Him

1

So you were right, There's always two
The one who stays and the one who's leaving you
Hear me out, My apologies
'Cause I'm not here for sympathy

"Freedom!" I shout from the top of my lungs. The sound bounces between the buildings.

I turn to my friends and take another gulp of the bottle of champagne. I remember the camera and grab it so I can capture this moment.

We're up on the roof celebrating our graduation. It's a perfect night. Liam, Zayn, and Niall which whom I share a flat are already drunk. And then there's Louis. He dropped out second year. He's still in our group though. Louis is Louis. Complicated guy. Something of a slack. Passionate about music. He has his walls up. He doesn't let people in. Sometimes he's the sweetest and sometimes he's an ass.

We have something of a love-hate relationship, or not really love... I might have been interested in the beginning but Louis doesn't do relationships. I have no idea if the feeling was mutual because Louis doesn't do feelings either. We kissed once a couple of years ago. A drunken night out. Nothing more than kissing though and I'm glad. He acted like nothing had happened the next day and we never discussed it.

Niall reaches for the bottle and I give it to him while I film him. He takes a sip.
"Freedom? I don't know how you can all be so chill about it. I have no idea what I want to do with my life. At least you have really good grades, Harry."

"We know you slept your way to those." Louis smirks. He's sitting by himself. Guitar in his hands. Smoking. The perfect image of a bad boy.

I roll my eyes at him.
"I'm intelligent. I didn't have to. Maybe you should have tried it though?"

He snorts. Looks amused. Puts his cigarette out. We're always like this. Bickering. Rude comments. Clash.
"It's getting cold. Let's get inside." Liam says. They're so used to us quarreling that they don't even react anymore.

We head inside our apartment. Louis is the only one with his own place even if I wouldn't call that rathole an apartment. I've only been there once or twice. He's messy.

Zayn turn on the stereo. Blitzkrieg Bop by The Ramones blast through the speakers. We all jump around and scream out the lyrics. Except for Louis. He thinks he's too cool for that. I won't have it. I drag his ass off the couch. He actually gets up. I grab his hands and wave his arms around while I jump up and down. He just smiles. Looks amused. I turn around and start twerking. I shake my ass in his direction. Glance over my shoulder. He throws his head back and laughs like only he can.

We drink and we dance. Celebrate that school is finally over. I realize that I put my camera on the table and pick it up. I film my friends dancing and singing from the top of their lungs. Maybe I'm focusing a little more on Louis. He flips me off.
"Harold, I think the moment has been captured. Put down the fucking camera."

"It's for my documentary." I pout.

He pries the camera off me and turns it around.
"In that case, you need to be on the film as well."

I don't like being on camera. I put my hands over my face and hide.
"Harold, not fair! Come on! Show me those amazing eyes of yours." He says.

Did he just compliment me? My eyes? He must be drunk. My hands fall to the side and I stare into the lens.
"Great! Smile!" He comments.

I put my tongue out and swat the camera away. He cackles and hands it back. Flops down on the couch and grabs his guitar. I sit next to him. I'm really drunk. Liam points the camera at us. I left it on the table.
"What's your goal in life?" Liam asks.

Niall sits next to me.
"I just want to do something I love."

"Don't we all." Zayn comments and takes a seat on the armrest.

"Louis?" Liam asks and points the camera at him.

Louis stops strumming the strings and looks up at the camera.
"I want to feel the inside of a black hole before I die."

"Yeah? I think we can arrange that." I joke inappropriately.

He chuckles. Puts the guitar down and throws an arm around my shoulders.
"Sassy, Styles. You surprise me sometimes. Now tell the camera what your goal is."

I smile a bit embarrassed.
"I know this is going to sound stupid but I would like to make a difference in people's lives somehow."

"And I want to buy them all coke." Louis adds.

I bump his side. His arm is still around me.
"And you wonder why we never got involved." I snort. Too drunk. Blurt.

We never talked about it. It's there but we ignore it. It's for the best. I'm surprised by his response.
"Three words; September 28th, 2015."

He's referring to that night we kissed. I didn't think he even remembered it. He has never commented on it before. I get defensive.
"That doesn't count. I was really drunk."

His arm is still around my shoulders. It feels heavy. We're too close. He smirks.
"It could have been a poetic experience if I weren't such a gentleman."

He makes it sound like I threw myself at him. I glance at the boys. They're following our interaction with interest. I stare at Louis instead.
"What? You were the one who wanted..."

He interrupts me.
"You were begging..."

I gasp. Offended. I did no such thing!
"Did not!"

He just smiles. I roll my eyes at him.
"Let go of the fantasy, Tomlinson."

He removes his arms around my shoulders. Shrugs. Picks up the guitar again. The conversation is over. I'm glad we never went down that road. It had been a disaster. Louis is incapable of having a relationship. His many one-night stands tell me that. I would have had my heart broken. We're better off as friends. Then I can at least have him in my life.