inferno // l.s.

seventy three

"can i get a paloma with light ice and very light salt around the rim? the last time i got one it was too much and ruined it. oh, and no grapefruit for the garnish. thank you."

"who the fuck is she?" louis leaned closer to zayn, scrunching his nose. "and why is she acting like michael is her servant?"

"that," zayn sighs, "is athena. she's new. horrible attitude and thinks she's better than everyone here. we've already tried to break it out of her but her ego is just too big."

"she's pretty, but not all that."

"she thinks harry's in love with her."

"boy, is she wrong."

"so fucking wrong." zayn snickered. "we've all been talking about it. it's quite a sight. she follows him around like a lost puppy and he just can't shake her off his ankle. everyone knows he doesn't fancy her at all."

"who recruited her?"

"mitch, i believe."

"go figure. he always picks the bad ones."

"i'll drink to that." zayn tipped his beer back and set it on the table after taking a sip. "she doesn't believe you exist. she thinks you're just a made up person."

"i mean, look at me. i'm hot, my ass is big, and i'm engaged to harry styles himself? of course i'm an illusion."

his best friend shook his head. "i'm talking to a ghost."

"boo."

zayn flinched and put his hand on his chest. he let out a yelp, making the both of them laugh.

the older dancer spun his chair around with a blissful sigh. "so how have things been?"

"good, besides her. jessie hates her and said she can't wait for the day you snatch her up and dog walk her. her words, not mine."

"unfortunately i cannot put my hands on someone of the opposite sex. if she touches me, though? i'll let jessie loose. or cara. my girls have my back."

"we all do, babes. she's embarrassing."

louis watched as athena took her drink and walked away from the bar. he made eye contact with michael, who only put a finger gun to the side of his head and pretended to shoot himself.

louis only shrugged his shoulders but held up a heart. the bartender must have needed that, because he patted his chest and blew him a kiss in return.

"husband, nine o'clock."

louis turned his head towards the balcony. harry was walking up the stairs with mitch by his side, both of them dressed in crisp suits. harry had requested that everyone dress in some sort of fancier attire because they were having people come in. superior people. bartenders and bouncers could wear their uniform tees if they wanted to, but the dancers were asked to wear either black or red and make it look nice.

louis, on the other hand, was just a regular person tonight. no dancer, no bartender, just himself. he didn't feel like spending his day off cooped up in the house because everyone else was too busy working, so he decided to just join them. to hell with it. it's a friday night, he's on summer break, and everything else is taken care of regarding house chores, vehicle maintenance, and regular errands. what better way to celebrate adulthood than with alcohol and friends?

he did dress nice for the occasion because it's his fiancé's club and he takes this establishment seriously. harry worked hard to be where he is today and he will do anything in his power to help him keep climbing the business ladder. harry was at number one in the state once before. he'll get him back there again soon.