Young & Beautiful

“So, I’m wondering. Because Harry’s getting a bit worse, I think, so… Is Des—“ Louis flicks his
hair, glancing in Harry’s direction, before lowering his voice further still. “Is Des still, like,
missing or whatever? Does Harry know where his father is?”
Dawning blooms within Zayn’s eyes, and a seriousness overcomes his face. “I don’t know. I
honestly don’t.”
And Louis sort of sighs, relieved a bit that he wasn’t given an answer to deal with but still tense
with uncertainty, and he nods. “Fair enough. Just figured I’d ask.”
Zayn nods in return, but his eyes are still on him. “Louis,” he purrs quietly, and Louis looks back
at him. Zayn’s eyes flit over his face, assessing. At last, he speaks. “It could be bad, all right?”
Louis doesn’t know what that means.
He has no fucking clue, but his veins sort of freeze and there isn’t anything to say, so he nods as
Zayn stares at him intently, waiting for a response.
“All right,” Louis says, and he doesn’t know what he’s agreeing to, or if he’s even agreeing, he’s
just nodding, and Zayn’s face eases back into a calm neutrality that simultaneously grounds and
scatters Louis.
He doesn’t know what to think.
So he doesn’t for the rest of the day.
**
Louis passed his exam.
He passed.
(Only just barely, but he passed, dammit.)
And it’s because of Harry’s tutoring.
In celebration, he sends out a mass text consisting of emoticons, symbols, and the words ‘IVE
PASSED ME XAM BOW TO YOUR KING PEASANTS’.
He has a right to be smug. He’s been through a lot.
It feels good, reaping the benefits of weeks of stress and wrinkle inducing tutoring sessions. It
feels really good and Louis feels smart—almost like he might be good at this whole ‘university’
thing. Almost like he might not end up living in a rubbish bin behind Tesco.
He makes a mental note to cover Harry’s floor in lilies or kiss his feet or pour champagne into his
mouth, or whatever Harry wishes really, because without him, surly behavior and all, he would
still be failing these exams and floundering and stressing and giving Charles more reason to talk
shit about how useless his son is, even at things like learning. Yes, Louis absolutely wants to
shower Harry with thankful praises and presents. Though that would probably be fruitless,
considering Harry still doesn’t even text him back, let alone acknowledge Louis’ good deeds for
him. He never did find out if Harry’d received his Dorian Gray quote he slipped under his door
after Halloween…
But at this point, it’s whatever. Their friendship is growing less and less likely, and though it eats
at Louis in a quiet, dull way, he knows there’s really nothing he can do at this point.