Mr Brightside - L.S

Chapter Two

Finally, Louis thought as he leaned his head against the back of his sofa. After three days of unpacking with the help of Zayn, Vincent, three movers that his mum hired, and Harry, there were no more boxes to be unpacked. A content smile played on his lips as he stretched, relieving his aching muscles of the tension they had been carrying since the first box of books he had lifted. Distantly, he remembered that the boys were coming over soon so they could sit around the fire pit and roast marshmallows, but he couldn't bring himself to prepare it just yet. He was too comfortable. 

A few months ago Harry had introduced Louis to his older half-brother Niall, with whom he shared a father despite looking nothing alike because they both took after their mothers when it came to looks. Louis had immediately been fond of Niall from the beginning, because of his laugh that split the silence after Louis says anything. The Irish lad always seems to think there's a hidden joke in a regular sentence, but that's why they love him. 

Louis' landlord - Liam Payne - had introduced himself as soon as Louis walked into his apartment, which kind of scared Louis at first, but then he came to realise that Liam was just a big puppy that meant well. So that's why Louis had invited him to have a fire on the roof at midnight to make roasted marshmallows and panic about the new schedule they would have to get used to thanks to Uni. Liam wasn't attending university, so he wouldn't understand why everyone was so stressed, but he seemed like a nice lad so Louis invited him anyway. Niall, too, would be laughing at the new students because he had already been in Knightley for a year and he had once been in their position of anxiety.

Louis was brought out of his thoughts by a knock on his door before Vincent was shouting to be let in. The smaller boy scoffed jokingly and sat up, strutting across his spacious living room to get to the door, before he looked through the peep-hole. There was Vincent, with a grin on his face as he looked at the door, and Harry, who had his arms wrapped around himself while he shivered slightly. With a furrow in his brow at the sight of the taller boy, Louis swung the door open and held out his arms in greeting. "You alright there lovebirds?" 

Harry immediately plastered on a dimpled smile when he caught Louis' eyes and he stepped into his arms, Louis hugged him tightly before he broke away to hug Vincent, who then handed him an eight-pack of beer which Louis placed on the shelf by the door. Harry seemed to be in awe at the finished apartment, which made pride swell in the older boy's chest at the thought of impressing Harry. Suddenly, a long arm was around Louis' shoulder and he relaxed when he saw it was just Vincent.

"Should me and Harry set up the fire pit out there? You look tired," the blond boy asked, eyes concerned when he saw Louis' eyes blinking slowly. "Wait are you tired or high?" Laughter ripped out of Louis' throat before he could contain it, and Harry turned around from where he was exploring the different rooms, eyes alight with amusement. Clutching at his belly as he doubled over, Louis tried to stifle his laughter.

"No, mate, I'm just tired. I'll help you guys with the fire while we wait for the others," he insisted as he took one of the beers out of his pack and started drinking, "I could use a blunt, though." Harry nodded and went up the stairs in between Louis' bathroom and the office which led to the roof. Vincent and Louis started walking together up the stairs more slowly, "I don't look that high, do I?" the smaller boy whined, and Vincent glanced at him sympathetically. "Oh shut up, Vinnie."

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"Louis, that's not how you start a fire." This was the third time that Harry had interrupted Louis today, and at first, Louis was fine with it because who could blame Harry for being excited about university life? But this was the third time. "Do you not know how to do it?" the wonder in the boy's voice seemed so genuine that Louis looked up at him, and when he did his heart melted and he forgot why he was annoyed in the first place.