Chapter 6 - Temper Tantrum

Harry's POV

"Where were you at lunch?" Liam asked me as I went to AP English with him.

"Sorry Li, Ms. Arthur asked me to come with her. She wants me to be a tutor." I explained. "Guess who I'm tutoring?"

"Who?"

"Louis."

"Of course he's failing chemistry." Liam said with a snicker. "But why would you agree to tutor him?"

"Because I owe it to him."

"You don't owe him anything, Harry. He'll just take it for granted." Liam said as the second bell rang.

I shrugged. "Maybe, but he helped me when his friends beat me up." I pointed out.

"Harry, you know he's not a good guy. He's a jerk and he's just gonna take advantage of how smart you are."

I shrugged as our English teacher began talking. She gave us our vocab for the week, warning us of the quiz we'd be taking on Monday.

We worked on writing them down and going through them with a partner. Instead of actually going through them Liam and I just talked. We both knew we'd pass the vocab test.

"I just don't want Louis to do to you what he did to me. Let me tell you it hurts like hell to lose your best friend."

I nodded. "You don't think I'll leave you for Louis right?" I asked. I didn't want him thinking that. "Louis ditched you, how much of an jerk would I be to do the same thing with the person who did it to you."

"I know you won't. He's the jerk, not you."

"I think his friends are more of jerks than Louis is." I admitted.

"They're the ones who turned him into one, so of course that's true. I can't stand them, especially Zayn."

"Why 'especially Zayn?'"

"Let's just say I know what it's like to be beat up by Zayn too." Liam said, writing the last vocab word down.

"Zayn beat you up?" I asked. He never told me that.

Liam nodded. "Except Louis didn't come to my rescue, like he did for you." Liam said. "He just stood there and watched."

I could sense Liam's jealousy and annoyance. He was jealous Louis saved me and not him. He was irritated with the fact that Louis and I were associating, and no matter what he said, I knew he was scared I'd replace him. I understood that what happened between Louis and Liam had scarred Liam.

A few classes after that, and the day was over, and it was time to go be the coach's assistant for practice.

"Hey," Louis said sitting down next to me as I laid down a towel. He handed his phone to me. "Put your number in so I can let you know when I'm coming."

"Okay," I said nervously, punching in the numbers and handing it back to him.

"Thanks, I'll text you." he said with a smile, running off on the field.

"Are you and Tomlinson friends?" the coach asked, making me jump. He always seemed to show up out of nowhere.

"I guess so," I replied, "I'm tutoring him."

He nodded. "Good, then he can keep you from the jerks that beat you up." he said. "And by jerks I mean the kids on my team. Let me know when you're ready to tell me who it was." he patted my shoulder as he ran out to the field to start practice.

How did coach know it was people from his team?

The words he said before rang through my brain. "You know, I got beat up in high school once or twice. I know what it looks like."

That's probably how he figured it out. I knew I couldn't tell him, Zayn would kill me.

* * *

"Are you still tutoring Louis this weekend?" Liam asked.

I nodded in response, opening my locker. "He asked me for my number last night, so he could let me know when he's coming."

"Styles!" I heard someone shout from down the hall. I looked to see Zayn. Oh god, what did I do now?

I stood there, hoping he was just coming over to talk and I had nothing to be afraid of.

"You're dead meat," he said, once he reached me. He grabbed the collar of my shirt and pushed me up against the locker.

"Get off of him!" Liam yelled, trying to get in between us.

Zayn turned and threw his open fist at Liam, causing him to fall to the ground.

"You fucking ratted me out to coach. You're gonna pay for that." he said, throwing a punch to my stomach. I winced and felt like I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. I didn't tell coach, so I have no idea what's going on.

"Zayn, stop!" Louis said, running up to us with Niall by his side. As he arrived Zayn threw another punch, hitting me in the jaw. Louis was strong enough to get Zayn off of me, Niall just standing there and watching, probably trying to figure out what's happening.

"He ratted me out to the coach, he deserves it!" Zayn said running at me, but Louis stood in the way.

"Harry didn't tell coach," Louis said. "It was me."

"You?! How could you betray me like that?" Zayn said, trying to move at Louis. Louis shoved Zayn against the wall.

"I had no choice!" they were both yelling at each other now. "He knew I saved him and coach said he'd suspend me from the team if I didn't tell him."

"So you pick the team over me? I'm your best friend."

"You beat Harry up for no reason! I'm not getting suspended for one of your stupid fucking fights!" Louis yelled.

Zayn clenched his fist, looking like he was ready to fight Louis. "Whatever." Zayn said. "Niall let's go."

Niall looked up at Zayn like he was scared of him, and followed him down the hallway.

"Are you guys alright?" he asked Liam and I. Liam was still laying on the floor, while I hadn't moved from my spot against the lockers. He put his hand out to help Liam up, but Liam pushed it away.

"I don't need your help. I didn't get it the first time Zayn punched me, remember?" Liam spat, walking away from us.

Louis sighed, a look of regret on his face. He turned to me, "I'm sorry." he pulled his sleeve down and softly wiped it against my chin. I winced but it only hurt for a second. I already knew I was bleeding. "Zayn should've hit me, not you."

"It's okay."

Louis let out a tiny laugh. "It's okay? You're okay with getting beaten up because of me?"

"I know you didn't mean to." I said. I could tell he wasn't a jerk like Liam was convinced. He pulled Zayn off of me, and defended me against his best friend. If he was a jerk he would've joined in instead of protecting me.

Louis shook his head. "I'm sorry, coach made me tell. He knew you wouldn't, so he asked me. If I got here any sooner you might've been unconscious by now. Zayn has a pretty bad temper."

"I can tell." I nodded. "He punched Liam for no reason."

"Exactly." Louis agreed. "And Liam's still extremely pissed with me."

I just shrugged because I didn't know what to say. I didn't want to tell Louis how Liam felt because I felt like it was an invasion of Liam's privacy.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Louis said. "I was thinking I could come by later in the evening."

"That works."

"Okay. And if your stomach hurts too much, get some ice from the nurse like last time."

I just nodded as we parted. It was time for me to go find Liam.

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Yay! Double update! Hope you're liking this! it's basically just flowing out of me!

What do you think about Zayn beating people up? he's pretty violent

And Louis saving him?? <3

Thanks for reading!

-Amanda Styles [10/22/14]