Light Me Up [HS AU]

47

I spent the afternoon playing golf with the guys. Louis was complaining the entire time, which I struggled not to laugh about.

"Oh for fuck's sake!" he hollered when he missed his swing yet again. He was scowling at Niall, who threw his head back and laughed loudly. Luckily for Niall, Louis was behaving on account of it being my birthday. I could easily have imagined him chasing Niall around with his 9 iron raised over his head.

Liam was a good sport about it even though he didn't care much for golf either. It was a hobby Niall and I shared and we'd usually go out and play a couple of rounds, just the two of us.

After our rounds, we went to the bar in the golf club and had a drink. We were going to pick Morgan up on our way back to change into our outfits for the party. Morgan had spent the day being pampered at a spa, which she definitely deserved. 

We were just about to leave when I heard a familiar voice somewhere behind me. I turned and saw Ethan Hale laughing with a small group of conservative looking, older men. They were having drinks and Ethan was speaking, obviously enlightening the other gentlemen. He gesticulated wildly as he spoke and something in me wanted to go over and kick his teeth in. Niall followed my gaze and put a hand on my shoulder. 

"No," he said firmly and gave me a serious stare. I rolled my eyes at him and kept my eyes fixed on Hale and his stupid face. 

Louis popped up next to me, looking in the direction we were staring in. "Shit... That's 'what's his face', isn't it?" 

I nodded slowly and clenched my fists, desperately wanting to go and give him a piece of my mind. I wanted to defend and protect Peyton at all costs. The thought of a dickhead like him walking around talking crap about her, was gnawing at me. Louis took a step forward and Niall put his arm out to stop him. 

"Where are you going?" Niall said and shook his head at Louis. 

"I'm going to go listen to what the idiot is saying," Louis shrugged and pushed Niall's arm out of his way. He strode confidently over next to where Hale was sitting and sat down at a table. None of the men or Ethan seemed to take any notice of Louis. He leaned back in his seat and just sat there, listening and occasionally looking over at their group. After a while he stood up and went over to their table and shook some hands. I instinctively went over in case something was going down. I could hear Louis before I was even there. 

"It's been a while. How are you doing? Found someone who'll publish your book, huh?" Louis' tone oozed with amusement. 

I walked up next to Louis and Ethan shrunk back in his seat, momentarily looking frantically around to assure that Peyton wasn't there. I gave him a cold glare and looked at the other gentlemen at the table. 

"I was just getting us a table and I heard yer man 'ere talking about his book," Louis directed at me. 

I nodded slowly. "Is that so?" I looked around at the other men and held out my hand. "Harry Stone."