Criminal Love

⭕️Chapter Six⭕️

Song for the chapter
Juice by Lizzo

Louis drove me home the next morning where I did the oh-so known walk of shame. Except, I don't feel any shame, although I do feel in my stomach that Niall will most definitely mock my limp, or my hoarse voice, perhaps even the multiple hickeys on my neck, but I don't care.

"Hey Harold. How was your night?" Niall asks smugly from the couch, muffin on a plate in his lap as he scrolls through his phone, pausing when I entered the apartment. "It was amazing, Neil." I say quietly, not being able to go much higher than that. "Oh damn, haha, you got royally fucked, huh?" Niall says, grinning at my lack of vocal range. "Yeah, it was great though." I say, sitting down gingerly across from Niall. We're always very open with our relationships, sexual or not, it's just how we grew up together, we never keep anything from each other.

"Your lip is swollen, dude. The fuck did you two do?" He questions, muffin and phone long forgotten about. "Turns out I'm into blood,pain, and praise, who knew?" I say, hearing Niall choke on air. I laugh and look up at him to see his wide eyes staring at me. "Ok, so let me get this right. You like blood? What?" Niall asks in disbelief.

"Dang, ok. That's actually kinda hot, to be honest." Niall says after letting me explain why I'm into blood. "Right?" I agree, laughing at Niall's honesty. "So he asked you to go over to his house? Did he say when?" Niall questions, taking a bite out of his muffin. "Yeah, uh.. next Friday, actually." I say, making Niall nod in understanding, his mouth full.

"By thugh way, twuo really goof loofingh guysh came by lasht niught and drubbed off your car." Niall says through his breakfast, making me look at him in confusion. "What?" I ask, wondering what the hell kind of language my friend just spoke to me in. "Look,I didn't realize you were into Latin, I'll take the course with you." I joke, causing Niall to flick is middle finger up at me. He swallows and clears his throat. "I said, by the way, two really good looking guys came by last night and dropped off your car." He says.

"Oh, they must have been Zayn and Liam, who they are, I have no idea. Louis knows them, he kinda made it seem like they are his friends or something. He called them last night to drop my car off." I explain, making Niall nod in agreement, even though he has no idea what I'm talking about. "Ah, ok." He says before standing and going to the kitchen.

The week rushes by in a blur of college classes and work, lunch with Niall here and there, going home to Savannah, Georgia for Gemma's birthday, and then more college, work, and then suddenly Friday is here, and Niall and I go to Louis' club, Roll the Dice , and we agreed that Niall would drive back, so he promised he wouldn't get shitfaced, only two or three beers, just a light buzz.

Some Justin Bieber song is bass-boosted and pulsing through the club, the dance floor alive with drunk people, losing themselves in the beat and flashing lights. "Harry, the guy at the Dj is one of the guys who came by last week." Niall says, making me look over to the corner where a handsome guy is standing behind the setup, his jaw could cut glass and his eyes are the prettiest I've ever seen. Even in the weird lighting I can tell he's tanned, his sleeves are pushed up to his elbows and he's covered in tattoos. His black hair short on the sides and fluffed up on top, fading into purple tips.

"Hello gentlemen, how is everyone, Harry?" Louis' voice sends tingles down my spine. "Louis." I acknowledge his presence. His hands somehow find their way to my shoulder and then slide off, going back to his side as he brings his whole body into view. He's wearing a red button down with black skinny jeans. "And this is...?" He asks, indicating to Niall. "My best friend, Niall." I say shyly, feeling very awkward about this whole interaction for some reason. "Ah, Niall.. has Harry informed you about his happenings tonight?" Louis says, making Niall nod, embarrassing me more.