Young & Beautiful

hiccup?
“Hmm, well, I wouldn’t say that,” Harry hums casually. “I made the place look incredible. It was
almost too beautiful to look at. I was very close to demanding the guests walk around
blindfolded.”
Louis laughs. Of course he would say that.
“Send me a picture?”
“If it’s not torn down in the morning.”
There’s a pause, and Louis sighs, his drunken head swimming and clinging to the sound of
Harry’s breathing over the phone.
“You all right, then?” he asks quietly. “Good holiday?”
He can feel Harry nod. “Yeah. Bit tired.”
“Me too. I’m utterly pissed,” he says bluntly, and Harry laughs abruptly. “I shouldn’t have drank
so much.”
“You didn’t go to Zayn’s either?”
“Nah. Went to me best mate’s party. Was an incredible time.” He hiccups. For real that time. “I
think.”
Harry laughs again, the sound smooth and velvety over the phone. Louis smiles.
“So you had a happy new year, then.”
“Oh yeah, absolutely,” Louis says enthusiastically. “Even got me New Year’s kiss!”
And the line goes silent.
Louis waits for a sound, a word, even a shuffle, but nothing comes, so he pull the phone away
from his ear to check that Harry’s still on the line and, yep, he is. But the silence continues.
“Er, hello?” he asks.
“I should go,” Harry replies, almost immediately, his voice stiff. “I’m tired.”
No.
Louis’ stomach plummets, feels sour and twisted.
“But,” he protests, his insides doing things, “I need you to brighten me mood!” He prays Harry
won’t hang up.
“…Why? I thought you said you had a good time.”
“Well I did, yeah. The bits with me mates. But that kiss was terrible, Harry, just terrible. It really
put a damper on the night. And I’m twenty percent sure his hairspray caused irreparable damage
to the ozone layer as well as my sense of smell. He was, essentially, a chemical bath on legs.”
And Harry’s laugh returns. “Oh, is that what I smelled earlier this evening?” he comments
offhandedly, and Louis can hear the smile in his words.