Home - Nouis

Chapter 2

Louis sat backstage, absently strumming his guitar, the familiar chords hollow against the anxious drumbeat of his thoughts. It had been a week since Mike's departure, and everything felt unsettlingly wrong, like a stage set rearranged overnight. He half-expected Mike to walk in, with his warm smile and reassuring words that somehow always softened Simon's barbs. But Mike was gone. It was just Louis now, left to fend for himself in a world that seemed determined to erase the parts of him he held closest.

He heard voices outside the door, one unfamiliar and carrying a distinct Irish lilt. The other, a production assistant, was giving some kind of brisk tour, her sentences clipped and efficient as she gestured toward the dressing room. Louis paused, his fingers still on the strings, listening.

The door opened, and the production assistant stepped in first. She smiled politely, gesturing for the man behind her to enter.

"Louis," she said, "this is Niall Horan, your new manager."

Louis looked up, his gaze settling on the new face—a young man with sandy blond hair, dressed simply in jeans and a T-shirt, exuding a natural warmth. Niall was smiling, his blue eyes crinkling at the corners, and he extended a hand, clearly prepared for a friendly introduction.

But Louis didn't reach out. Instead, he stared, forcing himself to swallow the bitterness that had flared up immediately. He knew he should say something polite, make a good impression. After all, this was his new manager, and they'd have to work together. But he couldn't shake the feeling that Niall was a stranger here, an intruder in the space Mike had once filled.

Niall lowered his hand, his expression unfaltering, though a flicker of understanding crossed his face. He offered a soft chuckle instead. "I get it—new face and all," he said lightly. "Don't worry, I'm here to make things easier, not harder."

Louis forced a nod, though the words felt meaningless. He could sense Simon's influence behind Niall's arrival, an invisible hand trying to reshape his world in ways he hadn't asked for. "Yeah, well... welcome, I guess," he muttered, looking down at his guitar, hoping it would end the awkward silence.

"Thanks," Niall said, his tone genuinely warm. He took a few steps into the room, observing the space with the ease of someone who knew how to make himself comfortable anywhere. "I've been looking forward to working with you. I'm a big fan of your music."

Louis managed a tight-lipped smile, feeling the wall of defensiveness creeping up higher. He didn't want compliments from this new manager; he wanted to be left alone to deal with his music in his own way, without the weight of Simon's constant criticisms looming over him. And he certainly didn't want someone with Niall's eager optimism.

Niall's gaze flicked to Louis's guitar. "Mind if I sit?" he asked, gesturing to a chair nearby.

Louis shrugged, barely looking up. "Sure."

Niall settled into the chair, giving Louis space yet carrying an openness that felt genuine. He leaned forward slightly, as though already engaged. "So, I know things have been intense around here. It's never easy with Simon... but I want you to know I'm here to support you, however you need."

Louis's fingers tightened around the neck of his guitar. He looked up, meeting Niall's gaze, trying to figure out if this was just a line—a prepared script from Simon's playbook. But Niall's expression held something softer, an empathy that felt real. Louis found himself glancing away, uncomfortable with the sincerity that seemed to radiate from Niall so easily.

"Look," he said, forcing a casual tone, "I get it—you're here because Simon sent you. And I don't need someone trying to... 'support me,' or whatever. I've been doing this long enough on my own."

Niall took his words in stride, nodding. "Fair enough. I won't pretend to know everything you're going through, but I want you to know that I'm not here to replace anyone. And I'm definitely not here to follow Simon's orders if they're hurting you." He paused, choosing his next words with care. "I'm here for you, Louis. And I mean that."

Louis raised an eyebrow, taken aback by the statement. It was rare—impossible, almost—to hear someone openly defy Simon. The man had built an empire on control, and few ever questioned it. For a moment, a flicker of curiosity broke through Louis's guarded exterior. Was Niall serious?

"Look," Niall continued, "I'm not here to tell you who to be or what to do. I know you've probably heard enough of that already. I just want to help you make this tour what you want it to be."

Louis bit back a skeptical remark, caught off guard by the way Niall seemed so genuine, so unaffected by Simon's usual rigidity. His resentment softened, if only slightly. It was hard to stay entirely closed off when Niall's gaze held such a steady, unassuming sincerity.

"Thanks," Louis finally murmured, his tone begrudging. "But I've got a system. I just... do what Simon says, and I get through it."

Niall frowned, the warmth in his eyes tempered with something more serious. "That doesn't sound like much of a system," he said gently. "I mean, I'm no expert, but maybe we can find a way to make things work better for you."

Louis looked down, feeling a strange tug in his chest. He wanted to brush Niall off, to tell him he didn't need anyone's help. But there was a hint of hope in Niall's words, a possibility he hadn't dared entertain in ages—that someone might actually want to look out for him.

But hope was a dangerous thing. He'd learned that the hard way.

"Well," Louis replied, forcing a nonchalant tone, "we'll see, I guess. Just don't expect me to... you know, open up or whatever."

Niall chuckled, his smile softening into something almost reassuring. "Noted," he replied, his gaze steady. "I'll be here, though. No matter how long it takes."

With that, he stood up, giving Louis a brief nod before heading toward the door. "I'll let you get back to your music. But anytime you need to talk or vent—or whatever—don't hesitate to find me."

Louis watched him leave, feeling a strange sense of relief mingling with his lingering skepticism. Niall's arrival had stirred something unexpected, something fragile he wasn't sure he was ready to confront. But maybe, just maybe, there was a chance he wouldn't have to face it all alone.