i love you (it's ruining my life) » l.s.

six

The Rogue officially began recording their third album in September. This was the fastest they'd ever jumped back into the process, having taken their time with their debut and sophomore records, and Louis would say this was probably some of their best work yet. Coming off of their biggest tour to date, he felt like they needed to level up. While Modern Idiots charted extremely well and was acclaimed by critics, their debut album, The Rogue, topped the UK album and Billboard charts, was the fastest-selling debut album of the last ten years within the rock genre, and had gone platinum three times. There weren't too many bands in the scene nor the genre doing it like they were so, really, the goal was to beat their own records.

Louis had written over thirty songs for the new album so far. He'd had a few sessions with the boys in the band while he was in London and they'd been working with Felix Donovan, a well-known producer, in New York. Felix booked Electric Lady Studios for them - where all the greats had once recorded. Louis couldn't believe they'd made it all the way out here, and just the opportunity alone had him wanting to create something amazing. With every album, Louis reached a moment where he acknowledged how far they'd come and how much they've grown. He was enjoying every moment of it; from the late nights in the studio where the band got to know Felix, to tapping into different melodies and lyrics that elevated their musical discography.

The only thing Louis would say was amiss was not having Harry by his side.

They'd said goodbye to each other just a little over two weeks ago. Since then, the two of them had gone back to their respective work and life continued as it always had. Still, even with his busy schedule, the alpha's mind found the time to think about Harry, naked and beautiful, lying on his bed on their last day together. By the end of it, Harry's milky white skin was painted in love bites, hues of purples and pinks and reds. Something had come over Louis when the omega asked him to call him his. Suddenly, the idea of them becoming more than friends with benefits seemed possible. It became something Louis wasn't so scared of pursuing anymore.

It seemed like Harry was missing him, too. They messaged more frequently than they used to, filling each other in on how their days were going, and they've spoken on the phone a couple of nights. Tonight, though, they wouldn't have to do any of that or miss each other because Harry was finally flying into New York. Louis was shocked when the omega let him know he was coming because he wasn't due for another week, which was when New York Fashion Week began. Harry told him he'd finished most of his prep for the shows, so he was able to come just to hang out, and this time he didn't bother with booking a hotel. Louis had an Airbnb in Greenwich Village, a cosy little flat on the third floor of a brownstone. He wasn't sharing with his bandmates this time, so he and Harry could play house once again. Louis fucking loved it.

"Do you want to run over that again?" Felix asked from the other side of the recording booth.

"Yeah, sure," Louis said. "From the second verse?"

"Let's try the chorus and then straight into the second verse?"

Louis nodded as he adjusted his headphones. Christian, Ziggy, and Niall had all left for the day as they were done recording their parts for the current song they were working on. Louis was still laying down vocals and he was getting antsy as more time passed. He didn't want to miss when Harry landed so he'd persuaded Felix to let him bring his phone into the recording booth with him just in case. The only condition was that he had to silence his phone so it didn't interrupt their recording. Louis agreed because it was dark enough in the booth that when his phone lit up with Harry's text, he'd see it immediately.

Felix cued Louis in, letting him know that he was starting up the track again and then signalled for him to begin singing the chorus. They did two more takes before finally calling it a night. Just as Louis took off his headphones, his phone lit up in the dark and he lunged for it. The message he'd been waiting for was right there on the screen.