Against One's Wishes

Chapter 7

"Good evening, Mr. Tomlinson," a valet is saying as soon as Louis and Harry have arrived in front of the Stork Club.

"Evening," Louis forces a smile while the valet is taking his car. Louis walks around the car, adjusting his suit as Harry's standing on the sidewalk, staring up at the club.

"You ever been here?" Louis finds himself asking.

Harry's eyes stay on all of the people that are entering the club; he hears the music playing from inside and he smiles.

"Uh, actually," Harry grins back at Louis, "I've only been here once before."

"Oh," Louis nods and says more quietly.

"It was actually with Mr. Jones and a few other actors and actresses, Lou," Harry smiles back and points to the doors, "shall we? I'm sure your father is waiting."

"Yeah, let's," Louis replies with a grin before he's leading the way into the club, Harry close behind him.

Harry stops and looks around the busy club, noticing all the couples seated at the tables chatting and laughing while the jazz music plays; this is definitely not Harry's scene, but he's intrigued, to put it simply.

"So, I suppose I should act extra heterosexual?" Harry leans into Louis' ear and whispers.

Louis tries not to snicker as he turns back to Harry, "you do a fine job of that, it seems. Really."

Harry grins and nods a little before Louis is leading the way once more, finding the table his father and Mr. Jones are seated at.

And Louis almost stops in his steps when he sees his father sitting at a table not too far away, a brunette woman by his side.

Harry glances from Louis' father and the woman back to Louis, "friend of his?"

Louis' face grows even more miserable, "she's... she's someone my dad has been seeing for a few months."

"I know her," Harry whispers.

"What?" Louis asks, instantly looking at Harry beside him, "how?"

"She's an actress, Lou," Harry replies, "she's friends with the costume makers of our Broadway shows, too... I talk to her from time to time."

"Well, that's ironic," Louis mumbles under his breath.

Harry sees Mr. Jones looking in his direction and he forces a grin again, "we should, uh, go socialize, I suppose."

Louis nods, though his face doesn't change. He and Harry walk slowly to the table, Harry putting on the perfect act once more for them as he's greeting them.

"So glad you could make it, Harry," Louis' father smiles widely at him as he stands and shakes his hand, "I told Louis how much I wanted you to join us."

"I'm honored you invited me, sir," Harry nods and grins before he's taking a seat, Louis sitting down next to him.

"William and I were just discussing your upcoming show on Broadway," Mr. Jones tells Harry, "we've been discussing how promising your career is."

"Uh," Harry starts with a small smile, "thank you. That means a lot."

"Well, you could be heading places," Mr. Jones nods at Harry before he's hitting his cigar, "all of New York are becoming aware of you, Harry. You should be proud of yourself."

Louis smiles a little before he's ordering wine from the waitress for Harry and himself.

"I'm... I'm very proud of my accomplishments so far," Harry says slowly, "but... I'm choosing to stay humble... you never know when the lights could fade and it all could be over with."