A World Without Augusts

30

That was the fifth Miss Dior perfume Louis was testing in the scents aisle of a store. He certainly looked out of place but that could easily be passed off as him buying a gift for his partner. He spritzed a bit of the perfume on a napkin, airing it out before sniffing it. Nope, still not him.

"Looking for something?" Overly chirpy but means well. Probably.

"Uh yeah there is one that has notes of vanilla and citrus? Still flowery but has those notes? It's from the Miss Dior collection that I know," he tried his best at explaining the scent that was driving him headfirst towards insanity.

"Of course, we have that! I'll go get it, the sample bottle just ran out this morning," she smiled and Louis felt a bit at ease. He stared at the door she had disappeared into until she walked back out, a bottle with a bowtie around its neck in her hands. She flashed him a smile as she spritzed the scent on his arm. He sniffed at it, almost crying in front of the whole shop. It was his perfume.

"Yeah this is it, I'll have a bottle of this one." He had regained some composure as he smiled at her.

"I'll put it in a nice box for your girlfriend then."

"Boyfriend."

"Of course. What colour does he like?"

"Periwinkle blue," he said instantly, he had memorised all he knew about Harry Styles a long long time ago.

He walked out of that store with a red flush gracing his cheeks. The girl had asked quietly if he was interested in seeing their lingerie collection for his boyfriend and the whole shop knew he didn't want to see it from the rather loud no he shouted out. Of course, he apologised to her afterwards and she only smirked at him. Kids were awfully cheeky these days.

He was out shopping for a scent that reminded him of the only person he ever loved, not for a gift to get laid with a man waiting for him back home. That was what Harry was to him. Home.

Maybe he shouldn't have walked his merry way to Zayn's flat. Even if he did, he should've turned on his heel and walked away. And maybe he shouldn't have rung the bell. What was he here for anyway? The bag was burning stripes into his hand. Liam opened the door, immediately smiling when he saw it was Louis.

"Louis! Zayn's gonna be chuffed, he's watching the game. Come in." He stepped away and as Louis walked in, he felt like he was doing the walk of shame.

"Hi, Zaynie." His voice came out in a squeak and the man raised an eyebrow.

"Hey did ya get me a gift?"

"No uh this is nothing. I just came to visit,"

"What's in the bag then? Did you become straight and get a girlfriend?"

"No no. It's a serum. For dark circles. You know how I don't get enough sleep right?"

"Good to see you taking care of your skin." Zayn didn't sound like he believed Louis but that was a conversation for a whole other day. The awkward tension that followed afterwards made Louis want to crawl into a hole and die. This was a mistake and he needed out.

"I'm gonna make tea. Anyone want a cuppa?"

"I'll have one and Liam'll too. He's falling asleep in the middle of the match."

"What a fucking disgrace."

Louis heard Zayn walk into the kitchen but his eyes were still fixed on the kettle. He felt a hand on his shoulder and he leaned into the touch.

"What's wrong, Lou?"

"I...no nothing. Go see if the man of your dreams has fallen asleep," he tried to laugh.