Balance

Chapter 3

A/N - Hey guys I managed to find the youtube clip of this story hope you enjoy !

You know, I may not remember the first and only time you showed me the theater very clearly," Zayn remarked, casually slinging an arm around Louis' shoulders, "but I definitely don't think it was quite this trashy then."  Louis gave his roommate a look with eyes narrowed.

"You twat; I sent you a text," the dancer grumbled, unable to keep his heart from swelling painfully at one last over the shoulder glance at the building.  Zayn had kept to his promise and was picking the older boy up to take him out for a dinner for which Louis was paying.

"Too soon for jokes?" the Bradford boy asked lightheartedly.  Louis jabbed him in the sides, earning a groan of protest.  However, he had to admit, Zayn's easygoing presence was calming some of the emotions that had been threatening to resurface throughout the day.

Zayn tugged Louis closer to his side, as if sensing the thoughts lurking on the very fringes of the dancer's mind.  Louis couldn't help but lean around Zayn to take a peek at the skate park.

The lot was empty, almost ominous in the darkness.  The lights that normally lit the ramps and rails were turned off, likely to discourage more hooligans from traversing near to the crime scene.  Shadows cast by the nearby streetlights played tricks on Louis' mind as the pair strolled past the ghost park.

"Where to for dinner?" Zayn pitched in, shattering the silence.  His voice seemed unnecessarily loud and brash so close to Louis' ear; however, the shorter brunet didn't mind.  It had the intended affect and tore his gaze away from the ill-omened skate park.

"I'm paying for you, yeah?  Your choice," responded Louis, clapping Zayn's shoulder once before pulling away from the intimate grip of his roommate.

"Take me to one of your fancy dance restaurants, Lou," Zayn suggested in an exaggeratedly dramatic tone.  Louis couldn't help but chuckle.

"What do you mean 'fancy dance restaurant'?"

"You know, the ones all the dancers go to.  Surely your lot has some sort of high end hang out.  If I just so happen upon a really fit, flexible bird well," Zayn rambled, stroking his chin thoughtfully and waggling his eyebrows for Louis' benefit.

"Come off it," Louis scolded, "and I just so happen to know you wouldn't mind a flexible bloke if there just so happened to be one around."

Zayn's eyes widened and he stifled a smirk.  "I've told you once and I'll tell you again, I am not sleeping with you, Lou."  Louis made a face.  A couple that had been walking ahead of them on the busier street away from the studio turned to inspect the duo walking behind them.

The two noticed their audience and Zayn chose that particular moment to put into practice his rusty acting skills.  Tossing an arm around Louis' slighter frame once more, Zayn pulled his flatmate tight to his side.  "I've told you; love, ever since that hot, passionate night we shared back when we met, I just can't bring myself to allow for a repeat.  There are too many memories I'd much rather preserve."

"Can it, you prick.  They've turned around," Louis remarked, forcibly removing himself from Zayn's side.

"I remember when you used to be fun," Zayn pouted as he folded his arms across his Guns N' Roses shirt covered by the ever-present leather jacket as a shield from the cold.

Louis shook his head and proceeded to lead his friend to what he would dub a popular hang out for at least some of the dancing community in London.

It was a small bar just a few blocks from the studio, well liked by dancers for its high end appearance and food but also for the cheap alcohol and vibrant company.  Some ballet professionals only frequented the establishments of the utmost prestige; however, Louis found that the more personable, likable bunch visited places like this little bar.