Night Changes

Harry and Liam walked along the moonlit street slowly, hands in their pockets. They were both silent, neither knowing what to say or do. Suddenly, Harry's husky voice breaks the silence.

"You remind me of Sherlock," he said.

Liam gave him a look, as if to say, "Are you nuts?"

Harry's brain seemed to be able to connect to Liam's faster than Harry himself could. Before Harry could explain himself, his brain sniggered.

No, Mr. Payne, but I think you're the one who is absolutely insane and I laugh at you.

Laughter vibrated in Harry's head and he shook his head, trying to get his voice out of his head.

"Get out, get out, get out of my head," he said with his fists clenched and his teeth gritted.

"You let your mind control you," Liam observed in his monotone voice.

"Stop it!!!" Harry shouted, turning to Liam with an expression of rage on his face.

"You need to take deep breaths so you can calm down. Remember, your brain isn't even half of you."

"Yeah, but it's what makes decisions for me!"

"You know what they say. Follow your heart."

"I did that and now..." Harry paused, closing his eyes.

Liam instinctively put his arms around Harry's shoulders.

"Rest. Take it easy," he said softly.

"Easy for you to say, Sherlock," Harry retorted. "You're not the one with the mental disorder."

"But I'm the one they call "goth" because I sit alone during lunch and I wear all black."

Liam gestured to his dark long sleeved shirt and black ripped jeans.

Harry sighed, shaking his head.

"Even if you have a bad reputation, it's better than having no reputation."

"How can someone not have a reputation?"

"When you're as screwed up as me, you tend to not have a lot of things."

Liam was silent for a while. Then, he sighed, sitting on the ground. Harry sat next to him, crossing his legs. He stared at Liam's ripped jeans for a while before realising that there were dark red spots on the jeans.

"Liam..." Harry said, touching Liam's leg gently.

"Oh, that's nothing," Liam said, smiling slightly. "I fall down a lot."

"Does it hurt to keep falling?" Harry asked.

"Anything that leaves a mark hurts," Liam replied, staring at the ground.

Harry nodded, thinking of the many relationships he had in his 21 years of existence. Most of them ended where they had begun-in plain nothingness, and others were as difficult to break as diamonds.

"Only another diamond can break a diamond," Harry whispered softly.

"Diamonds can only be found in high pressure areas," Liam said.

"Well, the pressure in my head's high enough to make several diamonds," Harry said, smiling slightly.

Liam smiled back. He liked Harry's sense of humor.

Harry laughed. "But I guess all of this sounds so stupid to you, huh? I mean, you've never been in a relationship before, right?"

Liam nodded, rolling up his pants. He wasn't saying anything, but Harry could sense the tension reflected in Liam's eyes.

"Am I right?" Harry asked, tilting Liam's head slightly.

Liam looked right into Harry's emerald green orbs, then looked away, suddenly insecure. He wasn't used to making eye contact with anyone, much more someone with such captivating, soulful orbs.

"How can you not steal a girl when your orbs alone are like whirlpools, drawing everyone in?" Liam whispered.

"How can you not steal a girl?" Harry returned Liam's question to him. "I mean, damn, you're one of the smartest people I know."

"I-I'm not smart!" Liam exclaimed, his cheeks turning red. "I'm just observant... too observant! That's why I can never get a girl-most think I'm a..."

Liam flinched, as if some invisible force had reached out and struck him. Then he looked up, careful to avoid Harry's curious gaze. "People think I'm a stalker."

Something about Liam's insecurity made Harry reach out and hug him.

"Why are people so stupid?"

"They don't know what it's like... feeling like an outcast," Liam whispered.

"Are you an outcast?"

"I believe so."

"Then stop believing that bullshit!"

"Harold, I-I..."

Liam collapsed on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. Harry picked him up and gasped. Liam was as light as a feather.

"When was the last time you ate a good meal?" Harry asked.

"I can't eat," Liam said faintly.

Cradling Liam's head in his arms, Harry realised that the soft-spoken brunette was crying. He rubbed his back and whispered to him.

"You're tired, Liam, I'll take you home."

"No... I don't want to burden you."

"You won't be a burden... you'll be a gift."

Liam looked up at Harry. "Are you sure?"

Harry smiled, his dimples caving into his cheeks. "I couldn't be more sure in my entire life."

Notes

Hi baes... sorry it took me a while, but here ya go :)

The fish and chips part comes later... Liam's pretty emotional as of now.

If you're wondering where the other boys are, you'll know... some time, but for now, sit tight.

The Pareem express is on its way woo~