Young & Beautiful

with his grandiose style (thank fuck—who the fuck does this old man think he is? And how does
he know Harry, again?) Harry seems to be draped in an invisible cloak, shrouding him in
darkness. He stands separate, silent, like he’s…missing. That’s the only way to describe it. His
stare is cast downward mostly, occasionally flicking upwards and surveying the room, exhausted.
His hands clutch his untouched drink tightly.
Louis watches him the whole night, relentlessly.
Only once does Des actually acknowledge Harry, despite Harry following him timidly, watching
him with anxious eyes—he follows at a slight distance, as if torn between distancing himself or
stepping closer. Des looks at Harry, eyes dark and perturbed, and directs him to fetch him a drink.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Harry scurries off, nodding and biting his lips.
It’s then, as Harry is carrying back two glasses of whiskey from the bar, that Harry sees Louis.
He stops, full on stops, and his eyes, which had been scowled in silence and exhaustion, widen
with surprise.
Louis feels like he might be knocked off his feet.
He swallows and wants to look away, but he can’t, so he stares, standing by the tables of food,
surrounded by empty champagne glasses, sauces and crumbs probably stuck to his jacket, and he
wants to say something or wave or scowl or throw a bowl of soup at his head or something, but all
he can do is stare.
And Harry stares back.
“All right, kids,” Nick Grimshaw’s voice announces over the speakers.
Harry continues to stare at Louis, unblinking.
“For the first time ever, we are pleased to introduce…’Certain Things’!” he announces
exaggeratedly, and the lights cut out suddenly as the music video is projected onto every wall.
And Louis can no longer see Harry, can only see darkness and the casted shadows from the lights
of the projectors. Which, no.
Louis wasn’t done, didn’t make any sort of move, didn’t do anything at all, and that’s not how he
wanted to end things with Harry—not just by gaping at him like a fish—and so he moves forward,
rushing to find him, but it’s dark and there are too, too many bodies and Des’ voice is filling the
room, crooning in his raspy growl while Nick Grimshaw practically yodels in harmony, and
everybody’s eyes are on the walls watching the music video, but Louis’ eyes search for Harry—
who is already lost.
And, when the lights finally flick back on and Nick Grimshaw asks the crowd how they like it
(he’s met with thunderous applause), Harry is nowhere to be seen.
**
Des leaves early. He sort of storms away, swearing and narrowly avoiding passerby, flicking his
two fingers at everybody before he exits, sunglasses donned and the collar of his trench coat
pulled up.
This all happens while Harry’s absent—either in the bathroom or outside for a smoke—and he
mustn’t have known anything of the sort was going to happen, because it’s not long before
Harry’s asking passerby where his father is.