Privilege

Chapter 9

Why, why, why, why?

Why are they doing this?

Niall’s brain searches for an answer but finds none. He realizes that maybe nothing makes sense with these boys- because what would they gain by making him snoop through their rooms? They wanted him to find all their twisted secret stashes? They wanted him to find out they booted Leo? If so then-

WHY?

It’s all just a sick game to them; Niall, Jessica and Cassie - as he came to know the girls’ names - are just the pawns. It amuses them- to see how far they can push before they break; it must give them some kind of sick thrill. It is the only explanation. Earlier, when Niall went to confess, they knew all along. Explains their reaction- that stupid, condescending smirk on Louis’ face.

They must have laughed behind his back for days. Watching him sweat, watching how much power they had over him; the more Niall thinks about it, the more he wants to stab someone- more like four someone’s -to be precise. He is livid.

Niall turns around, takes a deep breath and charges through the crowded ball room, weaving through ladies in couture and men in coattails; his eyes set on one, auburn-haired boy standing to the side and chatting with an older, important-looking man.

Without a second thought, Niall unceremoniously cuts into the conversation, grabbing Louis’ elbow in a harsh grip, his nails clawing into the pristine fabric decorating Louis’ arm. Louis stutters to a halt, turning to stare at Niall with a startled expression while the man looks confused.

“Niall, what are you doing?” He demands through clenched teeth paired with a hard glare, but for the first time Louis’ glare has no effect on Niall. He returns the glare with one of his own.

“We need to talk,” Niall answers harshly, his teeth also clenched as he ignores the important man’s appalled expression; Niall barely spares him a glance, to be honest, he couldn’t give less of a fuck about being polite for Louis’ sake.

Louis gives the man an apologetic smile that’s just oozing with charm before turning to Niall with a disdainful glare, the corners of his lips pulling into a sneer, “I am in the middle of something, we can talk later,” Louis says in an attempt to brush him off, removing Niall’s hand from his being. He is about to turn back to his conversation, but Niall will have none of it.

“No, we need to talk,now,” Niall insists, a sick satisfaction sinking into his gut as he takes in the look of outrage on Louis’ face- the boy looks like he wants to smack him.

With an aggravated huff, Louis turns once more to apologize to the man who is still standing there looking a bit curious but annoyed nonetheless, “Excuse me for a second, sir,” Louis smiles at the stranger who nods in return; upon dismissal of the important man, Louis grabs Niall’s upper arm in a bruising grip, pulling him to the side.

“You’re making a scene,” he growls into Niall’s face, his eyes narrowing dangerously; if Niall wasn’t so angry, he probably would have cowered away, but at the moment he’s more than capable of matching Louis bitchy attitude.

“Oh, I can make a much louder, much bigger one,” Niall replies, sounding eerily calm as he locks his eyes with Louis’ cold stare, “but I don’t think you want all of these lovely people to hear what I have to say,” he whispers cryptically, feeling oddly proud of himself as he notices Louis’ glare falter before his face relaxes once again into well-practiced indifference.

Louis takes a moment to study Niall’s face, gauging whether or not the boy is bluffing – which he is, of course - If he begins talking now, he wouldn’t only reveal Jessica’s secret but how big of an idiot he is. Niall isn’t quite ready for that- but Louis has no way of knowing that, now does he?