff but turns out he had a girlfriend) and Mark being the best friend he is, was there for me. Then he had to leave. I walked with him to the train station and we ended up kissing.

Lottie: And you felt something, but you're totally falling for Harry despite everything

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why Louis goes to his younger sister for advice of his love life.

Louis: Yeah

Lottie: Harry had a girlfriend?

Louis: Yes

Lottie: You're positive?

Lottie: Did he actually say it was his girlfriend?

Louis: No but she walked in, kissed him on the cheek and called him hun to which he responded hey jem

Lottie: jem? You sure it wasn't Jem, as in a name? They could just be friends. You have female friend you act like that with

Louis: I'm gay, that's different

Lottie: And do you know for a fact that Harry is straight? You said yourself, he flirted with you

Louis: He came in drunk one night and said he'd been with a girl

Lottie: So, he had sex with one girl, doesn't make him straight.

Louis: Okay. Even if that is the case, what about Mark?

Lottie: Do you want to be with Mark?

Louis: I don't think so, he's my best friend.

Lottie: Given the chance, would you be with Harry?

Louis: Yes

Lottie: Then there you go. Chase Harry. Your heart is pushing you towards him, even though you know he has flaws. Follow that stupid mushy heart of yours, you hopeless romantic.

Louis: What if he doesn't like me?

Lottie: Stop being such a tart! Just bloody man up and kiss the guy. Then you'll know where you stand.

Louis: I don't know. He's different. There is differently stuff going on with him. He has this sad look in his eyes and something he talks like he's being forced into things.

Lottie: I still think you should just kiss him. That way you'll know. Maybe he will take time to open up and admit his own feelings but knowing that you like him will allow him to take his time in opening up to you.

Louis: Or he could actually have a girlfriend and spend my whole life teasing me

Lottie: Just kiss him!

Louis: Soon. Maybe.

Lottie: Good. Now that's sorted, I'm going to sleep. Night Boo xoxo

Louis: Night Lottie. Send the girls and mum my love xx

Louis' eyes were drooping as he placed his phone on the bedside table. He stretches before climbing under the covers. He briefly glances over at Harry's empty bed and wondered where the other boy was.

He tried to convince himself he didn't care before closing his eyes. He doesn t allow himself to think of Harry, instead he thinks about the work he was doing in classes. Tomorrow, he'd be helping Niall with the science project. He still had that English work to do too, something about Shakesphere he believes.

He soon drifts off.