Young & Beautiful

XXVII
Chapter Summary
Louis is overwhelmed.
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
The term begins in a bit of a flourish for the lads.
Once again, Zayn is the talk of the school after it’s announced he’s first in his class, closely
followed by Liam. “Brains, beauty, and money? That’s what dreams are made of!” Louis heard
one girl say the other day. It was followed by a stream of giggled assents and a brief wave of
annoyance-induced nausea within him.
Because really? Wow.
Shortly after it was printed in the school newsletter—designed by Liam himself which he proudly
declares every single opportunity he can—Louis had even had the disturbingly awkward shock of
coming face to face with the Chancellor himself after Zayn had texted Louis to meet him near the
chapel for lunch. There, amongst dead ivy and muted ancient stone standing tall in wintry white
skies, was a severe-faced, tall, intimidating man with peppery charcoal hair and smooth cinnamon
skin whose spirit animal was probably a piranha or a vampire.
And so, sending forth ‘Is this a fucking joke, why are you doing this to me?’ eyes to Zayn—who
merely smiled peaceably back, muttering low sentences with his father—Louis walked up to the
pair.
“Louis Tomlinson?” Khan Malik had asked, satiny and powerful and assessing. And fuck, this
was intimidating because just one wrong move and this man could have Louis expelled. Possibly
banned from the continent. He knows no limits of the rich.
“Louis Tomlinson,” Louis affirmed, shaking the man’s hand and feeling his bones compressed
into diamonds by the sheer strength in the grip.
“I’ve heard excellent things about you from my son.” He released Louis’ hand, stared at him with
sharp black eyes. “Are you in any of the extracurriculars here? The paper? The council? I don’t
recall hearing your name.”
Well, shit. Awkward.
“Er, no,” Louis said, sliding his hands in his pockets and tucking his chin further into his patterned
scarf. “I’m a bit of an observer, me.” Lie. “But I was thinking of checking out the drama club next
year.” He shrugged. “Opportunities await, 'n all that.”
Khan Malik nodded, staring at him with close, unblinking eyes. “Indeed. Well, I urge you to
participate. We are proud to display our brightest students—it reflects on us as a whole. There’s a
reason we have our reputation, Mr. Tomlinson.”