It Has Always Been You » Larry Stylinson

It Has Always Been You

Louis is so hungry he could eat a cow.

"Liam, I'm so hungry I could eat a cow," he says. "Why the hell do you live so far."

"Did you really need to call me to tell me that?" Liam's voice crackles slightly over the phone.

"Rude."

"You've been calling me every ten minutes for no reason."

"Well, excuse me," Louis snipes. "It's a long, boring drive. What fun could I possibly have other than annoying you?"

"Have you tried keeping your eyes and full attention on the road?"

"You're so boring. I'm turning around and going back to my mum's."

"No you're not. Anyway, judging by the fact that this is the...sixteenth time you've called me, you'll be here in like, fifteen minutes. Bye."

The line goes dead. Louis waits exactly twelve minutes before calling him again. The line rings longer than usual, but it's not like Liam to ignore a phone call, so Louis just waits. True to form, Liam picks up on the sixth ring.

"I'm hanging up now."

"Aw, Liam, but I waited twelve minutes this time."

Liam hangs up.

Louis decides that that warrants a Sharpie dick on Liam's leg tonight.

By the time he's decided which leg to draw it on and how long it should be, he's pulling up in front of Liam's building. He puts the car in park, swings his duffle bag over his shoulder, and uses the access key Liam had given him to get to the third floor. After exiting the elevator, he goes straight, makes a right, and then, for the first time in about three months, he knocks on Liam's door.

It opens a few moments later and, without so much as a hello, Louis flings himself at Liam. They go crashing to the ground, which is luckily carpet, causing enough of a commotion that Loki sprints over, barking excitedly and jumping all over both of them.

Louis giggles, rolling off of Liam and letting Loki paw his chest and lick his face. "Hi baby, didya miss me? Y'like me more than Liam, don't you? Don't worry, I like you more too."

"Please," Liam scoffs. He gets up off the carpet, brushing himself off, and then pulls Louis up off the ground and into a giant hug. "It's good to see you, Lou."

"You too, you big, fuzzy teddy bear." Louis squeezes Liam tight and rubs the shaved sides of his head. He's really missed Liam. "Even though you hung up on me."

"I don't know why I picked up your calls in the first place," Liam mutters, patting Louis' back one more time and then stepping away. Louis bats his eyelashes at him.

"Cuz you love me and wouldn't dream of ignoring me."

"I actually hate you. Our friendship is nothing but a long, complicated scam I've been running for five years."

"The only thing I have worth scamming is my ass."

"Okay, this conversation is stopping right now."

Louis slaps Liam's bum and picks up his duffel bag from the floor. "Where's the California King sized bed I requested before I got here?"

"There's a small cot set up for you in the study room, if that's what you mean."

Louis sniffs, offended. "I'm too beautiful for the cot. Plus, it gives me allergies." He turns pleading eyes on Liam and counts to three.

Like clockwork, Liam sighs and says, "Fine, you can have my bed. I'll take the cot."

"I love you." Louis smacks a kiss on Liam's cheek.