The Exceptionals

Chapter Fourteen: The High And The Drunk

I Can't Hold Back - Survivor

"Niall, I-I can't, I can't do this."

A car passed by.

"I'm not doing this alone. Help me."

Another car.

"Call a professional, I don't know." Louis groaned as he put his hands on his hips, licking his sweaty upper lip. Stupid old fucking car. Stupid fucking mechanics. 

"Louis." Niall turned towards him, settled his hands on top of his shoulders and straightened him up, digging his fingers sharply and staring intently into his eyes. "I need you," he punctuated his words. "I can't do this without you. I want my best friend by my side in a moment like this." Niall offered a small smile before turning away and throwing a hand out dismissively. "Besides you're already here and the tow trucks are far too expensive." Louis' jaw twitched. 

It was cold today, but it was midday and the sun was out and scorching, the heat of their work battling the lick of cold air that washed away their sweat. Louis' going to be sick. 

Niall was driving them to a bowling alley when the car began to make strange sounds, so he pulled to the side of the road with blinking lights and inspected the car, when they tried to turn her back on, she refused. A stray tear rolled down Niall's cheek. Now they're trying to push the car (Cally) to the nearest repair shop. 

Luckily there was one just around the corner. Not so luckily, the car broke down in the first place.

And Louis just can't.

"It might be fun," Niall said, poking his tongue out and planting his feet on the ground as he tried to position his hands on the best spot of the trunk. 

"We have different definitions of fun." Louis stretched his back which made a painful pop, but he settled his hands on the trunk with his hip popped out. Niall counted. 1, 2, 3 and they pushed with all their might; the car barely budged a couple of feet. Louis moaned in pain, settling a hand on his lower back.

"Push with your legs, not your back, you dummy."

Louis dismissed him and hopped on top of the car, resting his back against the rear glass as he lay. The sun burned his ruddy face and it felt intoxicating. He closed his eyes.

"Like this." He blinked open one eye and saw Niall begin to squat, breathing heavily through his mouth. "It's all in the glutes too." He smacked his ass. Louis closed his eyes again, his lips twitching into a smile. The sweat that collected on his temples began to cool, and he rubbed his sleeve over his upper lip. 

"Show me again Niall, I don't think the people driving by saw that." He heard another slap. Louis chuckled, the car digging into his spine. 

Niall's laughter is airy, chasing away the thunderclouds forming over Louis' head. That boy can create sunshine out of a popsicle stick and a dream. Louis admires and envies him for it. "I'm tired." He mumbled.

"Come on," Niall wrapped his hands around Louis' ankles and Louis shot up on his elbows.

"Don't." He glared, trying to kick Niall in the crotch. Niall had his hips stretched back, laughing as Louis' attempts failed and failed.

After kicking for a while, Niall stood up straight and complained about his back. "Get off and help me push Cally." With a pleased smirk, Louis kicked him in the balls. Niall let go of his ankles and doubled over, one hand clutching his crotch as the other gripped the car, fingers scraping against the metallic paint. He gasped through clenched teeth and Louis relaxed back down.

"Push without me for a minute." Louis rested his head again, throwing an arm over his eyes, beginning to see shapes and colours under his eyelids. "I think I'm seeing stuff."