Brite Lites (Larry Stylinson AU)

Chapter 3: Catch Up

  When Niall and Zayn stumbled back in Louis’ apartment after operation L.B.A.M.T.S.I.T.T.M had been partly explained to Louis, it’s with flushed cheeks and wide eyes. Their fingers are curled tightly around plastic bags and were quickly losing feeling. Niall was curled up under the arm of Zayn, tucked between his body and the cool, worn leather jacket that Zayn refused to get rid of even though the seams were straining. “Only because you nipples look like pellets in your shirt, mate.”

  They stumbled over each other in their haste to throw open the apartment door and warm up their quickly freezing limbs. Niall reached the door before Zayn, tearing from under his arm and making a mad dash towards the golden knob. “Fuck!” He blurted, nearly falling head first into the apartment if it weren’t for Zayn who quickly reached out and grabbed him by the back of the shirt, standing him up right. 

  Louis quickly capped the alcohol he had previously been nursing and shoved it back in between the cushions of the couch, not nearly as discreet as it had been when Ondine placed it there but after throwing his body on top of it, the only person who could know it was there was Louis. And Ondine who snickered at him.

  “It’s bloody freezing out there,  On!” Niall exclaimed, plopping down on the couch next to Louis after tossing the bag in Ondine’s lap. Niall threw his legs over Louis’ and Louis couldn’t help but think this is how it should have always been. But it wasn’t, obviously. 

  Zayn strolled into the room stiffly, legs moving twitchily like the joints of his knees had frozen slightly. He unbagged the liquor and threw the empty bag into the trash bin by the arm are the sofa, cracking his back before dropping down halfway on Ondine’s lap. Her cheeks were visibly flaming as she quickly pushed him off. Zayn didn’t react to the rejection, instead opting for throwing an arm around her shoulder and smiling smugly at her. “You could have at least tossed us our keys.”

  Ondine narrowed her eyes and removed his arm, scooting away from Zayn and pulling the keys out of her back pocket, tossing them to Niall who only let them fly right past his head. “You were drunk, you twat. Got a death wish?” She snapped, Zayn simply shrugged and hugged the bottle close to his chest. 

  Louis looked pointedly at Ondine who sent him a quick nod. She cleared her throat obnoxiously and stood quickly while Louis shifted in his seat, playing with his thumbs. “Okay boys, Lou and I have a proposal for you.” Zayn and Niall looked up at Ondine quizzically as she poured them drinks, hoping the looser they are the easier they agree. “Hit it Lou.” 

  Louis swallowed past the lump in his throat as the eyes of his two former best friends quickly snapped towards him. “Well,” he began, pushing Niall’s legs off his and standing like a presenter getting ready to teach a class, “As you guys so, um, clearly know. Me and Harry had a falling out some months ago.” He paused when Niall and Zayn went rigid in their seats, Niall downed his drink and Zayn’s leg began bouncing. 

  Louis’ thoughts were beginning to get tangled up, the lump in his throat bumped down to his chest. His heart was just one big jumbled up mess and who were these people again? Were they the same people he knew before Harry up and left with such little explanation? Did they have the new number that Louis didn’t? The one they could call that would actually lead to Harry’s voice, or hell, at least his fucking voicemail. Did they know why Harry did it, why Harry walked out on him? Louis had to know, they had to know fucking something. 

  “I’m sorry.” Louis blurted out, Ondine looked at him confusedly, face almost identical to Zayn and Nialls. “But, have you talked to Harry? Like, at all, after… you know?” 

  Zayn and Niall glanced at each other nervously and Louis felt a flare of something in his chest. Anger? Betrayal? He didn’t know. 

  Niall was the first one to speak up. “Um, yeah.” He admitted quietly and Louis could almost feel his heart shatter all over again, but no. He was better than that, stronger than that. “He called me about a week after he took off. He didn’t - uh - he didn’t say much about, why.” Niall’s voice squeaked a bit and Zayn filled the silence.