Chapter forty:)

"Is that?-"

"What is she doing here?"

"Who? What is going on??  Tell me."  Niall's voice buzzed through the phone. The car door opened and Anne got out. She was in her pyjamas, (grey sweatpants and a loose hoodie hanging down on her shoulders). She made her way straight up to the door. "I'll call you back." Louis got on his feet and reached his hand down to Harry.

Harry shook his head- no and looked down at his rings. This day had been so good, no thoughts about his mom or Charly and also the headaches had gotten a bit better, for the first time in days. He didn't want this to be ruined just because of Anne. Louis crouched down next to him. "Give her a chance."

"A Chance?! Since when are you on her side?" Harry threw a perplexed look at Louis. He felt kind of betrayed at those words. Louis always got his back and supported him with everything, and now he turns against him?!

"I'm not. I just hope she has a good explanation."

"But what if she doesn't huh? When she just tried to avoid drama or I don't know maybe she-"

"Then you know it," Louis said honest, and just before Harry could say something his phone started ringing. It was his mom. The bell still wasn't working, and she already waiting a few minutes. Louis went first and opened the door. To Harry's surprise, Anne looked absolutely wrecked. Her eyes dark red and watery, Harry read at the expression that she felt bad.

"What are you doing here?" It hurt in his heart to talk to her like that especially when she looked about to cry. "Can I come in? Please?" Her voice was so thin fragile it caused a shower down Harry's spine. He just nodded above Louis' shoulder. She slowly followed them upstairs constantly looking to the ground.

"You have ten minutes," Harry told through clenched teeth trying so hard not to look at her. The lump in his throat was hurting and tears burning in his eyes. After a while of silence, Anne finally started talking. She sat across from him at the kitchen table, playing nervously with her rings. Like mother like son, Louis next to him. "I-" She cleared his throat. "I never wanted to hurt you-"

"Well, you did a horrible job." Harry bit his lip. Goddamit why was it trembling so easily. Louis squeezed his knee underneath the table. A tear rolled down his mother's cheek. "I know. but I- I had no choice" Her voice gave in. Harry couldn't keep his anger under control and words just burst out. "You had a choice?!" He spat. "You could have been there for me when I needed you. All those nights I was afraid to fall asleep because I saw him everywhere."

"Or when he and his mom visited us, where were you?! I was on my own. All the time with all of it. You have no idea how it felt to be in one room with him." Harry was yelling Louis tried to calm him down a bit but, no chance. "Let me expl-"

"NO! You knew all along that I was telling the truth, why the hell did you tell everyone I was lying?? Did you want me to suffer even more? Or didn't you do this for fun? I don't get it, Anne!" Harry's whole body felt like it was on fire, he had never been so angry with someone like at this moment. "So why?!" Harry was out of breath, a tear dropped down from his chin, he didn't even notice it.

"Because I was trying to protect you!" She got up and walked through the living room burying her hands in her hair, frustrated. "Do you think I didn't hear you crying and screaming at night? See the bruises at your arms or notice you flinch every time he looked at you? I did and it broke me into a million pieces." Harry remembered hearing her cry in her room a few times. "Protect him? From what?" Louis asked calmed because he saw that Harry wasn't able to say something. He just kept staring shocked into her eyes.

"Him." She turned away "I was about to drive to the police when he and his Sabrina stopped me." She took a deep shaky breath in before she continued "Charly told me that if I'd report him he-" Anne looked down at Harry with tears streaming down her cheeks. "He would do it again. He and Sabrina promised they would leave you alone if I just pretend you were lying."

Harry turned his head to see Louis, his eyes shift and looked shocked at Anne. "I just didn't want him to ever touch you again. And I thought if- if I just don't tell you either you could live your life normal again." Harry was so filled with anger and hate when he saw her looking down at him. He got up on his feet, he was taller than her. She looked terrified.

Her eyes filled with sadness and regret. And Harry tried really hard to keep his face straight. His mind was telling him to just leave and run until he had no breath left and stay where ever he would end up alone. Just to think and clear his mind. God, how mad he was at her. But there was something else, somehow he felt.... sorry? No. Not now.

"Leave." He lifted his arm and pointed at the door, his harsh voice echoed in the room. "Please-" She whispered reaching out to touch Harry's arm "Now!"

With that said he disappeared into the bedroom. Smashing the door behind his back. God! She couldn't seriously think that was an excuse. Like what the fuck?! Sure, she didn't want him to get him hurt again but that was no reason to tell him she doesn't believe it.

His body started relaxing slowly as the longer he was alone. The room was quiet, just the voice of Louis and Anne slightly sounding through the thin wood of the door. She was trying to explain something to Louis he seemed to listen to the shit and then tell her to go. The door closed and Louis' footsteps approached. Then he knocked "She's gone." Oh, she better is. Harry thought. He could see her drive away through the window.

Any of this wouldn't be happening if she had just told him about Charly's and Sabrina's warning. No seriously, It wasn't the problem anymore what she told anyone else. She did that so they wouldn't hurt him. And to be honest, Harry would have a hundred percent understand that. If he had known about their warning. But he didn't. And she could have at least told him, and not act like he was crazy. She was the one lying, the whole time.

"I told you, she has no explanation,"  Harry mumbled avoiding a look into Louis' eyes. He didn't want him to see his watery eyes. He hated being that annoying crybaby he was. He was sitting on the desk chair playing with the ring Louis had given him, trying to blink the tears away. Deep down Harry was questioning if it was the right decision to kick Anne out. She had suffered too. But that feeling of betrayal that was blooming in his chest told him it had been the right choice.

"She was just as overwhelmed with the situation as you and didn't know how to deal with it."

"Wow, she really dragged you on her side, didn't she?" Harry clenched his jaw and threw an angry look at him. His emotions were cluttered, he was full of rage but also sadness and betrayal. He couldn't believe Louis was trying to protect her. "What? Ugh, we already had that. I'm not."

"Yes, you are. God, do you think I'm stupid?"

"No, I'm not. What is wrong with you now Harry?"

"Then why do you protect her?? You know what she did to me!" Harry didn't want to fight with Louis he didn't even mean to yell at him, it just came out. It was all too much he needed something to distract his mind.

"Yes, but I also saw how miserable she feels for that. She just didn't know what to do else-" He stopped as Harry got up and walked past him through the living room heading to the front door "Where are you going?!" Honestly? No idea, Harry just needed time off, he needed to be alone. No matter where. "Harry?!" Louis yelled to get his attention after he hadn't answered his question.

"What?" Harry stopped turning towards Louis who was standing in the middle of the living room he looked kind of mad. "You know what? Maybe I am on her side. I can't watch you like this anymore. I just try to get you two together again. You were happier since you got on with her again."

"Screw you, Louis." Harry spat and watched Louis lose his expression, then he grabbed his phone and left. He didn't want to say that. His eyes filled up with tears but Harry choked them down, skipping every second stair step. Fuck. He forgot his keys, but no, not in a million years he would go up again to get them. However, then he had to walk.

Trough the dark of the night. It was warm except for the cold wind that was strong once in a while. He also forgot his jacket, he was only wearing his shorts and a white shirt. Not even wearing propper shoes just some slippers. Grate. The wind made his eyes tear up even more. Where to go now? No store was open or something else like that where Harry could spend a couple of hours. Until Louis was asleep.

And again he had no keys. Okay, maybe he would spend the night at Liam's then.

"Harry? It's past 1 am." Liam growled sleepily through the phone.

"I know but I need a place to stay." He said trying to let his voice sound less fragile while he whipped the tears off of his cheeks. He wanted to call Niall at first but, well he was still living with Sabrina and Charly, so, no.

"What? Why? Where are you?" Liam asked worriedly.

"I'm on the way, tell you when I'm over." That would probably take about twenty minutes. God, why was he so stupid to forget his keys. Ugh. "Uhm okay, what is with Louis?" Harry bit his lip, new tears streaming down his face. "Oh okay, uhm I will make us some tea," Liam said knowing after a while of silence. Harry just couldn't talk about what happened without breaking into tears.

"Thank you" Harry spoke really quietly he noticed and hung up. Louis' voice kept repeating in Harry's mind as well as his shocked expression. He felt so unbelievably bad for saying this to him but it just came out with no warning. Louis must hate him now. Stop thinking about it, Harry reminded himself over and over again.

He took a deep breath of the fresh air and tried to clear his mind. The exhaustion started to kick in. It had been a really, really long day. Just a few more minutes and he could hopefully go to sleep. The streets were nearly empty only one car in the past five minutes. Good for him, less waiting to cross the streets.

Harry looked up into the sky, no stars shining, it looked lonely and sad. Just like him. Harry was about to cross the street when his phone rang. He looked down at the light screen it was Louis. Just about to denied as a car suddenly honked. Harry looked up right into the bright headlights. He stopped breathing for a second, the car tried to dodge, but it was already too late.