Chapter 1: Wednesday, September 21st
Chapter Text
Harry POV:
I'm a university student who works at a bar every night after school to make enough money to stay in school. It isn't the best arrangement but I can't burden my mother with more bills to pay. I am about to head back to my dorm I just need to get my paycheck from my boss.
"Hey Styles!" I hear my boss shout.
"What's up Markus?" I respond.
"I got your paycheck here and you can head home if you want."
"Thanks! I'll see you tomorrow then," I say grabbing the envelope from his hands.
"See ya!"
I get outside and I'm about to head to the bus stop to catch a ride home when I am slammed against a wall.
"You're going to give me that envelope and everything else you have or I will kick your ass," I hear a gruff male voice say.
"I can't lose this money man," I respond determinedly. I only get a laugh in response.
"You really think your gay ass can take me on?" the man laughs. "You really are stupid," he says as he brings his face to my face.
That was only the start of the pain.
I woke up 12 hours later in the hospital with my best friend Niall's very worried face next to me.
"You're awake!" the Irish lad exclaims.
"What happened?" I ask confused.
"Uhm... you were found in an alley badly bruised and with multiple broken bones. The doctors also suspect that you were raped," Niall says solemnly.
"So you're telling me that I was beaten up and raped?"
"Well, yes"
"Does my mom know? What about Gemma?"
"They both know but they can't come up to see you anytime soon."
At that moment the doctor came in interrupting our conversation. She starts saying, "Ah Mr. Styles, you're awake. I assume your friend told you what happened?"
"Yes he did," I answer
"Well, we recommend you take a break from your work and school for the next six weeks, then you can start to get back to a little bit of normalcy. You broke two ribs so you need to rest as much as possible over these weeks. You also broke your nose, which should heal in around three weeks. As for the rape, we can't determine who did it so there is nothing we can do about it. I would recommend taking a self defense class to make sure it doesn't happen again. Do you have any questions?"
"No, but I don't have any extra money to spend on self defense classes"
Niall puts his hand up interrupting the doctor, saying "My dad has a trainer who trains two boxers getting ready to go pro, I could ask if he can fit you into his training sessions."
"That would be great Niall thanks!"
Chapter 2: Wednesday, October 19th
Chapter Text
Louis POV:
Niall walks into the gym with a smile on his face as usual but this time instead of shouting some random motivational quote he goes straight to Liam. I don't hear their conversation but this is the first time I have seen Niall with a serious face as he is speaking to Liam. Zayn is standing next to me with a confused look on his face before he turns to me and says, "Nialler just came over and evicted me. I was having quite a nice conversation with my husband before his Irish ass broke into our conversation."
I laugh and ask if he heard anything before he left. He simply shakes his head.
Five minutes later Niall is standing on one of the benches in the gym giving the three of us an "important announcement".
"Gentlemen and men, I have to tell you something very important to me. My bestie is going to start taking self defense classes with our very own... LIAM PAYNE" Niall announces dramatically.
"Is this friend cute?" I hear Zayn ask beside me.
"Why the fuck do you care Zayn?" Liam asks angrily.
"Well my husband isn't really cutting it in bed, so..." Zayn answers suggestively. I know what he's doing, he's done it too many times to count.
"You'll pay for that one Ringo," Liam says while glaring at Zayn. He knows what Zayn is doing, he just likes to do it right back.
"It's Zayn," Zayn spits. He hates it when Liam sees through his funny business.
"Anyways," Niall interrupts, "Yes Harry is cute, I think he's about... Louis' type. Whadaya say Lewis?"
"I haven't even met this friend of yours Nialler," I deflect. I haven't thought about dating and I'm not about to start now.
"Well, I'm not even sure if he is looking for anything either but maybe in a few months or something you two could be the new "thing". I think you two would be super cute together,"
"Fine" I say just to get Niall off my case but inside my mind is running a mile a minute.
"When is this new friend of yours coming Niall?" Zayn interrupts the thoughts rushing through my head.
"He's still on the mend from his broken ribs, but he's anxious to get started, so probably sometime in the start of November," Niall says while looking up as if he's thinking very hard. (Something he does all the time to make it seem like there's something going on in his head)
"Wait, did you say broken ribs?" Zayn asks confused.
"Oh! Yeah, I can't tell you the whole thing because I am not at liberty to tell you, but if Harry wants to he'll tell you when he comes. Now get back to work boys!" Niall exclaims.
An hour later my training is up so I go to the locker room. When I come back Zayn and Liam are making out against the wall. “Get a room you two!” I shout.
Zayn removes one of his hands from Liam’s neck and flicks me off while Liam does the same. Their lips still firmly attached. I roll my eyes and walk out the door of the gym. I wave goodbye to Bobby and decide to head to my apartment. When I get there I call Lottie.
“Hey Lou!” She says as she picks up.
“Hi Lotts,” I reply.
“Why are you calling? Is something wrong?” She asks worriedly.
“No! I’m fine I was just checking on you and everyone else!”
“Oh! We’re all doing great! I just got a 94 on a test and Daisy made a new friend in school. How’s Niall doing?”
“He’s doing fine, he’s bringing his ‘bestie’ to the gym in two weeks. I can already tell that he’s going to try to set us up. I’m just worried, I haven’t dated anyone since… you know.”
“Well, I’m sure this friend of Niall’s isn’t anything like… him, I say just go with the flow Lou.”
“Thanks Lottie!”
“No problem, but I have to go, my boyfriend is here. Bye Louis!”
“Bye Lottie!”
Chapter 3: Friday, November 4th
Summary:
Harry meets the boys at the gym.
Chapter Text
Harry POV:
Niall is coming to pick me up at 2:00 so we can go to the gym. I went to the doctor yesterday, and I got cleared to do some self defense training just take breaks every 15 minutes. It’s currently 10:30 so I have a few hours to spare before I head out. I think I’m going to make myself some breakfast so I have food in me.
*3 hours later*
I’m getting dressed for the gym and I decide on bright red shorts and a white tank top. I’m not looking to impress but I think the tank top makes me look great.
Niall is now here and ringing on my doorbell. I hear him shout, “HARRY! YOU IN THERE?”
“YES!” I shout back, “I’LL BE THERE IN A SEC!”
Five minutes later we are in his car heading to the gym his dad owns. He’s telling me about his friends, “Liam is the trainer, he’s 22 like me and he’s married to Zayn. They’ve been married for almost two years and together for about 6 years. Zayn is 22 as well and has been my friend for 7 years, him and Louis are like my brothers. You’ll have to get the full story from them. Louis is the last one, he’s 23 and single,” Niall says the last sentence with an eyebrow wiggle, “He and I became friends when he was 13. He has been through a lot, but he’s a great guy.”
“So let me get this straight, Liam is Zayn and Louis’ trainer, and Liam is married to Zayn? What last name do they have?” I ask confused.
“Yes, Payne, and don’t forget, Louis is single,” Niall lists.
“Okay, that makes a little more sense.”
10 minutes later we were at the gym. Niall stepped out of the car first and I was quick to follow. Niall burst through the doors with no care in the world but I turned around to make sure the doors closed quietly.
When I turned around 4 sets of eyes were on me. Half blue, half brown. The set that caught my attention were the blue pair I didn’t already know. They had a story behind them, a sad story but still a story. I wanted to know what happened to make it sad. The brown eyes belonged to two men who looked to be very cozy with each other, so I assume they belong to Zayn and Liam.
“Harry! This is Zayn and Liam!” Niall says excitedly, “And this beaut next to me is Louis!”
As Niall said that last part the man with blue eyes blushed and punched Niall lightly. He then said in a heavy accent, “Shut up Niall! I’m sure Harry can make his own opinions on my looks.”
“Yeah Niall! Where was my introduction as gorgeous, hot, and sexy!” Zayn complains. Liam then turns to glare at him and Zayn just winks saying, “What? You know it’s true!”
“Ok, ok. Harry meet Ringo, Lima Bean, and Lewis. Boys meet Harry the bestest friend I have!”
Louis punches Niall again saying, “I thought I was your best friend!”
“Well… I hate to tell you this way Lou… but, Harry is the one I like more… it’s not you, it’s me…”
Louis rolls his eyes and turns to me, I blush as his eyes peer into mine questioningly. “What brings you in here Harry? Niall mentioned something about broken ribs, what happened?”
Well shit, I didn’t expect him to say that. I really don’t know what to tell him. Should I tell him the whole story? I should at least tell him something. “Well, I was attacked and raped after work about 6 weeks ago. I don’t remember much of the assault, but the doctor told me I might remember soon.”
Louis looks startled. “You were raped?” He says, “Do you still like taking it up the ass? Or are you more of a top?”
What. The. Actual. Fuck? I see Zayn and Liam share a look before bursting out laughing, Niall beat them to it by a mile. But before I can say anything Louis looks at Zayn and Liam and says “What? Like you two don’t have the same conversation every night!”
After that Zayn and Liam stop laughing and start blushing. I take the opportunity to answer Louis’ question and decide to have a little fun with him. “Why do you ask? Do you want to have your way with me? Also to answer your question, I like it both ways,” I wink at the end causing Louis’ jaw to drop to the floor.
The whole room is silent for a moment before Louis bursts into laughter. Niall starts soon after, but Zayn and Liam are still in a state of shock.
After everyone has gotten past their giggles and shock we start training. I pretend not to notice a pair of ocean blue eyes boring their way through my neck.
After training I go up to Louis and say, “Louis? I’m really sorry if what I said earlier made you uncomfortable, I was just joking. I’m not really looking for anything yet. I’m still trying to recover from the shock of being raped.”
“Yeah I totally get that! Don’t worry, I’m not looking for anything either!”
I nod, but I can’t help but feel rejected. I don’t know why I feel it, but I do.
Chapter 4: Friday, November 4th
Summary:
Louis’ POV of meeting Harry
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Louis POV:
Niall is bringing his friend today, I don’t know if I’m excited or nervous to meet him. Niall hasn’t really told us much about his story, so I think I’m going to ask him about it. Niall said he was going to pick Harry up at 3 which means they will get here in 5 minutes. Zayn and Liam are already talking about who knows what so I’m alone with my thoughts.
But then I hear Zayn shout my name. “Hey Louis! We need a third opinion!”
I walk over and Liam fills me in, “So Zaynie and I were talking and the topic of Zebras came up, we can’t decide wether they are black with white stripes or white with black stripes. What do you think?”
I decide to mess with them, “Well Lima, the argument for white with black stripes would mean the fur of the stripes would be darker than the skin underneath, I don’t know if that makes sense,” Zayn’s eyebrows shoot up at this and I can tell he is going to say something, “However, the argument that the stripes are lighter isn’t very convincing either. So what I believe is… that zebras have skin that matches their stripes. So where there’s black skin there’s black fur, and where there’s white skin there’s white fur.”
“What the fuck Louis?” Liam says.
“Yeah what the fuck Louis?” Zayn repeats.
I burst out laughing at their reactions to my speech consisting of nothing.
At that moment Niall bursts through the door. “TOUGH TIMES NEVER LAST! TOUGH PEOPLE DO!” He shouts.
I hear him shouting but my eyes are on the man behind him. After Niall made all the ruckus he slowly closed the door like he was trying to silence the slam. It’s kind of cute really. I can only see his back right now but it’s a good back. His hair ends below his shoulders and he’s wearing a white tank top over bright red shorts. He doesn’t have a lot of muscle but if Liam has any say in the matter he’ll soon be more muscular than me. He seems to be tall, definitely taller than Niall next to him.
Niall walks over to me and the Paynes in my ass as Harry turns around. I thought the back of him looked good, the front is even better. Sea foam green eyes, full lips, tattoos on his arms and more peeking out of his shirt. His eyes lock on mine and I can tell he likes my eyes. I don’t know what’s so special about them though, lots of people have blue eyes.
Then Niall speaks up interrupting my trance.“Harry! This is Zayn and Liam!” Niall says excitedly, “And this beaut next to me is Louis!”
I feel myself start to blush at Niall calling me a beaut. I punch Niall lightly to get him to stop. Then I say, “Shut up Niall! I’m sure Harry can make his own opinions on my looks.”
Harry blushes at that, but before he can agree with me Zayn beats him to it.
“Yeah Niall! Where was my introduction as gorgeous, hot, and sexy!” Zayn complains. Liam humors him and glares at him so Zayn says, “What? You know it’s true!”
Niall corrects his mistake by saying, “Ok, ok. Harry meet Ringo, Lima Bean, and Lewis. Boys meet Harry the bestest friend I have!”
I turn to punch Niall for calling Harry his best friend, I am his best friend not this curly hottie. Well not hottie, curly jerk. “I thought I was your best friend!” Is all I say.
“Well… I hate to tell you this way Lou… but, Harry is the one I like more… it’s not you, it’s me…” Niall says dramatically.
I roll my eyes instead of laughing and then I turn to face Harry. Somehow eye contact with me makes him blush. I take the opportunity to ask about why he’s here and say, “What brings you in here Harry? Niall mentioned something about broken ribs, what happened?”
I watch him carefully after I say that and he looks like he’s panicking. Fuck, I shouldn’t have said that. I’m about to take it back when he cuts me off.
“Well, I was attacked and raped after work about 6 weeks ago. I don’t remember much of the assault, but the doctor told me I might remember soon.”
Oh fuck, he was raped? Before I can stop myself the words are flowing from my mouth as if I’m vomiting them out.
“You were raped? Do you still like taking it up the ass? Or are you more of a top?” Fuck.
Zayn and Liam are laughing together and Niall started as soon as the second question came out.
I try to fix the situation by pitting the embarrassment on Zayn and Liam. “What? Like you two don’t have the same conversation every night!” It seems to work because they stop laughing, but Niall keeps laughing harder than ever.
I didn’t expect Harry to answer my questions but he does. “Why do you ask? Do you want to have your way with me? Also to answer your question, I like it both ways,” He even winks at the end, causing my jaw to reach the floor.
I’m silent before the laughs I’ve been holding in just fall out. Niall’s laugh joins soon after but Liam and Zayn are standing there like fish out of water.
Once we are done laughing, we start training. Most of the time Liam has me and Zayn fight each other while he trains Harry. Every chance I get I look at Harry. His hair sweaty, body probably aching, but he never once looks bad. I wonder if he likes me? Is that why he flirted? Is he even gay? What if he’s just joking? Does he think I’m weird? Too many questions are in my head!
When we are getting ready to leave Harry comes up to me and says “Louis? I’m really sorry if what I said earlier made you uncomfortable, I was just joking. I’m not really looking for anything yet. I’m still trying to recover from the shock of being raped.”
Shit! He thinks I want to be in a relationship! I’m not ready for commitment yet! Wait, he said he was still recovering, that means he doesn’t want a relationship either! “Yeah I totally get that! Don’t worry, I’m not looking for anything either!”
He nods, but I can tell he feels something different. I wish I knew what he was thinking.
Notes:
I will be on vacation for a week, updates will slow down for a bit.
Chapter 5: Updates
Chapter Text
I have been lacking motivation to finish this lately, I will finish it but I will work on other works before I do. Thank you all for supporting my story and please bookmark or follow so you know when I update.