The Boy At The Club

The Struggle

LOUIS fidgeted in his seat. He has never been to a party before, let alone, a club.

He released a sigh as he looked down at his cupped hands that held around the outline of the pristine, ceramic cup in front of him. His glasses loosened up and went down to the tip of his nose as he did, so he had to push it right back up with his forefinger, before his focus set back to the cup.

He stared at its unspoiled texture, figuring that it seemed new. The fact that there are far less people who would go to the club only for some coffee, left cups such as the one in Louis' hands unused. He was actually relieved to know that the club was serving coffee.

He welcomed the bitter-sour taste at the tip of his tongue as he took every sip, ignoring how much he hated coffee. Louis knew that it was better than getting himself wasted by the end of the night with alcohol.

He didn't want to risk it. He didn't want to risk anything. But having to avoid every opportunity to do so, in a club, wouldn't keep him in his comfort zone for long.

"Tommo!"

Louis stiffened. He looked up and saw his friend Liam approaching him with a girl hooking her arms around his broad shoulders.

In fact, Liam's the main reason why Louis had ended up coming to the club in the first place. Louis could have been at home studying, or maybe looking for an apartment to stay in, so that he'd find a reasonable excuse to move out of their house. But if it wasn't for Liam being so convincing and stating facts that would get to Louis, like, "you should let loose and hang out for a bit," Louis wouldn't have accepted the invitation.

Yet, there he was, sipping coffee and playing safe as he kept himself seated in the booth and away from the seemingly unending madness.

But Louis felt desperate for a miracle to unfold before his eyes that very night.

"Payno," Louis replied and gave a smile to Liam that only seemed to perturb his friend.

They have given themselves those silly nicknames when the two got close as friends. Liam may be younger, but Louis would be lying to himself if he would have everyone believe that he himself has experienced far more compared to Liam. Liam's so outgoing and sociable, and Louis is just this quiet mouse across the classroom with his own secrets to keep.

The girl giggled as she continued to wrap her arms around Liam as she drew in closer to him.

"He ain't my type, sunshine. I don't do sober."

Louis knew that the girl was referring to him, and from the sound of her voice, Louis could tell that she was drunk. His face stayed neutral, unaffected by her words.

No wonder girls like her preferred ones who are as wasted, Louis thought.

Little did he know, Liam may be a bit drunk, but Louis could tell that Liam knew that his friend was uncomfortable. He sighed. He had promised Liam that he'd try to be sociable, but Louis wasn't even attracted to girls. If that had been Liam's intentions all along, the realization that struck Louis was enough to make him cringe.

Must Louis remind Liam that his friend is gay?

"Oh, come on!" Liam exclaimed as he whipped his head to the girl and looked at her. "He isn't so bad. You're just over-thinking it." He looked back at Louis and his face looked hesitant before saying something else but he thought better of it.

Liam's smile didn't fade away either, despite the expression.

The girl didn't even look away from Liam. She just stared at him, like she was all ready to eat him up, right at the spot. Liam didn't even feel shaken or appalled by this, even if Louis could tell that Liam was aware of the effect that he always has on girls. And he was always okay with it.