Fairytale

Chapter 2

Niall's been jumpy lately, having actual work is throwing off his system he said, or something like that. He has to compose a piece... Something close to that, Liam honestly wasn't listening.

"Compose me a playlist for law school," he told him, but luckily bad jokes fall on deaf ears and Niall completely ignores him.

***

It's Saturday night, close to 11 p.m. and both Liam and Niall are in their dorm, books and papers strewn around in front of each of them. And Liam won't say anything, but he's starting to suspect the lack of music and alcohol on a Saturday night is making Niall twitchy. He hasn't completely sat still for the last hour, and it makes Liam fidgety by association. Oh god, legal terms.

"Niall," Liam finally bursts because he just has to say something. Silence is maddening when Niall's around, because it doesn't feel natural. "Be glad you're a music major."

"Actually," the blonde says, running his fingers over a sheet of paper. "It's all starting to feel a bit impractical now, y'know. You have something practical, it'll be easy to make it as a lawyer than it will a musician."

He's snappy but Liam knows it's only because he's overworked, so he cringes and doesn't say anything.

"I'm sorry, Liam," Niall sighs a bit later, just like he knew he would. "It's not easy, I know, but I'm going out of my mind."

Liam nods, hopes Niall can see it.

***

An hour later and Niall throws his guitar pick out the window. "I need alcohol," he says, getting up and stomping towards the door. He stops just in the hallway and turns around. "You wanna join me?"

"I don't drink, Niall." He's not even sure what he's writing anymore. "It's a bad habit."

"Then don't get booze, just get fancy water, that fizzy stuff. Just come with me. I know my friends will be there and you need to meet more people than just your stuffy law school peers."

Liam doesn't say anything and Niall's getting impatient.

"Honestly, Liam, you're at uni. This is my second year and I've discovered it's only as good as you make it. So stop being so boring and practical and come out with me. Tomorrow's Sunday, no one has classes on Sunday."

"I'm doing stuff, Niall," Liam gripes, the temptation getting stronger. Getting wasted sounds really relaxing right now. "Things."

Niall shakes his head, stomps back into the room until he's behind Liam, grabs his chair, and pulls him away from his desk. "You aren't doing anything. You and I both know you've just been staring at that same paper for the last twenty minutes, writing your name only to erase it and write it again."

"When did you get so smart, music major?" Liam jokes as he stands up. Niall grins at him, thrilled about his victory.

"Around the same time you got so careless, law school."

"Not careless," Liam corrects immediately, stricken. "I've just decided maybe you're right more often than I give you credit for."

Niall laughs, holding their door open so Liam can go first. Probably making sure he doesn't back out. "Cheers, mate."

____

"Come on, Louis," Harry pleads. "If you come to the club with me you can meet a new guy and forget about what's-his-face."

Louis smiles wearily. "Mark."

"That's not forgetting, Tomlinson."

He laughs, if only to see the smug smile Harry gets whenever any of his jokes succeed. He just looks so proud of himself and Louis thinks it's cute.