you're cold and I burn (on hold)

“Not quite, plus that would be a pointless rant any way. I’m dabbling in a bit of an art adventure
this wonderful afternoon, was wondering if you wanted to join <strong>and</strong> give me someone to talk to,
what d’ya say?”
“Of course, of course. Have you left already? Think I hear people talking in the background.”
Louis gasps in fake offense, “What makes you think I don’t have people over at my flat?”
“Because,” Niall says, voice completely barren of any emotion, “You’re anti social <strong>and</strong> you hate
everything. And last time you had people over you told me that was enough social interaction for
the year.”
“Moving on,” Louis raises his brows, knowing Niall can’t see anyway. Not everyone can be as
excited about everything as him, after all. We’re not all loud Irish men with bright-ass blonde hair
<strong>and</strong> even brighter blue eyes. Plus, everyone seems to like his jokes, Louis just deadpans the puns
away. “You are the one human out of a few who don’t make me despise my entire existence.
Congrats.”
Once, when they decided to have a nice dinner with Liam, Niall had everyone in the restaurant
laughing off their asses, even though those jokes were nowhere near funny. They were laughing
because Liam was cackling so hard he was clapping like a seal. And if Liam weren’t already
interested in a certain raven-haired fellow, Louis would most definitely assume he had a bit of a
crush on Niall. He was probably just elated that Louis had a best friend to spend his time with
instead of always begging Liam, like when they were a kid. In fact, Louis had given up on Liam
long before he met Niall, because he would always shoot Louis’ plans down with the obligations
of “homework.” or “studying.”
What a proper bore.
“An endearing compliment. Did you want to grab something to eat while we’re out? We can turn
this into an all-day event, I have nothing better t’do.”
“I can’t even afford a loaf of bread.”
“Shit, money problems again?” Niall’s voice got softer towards the end. He hates, absolutely hates
that everyone knows him as the one whose always submerged in ‘money problems.’ Knowing
that he’s pretty much fucked in every aspect because he just had to do something that made him
happy versus trying to force himself into some scholarship that he would’ve dreaded every second
of. Why did he have to suck at anything involving numbers, or equations, or anything that wasn’t
particularly pretty? He just enjoys the aesthetics of life, <strong>and</strong> there was an obvious fault in that.
Because until his work was finally discovered, he would be barely getting by <strong>and</strong> substituting
meals for gum, being that he can’t afford a proper meal. Or his rent, which he’s now four days late
on. Lovely.
It’s sad. No, it’s more than sad, it’s pathetic. It’s pathetic that he can’t support himself. And even
more pathetic that he can’t, just can’t bring himself to ask for help. He couldn’t look at himself in
the mirror <strong>and</strong> face defeat, knowing he failed, just as his father had told him. And he’s taken
Liam’s words to heart, he really has. About, “it’s not wrong to go to your parents for help.
Everyone needs a h<strong>and</strong> every now <strong>and</strong> again.” But Louis could only reply with, “except for you,
of course.” And that was the end of that conversation. Liam’s a full stepping stool above him, <strong>and</strong>
how embarrassing is it that while he can live without any problems <strong>and</strong> a damn good job, all while
attending university, Louis is lucky if his water doesn’t get cut off before he can take a full
shower.
“Not in my vocab, sorry pal. Nothing is a problem, just a mere obstacle, is all. But, Doesn’t