Angels in Hell (Larry Stylinson)

Chapter 49

I fix my microphone and stare at myself blankly in the mirror backstage, thinking about what happened this morning. Management thinks they can control our lives. But they can't... Even though we do have a contract. I sometimes wish that we could switch to a different management, but I think we all five fear that if we do switch, the new management won't manage us as well as Modest! does. But lately, I feel like they've been doing a lousy job. I understand them wanting us to watch our diet so we're healthy and we can perform. I also understand them giving us a curfew so we aren't out too late partying and we won't get in trouble and so we'll get enough sleep. That's always important. However, forcing us to fake date someone and hide who we are, crosses the line. I don't know if you have the same perspective as me, but this isn't fair.

At the moment, I'm kind of mad at Zayn also. He doesn't have the right to tell management that. How did he even find out? I never told him and I broke up with her in the bathroom so it's not like he could hear me. I'll have to ask him before our concert tonight. I better do that soon, though. The concert starts in about forty minutes. I look around backstage. I find Liam doing press ups, Niall and Harry warming up their voices in a dressing room, and some of our band practicing on their instruments.

"Have you seen Zayn?" I ask one of our guitarists, Sandy.

He nods.

"Last I saw of him, he was getting his hair fixed up," Sandy replies.

I nod and walk off quickly to try and find him. I'm very curious to know how Zayn got that information and why he even told management. They didn't need to know. Also, Zayn is usually really good at keeping secrets to himself. I'm not sure why he would tell management of all people that Eleanor and I broke up. Then, I see him and his awesome hair. He is sitting in a chair, looking in the mirror while Lou Teasdale does his hair. I pull up a chair and sit next to him.

"Hey," I say casually.

"Hey."

"So... Um. How did you find out El and I broke up?"

"You and Eleanor broke up?" Lou says surprised.

I nod and turn my attention back to Zayn. He sighs.

"Whenever you said that you had to go to the bathroom yesterday, you seemed really suspicious," Zayn says quietly. "I followed after you and I heard what happened in the bathroom."

"You eavesdropped on me?"

"Yeah. I couldn't help it. I'm sorry."

"That's fine. But what's not fine is that you told management."

He frowns and looks at me.

"It just kind of slipped out while I was talking to them over the phone. What's wrong with that anyways?"

"What's wrong?" I say loudly, drawing attention to me from the stage crew.

I quiet down and begin again.

"They are forcing me to act like I am dating her!" I say angrily.

His eyes and Lou's eyes go wide.

"Why?" Zayn asks.

"Does it matter?" I yell.

He jumps back. I've never yelled that loud at Zayn before. I didn't meant to yell that loud. I never had a reason to. The boys and I never have arguments. If we do, they're about little things like what radio station to listen to or who is sitting next to who in the car. They usually don't last long either. When I get in fights with Harry, they always end with him crying. He probably cried that night after the BRIT awards when we went off to bed. I hate when he cries, even though he is pretty when he does.

Although, he is always pretty. Sexy, too.

"It matters to me!" Zayn says.

"Whatever. If it weren't for you and your big mouth," I say standing up. "I wouldn't be forced by management to date someone I don't love when I'm in love with someone else who they say I can never be with."

As I walk away, Zayn says innocently,"I'm so sorry, Louis."

I shrug.

"I don't care," I mumble.

I walk to the dressing room where Harry and Niall are still sitting at the dressing room tables, looking at themselves and doing stupid vocal warm ups. They all make Niall laugh. Harry looks over at me and smiles.

"Hi," he says adorably.

(Harry is the cutest boy ever.)

"Hey, Harry," I reply, ruffling his hair.

He closes his eyes at my touch. I chuckle and sit next to him. Soon after, Zayn and Liam join us. We do a huddle, encouraging each other and doing a little prayer. Then, at the end of the huddle before we go on stage, like every time, Harry says "Let's do this poo!" The whole concert, I pretty much avoid Zayn the best I can, but we acted like everything was alright for the sake of the fans. During "Little Things," Harry kept looking over at me for some reason. I don't know if I was imagining it or not, but he changed the lyrics to "and all his little things." I probably was imagining it. Plus, Niall and him were serenading each other, so he most likely meant Niall when he said "his." But he was looking at me...

Afterwards, we go back to the hotel and hang out in Zayn, Harry, and Liam's room. Niall stays in there for a while, but I decide to go back to mine because I am very tired.

"Goodnight, Louis," Harry whispers as I open the door to leave.

I turn to him and nod.

"'Night, Hazzy," I reply, using my new nickname for him.

He giggles and looks away. I walk to my room and get changed right as I enter. As I put my jacket on top of my suitcase, a small piece of paper falls out of one of the pockets. I bend over and pick it up. A phone number. Not just any phone number. The cell phone number Harry on the alternate universe gave me. This is... strange. If that was just a dream... How did this phone number stay in my pocket? On the alternate universe, I always put little things in my pockets, but I never woke up here and still have them in my pocket.

There must be a reason that the phone number of all things stayed in my pocket when I woke up. So, I take out my cell phone and dial the number. I know it sounds stupid because it's impossible that I could call someone on an alternate-

"Hello? Louis? Where are you?" a husky voice says.

I freeze and stare at the phone with wide eyes. Holy shi-

"Louis? Are you there?"

"Yeah. Yeah."

"Where are you?"

"Um... My world?"

"What? Don't lie to me. Where are you?"

I sigh. This is seriously unbelievable.

"I'm not lying. It sounds crazy, but... I'm on my world."

"How is that possible?"

"I don't know."

I feel dizzy. I've always thought that the alternate universe was a dream. Is this a dream? I pinch myself. Nope. That hurt.

"How long have I been gone?" I ask.

"Eight days," he replies in a shaky voice.

I gasp.

"Oh my goodness. I'm sorry, Harry."

"Don't be. Like you said. It's not under your control. I wish that you were here with me, though, Lou Lou."

"Me, too," I mumble honestly.

At least I could be with him on the alternate universe.

"How is it going with other me? Have you asked me out yet?"

"No... But I did break up with Eleanor, though."

"Good! Well... Not for her."

I chuckle.

"It's just that," I start, getting serious again. "I have people telling me that we can't be together."

"They don't know what they're talking about," he replies immediatly.

I smile. Suddenly, Niall walks in with tears in his eyes.

"Um... I'll call you tomorrow. Alright, beautiful?" I say, staring at Niall with concerned eyes.

"Promise?"

"I promise," I say smiling.

"Good. Bye, Louis. I love you."

"I love you, too."

I hang up, putting my phone on the bedside table. I stretch out my arms for Niall. He jumps into my arms and lets the tears spill out.

"What happened?" I ask.

"I just hate myself. I feel so depressed."

I smooth back his hair and kiss his forehead.

"We all love you and you should love yourself, too," I whisper. "You're beautiful."

I look down at Niall who smiles at me before snuggling into my chest and wrapping his arms around my waist. I put my arms around him protectively like a big brother would do for his younger brother. And we fall asleep like that.

"Things will get better," I whisper before I close my eyes.

I kind of hope that I wake up on the alternate universe where things are much more simple. However, I have an odd feeling that won't happen.