Chapter 12.

                                    

                                          
Louis and I spend what's left of the evening with Niall and Liam. Zayn is not here this time and no one is discussing why so I avoid asking. We do what seems to be a tradition of theirs. Have a couple of beers, play some games and needless to say, smoke some cigarettes. I'm stunned that i've seen every single one of them have at least one cigarette during the short period of time i've known them. I for some reason assumed that Niall and Liam didn't smoke, but I was as wrong as I can be. Cause here they are indoors taking one cigarette at a time from their packs.
                          
"You want one?"
                          
Niall offers and hands me his pack with the label "Level". I leer down at the cigarettes and hesitate for a while. I mean, it's not like I haven't smoked before. But i'm just not sure if it's worth it. I glance over to the other side of the couch where Louis is seated. His face is hard to read. I can't tell if he wants me to take it or not. My head is telling me how unnecessarily this is, and how it wont make me cool at all. But for some reason i decide against it.
                          
"Thanks."
                          
I mumble and grab one. I immediately turn to Louis. His reaction is all i care about to be honest. And quite frankly the others didn't even seem to react at all. They looked so casual about it, as if it would be wierd if i didn't take one. I light it and see the disappointment grow in Louis's eyes. He grabs his beer and goes in to the kitchen. Did he really get mad now or is something else up?
                          
The smoke fills my lungs in an unsettling way. I really don't understand how these guys can do this on a daily basis. It tastes terrible, feels terrible and definately smells terrible as well. I sigh and suddenly grow a bit disappointed in myself. I don't know why I took it. I mean, sure, one cigarette is no big deal but... I don't know.  I guess for some reason I thought this would impress Louis. But it so happened to do the exact opposite.
                          
"So Harry, how are you dealing with all of this?" Liam suddenly asks and leans closer to me. I'm absolutely clueless of what he's talking about.
                          
"With what?"
                          
"You know... The thing about Louis?"
                          
"What are you talking about?" I whisper back. Niall seems to know what Liam's talking about but I surely don't. And just as Liam stubs out his cigarette to explain, his eyes lock behind me. He is interrupted by a unsettle cough.
                          
"Liam, can I talk to you for a second? In the kitchen?"
                          
Louis says from the other side of the room. Liam nods and walks into the kitchen with him. Alright I need to know what's going on. I get off the couch and sneak my way to the kitchen. Niall pulls my arm and mouths "What are you doing?". I just hush him and snatch my arm away from his grip. I stop behind the wall and gently press my ear against it.
                          
"He doesn't know!?"
                          
I hear Liam's voice say on the other side of the wall. He sounds frustrated. Know? Know about what?
                          
"No, and I would appreciate it if you could keep your mouth shut." Louis answers.
                          
"I assume you at least told him about the other thing, right?" Liam asks. The question is followed by a moment of silence. The silence breaks when Liam says, louder than intended "You didn't!?"
                          
"Liam I barely know the guy, okay? He will be out here before I know it and go back to his old life. There is no need for him to know any of this!"
                          
"He has the right to know. So stop making silly excuses. It will take long for him to earn enough money to get out of here. So sooner or later he will find out about everything. The truth always comes out. One way or another. So I suggest you go tell him before he finds out from someone else."