Some things change. | l.s.

20

Niall was pissed.

As if he wouldn't have enough stress and To-Do's to work through, now he had to search for Harry who hadn't bothered to let himself be seen yet- apart from rushing into the room, dropping off his bag and hurrying out with his mug in his hand- and didn't touch any of his work which had to be done by the end of the week.

He got even angrier when he went down the stairs and saw him and Zayn coming from the direction of the kitchen talking unbothered and his hands automatically balled into fists, he cursed Louis for hiring these damned idiots in the first place and he had to deal with them- or at least one of them. He was so glad when the project was over and he didn't have to see Harry again all day, already planning a celebration in his mind for when Louis finally changed his department.

Harry seemed unbothered, he didn't even notice Niall being close to jump on him through the entrance area, he only looked up when he heard Mallory's panicked voice calling for Niall who turned to her confused now.

"Have you seen Louis?" She asked rushed and with her eyes wide open in fear when she hurried through the entrance area, the doors of the elevator not even properly opened yet.

"What? No, I thought he must've come to work later because of a massive hangover or shit after everything he drank yesterday." Niall said confused. "Why? What's going on?" He asked worried, glaring at Harry who froze on his spot with a cautious look on his face, not even moving a muscle when Zayn leaned into him making an inappropriate comment about why he hasn't arrived yet which thankfully no one but Harry heard.

"He was here earlier." Naomi piped in from the reception desk.

"What do you mean he was here?" Niall asked confused, ripping his eyes off Harry and to his girlfriend.

"When?" Mallory asked at the same time.

"He came in around half past eight I think and then left twenty minutes ago." Naomi shrugged. "I don't know where to, though."

"Mallory, what the fuck is going on?" Niall asked worried.

"He sent me this around the time he left." She showed Niall the message Louis sent her on her phone and plain fear erupted inside of him.

"Fucking hell, what the fuck happened?" He exclaimed and looked around himself as if he was hoping Louis would suddenly appear.

"I don't know!" Mallory said and her eyes welled up. "I don't know where he is and he doesn't pick up the phone!"

"Babe, how was he?" Niall asked rushed, addressed to Naomi.

"He was fine. As usual. When he arrived, at least. When he left he looked a bit off, but not excessively." Naomi said deep in thought. "He said he'd be back soon and that was all, I thought he maybe had a meeting outside and was stressed."

"Highly doubt that." Niall muttered and pulled out his phone to call him, but it rang until it went to voice mail. "Nothing."

"His pills!" Mallory remembered.

"I'll check them. Try to call him again." Niall said and rushed to Louis' office ripping open the bottom drawer where he kept a bunch of his pills for emergencies, but it was empty. "Oh fuck. Please no." He muttered in fear.

On his way outside he saw how Mallory was pacing up and down the area with her phone on her ear, crying and not bothering to acknowledge anyone else in the room. Her head shot up and she looked at Niall hopefully, he just shook his head.

"They're gone." He said anyway, defeat dragging his voice.

"Oh god, Ni..." She whispered desperately on what they should do now. Then the line connected on her ear. "Lou?" She choked out.