Without You ||Stylinson/Paynlinson

intro

               May 14, 2016

Harry eyes scanned across the brightly lit room. The tables, all adoring golden vases with white and baby pink peonies, circling around the dance floor in the middle of the room. Most of the wine glasses half empty, once filled with different alcohols. His eyes landed on his tumbler, finishing off the rum he had ordered from the bar. He slumped farther down his chair once he saw his former two best friends cuddling together; heads together, laughing at an inside joke he presumed. 

"Please join as the newlyweds take part in their first dance" the emcee's voice spoke loudly through the speakers. He detected movement from across the room, Louis and Liam both stood and made their way to the dance floor. Harry strained his eyes to catch a glimpse of his older sister, dressed in white, slow dancing along side her new spouse; smiles appearing on everyone's faces. Harry hunched back into the uncomfortable fold up chair, wondering why he was forced into attending his sisters reception, the food wasn’t even that great. He had to put up with smiles emitting from Louis and Liam all day. Gemma and her new husband had assigned Harry to be a groomsman. He stood on the podium, feeling like a fool, wishing it was him and Louis reciting their vows. He could still feel his heart breaking every time he saw his one true love alongside his other best friend. 

Harry, Louis and Liam had been the best of friends for as long as Harry could remember. They all played in the sandbox together, got in their first fight against bullies together, first piercings, tattoos, parties, drinking, experience with cigarettes, drugs and drunken sex. Harry shook his head at how silly they were as children; old memories resurrecting, plaguing his buzzed mind. 

Harry and Louis had been high school sweethearts, the entire school thought they would end up married. Harry realized how stupid he was when he let Louis go because he thought distance would ruin their relationship. Harry had been accepted into University of London, whereas Louis and Liam had been accepted into University of Manchester. Throughout the three years that Harry had attended university, he had experienced the joys of both men and women. Harry had attained the sex god label of his university residence. He was often labelled slut and whore, but that didn't phase him. As long as he received good grades, and was pleased with himself, that's all that mattered to him. 

Throughout high school, Liam was known as the straight best friend. He was high school sweethearts with his 5 year girlfriend, Danielle, since year nine. Once university started, his girlfriend left and started professionally dancing for television shows and music videos. Liam was quite proud of his girlfriend, but they never got to spend quality time with each other. They called it off during the middle of first year university, stating that their careers would never intertwine. 

Louis had been heartbroken once Harry had announced they should only be friends while attending university. He had definitely, without a doubt, fallen quite hard for the curly haired lad. It took a long time for Louis to bounce back into the dating scene. Once Liam and his girlfriend broke up, Liam had physically dragged Louis out of their apartment every weekend; hoping to ease Louis back into the dating scene.

During the second year of university Harry had found out about Louis and Liam's secret relationship, forcing the duo to become public. Harry had never been more devastated. He thought that him and Louis would rekindle their relationship once university was done and they'd live happily ever after. He never, in a million years, would have thought that Liam, of all people, would snag Louis away.