Anne walked into the kitchen where Louis was seated, still mulling over the happenings of the day.

"Is he okay?" Louis asked worriedly as soon as Anne approached him.

"He will be." Her voice was tired, as if the moments with her son had worn her of any energy she once had. Louis didn't know what to say, so he remained quiet.

Sensing Louis' discomfort she spoke up, "He gets worked up over things quite easily. Any change to his normal day, even something small, like the type of cereal he eats or being a few minutes late, it sets his entire day off and he can't handle it. He panics under stress, mostly when he knows it's a situation where he should be speaking to sort it out and he can't. He tried to describe it to me once, he said that his panic is like a video game, it goes in stages, or levels. Level 1 being the worst, because that's when he's filled with the most fear and feels the most pressure to speak, even though he knows he can't. That's when he starts thrashing, or fighting off whatever threat is near him, and he covers his ears because as he said, 'I can hear them, every word, and I don't want to, because they can't hear me. It's not fair that they can say whatever they want, and I can't say a thing.' That's a loose quote, but near those words… I think you went through every level off his panic today, the thrashing, the vulnerability, the barely-there demeanor, and then the ignoring or moodiness… right now he's in the tired stage. He uses all his energy to defend himself that once it's all over it's like he could lie in bed for an entire day and not move once."

Louis' mind was racing, latching onto every word Anne spoke, trying to hold onto them and understand the pain her son was in. He couldn't fathom a life where the smallest of things could send your mind into overdrive and cause a panic as severe as Harry's.

"Uhmm, when you say Harry 'said' what he did, did you mean that he speaks to you?" Louis asked hesitantly, his curiosity overpowering everything in him.

"Oh… no honey, he uses signing, although he's doesn't know much ASL he tries, for my sake. He hates signing in public because of the attention it brings to him. But here at home we use dry-erase boards and he writes out whatever he needs to say. And most of the time I can go off his facial expressions… that is when he's not giving a blank face like he sometimes does. But, no, he doesn't and hasn't ever spoken. Maybe to himself in private, but never openly, I've never heard his voice, just his laugh on rare occasions.

Louis' face dropped, the realization of a mother never hearing her own sons voice crushed him, along with the hope that he himself would hear Harry's voice one day. The idea was now far-fetched and seemingly impossible.

"Louis, I know you've only just met Harry and I'm not really aware of your intentions, if you're trying to be a friend or if you're just a stranger that got caught in the cross-fire of him and a bully at school, but either way, despite Harry's current mood, I know he appreciates you being there and making sure he was okay. He obviously can't say so himself, and probably wouldn't if he could but, I can tell. So thank you, for helping him and making sure he was alright today." Anne smiled with a hand placed on Louis' over the table, a kind reassuring gesture.

"I would like to be a friend to him Anne, and maybe Harry doesn't want that… I guess it's up to him whether or not that happens. Uhm, I guess I should probably go now though…" Louis scooted his chair out beneath him and stood up, Anne followed his movement and stood before him, "Please tell Harry I say goodnight and that I hope he's feeling better." Louis tried to smile, but the sadness he felt inside, think of the probability that Harry may never want to be his friend or see him again was overpowering.

"How about you leave him a note? I think he'd like that a bit more." Anne smiled warmly, pushing a pen and paper toward Louis, he bent over the kitchen table and scrawled out a note to Harry, signing his name at the end and folding it before giving it to Anne.

"Thank you Louis." She said quietly, hugging the note to her chest as she smiled at him.

Louis gave a small nod, "Goodnight Anne, thank you for telling me about Harry. I hope one day we'll both be able to hear his voice, I'm sure it's beautiful." His voice was quiet, he wasn't sure if he should say anything more than goodnight, but he needed to, his heart felt like it'd burst if he didn't tell Anne, inform her of his wishes for her son.

"Me too Louis, have a good night, drive safely." Louis smiled lightly and made his way out the door, his mind filling with everything the day had to offer… well, everything Harry related that is.

-

It had been two weeks and Harry was still what Anne would describe as 'an emotional disaster.' He'd cooped himself up in his room and only left for his classes. He was unwilling to communicate in any form of the word and basically ignored all of his mothers attempts to talk to him.

He wasn't angry at her, or at anyone… well, he was. He was angry at himself. He was sulking and wallowing in room as his mind tortured him with thoughts of Louis.

Harry wanted to be friends with the older lad, he had wished for someone to take an interest in him or give him a chance for years. And here comes this kind blue-eyed stranger with perfectly feathered hair and tan skin just offering his friendship, but here Harry was, lying on his bed holding the note Louis had left him two weeks ago, his mind telling him he wasn't good enough to be a friend to Louis, that there were so many chances for everything to go wrong, but there was a conflict with his heart, he wanted so badly to just have a friend, to have someone to talk to… in the best way he could of course. He wanted to spend time with someone other than his mum or sister.

So there Harry sat, knees tucked up to his chest and chin resting upon them. His long fingers held the note he had nothing less than memorized word for word. He read over the ink once again, feeling his heart beat significantly faster as he did so, although he ignored it and let his eyes trace the paper in his hands.

'Harry,

I really hope you're feeling better by the time you read this. I'm so sorry about what happened today, you didn't deserve that. And don't listen to anything that boy said to you, he's just a jerk and you're perfect the way you are. I wish I would've gotten to you sooner, to stop it all from happening in the first place. Your mum said I should leave a note, that it'd be better than her telling you what I told her, but I just wanted to make sure you were okay, and I hope that you are. Also, goodnight Harry, I hope you sleep well.

P.S. If you ever need anything… anything at all, just text me, I'll answer every time.'

Harry's eyes trailed over the last of the note, the ten digits of Louis' number. Harry couldn't decide if he should text him, or if it was too late. Maybe Louis had already forgotten about him, maybe he was happy that he wasn't bothering him anymore. …but maybe.

Harry pushed the paper onto his bed hastily, he was tired of the endless thoughts pestering him… he couldn't focus on anything but his potential friendship with Louis.

He quickly made his way from his bedroom, his feet carrying him down the stairs and out the front door, but not before he scribbled a note to his mum and grabbed his coat that was draped on one of the kitchen chairs.

-

Harry pushed the heavy doors of the library open, letting the smell of old books fill his nose as he entered. He loved spending time in the quiet place, he was rarely ever approached and that made this place a safe haven, he never had to talk and no one had to know that he couldn't even if he wanted to.

Harry moved to a more desolate section of the large library, an area that no one ever came to because the section was what most people deemed 'boring' and Harry had an affinity for the material. The material being old english, he'd pull book upon book of poetry or novels by authors who had long passed and now in such a time where most literature was on the internet, he himself loved the old books with dog-eared pages and broken spines, he loved the words they held and the meaning behind them. It was easy for Harry to get lost in such a place.

Well… that was until the very people who made him so afraid of going places neared him. Although he paid little attention to the footsteps as he assumed it was just a passerby.

He kept his nose in his book and hoped they'd pass quickly so his heart could stop pounding an his brain could actually register what he'd been reading.

But they didn't pass quickly, or at all really.

They moved slower, their footsteps getting lighter, as if Harry hadn't heard them yet, but he had and he was nervous, just like the day in the performance room.

He heard a deep voice whisper to someone, letting him know there was more than just one person nearing, more than one person that could potentially hurt him.

And Harry thought of the only thing that could help in this situation, the only thing that saved him last time… Louis.

In that moment he was never more grateful for having put those ten digits in his phone, as he pulled it out he quickly shot a text with only two words, as his hands were shaking too much for anymore. 'help- library.'

He shoved his phone back in his pocket and waited, because that's all he could do. They were too close for him to run, they would catch him, he couldn't scream because his voice was frozen inside of him like it had always been. He just stared at the page he had been for minutes now, hoping that Louis would hurry before anything bad happened, because he knew it was inevitable, he knew the people behind the sofa he was sitting on weren't there to be his friends, they never were… they were there to taunt him.

-

Louis was sitting in lecture when he'd gotten Harry's text. He knew it wasn't 'help I can't reach a book' he knew what Harry meant. So without a second thought Louis dropped the pen in his hand, nudged Zayn roughly and whispered 'bring my stuff home with you' before running out of the room that was packed with students. He knew every eye was on him as he raced out of the building, but he didn't care, he had to get to Harry.

He'd never run so fast in his life, his legs burned as they pushed him toward the library, he gotten there within five minutes, but that was a few minutes too late.

He ran through the library, nearly reaching the end when he saw a sight that was all too familiar. Harry was balled up in the corner, his hands over his ears and his body rocking back and forth, two larger boys and a petite girl stood close to him, the larger of the two boys was whisper-yelling obscenities at Harry, Louis cringed at the vile poison the boy spat.

"Get away from him!" Louis yelled as he neared Harry, his pace quickening as he saw the tears streaming down Harry's pale face.

The three turned around quickly, all of them looking like deer in the headlights at being caught in the act of bullying someone so innocent and helpless.

"Fuck off! NOW!" Louis yelled, he'd never heard himself sound so strong or powerful. They took off running as Louis got closer and rushed to Harry.

This time Harry didn't fight when Louis took him in his arms and held him. This time Harry just clung to him right away, holding his jacket in his fists and burying his head in Louis' chest.

"It's okay, Harry. I'm so sorry I didn't get here faster, I'm so sorry." He explained as well as he could, he felt so much pressure in his chest, so much concern and worry and care for the boy in his arms that it was almost overwhelming.

Harry nuzzled further into Louis, his curls tickling Louis' chin softly. Louis brushed his fingers through the smooth brown locks as he calmed him.

"It's okay now, everything is okay now." Louis wasn't sure if it was the truth for the long run, but right now everything was seemingly okay, so he stuck with it and told himself it was as honest as it could be in the moment.

Harry didn't loosen his grip on him once, his fists still holding onto Louis' jacket, holding them close. Harry held onto Louis as if he'd disappear in the blink of an eye.

"Harry, I'm going to lift you up okay? We're going to go outside and I'll take you home." Harry just clung to Louis even more as Louis lifted the taller, yet younger boy into his arms, one arm hooked under his knees and the other under his back. Harry wrapped himself around Louis like it was the most natural thing in the word, his arms tangling around his neck as his nose nuzzled into him.

Louis carried Harry out of the building with ease, but not without a few strange looks.

Some how Louis managed to unlock his car and open the passenger door, all without letting Harry go. If he wasn't in such a hurry or panic to get Harry home, he would've taken a moment to be proud of himself.

"C'mon babe, just sit back, let me buckle you in." Harry slumped in his seat, the exhaustion of the happenings the day brought taking a toll on his body. Louis did get him buckled in and made the drive to Harry's home.

As Louis got out of his old car he waited for Harry to stalk ahead of him like before and then march his way up the stairs to his bedroom, but none of that happened.

Louis acknowledged the car in the drive way and knew that Anne was home, which he was thankful for, for Harry's sake.

Harry stayed by Louis as they walked to the door, Harry's feet moved slowly as his tired shoulders slumped and his head hung a bit more than it would on a good day.

And Harry pulled Louis inside the house with a blank face, hiding all emotion from the boy who had saved him twice now.

"Harry why are y-… Louis? What are you doing here?" Louis looked at Anne, her brow was creased as a worried look settled on her features.

"Uhm… some guys were-" Louis stopped, noticing that Harry was taking the attention from him. Anne's eyes were glued to Harry as he moved his hands about quickly, communicating with his mother.

"Ohh honey.. again?" Anne asked sadly, Harry only nodded in response and Louis was able to gather what Harry had said.

Harry began moving his hands again, Louis was completely lost as he watched the younger boys' fingers open and close and his arms go this way and that.

"Are you sure? You've never-" Anne stopped, watching Harry again as he signed something else.

"Okay. Well, Louis… Harry was wondering if you'd like to stay for awhile?" Anne looked skeptical but she knew if Harry was asking about something like this, that she wasn't going to deny him.

"Oh.. umm.. I don't want to impose on anything… I-" Anne cut the boy off quickly. "You're not imposing, and I don't mind you staying, it's not everyday Harry has a guest now is it sweetie?" Anne looked at Harry lovingly, and Louis didn't miss the light blush that covered the younger boys cheeks at his mothers words.

"You can go on into the living room and I'll bring you two some tea." Harry nodded and wrapped his long fingers around Louis' wrist, pulling him into the next room.