melt with you || h.s

.05

Work was slow, the night seeming to die before it was even 9 p.m, but Willow didn't mind it much. She sat on a stool in front of Louis who mixing her a drink he'd thought up when he was completely plastered the night before. His brow was furrowed and he was concentrating on mixing the perfect amount of liquids. Willow laughed, eyes flittering from Louis to Sam, who stood a few feet away from them, cleaning glasses. He hadn't said much to Willow since the night of the party, and he kept his distance, finding some excuse to make an exit whenever she came near. He looked up and met her gaze, but quickly looked back to the towel in his hand, tossing it on the counter and walking towards his office. Willow heard the door close, and Louis held out his drink to her.

"Go on," He urged. "Try it. Fuck, I can already tell it's bloody fantastic."

Willow took the glass and sipped it, slow and slightly cautious. Louis stood wide-eyed and waiting for a reaction from Willow as he put his ingredients back on the shelf, and if she was honest, it wasn't bad. It was evenly as sweet as it was bitter, but it wasn't overly doused in vodka or sugared-juice. She even noticed a hint of watermelon, but from where that came from she wasn't sure.

"Not bad, Lou," she nodded, licking her lips as she handed it back. He took a sip. "What's in it? Wasn't paying much attention to when you were making it."

"Shit, I'm brilliant. But you know, a magician never reveals his tricks and a bartender never reveals how they make their drinks." He took another sip and smiled. "I think the watermelon really gives it a kick, don't you?"

Willow threw her head back and let out a laugh. "Sure, whatever you say."

"I've got to start making drinks, I think. Maybe Sam'll let me put 'em on a menu or something," Louis suggested, finishing his concoction.

"Maybe," she shrugged standing now. "Hey, I'm gonna go talk to him. Don't leave without me."

Louis waved her off as he pulled out another glass, already starting on another mixture. Willow knocked on Sam's office door twice and when she heard him call out from inside to enter, she opened it slowly.

"Sam?" She questioned, stepping in. He was sitting behind his desk with his feet up and a drink in his hand. She closed the door behind her. "Hey."

"What can I do for you?" He took a long gulp of the beer.

"I, uh. I want to make sure we're okay," she started.

"Don't know what you mean."

"You've been avoiding me. I mean, ever since that party a week ago and you haven't said nearly a word to me." She sat in the chair across from him. "And I know we kissed and I'm sorry if I made you feel awkward, or whatever it is I made you feel, but it won't happen again. I was drunk and, fuck, I'm sorry Sam."

Sam took his feet off of his desk and adjusted himself in his chair, beer still in hand. "Listen, Will. There's nothing wrong, and if anything, I felt bad about kissing. I didn't want to make you feel like I forced you into it. I'm not sure what you and Harry are, but I don't want to interfere with that."

"There's nothing going on with me and Harry. Haven't seen him since that night, actually."

"Okay, but still. You were really wasted and I maybe had two beers. It didn't feel right. Not that kissing you was bad, it wasn't. Believe me. But-"

"I understand what you're trying to say," Willow laughed.

Sam smiled. "Good. Anyway, I wasn't sure where we stood, if that makes any sense. Just wanted to give you some time to think on what happened, I guess."

Willow nodded. "Yeah, sure. I get it. But, I'm fine. Really. I was drunk and I kissed you and that's all. I won't let it get in the way if you won't?"

"Deal."

"Great. Me and Louis are going to head out, if that's alright with you. No one's here and he wants to head to some club that Zayn told him about."

"Go for it. Have fun," Sam smiled.

"Thank you," Willow smiled back, leaning over the desk to press a light kiss to his cheek. She left his office and smiled at Louis who was wiping down the counter. "C'mon, now. Don't want to hold up your boy."

Louis and Willow pulled up outside the club nearly a half hour later. There was graffiti on the brick wall and a few people loitering outside with cigarettes between their lips. Willow grabbed onto Louis' arm and pulled him through the door.

Inside, the music was loud and sweaty bodies were pressed up against each other. It wasn't too difficult for Louis to spot Zayn by the bar, talking to a few people neither of them recognized. This time Louis dragged Willow.

"You finally made it," Zayn practically shouted as Louis' crashed into him with open arms, his lips already on Zayn's.

"Hi, Zayn," Willow grinned, pulling him into a hug after Louis pulled away to order a drink. "How're the states, and Louis for that matter, treating you so far?"

Zayn chuckled, pulling Louis into him with his hand wrapped around his waist. "Great, actually. 'Specially this boy." Louis blushed and kissed Zayn's shoulder bone.

"I'm gonna get myself a drink. I'll meet up with you two in a bit," Willow smiled, excusing herself.

She found herself sitting at the bar, beer in hand. She'd thought about going back to find Louis and Zayn, but decided against it. She was starting her third beer when the pair, instead, found her.

"Where ya been, Willy?" Louis smiled drunkenly, throwing his arm over her shoulder.

"Here," she smiled back, leaning her head on his arm.

"Why don't you come dance with me? Zayn won't." Louis pulled a pout, first at Zayn who stood beside him with a drink to his lips, then at Willow.

She stood, Louis' arm falling to his side, but she quickly grabbed it, "Let's go then, show Zayn what he's missing out on."

It wasn't long until Willow and Louis were drunkenly stumbling around, pushing through the sweaty bodies and dancing with people they didn't know. Louis made sure he could see Zayn from where he sat at the bar, eyes on each other the entire time. Willow, instead, let her eyes wander around from person to person. She'd grab someone new every song and dance with Louis when Zayn would refuse his requests over and over. Her hands were sliding up someone's chest before she knew what they looked like, and her heart clenched and her hands stopped when she felt the familiarness before she even met his eyes.

"Willow," Harry smiled at her, sloppy and drunk and his hair was wild.

She pulled her hands off him, but he closed the space between them and grabbed her waist, pressing their bodies together.

"Haven't seen you in a bit," he mumbled into her hair. "Missed you."

Willow knew, knew that Harry was only a good fuck and someone to spend time with when they were both lonely. She leaned her head against his chest, and she could hear his heartbeat over the music. "Missed you, too. Need a night off, soon. Gotta get drunk and paint, I think."

She felt Harry's chest move, laughing, but she couldn't hear it. He said, "Me, too. Tonight. Now. Let's go now."

Harry was drunk, too, and though a cab would have been the best choice of transportation, the two decided on walking the few blocks to Harry's studio. It was cold, the air sharp. Willow had on her coat, which she decided wasn't going to do much for the cold before she'd even left her house earlier, and Harry's beanie. He'd slipped it on her head after they'd walked the first block and she was shivering, hands tucked into her pockets. She smiled up at him, kissing his cheek with chapped lips.

The studio wasn't much warmer than it was outside, so Willow kept as close to Harry's naked body as she possibly could on the mattress. The sheet was spread over their torsos and she pulled it down over her feet, head falling back to rest on his chest. She felt his heartbeat, again, and she kissed his inked skin that was nearest to her mouth. And they fell asleep like that, skin to skin, breath slow and steady.

It was still cold when Willow woke up the next morning, her limbs still tangled with Harry's. She pulled away, leaving the sheet to fall onto his bare body and he groaned in his sleep. She left quietly, and she thought about Harry's lips the entire ride home.