Cocaine for Breakfast

Chapter 7

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  By the time the sun sinks low in the horizon and dips the sky in a pastel orange and cotton candy pink, the woeful mood has worn off. The two men are sitting outside, their fingers curling around bottles of beer with an ashtray placed between them, overflowing with stumped out cigarettes.

They haven't mentioned the little bit conversation about Louis' parents and their expectations. Harry doesn't ask questions and Louis isn't revealing more, which is for the better, he reckons. Feeling the mellow whir of alcohol in his bloodstream and the slight evening breeze, he can't say anything other than the fact he's somehow happy. Or, at least, he's getting there. The silence between the two is filled with understanding, both of them knowing not to press any of the sore topics.

There is one thing that has been bugging Louis for a week. Peering over at Harry's profile, he opens and closes his mouth.

"We should tell Lara." He mumbles, taking a sip of his beer. Swallowing, he wipes his mouth. "I've started to be awkward around her, ditched her so many times." A hot ball of culpability piles in the bottom of his stomach at the thought and he tries to quench it with more booze.

Harry sends him a wary look. "It's not our secret to tell."

Louis shrugs absently. "If she finds out we knew..." He trails off, "If I were in her position, I'd want my friends to tell me, s'all." He finishes after a stretched tick of silence.

"Lara wouldn't believe us."

"She knows we mean good."

"Louis," Harry admonishes, "Ivana bought drugs off you."

"I'm aware." Louis' brows furrowed, not understanding the connection.

"She's never done that before."

"There's always a first time for everything." Louis brushes it off with a scruff, "So what?" 

"She's always been mad when Lara takes 'em." Harry mutters, somberly. "'S just weird."

Shaking his head, Louis has no idea how to answer. He's known Lara for around three limited weeks, whilst Harry and her share a bond of friendship probably over years . Figuring Harry knows best, he leaves it at that, but the weird ball in his abdomen stays, even when he's downed his second beer.

The thing is, Louis would rather think about Lara's situation than his own; guilt feels better than heartbreak. Sitting so close to the boy who's the cause of Louis' pain doesn't help...at all.

Harry's body heat licks at his skin, basically radiating off his bare arms, his usual spicy cologne having developed into something that smells fragrant mixed with the scent of cannabis. The whole combination is consuming his senses to the point where Louis has to remind himself to breathe in and out evenly, hyper-aware of his shuddering heartbeat and raw throat, his increased pulse pounding as he struggles to swallow normally.

He places the empty bottle between his feet, taking out another cigarette and offering the pack to Harry who takes one with a small smile as a silent thanks. Nicotine mixed with alcohol is one of his favourite things, making his mind dizzy. He feels his shoulders relax after the second drag.

Not seeking a second fight but wanting to say something, Louis observes Harry's face, the way Harry is staring out into the sunset, his mind elsewhere.

"You said there is another drug deal tonight?"

Harry nods once, "Weed...again," snorting in amusement, he peeks at Louis, the corner of his mouth curving up slightly. "Macclesfield is a total stoner town."