Trying to be Superman

Chapter 9

“Simon kicked that?!” Zayn cried out; Louis and Harry had called a band meeting to tell the others what the situation was.

“Apparently, we’re not allowed to er, be in a relationship, so we have to hide it.” Louis spoke softly, trying to explain it as best as he could.

“I- this- He- He can’t do that! Can he?” Niall stumbled on his words, trying to make sense of the situation. Harry nodded, and Louis took his large hand, holding it tight.

“Yeah mate, he’s allowed to do that,” Harry’s voice broke and tears ran down his face. Looking at the younger, Louis realized how young Harry was, too young to be in this much pain.

“Harreh, we won’t let him!” Liam said, and Harry shook his head.

“We have no choice, if we fight back-” Louis began rubbing Harry’s back to try and calm him down. “We lose our contract.”

The boys gasped yet stayed quiet, they didn’t know how to respond, they didn’t know what to do.

Eleanor heard a knock on her door and got up from the table, setting down her napkin and went to open the door.

“El, lovely to see you again. I’ve got a job for you,” Simon Cowell stood at the door, his face warm with compassion. He always showed a liking for her, and was more like an uncle to her than the boys.

“Mm?” She mumbled, curious what Simon meant by ‘job’.

“I need you to date Louis,” Eleanor felt herself choke, and she coughed, clearing her throat before responding.

“But Simon, he’s gay?”

“Yes, I’m aware. Darling, we have to hide it, and that’s where you come in,” Eleanor’s face filled with disgust as she realized what it was Simon was suggesting.

“Are you saying I’d be a cover-up? A beard?!” She was upset, really upset. Not only was the thought of being used as a cover-up insulting to her, but she respected Louis and his decision to date Harry and she felt taking this job was a blow to him. A blow she didn’t want to deliver.

“No, no, no. Well yeah, but you would be paid! It’s for his own good El!” Simon insisted trying to salvage the deal and she hesitated.

“He’s okay with this?” She asked, slowly.

“Oh yeah! He suggested it,” Simon let the lie slip from his mouth, and immediately regretted it. She was going to figure out he lied, and then it’d all fall apart, but not if he told Louis to act like he was alright with the situation. As Simon left the sweet girl’s house he pulled out his phone and sent a quick text to Louis.

‘Eleanor is now your, erm beard. You have to act like it was your idea.’ He hit send and let out his breath. Everything was in order. He hoped.

Louis’ phone beeped and he pulled it out of his pocket, checking the message before even reading who it was from. ‘Eleanor is now your, erm beard. You have to act like it was your idea.’ Louis felt his jaw drop, and he read the name that went with it, ‘Simon’. Harry looked over at his boyfriend, confused by Louis’ facial expression.

“What’s wrong babe?” He asked concerned, the two boys were now sitting at home in their flat on the couch they found themselves on so often.

“El is now my beard,” Louis said, his mouth still wide open. Harry gasped, then sighed.

“I wish I could say I was surprised,” Harry growled, he grabbed Louis and pulled their lips together roughly. Harry’s lips moved to his boyfriend’s ear, and he nipped at Louis’ earlobe before growling in his ear. “Don’t forget you’re mine.”