Young & Beautiful

IX
Chapter Summary
Louis attends a not-so-tea party and is introduced to Harry Styles' demons.
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
The next day, after being woken up dutifully to Niall’s flawless rendition of Chopin’s Scherzo
No. 2 Opus 31, Louis attends all of his lectures, homework firmly done and ready for a look over,
and is the best student he’s ever been, taking notes in every course and not once drawing a doodle
of a noose.
He’s so proud of himself on his way home that he’s about to offer to treat Niall to scones and
scotch, when his phone rings, “The Imperial March” flooding the air.
Mum.
Fuck.
Well. There are two options now. Either Louis can slide the phone back into his pocket and never
say a word….or he can answer. Given that he has yet to answer one of his mum’s calls, he
decides on the latter, nerves already tensing.
“Mum,” he greets faux cheerfully as he unlocks the door to the flat.
“Boo bear,” she says quietly. Suspiciously quietly. Fuck.
“What’s wrong?” Louis immediately asks, keeping the agitation out of his voice as he shoulders
the door open.
Niall’s sitting at the piano again, smoking a cigar while the TV’s on.
Louis nods in his direction before averting his attention back to the phone.
“Oh…nothing. I just.” There’s a pause on the other line and he hears a sharp intake of breath
followed by a near-sob. “I miss you, love.”
Goddammit.
He knows what this means.
“Mum. Mum, are you watching after the girls? Where are you?”
“I’m outside. I need to be alone right now.”
“Where are the girls? Are they being looked after?”
“They’re fine, Louis. I miss you—“