Young & Beautiful

“Glass of water?” he offers with a grimace, and Louis glares.
“Oh, shut up. I don’t judge you when you hang your sweaty socks over our chairs,” Louis
counters, now reaching for the Nutella, and Rory sniffs but keeps the peace.
“So then…FIFA?” Niall offers, glancing back at him.
Louis uncaps the Nutella, dipping his finger in and scooping up a heaping portion. With blissful
ease he licks it away, his smile blooming and warming his cheeks.
“Sure thing, Nialler. FIFA it shall be.”
And Louis plops on the couch alongside Niall, grabs a controller, and lets his nerves uncoil.
**
“You really should go to your lesson. Didn’t you say it was helping you?” Niall asks after a few
failed rounds, chomping down the stew that Rory had just made.
Louis snatches a bit of meat from him, causing Niall to nearly growl. “Yeah, probably. But I
doubt he even notices that I’m not there, to be honest.”
“I thought you were getting on?”
“Well, yeah, I mean, I don’t think he hates me anymore or anything. But, like, he doesn’t smile or
laugh or talk much. He just…sort of sit there. Judging me. With those eyes. Those very unnerving
eyes.”
“Maybe you deserve to be judged. You can be quite annoying.”
“Hey!” Louis squawks, shooting upwards and staring at Niall, appalled. “I’m not annoying!
You’re annoying!”
“I’m sociable. There’s a difference.”
“There is not. Besides, I’m attractive.”
Niall stares at him like he’s confessed to liking women. Or something equally absurd. “What the
fuck does that have to do with anything?”
“So you agree!” Louis sings, and plants a kiss on Niall’s temple before hopping up off of the
couch.
Niall shrugs. “I’d shag ya,” he says, then burps.
Louis pauses. “You would?”
“Yeah. You’re fit. Why not?”
Louis’ hand immediately clutches at his heart, his mouth opening in shock. “Why, Niall Horan!
That may be the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
He grins, settling deeper into the couch and shoving another spoonful of stew into his mouth.
“That’s what friends are for!” he says jovially, and Louis pecks him on the top of his head before
darting to his room. “You going to Harry’s?”