candy corn cocktails ➸ larry

2013

"alcohol won't solve my problems, but neither will water."

louis pretty much doesn't want to do halloween this year. he's sad - he's miserable, actually. really, who wouldn't be if they just learned that their best friend was moving out of the country?

zayn told him last week. he's moving to america with liam. bastard.

sure, if zayn asks, louis is totally happy for him! but inside he's being eaten alive. how will he pay rent by himself and attend college? how will he communicate with zayn - if he doesn't have a phone?

many other thoughts have been running through his thoughts the whole week, and zayn isn't even moving for a few more months. louis supposes he'll get used to the idea eventually, but right now it's still a sharp dagger poking into his mind.

but of course, to make it worse, zayn said he wants to do matching face paint again. louis should be happy zayn wants to spend time with him before he leaves, but really louis is so mad at him... how could he just leave? maybe it's selfish for louis to feel this way, but he does.

anyway, louis knows zayn is going to walk into this room any moment, to ask him to do their face paint. he decides to get started on his own first, seeing as zayn would never let louis stay home for halloween, ever. (unless he's in america, maybe.)

he goes for kiss, the rock band, by covering his face in white and then drawing a great big black star around one eye. as he's filling it in, zayn walks in.

"hey, lou!" zayn greets as he sits on the floor next to louis, in front of the mirror. when louis doesn't say anything in response, "that looks good."

"thanks." louis replies, deadbeat. he's angry. and maybe, now, he's going to let it show. it's probably not the best time, but whatever. 

zayn cocks his head at the dull response - usually louis would at least look at zayn and smile or something. "what's up?"

"not my survival rate."

"what?" zayn is perplexed.

"nothing."

furrowing his eyebrows, zayn just shakes his head. "okay, then."

louis finishes with his face pain soon, and then sighs. 

"seriously, what's wrong?" zayn sounds concerned, and louis just shakes his head. 

"so... do you have anything you want particularly, for face paint?" louis asks, looking down at his paints. 

"louis." zayn says, sternly. 

"what?"

"what's wrong?" zayn says the question more like a demand. 

"the land of the free." louis mumbles, not thinking zayn would hear. well, he does. 

"louis.." zayn sighs. "i'm sorry i'm leaving. i will visit. a lot. i promise. of course i will."

louis doesn't reply, just gestures for zayn to come closer, so he can apply the paint.

the boys sit in semi-awkward silence while louis draws on zayn's face, painting him to be some kind of joker-like clown. he draws with black around zayn's eyes and fades red around his mouth. 

zayn looks in the mirror after it's done, and as he smiles, his nice white teeth make an appearance. "sweet, lou." 

louis just nods, and zayn sighs, yet again. 

"i'm moving. i have better opportunities as an artist and song writer. it's set in stone. so, we might as well make the best of it while i'm still here. i'm sorry, but stop being a selfish bastard."