we're like bumper cars ~ l.s.

chapter 2

"My legs are killing me," Niall whines, legs stretching out on his bed. Louis rolls his eyes in the mirror, picking at the little spot ruining his face. "Oh fuck you, really. Just because you don't have to deal with a shit's worth of muscle aches."

"It's called getting fit, and I do have pain in my calves. I just don't moan about it."

Niall scoffs. "Yeah, but you spend hours picking at your face, body, or whatever doesn't seem right." And it's very much true, but it's not that much of a deal. Niall shouldn't be so concerned over Louis' perfectionist personality. "Lou, you look fine, mate. C'mon, it'll be dark anyway, and people will be drunk."

"Yeah but some people I'll be with won't be drunk," Louis says bluntly, turning away from the mirror with disgust of his own face. "The night I have to be the deso driver, and I look like trash. What if some guy is there, what if Zayn's there? For fuck's sake, Niall."

"C'mon, Zayn would do you even if ya fell into cow dung on the way there," Niall laughs. Louis frowns unhappily, looking down at his black button up and straightening out a few creases. "Stop it. You look fine, Christ. Who are you even tryin' to impress?"

"Myself," says Louis, sadly. He turns back to the mirror, somewhat happy. He's sure Niall can't take another minute of him gussying himself up. He finally announces he's ready to leave, already twenty minutes late to a party he's not even excited for. Well, he's not getting drunk tonight, which is disappointing and particularly unfair. He did win the school cross country just yesterday.

Louis drives them to Liam's, where he picks his boy up before both travelling to the bottle shop, where he buys cartons of beer and a bottle of cheap vodka for the two kids in the backseat. Driving to the party, pre-drinks are taken and vodka is spilled. Great. Cheap vodka seeping into his leather seats. His mother's going to absolutely treasure him for this.

He's glad to get rid of them when they all arrive at Josh's. He passes the crowd in the backyard, finding himself in the kitchen where he pours himself coke in a red cup. He finds a whole bunch of kids on some seats in what Louis supposes is the deso driver hang out. Looks fun.

He joins the group and they're friendly. Some are from Louis' English class, others from his Gym he heads to down the school's street. It's easy to engage conversation, he's always light with people which is why he's always so likeable. Well, likeable to most people.

He knows Harry's here tonight, which almost, just almost, made Louis turn away from coming here. It's not like he has a problem with Harry's presence or anything, like... yeah, Harry's hot. Whatever. Just Louis has hated him since forever, or since he was 12 when Harry started hating him for beating him at the only thing he's good at; cross country. It's not Louis' fault for being good at something he's great at. But the rivalry between them is so great. Louis loves waking up in the morning knowing that Harry's going to spit something at him, then he'll go to bed happy knowing that he's said something so fucking good that made him dumbfounded. Happens everyday.

But Harry's probably pissed out of his mind right now, maybe vulnerable but dangerous. Louis knows never to mess with drunk people.

He's with his mates after a while, Niall's taking body shots from Liam's belly which isn't too abnormal, even if he wasn't drunk. Louis laughs and takes the few photos which are always great reminders in the morning. Weed comes out of no where, so he's back with his deso friends after a drunken half hour and, oh.

So he thinks he can take Louis' seat then. "You're in my seat," Louis snarls at him, arms crossed with his nose high. Harry, as well the crew who's focusing on the video playing on his phone look up to him. Louis' mouth twitches in annoyance.