powerless - [Larry Stylinson] ✔️

chapter 7

LOUIS POV

On my way to school I couldn't stop thinking about Harry. He was mysterious, and very intimidating, but I couldn't help but wonder what he was like on the inside. The boy intrigued me so much when his exterior appearance full of tattoos and piercings was yelling at me to stay away.

I thought back to how he can beaten those boys off, almost effortlessly. He had to be a black belt in Kung Fu. If Kung Fu even had belts. I had no idea.

When Lottie and I arrived early I decided to wait outside for Niall, Liam and Zayn. However I was secretly hoping I'd see Harry as well.

My heart almost leaped out of my chest when I saw him, walking towards the school with his head down, staring at his feet and they neared closer to the school.

I took a deep breath and started making my way towards him. I wanted to call out his name to get his attention but as far as he was concerned I didn't know his name, and I didn't want to come off as a stalker.

"Hey!" I called out to him, making him glance at me, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion, then look back down. He didn't say anything when I got closer to him, he just stared at the floor intently but he did stop, so I assumed he knew I was in front of him. He glanced up again really quick with a questioning look, probably expecting me to say something, so I did.

"I uhh.... Just wanted to thank y-you. You know.... For yesterday...." I said scratching my neck awkwardly. He simply shrugged in reply.

"It's fine..." he replied, still not meeting my gaze.

"It's probably not that big a deal to you but you did by all means save me. I am really grateful, I don't know what would have happened if you didn't show up." I said, shuddering at the idea of my having broken bones in the hospital.

Finally, he looked up at me, his green eyes meeting my blue ones. It was only then that I realized he had a very big black eye. I was 100 percent sure it wasn't there yesterday when we were at the nurse, so it couldn't have been one of the guys he had fought off.

My eyes widened in shock and my mouth hung open a little bit as I let out a gasp. It was a very big bruise, and although it seemed like he tried to cover it up it was too big to hide.

Before I knew what I was doing my right hand reached out slightly to his face, practically caressing the bruise. When I realized I quickly let my hand drop back down to my side. I cleared my throat awkwardly. His facial expression didn't change, he continued to stare at me intently, as if he were deep in thought.

"How did you get that bruise?" I asked quietly, my eyes still scanning over his bruise, which was really an excuse to look into his eyes.

"It doesn't matter." He answered, and I think he wanted it to sound rough bit came out quiet, much like my question. He should have known better though, I was stubborn.

"It does matter, did you get in a fight?" I pressed, concerning lacing my voice.

"Like I said, it doesn't matter. And It isn't any of your business." He said, his tone a little harsher this time. I mentally took a step back.

He was right after all, it wasn't really my business but I couldn't help but feel concerned for him. I nodded and pinched my lips together, in thought...

"Okay, fine." I said, trying to match my tone to his, to attempt to hide my uneasiness. "You were alone yesterday at lunch..." I stated.

"...so?" he answered, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Come sit with me and my friends during lunch today..."

He stared at me as if I were a piece of a very complicated puzzle that he was trying to figure out. He almost immediately shook his head.

"Come on please? It'll give you a chance to get to know and hang out with people!" I pressed.

"No. You'll soon learn I don't 'hang out' with anyone. If they haven't already people will warn you about me. And maybe you should listen to them. For your own good you should stay away from me." He stated. Although the anger was apparent in his voice it had a hint of sadness.

"Louis!" a voice from behind me yelled, with a familiar Irish accent. I spun around and saw Niall and Liam waiting by the doorway, motioning for me to go join them.

I sighed and turned back around to face Harry. He gazed at me intently for a couple moments and then he turned around and walked away.

I studied his walk, and he appeared to be limping. I wanted more than anything to go ask him if his leg was alright, but I knew it wouldn't do any good.

I sighed once more and made my way to Niall and Liam. They both carried a surprised, worried and confused expression at the same time.

"Did Harry Styles speak actual words to you? I swear I've never heard or seen him speak before..." Liam said, as I approached the two of them. Niall nodded in agreement. I shrugged and made my way through the doors to get inside.

The pair followed close behind me.

"What did you guys talk about? And what happened to your face?"

Right. I was also bruised. I somehow managed to forget about that.

"Don't tell anyone, except maybe Zayn, but basically I was walking home from school yesterday and these 3 guys just dragged me into this alley way and started beating the crap out of me. Because they overheard me saying I was gay at lunch." I said quietly so that only the two of them heard.

We arrived at our lockers which were near each other and since I already had my books in hand I simply leaned against my locker and they opened theirs in silence, trying to process what I just said.

"Woah.... Do you... know who those guys were?" Niall asked, staring at me with wide eyes. I shook my head.

"Wait... that sucks of course and I'm so sorry that happened but.... What does that have to do with Harry?" Liam questioned. I raised my eyebrows before answering.

"He... kinda like... saved me I guess? He stopped them from beating me and beat them up instead..."

They both looked at me, then at each other.

"Wow... he's like... never done something like that before. Talking or interacting with other students I mean..." Liam said to me as Niall nodded in agreement.

With that our conversation about Harry dropped. They asked me if I was alright and if I was badly hurt but I told them I was mainly bruised and there was nothing to do about it.

Despite my protesting they both agree that Liam was now going to drive me home so that I wouldn't have to walk. They didn't take no for an answer.

As Niall and I made our way to our first class we passed Harry in the hallway. He knew I was there but didn't do so much as glance at me.

I decided that I wanted to get to know Harry, but it would be hard considering he wouldn't acknowledge me at school.

It probably wasn't such a great idea considering my friends and Harry himself told me to stay away from him but my stubbornness got the best of me. It always did.

I wanted to know why he was so closed off from everyone, there had to be a reason. Seeing as talking to him at school wasn't an option, I only had one idea left. And unfortunately, i didn't think Harry would be very open to it.

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Heyyyyy so sorry it's been a couple days since i last uploaded but i'll try to be more on schedule from here on out.

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