The diner is not covered in a thick haze of smoke like the bar was. The few smokers are all clustered away from the immediate crowd, talking amongst themselves with puffs of smokes leaving their lips. All sorts of people are crowded in the area, all the fancy people he had laid eyes on earlier. Women hold their necks high. Men hold power, conversations of new buildings and larger shops reaching his ears. Even some children are in the crowd, skirting through the legs of the adults as they play tag.
Louis clings to Harry's arm as they make their way through the crowd. Harry is searching the crowd, trying to find a head of messy blond hair. He eventually finds it right in the center of a huge crowd, Harry remembering how much of a crowd pleaser Niall is. He can already tell that it's his crew and cast that are surrounding him, patting him on the back for a job well done. There are the few straggling fans in the mix, shaking his hand and letting him know that his movies were truly a work of art. Harry would have to agree.
He shoves his way through, Louis's grip tightening as people bodies collide with theirs. When they reach Niall, Harry offers him a grin, taking the man into a one armed hug.
"Job well done, Niall. Another one for the books." Niall gleams, shaking Harry's hand in thank you.
"Oh I just knew you would love it. How about you kid, did you like it?" He asks Louis, biting his lip as he waits for an answer. Louis nods earnestly.
"It was incredible; I've never seen anything like it before. The sea in the background was my favorite. It was almost like I was there." Niall grins.
"I'm glad. Charlie did such a great job with it. We were waiting to film in the studio for another movie when I got the idea to do this as a side project. Nice change of pace wasn't it?" Louis nods again, gasping when Charlie himself steps into the group.
"Niall, it's always such a pleasure to work with you, loved how the movie turned out." He's there in all his glory, Louis practically bouncing in his spot. His favorite movie star is standing right in front of him. He has every right to be star struck. Harry notices Louis' excitement, calling for Charlie's attention. The actor faces Harry, offering him a handshake.
"Styles, what a nice surprise. It's been what, a month since I've last seen you. What had you gone for so long?"
"You know as well as I do." He gives him an all-knowing smile, tilting his head over to Louis. "You can blame your biggest fan for keeping me away." Louis flushes, tripping over his words as he gives the actor a handshake.
"Y-you w-were ama-amazing on the s-s-sc-creen. Y-y-you were s-so fun- unny, I- I laugh- ed s-so hard." Louis flushes further, skin tingling from embarrassment. Charlie simply laughs. He brings the boy in for a hug, Louis spluttering in his arms.
"Thanks, kid. Always happy when I can get a laugh out of someone." He lets go, Harry immediately bringing the boy back to his side. Charlie notices the action, raising a brow at the man. "Oh I see." He smirks at Harry, tipping his hat in understanding. "Wouldn't want to get in the way of anything." Harry glowers at him, the man chortling. "I should be going now, but kid," He points over to Niall, "If you ever want to see me in action, alls you gotta do is ask Horan. I'm sure he'll let you tag along." He leaves on that note, fans swarming him as he tries to exit the building.
"You could, you know." Niall says, "Come to a shoot sometime." He scratches at his chin as he thinks. "We're actually going to be on set next week if you'd like to swing by."
"I'd love too." He smiles wide, attention going to Harry. "Can I?" Harry blinks at him, not expecting Louis to ask him for permission.
"Of course." Louis beams up at him, Harry's heart skipping at the beauty of it.
"Then I'll be seeing you next week." Niall leaves after that, ducking into the crowd. Louis cannot wait for the following week, so excited about the idea of being on an actual movie set. He'll be on the same lot as so many actors/actresses, getting a behind the scenes experience. He's always been interested in what goes into movies, what the sets look like before finished, what the actors do in preparation for a role. Next week needs to come faster.
The party dies down before the hour, people disappearing into the night, to another celebration. Louis has had a few glasses of wine, tittering along Harry's side. He's all smiles and rosy cheeks, thriving on the attention Harry gives him every time someone nears. Harry's had few drinks himself, letting the alcohol seep under his skin. He doesn't care if he looks like a complete fool as he fawns over Louis, kissing up his neck and letting his hands wander. Harry's never been the one to be so open about affection, but Louis is making it difficult. His smaller frame fitting so perfectly alongside him, Louis' lips calling his name. He wants to bite those lips until they're cherry red, as red as the wine he's been drinking.
He pulls Louis in, staring intently at his lips. Louis' breath hitches, watching the way Harry's eyes stalk his lips. He closes his eyes in anticipation, waiting for Harry's lips to touch his. When it doesn't come, he opens his eyes, Harry's face a good distance away.
"We should go." Harry says, no longer meeting the boy's eyes. He holds the boy's hand as they leave, Harry offering an offhand wave to Niall as they part. The car waits for them outside, one of Harry's men at the wheel. Harry has Louis go in first, and then takes his place next to him as the car begins to speed off.
Harry leaves Louis to his room, no kiss goodbye. Louis feels empty somehow, blanket up to his chin as he lies on his back. He stares at the blank ceiling for a while, the darkness of the room not letting him focus on any details. He feels cold with no arms wrapped around him, the blanket doing nothing to ease him. Eventually, he's tired of the feeling, slipping out of bed and padding to the door. Dark halls wait outside, Louis trying his best to make out the shadows. His hand traces the wall as he searches for a door, the knob in his hand the next minute. It creaks as it opens, Louis wincing at the noise. Harry's soft snores are still heard so Louis continues on. He tiptoes to the bed, noticing the gap Harry has left on one side of the bed. He crawls in next to the man, gently cuddling into his side. He shyly grins when Harry turns over, instinctively pressing their bodies closer.
Louis feels the cold slip away, the empty feeling gone. He feels safe.

YOU ARE READING
Let's Roll- Larry Stylinson
FanfictionSet in the 1920's, this story follows the life of gangster Harry Styles, a man who makes his money through bootlegging and Louis Tomlinson, a man who's determined to make a life for himself in New York. Styles meets Tomlinson on his way to New York...