That's Just Publicity

Shirt buttons

A/N: Sorry I've been so slow with uploading! I have zero energy right now, but I'm going to try to get this chapter done. Love you all!

Louis POV:

I was up half the night thinking about this whole scheme management has set up. There was no way out of this. If I didn't go along with it, management would be mad that we broke the contract, but if I went along with it, I'd have to deal with half the world thinking I was banging my best friend. 

I slumped over my food at breakfast, hardly in the mood to eat. Harry sat nervously beside me, I could tell he didn't know what to say or how to act around me right now. I don't think he had any issue doing this, though, especially after he'd tried to make us look on the bright side last night. Part of me knew I had to do this, though, and I had to do it without complaining or arguing. I really want what's best for the band, and we're so close to becoming the next big thing. Our first album was a total hit, but we're still the new guys in town. I can't throw away all the success of the last tour just because I'm too stubborn to act a little friendly with Harry. It would be selfish to let my personal issues with the whole Larry thing get in the way, especially if what Richard was saying about sales is true. I sighed, there truly wasn't any way around this. 

"Morning, boys," Paul said as he sat across us with a bowl of fruit. I looked up at him, glaring. I felt kind of salty towards him, even though this whole thing wasn't his fault. I'm kind of just mad at everyone right now since I can't be a dick to Richard and Harry. "Here's the run down for the interview today," he started, passing out folders to each of us. Inside was a literal script, like some sort of fucking play. "Oh fuck no," I mumbled, scanning over the pages. Paul took a deep breath. "They want to make sure this goes smoothly, so no improvising," he said sternly, glancing at me pointedly. I rolled my eyes, feeling like a kid getting scolded. 

"Right then," I muttered and leaned back against my chair. Harry sighed next to me. "This script is ridiculous, what does this say here," he said quietly, "Harry undoes one of his shirt buttons, Louis looks over in a bothered way." Harry's face deadpanned towards Paul, and Niall snickered. "This sounds like something 13-year-old me would have written on Wattpad, it's ridiculous," He continued as Paul shrugged. "Well, just try to make it happen," Paul said, then finished the last of his fruit and got up to leave. 

"What the hell does looking bothered even mean," I said, annoyed. Niall smirked, "It means you have to get a boner as soon as you see his silky smooth chest." I rolled my eyes and threw a blueberry at his head. "Fuck off, you wanker," I added. 

We looked over the script as we drove from the hotel to the interview. The lineup was supposed to be Harry at the end, then Liam, me, Zayn, and Niall. I guess they didn't want to just throw us right next to each other after making a point to keep us separated this past week. We were supposed to be prepared for questions that would normally be on the block list, to which Harry would respond something cheeky and suggestive. 

The interviewers were two women, both in their early 30s. They were sweet and excited as we were mic'd up and positioned on the couch in front of the camera. I glanced at the script one more time before Louisa came over to powder us and fix our hair. Then, the interview started. It was standard at first, the women asking if we'd enjoyed America so far, and what our favorite part of the tour is so far. Harry seemed to be making a point to look at me more than usual, which I noticed right away and was weirdly intimidated by. Each time he glanced at me, my face burned at the thought of being watched, which I'd normally brush off. Knowing he was doing it to please management made it seem much more nerve-wracking and noticeable, though. It was going smoothly otherwise until one of the interviewers asked if we'd been dating any American girls, which I personally think is a totally weird thing to ask someone.

Liam brushed it off cooly, saying he'd been focusing too much on the tour, and Niall agreed. Harry, however, kept true to the Larry agenda. "You know, I think we've definitely been doing more than sightseeing," he said, looking directly at me with a subtle smirk. I cringed, my face going hot all over again. Of course, he'd say some stupid shit like that.  

As soon as I'd started praying this interview would end, I noticed Harry playing with his shirt. I felt kind of lame for doing nothing but getting flustered for this whole interview, so I decided to finally play into the whole thing. He unbuttoned the first few buttons, enough to where I could see his pecs and the start of his abs. I never noticed how smooth his chest was or how each curve of muscle moved as he talked and breathed. For a second I didn't even need to milk it, the promiscuity aspect of playing this game that no one else knew about, what my reaction to his chest suggested, and the way his large hands played with the buttons of his shirt all feeling so different from the light I usually saw him in. My throat caught as I watched him, our eyes meeting briefly.

I cleared my throat a little, then played into it, dipping my head back a bit and situating in my seat, just subtle enough that the right audience might catch up on it.

Harry's POV:

I couldn't help but notice how Louis had reacted to my shirt coming undone, and for the rest of the interview, I had to will myself not to stare at Louis. All sorts of feelings I had when we were on the X-factor came swirling through my head and stomach. They came and went quickly, though, especially when the interviewer turned to ask me what my favorite song on the album was. 

The interview ended without further scandal, and we were ushered out of the building and back into the limo. Louis and I took our regular seats next to each other in the back, probably out of instinct, but a weird flash of total awkwardness passed us, and I couldn't help but squirm in my seat. "You good, Hazza?" He asked, seemingly unbothered. The weirdness eased as he looked at me. I'm most definitely reading into things that aren't there. I nodded with a smile. "Yeah, just a little weirded out by that interview," I admitted. Just because we had to act all weird in public, doesn't mean I should compromise our friendship by acting weird in private. I owe it to him to be normal right now, especially when I know how much he dislikes the Larry thing.

He snorted at my response, "ugh, same," he mumbled, his voice tired and annoyed. He leaned his head softly against my shoulder. "God, how am I already exhausted?" He said softly, a yawn coming over him. I yawned in response, laughing a little. 

"Woah, woah, woah!" Niall shouted from the other side of the limo. "No yawning! Get hype! We have that party tonight," he explained, his voice bubbling with excitement. I snickered, he was totally adorable. Paul eyed him questionably, "What party? You're getting on a plane in an hour," he asked, voice tight. Liam sighed as he rolled his eyes. "Leaving the Emerald City already?" He asked, unimpressed. Paul gave him a look. 

"No, Paul, the party is in Vegas tonight, Anybody who's anybody will be there, and the host has personally invited us," Niall explained. I smirked. He's been going off about this party since last week, especially since it happened to line up perfectly with our tour schedule. Paul sighed, "Okay, I'll put it in the schedule, but I'm sure you know I have to come with you guys," he said. The whole bus groaned at that. "Ugh, you're such a pest, honestly!" Louis groaned, throwing his hands up. 

"Paul, be reasonable. The venue will be littered with security and there'll only be other people in the industry there anyway," Liam reasoned. Paul clenched his jaw, seeming to realize we'd all ganged up on him. "Don't be a little ballsack!" I shouted, mostly as a joke. He glared at me, then clicked a few things on his laptop. "Okay, okay, but I'm sending some security to get you in and out," he offered. Niall started to argue, but Paul silenced him. "No buts! That's my offer, take it or leave it."

Louis scoffed beside me then reached across me to the minibar connected to the side of the limo. He grabbed a shot glass and the bottle of tequila, pouring himself a drink. "Drinking in the middle of the day?" I asked. He snorted, then leaned in until I could feel the heat of his mouth on my neck. "Going to need it if Paul keeps yapping over there," he said with a chuckle. I tried to ignore the goosebumps running down my neck.

A/N: Ok! Sorry that's kind of an awkward place to stop but I want the whole party scene to be in its own chapter. I Love you all so much!