Love Me Please (Larry Stylinson)

14

LOUIS

Styles isn't giving up. It's fucking annoying, and it's driving Louis crazy.

The soulmatch makes Louis love him but he doesn't want to love him. He hates him, too, in a way, for who he is. He doesn't like arrogant boys who aren't used to not getting what they want. Louis can't stand people like that.

Their friend groups end up kind of morphing together. Louis is friends with Niall who is friends with Liam who is friends with Styles. That's how it happens. That's how Louis and Niall end up on the doorstep of the frat on a Friday night. Louis can't believe he's doing this.

A pledge opens the door and lets them in once Niall says who they are. He eyes Louis curiously like he's heard a lot about him. Louis wouldn't be surprised if Styles talks shit about him all the time.

To be fair, Louis talks a lot of shit about him too. But only because... only because he has to make sure people know he isn't soft for Harry Styles, even if they are soulmates. He can't deal with arrogant frat boys who act like the world will fall at their feet if only they just ask. Louis doesn't want to be a pushover, doesn't want to be easily swayed by something as tedious as love. Something as fucky as fate.

They go to the gathering room and find it mostly empty of people except for Liam and Styles. There are a few guys around the edges, studying or on their phones. Everyone looks up at Louis, though. Even Styles. Especially Styles.

His gaze is piercing and unsteadying. Louis would call his glare cold but it makes his skin burn so he doesn't think that's exactly the right phrasing.

Liam breaks the tension by greeting them and inviting them in, telling them to have a seat and choose a movie. Louis drags Niall over to the loveseat before he can even think about ditching him, because he's so afraid of having to sit next to the person he hates so much. Styles won't even look at him now. He thought that would be for the best but it doesn't feel very good.

Louis doesn't pay attention to the movie at all because he's too busy having an internal freak-out sesion. He can't even decipher which movie they decided on. It's too distracting to have his awful soulmate sitting only a few feet away, looking unfairly handsome in a white t-shirt and a pair of addidas joggers.

There's an obvious elephant in the room but no one says anything about the fact that under Louis' scarf is Harry's name permanently etched onto the skin of his neck.

When Louis thinks about it too hard, it feels like a dog collar. Like a brand on his skin telling the world he belongs to Harry. He doesn't want to belong to anyone.

The end of the movie shows the hero soulmatching with the beautiful girl he saved at the last minute. Her mark is below the curve of her breast while his is on his inner wrist. It makes Louis feel sick watching them hold each other close and declare their love, so he quietly excuses himself and escapes to the bathroom.

Only he doesn't know where the bathroom is. He wanders around the house for a long time. Every door is closed.

There are footsteps behind him. For an awful moment he hopes it's his soulmate. Emotions rush at him like bullets and he's so confused about what he feels, he doesn't know what to do. He turns around to the sound of Liam's voice.

"It's downstairs. Let me show you."

Louis follows Liam down the stairs, to the basement. To break the stilted silence, he comments, "Only one bathroom for how many guys? And it's in the basement?"

Liam laughs a little, leading him past two ping pong tables and an L-shaped couch that looks like it's seen better days. "Nah, we have three upstairs actually. But only brothers and their matches are allowed up there. And we have forty-two brothers in house right now."

"But I'm-"

"You're Harry's match, I know. I could've let you upstairs, but I wanted to talk to you in private, actually."

"About what?" He knows about what.

"About Harry."

"I don't- I'm not-" Louis sputters, making to leave. He doesn't even have to go to the bathroom anyways.

"No, Louis, please. Hear me out."

Louis shakes his head but remains still. He doesn't like Liam very much right now but he still respects him enough to refrain from fleeing, no matter how badly he wants you.

"I'm not here to judge you or say I know anything about your situation, because I don't. I don't know your reasons for loathing Harry and frankly it doesn't matter. I just- I want you to give him a chance. I need you to give him a chance."

"Why?" Louis spits. "Why do you need me to give him a chance?"

"Because he's my best friend, and this whole thing is tearing him apart, and I can't stand to see it. He's so upset, Louis, please, you have to understand. You have to listen to me. He needs you-"

"No. No. You're not guilting me into this. You have no idea what happened."

"You're right, I don't, but if you just- If you just tell me, or- fuck- just tell Harry, for Christ's sake, tell him what he did wrong- then you'll be able to work it out and everything will be okay. I just- I mean this in the best way possible, but I think you have to grow up a little bit and realize that this is the rest of your life you're affecting right now by denying him."

Louis is stunned for a moment. He hadn't expected something so ignorant coming from Liam of all people. Liam is smart and kind and usually he doesn't say shit like this. It sounds like something Styles would say. "What the hell, Liam? That's fucking shit and you know it."

"Louis, please, give him a chance!"

"Why? Why should I give him a chance?"

"Because he loves you! He's your soulmate!"

"Leave me the fuck alone," Louis hisses, turning around and storming up the stairs.