Mr Bartender

Chapter Four

CHAPTER FOUR

Harry entered the club, feeling completely disjointed. He’d been agitated, barely able to sit still or concentrate on anything since the events of earlier in the day. What a mess today had turned into! He tried to tell himself that he wished he could go back and that he’d never met Louis, but he knew he was lying to himself. He’d felt things with Louis that he’d never felt before. It had hit him like a bolt of lightning. God he was a fucking walking cliché now. Great!

He had gone from excited anticipation to being overcome with jealousy when he laid eyes on Louis in Greg’s arms. He had frozen on the spot, barely able to breathe. An irrational wave of possessiveness had washed over him, even though he knew he had no claim on Louis. This was followed by what felt like a blade to the chest, followed by a burning anger. He was angry at Niall, angry at Louis, even angry at Gemma. Not to mention what he’d wanted to do to Greg. The guy had cheated on Louis! Why should he get another chance? Most of all he was angry at himself for being so stupid. Yet, as angry as he’d been, there was a brief moment where he had allowed himself to take in every one of Louis’ pale features and appreciate how beautiful Louis was and he’d felt it hit him like a physical blow. Then he realised what an arse he was making of himself and fled as quickly as he could. He felt like a coward but what else could he do? He wasn’t about to stick around and have the awkward conversation that would ensue – he could at least save himself that humiliation!

He couldn’t believe he let Niall convince him that Louis had feelings for him, but it wasn’t hard to be convinced when someone was telling you what your heart wanted to hear. He’d let himself build this up to be more than it was. Shame on him and now he had to live with the consequences.

Louis and Greg deserve each other, Harry thought. If Louis was that stupid to go back to someone who treated him like that then Harry was better off. He may not feel better off right now, but soon enough he’d snap out of it. He was determined to put this whole debacle with Louis behind him and move on. He’d find some nice boy who was looking for the same things he was. If he spared a moment to wonder if that boy would have piercing blue eyes and a smile that was like sunshine, well, nobody needed to know.

He felt his phone buzz in his pocket and had stopped counting how many texts he was getting from both Niall and Gemma, but he couldn’t bear to read them right now, so he ignored them, switching his phone off before heading to the bar with a renewed determination to pull himself together.

He found Jake and Cara already pulling apart the keg taps and washing all the parts in warm water. They looked up as he entered and called out a greeting. He tried to manage a bright smile, not in the mood to discuss any of the events of the past twenty four hours.

“Greetings all!” he called out. “I see you started without me.”

“Yeah” smiled Jake “we thought we’d get a head start and see if we can get everything done, that way we might get a break before the crowds start dwindling in. Can only do so much, though – you’re the only one who knows how to disconnect all the parts underneath.”

“Cool” replied Harry, hanging his coat up on the coat rack in the hallway, deliberately not looking at the second door on the right, before making his way to where parts were spread all over the bar.

Cara must have sensed he wasn’t himself, but she simply smiled and gave him a little side hug. He gave her a soft smile in return and proceeded to throw himself into pulling the rest of system out. They spent the next couple of hours pumping hot water through the pipes and putting all the parts back together, as well as replacing parts that had worn over time.

Cara’s girlfriend Perrie stopped by to bring them some Indian food around six o’clock and they took a break to eat and trade terrible knock-knock jokes, laughing at Harry’s attempts, which were growing more ridiculous each time. By the time they’d finished eating, Harry was feeling a lot better.