Some things change. | l.s.

41

Niall was stressed out of his mind, he could barely concentrate on his duty as the department lead and was dependent on the help of his employees when the wedding got closer and he had no clue what Naomi was talking about most of the time. They still had four months until their big day, but when he had to make decisions like right now he was lost. He was glad he had a best man who was by his side with each decision- although said one could rip his head off in certain situations.

Louis came into the room with an annoyed look on his face, not hiding that his mood was on a low and that today was one of those days he wanted to kill his best friend.

"That better be important, I just cancelled a meeting with the licensor because of your 'emergency'." He warned with a pointed look, successfully ignoring the looks of his employees who- as so often- were curious on what was going on.

It's been a few weeks since everyone got to know about his and Harry's- until then- secret relationship and at first they talked. They did nothing else than talking about them, but no one said anything directly to them, much to their luck. It was hard for Louis being reminded of past situations that didn't turn out in his favor when people talked about him and Harry felt horrible for him. He tried to cheer him up and take the fear from him of anyone judging him or saying nasty things behind his back, but it barely helped until it died down after a while, but Harry could still feel gazes on him, it got worse when him and Louis were in the same room like right now where Harry was sitting on the couch next to Sheila and they were testing a racing game. He could feel the looks on his back.

The relationship between Harry and Sheila was difficult lately because of known reasons, but since she was back in her old department and they necessarily had to see each other constantly Harry couldn't avoid her anymore at some point after she tried to talk to him a few times. After their conversation where she apologised and assured him that she never meant to annoy him or hurt him and told him she didn't have the slightest clue of his relationship she changed her behaviour after realising that she was acting wrongly in every way. Harry jumped over his shadow and forgave her, but he made it clear to her that if she continued talking about Louis like she used to he wouldn't be as nice anymore and from then they slowly started talking again superficially up to a point where Harry's despise for her he built up throughout the last year vanished and he remembered why he became friends with her in the first place.

"It is important, trust me." Niall said seriously and waved Louis over who sighed deeply, but rounded his desk and leaned against the edge with crossed arms.

"I'm waiting." He said expectantly.

"Gosh, you should really chill more." Niall complained.

"I would if I wouldn't have a tight schedule and you wouldn't let me run through the office for the fourth time this week just because you need my help with something which I'm sure we could've discussed over phone as well." Louis huffed.

"No, we couldn't." Niall said unfazed and opened a magazine in front of him. "Naomi wants me to choose the napkins, but I have no fucking idea which one of those three fits best with the tablecloth. What do you think?" He looked up at Louis expectantly as he pointed to the three samples, ignoring Louis' dark turning gaze and his clenched jaw.

"Are you fucking serious right now?" He asked tensely.

"You have taken an oath by becoming my best man, so do your duty! You don't want to ruin my wedding, right? And you know what Naomi is capable of, she will kill me if I choose the wrong ones!" Niall hissed.

"They all look the same, Niall! You can't do anything wrong!" Louis shot back.

"Yes, for you and me. But not for her, not for any person with class!" Niall corrected. "Louis, please. This is a life and death situation."