Young & Beautiful

fresh!”
Zayn smiles, taking a sip of his champagne, before setting down the class by his feet and pulling
out a slim, guilt case and opening it. He offers a cigarette to Louis, who declines.
“You should come around regularly,” Zayn mutters, lips wrapped around the stick as he clicks the
lighter into life.
Louis watches the flame engulf the tip, and Zayn’s perfect lips pucker around the end, sucking in
the air reverently. “I might kill your friend.”
Zayn exhales smoke through a smile. “Not if he kills you first.”
“True,” he laughs.
“But I mean it. You should come round tomorrow.”
“If you’re inviting me, then I will. I’ll bring my roomie.”
“Who’s that, then?”
“Niall Horan. He’s this Irish—“
“I know him. He’s a good lad. Got good spirit.”
“That’s an understatement,” Louis says with a roll of the eyes. “He’s fun, though. They’ll enjoy
him.”
Zayn nods, bringing the cigarette back to his lips. “You’re fun, too,” he acknowledges, looking at
Louis with those piercing, lashed eyes. The boy is certainly beautiful.
“I am?” Louis asks, surprised at such open praise--given the source.
“Yeah. I like that you have no boundaries. You say whatever you want, to whoever. It’s nice,” he
mumbles, and Louis smiles.
“I get in trouble for it sometimes.”
“I’ll look out for you,” Zayn promises, and he puts a gentle hand on his shoulder and offers the
tiniest, sincere smile.
“Thanks, mate,” Louis responds, touched.
Zayn merely nods in return before taking another drag of his cigarette. “Besides, Liam quite likes
you.”
“I what?” Liam suddenly asks, finally having been unburdened from the absolute knob he’d been
stuck making casualties with.
“You like our Louis, don’t you?” Zayn asks, smiling widely at him, arm around his shoulders.
Louis can’t help but admire the pair as Liam cuddles into his side; Zayn doesn’t smile like that for
anybody else. At least not that Louis’ seen.
“I love Louis,” Liam affirms, looking over to Louis with joy. “He’s quite fun.”
“See, I told you,” Zayn smirks, and Louis lifts up his glass once more.