Above the Crimson Sky (Sequel to Beneath the Midnight Sky)

VII. Missing Out

Friday

With their coffees clutched tightly in their hipster hands, Harry and Niall strolled back to the dorm as they were picking up Louis to go to the mall. Niall made it very known that he was on a mission to buy a new wardrobe for the party.

"I wonder who I'll bring back home tonight," Niall winked.

"Please lock the door this time. I've seen enough of your pasty ass than I care to," Harry groaned.

"Not my fault I live with a ill-mannered roommate who forgets to knock. What have I told you, Lad? If the room is unlocked and I'm in it at all, it's because I have someone there. Now whether that's a girl I am hooking up with or playing games with Liam, that's a 50/50 chance." He said moving his hands up and down to represent a scale. "So I guess what I told you is irrelevant, huh?" He rhetorically asked as Harry shot him a you think look.

"Anyway, I think you're going to win the scholarship over me," Niall chuckled. "And when you do, I'll cry tears of joy. I'm your biggest fan. I can stand up when you and say 'I've been here since day one."

"Nonsense! It's a fair shot. Anyone could win really," Harry replied taking a quick sip of his drink before stopping in front of Louis' door.

When he twisted the doorknob, he dropped his coffee at the sight of Louis hunched over the toilet, vomiting violently. Niall jumped back in an attempt to not get the hot liquid splashed on his leg.

"What is this?" Harry asked worriedly. "Baby...we had such a good day yesterday."

"It's not me!" Louis said dry heaving and hunching over with painful stomach cramps. Harry realized that when he noticed this was involuntarily. "I'm never eating sushi again!" Louis cried as he began to vomit again.

"Well, I didn't get sick from it," Harry pointed out shooting Niall a mistrustful look.

Niall pulled Harry out of the bathroom and shut the door. "His immune system isn't nearly as strong as the average person, Lad. I'm sure his stomach is one of the most susceptible places for viruses to attack. Sucks though. I had that once when I was little. I had to miss school for three days! There was vomit in my shoes, in the carpet, in mom's car..."

"Ok, ok. I get it!" Harry said cutting him off and walking back into the bathroom. "Lou, baby. Can you lay down for me?" He asked as he tried to pull him away from the toilet bowl. Just as they were about to leave the bathroom, Louis ran back retching once again.

Sweeping his bangs to the side of his forehead, Harry looked back at Niall. "I'm going to have to miss the party tonight man. Tell Ed I'm sorry,"

Louis pointed his index in the air as to signal to give him a minute as he continued to gag. Once finished, he walked over to the sink and began to splash his face with cold water and brush his teeth.

"No way. You deserve to have a good time and go to that party. I'm a big boy. I can take care of myself," Louis pouted.

"Aww Harry, can we keep him? He is quite cute!" Niall teased.

"Shush it you!" Louis said sticking his tongue out at Niall who mirrored the action.

"Please go, Harry! If you don't want me to be alone, you can take me to Mom's for the weekend. I'm sure she'd love to see me anyway. If we leave now, you'll get back in plenty of time for you to go. I'll just bring this trash can just in case." He said lifting up the small trash can that rested in front of the small closet.

"Sounds like a good idea to me, Harold," Niall agreed. "Mom's have that special touch. They make you chicken soup, read you a story," Suddenly Niall wiped a tear from his eye. "Oh, Ireland. I miss thee,"

Harry shook his head in amusement and gave Niall a small comforting hug before contemplating what to do. "I don't know, LouBear. We haven't speak a whole weekend apart since you came back from rehab. I'd miss you too much," he frowned. "But Niall's right. Your mom is the best place for you to be."

"I'll miss you too so much!" Louis said as he leaned in to kiss Harry but started heaving, running to the bathroom.

"Good luck with that trip. Going to be a long one," Niall whispered to Harry who nodded at him.

******

At a small pizzeria on Main Street, Zayn treated Liam to a celebratory date before the party. He stretched his arm out on the table, hinting for Liam to hold his hand across the booth. Zayn began to playfully play with his fingers, sending Liam blushing.

"I'm getting inpatient waiting on this party. I guess after this I need to go help Ed set up shop," Zayn said thinking hard.

"You look great today," Liam blurted out.

"Thanks, you too," Zayn said bored.

Liam removed his hand as if suddenly he felt a hot coal searing his skin. "Do you still want to be with me, Zayn?"

"What? Of course. Why would you ask that? Don't like your watch?" Zayn asked surprised and put off-guard.

"It's just...when we hangout together, I feel like you're not really here..like your mind is somewhere else and the other day, I felt your eyes flutter open while we were kissing," Liam took a deep breath.

Zayn thought long and hard before he spoke. He ran his index finger and thumb over the corners of his mouth repeatedly. Feeling anxious, he slightly sat up and removed his wallet from his jeans and took out his small bag of Pharmaceuticals. He allowed a blue pill to dissolve under his tongue and instructed Liam to do the same.

"I'm just worried about Lou...haven't seem him all day."

"I figured it had something to do with him...." Liam scoffed.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Zayn snapped.

"Oh I don't know...just the fact we started dating at his intervention; you're always complaining how Harry doesn't treat him right when he is completely whipped for the boy; you still dress him Zayn for Christ's sake!" Liam shouted. "Until you can figure out what you really want from a relationship, I can't be with you like this," Liam said with tears in his eyes.

"Like what?" Zayn asked swallowing the bitter pill harshly making a disgusted face.

"Like...this!" He emphasized. "Everything you do revolves around Louis. It's unhealthy! I don't know what you expected but I'll never be him!" He stood up and removed the expensive watch off his wrist. "Here, take it! I don't want it! Come to me and talk when you figure out what you want!" He stomped away.

Zayn wiped his face aggressively as the waiter awkwardly put his pizza in front of him.

"Parmesan cheese?" The waiter asked.

"You have 5 seconds to go away before I cram that cheese grater down your throat..." Zayn gritted staring blankly ahead.

The waiter stood for a second dumbfounded until Zayn threatened to get out of his chair. He then proceeded to run behind the kitchen door.

Having the strong desire to strangle someone, he exited the restaurant and took the beat up pack out of his pocket and place the filter between his lips. He tried to inhale his stress away with each ring of smoke.

*****

Authors Note: Party in the next chapter. Will be posted tomorrow or Saturday, depending on my mood. LoL. :) <3

P.S. Go check out @larry_love_ED story called 'Uni' I'm in love <3. I've never commented and voted so much on a story. if I think one deserves love, I'll nurture it & this one is highly recommended by me.