Citybelle22 got me the new cover, so everybody thank her for either making or finding it.
"Is Zayn doing okay?" Niall asked, oblivious to the tension the question caused to permeate the air. Finally, after a long silence, Liam sighed and spoke.
"Look, I know you said that this was in some way Nialls fault. But he doesn't seem to have any idea what he's done, so why don't you inform us all." Liam suggested. Nialls eyes widened, thinking of what he had told Zayn the night before. Had it really driven Zayn to alcohol?
Zayn lay his head down on the table, obviously having no interest in answering the question. He wasn't the type of person to go spilling any secrets, whether others or his own, and Liam was asking him to do both. Lying was decietful, and while Zayn was good at it, He preferred not t do it. So he sat in silence, letting Louis take over.
"Well last night, Zayn and Niall had a conversation." Louis began, causing both boys to immeadiatly tense. Harry rubbed Zayn s back gently, much like Zayn had done for him while he had cried over Louis being out on a date.
"Niall expressed some concerns, as well as admitting something that was plaguing him," Louis continued. Harry placed a hand on his arm, urging him silently to stop, But Louis knew exactly what he was doing. "Im not sure if it's my place to tell you, but you're the only one who doesn't know, so I will anyways."
The tension in the air was palpable, everyone anxiously waiting for Louis' next words. But Louis was smarter than those who knew Nialls secret gave him credit for. He had secrets of his own, secrets He wouldn't want spilled. And so he knew better than doing Niall a disservice. Rather, he was planning on doing a favor for another friend in the room.
"Niall likes Zayn as more than a friend." Every jaw in the room dropped at his words, But Louis continued. "Zayn just broke up with Perrie and Niall thought it would be a good time to tell him. Zayn stressed out and ended up with a bit much alcohol in his system." Once Louis finished, everyone was staring at him. It was silent for a while, and then Liam laughed.
"I never would have guessed it was Zayn. In fact, I was pretty damn convinced it was Harry." Liam laughed, causing everyone great confusion except for Niall, who flushed red, unsure whether to be furious with Louis for the lie or grateful Liam didn't know the truth.
"Pardon?" Louis seemed confused.
"I knew Niall had a crish on one of you. I just would have guessed it was Harry over Zayn." Liam shrugged, But Louis looked surprised.
"Have you never listened to Niall talk? He isn't exactly bashful with the Larry comments." Louis pointed out.
Harry nodded. "He ships us more than the fans."
Niall laughed at that. "That I do. But can you really blame me? This morning Liam and I literally found them inside the coast closet."
Liam laughed at the memory. "What were you two doing in there?"
"Kissing. Making out. Other stuff." Louis replied without missing a beat. Harry blushed red at the thought, Niall gave Liam a pointed look, and Liam and Zayn found themselves bursting out n laughter. Louis never failed to turn a tense situation into one that could be easily handled.
"Does your girlfriend know about that Louis?" Zayn joked, which caused Niall to laugh Even harder, but Liam regained a straught face.
"It isn't funny to think about Louis cheating on Elenor." He pointed out. Every one stared at him blankly before Niall patted him in the back.
"Elenor is a beard mate. She wouldn't much mind." Niall pointed out.
"She's not a beard Niall. And Liam is pribably right." Zayn countered. Niall glared at him.
"How could they possibly be actually dating and Louis not brought her over for the night at least once? And in the meantime, who is it that falls asleep in his arms? None other than his best friend, Harry Styles. How any girl really dating hm would be okay with that, I have no idea." Niall pointed out. "So the only logical explanation is that Elenor is a beard. And I'd hazard a guess that Louis likes Harry as more than a friend and vise versa, but that is just me."
Zayn shook his head. "El is just being sympathetic. She gets that Harry needs the comfort and is more than willing to let Louis help his best friend. Its just being nice." He always argued that Elenor was a genuine girlfriend, for the sole reason that he knew she wasn't.
"That still dosent explain why he hasn't brought her over for the night before." Niall argued.
"Just because they haven't slept together doesn't mean the relationship isn't real." Zayn bitterly argued.
"But the fact that she has nothing against him sleeping next to Harry does!" Niall was arguing jist as bitterly as Zayn, and the situation didn't involve either of them. Oh and Zayn knew he was wrong. But that didn't make the argument lose its edge. If anything, it enhanced it.
"She knows there's nothing going on! She trusts him!" Zayn was yelling, standing on his feet.
"Maybe she shouldn't! Harry and Louis obviously have something going on!" Niall pointed out.
"Why won't you jist accept that Larry is just a made up rumor and Elenor and Louis are in love?!?" Zayn was getting frustrated by Nialls blind insistence. Why was He so sure of himself? How could he possibly know anything about the hopeless situation Louis and Harry had gotten themselves into? He needed to stop pushing the matter. Zayn couldn't see Harry from where he was, but he was sure that with each word He was bitterly spitting at Niall was hurting Harry more and more.
"Because Larry Stylinson is real! Why can't you accept that." Niall shouted. It was at that moment that Harry walked out of the room. Liam gave Louis, the only other person in the room who wasn't in a fit of rage, an apologetic glance before leaving the room, No doubt off to comfort Harry.
Niall and Zayn were glaring at each other, and Louis was sitting there, glancing between the two of them with an amused smile.
"You do relize that you're going to have to pretend to date now, right?" Louis pointed out. Zayn and Nialls eyes widened, and both of them began trying to stutter out coherent sentences, although niether of them had any degree of sucess. Louis just smiled.
"Niall, you can't get out of this. The two of you can't act to save your lives, so there is no way to just say Zayn rejected you. You have to pretend he has decided to date you." Louis didn't even bother addressing Zayn. He knew that the raven haired boy would have no objections to his plan. If it meant he got to date Niall, even jist to pretend, Zayn would be okay with it.
"You don't want the real secret that you told Zayn reaching certain ears. I saw it in your face earlier. Face it Niall, this is the best way." Louis pointed out. He gave Zayn a look that clearly said not to protest. "After a couple of weeks, You two can plan some huge elaborate break up in a couple of weeks. Until then, just pretend."
Niall still looked skeptical. "No offense to Zayn, but I don't think we'd make a very convincing couple. We aren't like you and Harry. We're close, But not that close."
Louis shook his head. "Well then here's your chance to strengthen your friendship. Spend all your time in the same room, hold hands if at all possible, and toss in a couple of kisses for show. It's easy."
Niall didn't seem pleased. "I don't think-" he began to protest, but Louis cut him off.
"You two are gonna show date for at least a couple of weeks, or I tell your crushes about you." Louis threatened. Normally, blackmail wouldn't work against Zayn, but this was something he wanted. So he kept his mouth shut. After a while, Niall nodded.
"Fine Louis. But only cause this will make him jealous." Niall mumbled. And he was certainly right. This plan would make Liam jealous. But of who?
