Jinx

2

        Liam entered the locker room slowly, his stomach clenching as he heard the noise of a bunch of boys who knew and respected each other talk badly about each other's mothers. He'd felt the heat and anger from Louis the night before in the laundry room; he figured that would be a pretty good example of how the rest of the team was feeling about him being a walk-on freshman. He'd heard Louis muttering to Niall behind his back as he'd attempted washing his own laundry for the first time since leaving home; his mum had spoiled him terribly, as did a couple of the wardrobe girls on set.

The voices stopped when he rounded the corner, and Liam felt the last bit of his bravery starting to disappear. With a deep breath, he tried to channel Chad, his character from the show, who always had confidence - usually too much. "Hey!" he said to the room, smiling broadly. "Who's ready for this?"

Louis raised an eyebrow at him, and the smirk on his face made Liam nervous. "Really, Frosh?"

Liam felt his mouth twitch, wanting to pull his lip between his teeth, but refusing to flinch in the face of this older man. Instead, he took a couple of steps forward, using his height to his advantage as he looked down at him. "Really."

Louis pressed his lips together, looking almost impressed as he nodded. "Zee said you weren't a complete loser, so as long as you work hard, I guess we're ready for this. " He imitated Liam's accent almost perfectly on the last three words before reaching out and pinching Liam's nipple and then skirting away before Liam could retaliate.

"He takes some getting used to," a voice spoke up. Liam glanced over to find a shorter guy with a blond mohawk smiling at him. "Name's Josh." He offered his hand, and Liam took it, smiling.

"I'm-"

Josh waved him off. "I know who you are. The girls in school used to have your pics all over their notebooks." Liam groaned. "No worries. I don't care who you used to be, I just care who you are now. That display of bravado said enough."

"Cool," Liam said, glancing around at the quickly emptying locker room. "Guess I should get changed. Do you know which lockers are available?"

"Yeah, you can take the one next to mine." Josh knocked a knuckle against a locker covered with pictures of drummers and then one that was blank. Liam glanced around, noticing most of the lockers were decorated in some manner or another. Louis' was covered with Manchester United emblems and photos of people that must have been his family.

"Thanks," Liam muttered as Josh slapped him on the arse before running out to the field. Liam opened his bag, pulling his gear out. Opening the locker, he started to change his clothes. He shoved his bag in, locking the door.

He was reaching for the door to the field when it was pulled open and Louis was standing there with an amused look on his face.

"Took you long enough," he said.

"Sorry," Liam mumbled, feeling like an idiot for something that was out of his control, but he relaxed when Louis shoved him playfully in the shoulder.

"C'mon, Coach will be out in a minute, don't want to have to run laps on your first day." When they were a few steps out, Liam heard Louis mutter under his breath, "Wouldn't want to wear out pretty boy." Liam's heart sank, thinking that any progress he'd thought he'd made with Louis was wiped away in an instant.

When they reached the field, he saw Louis race over to the seats that ran along the field. He leaned against the railing talking animatedly to someone. As Liam drew closer, getting ready to drop down into a stretch next to the rest of the team, he recognized Zayn in the seats. "Zayn!" he called, waving when the boy looked up in surprise. After a moment, with a confused look, Zayn waved back, the movement slow and cautious.