you're cold and I burn (on hold)

“Can’t help but notice we’re missing a certain person, bet that’s good, eh Royce?” A boy utters
from across the table, Louis can smell his overpowering cologne from here.
“Yeah, I was hoping tonight wouldn’t turn into an awkward encounter, guess my prayers were
answered.” Royce shrugs, “Though I was sure it was m<strong>and</strong>atory for all immediate kin to be here
for the company dinner.”
“Yeah,” Another brunette speaks up, who looks like he’s permanently chewing on something
sour, “When has Harry ever came to one of these? Can’t say I wasn’t expecting his absence.”
Louis feels his throat dry out, speaking up for the first time, “Harry who?”
All four boys seated with them look at Louis, <strong>and</strong> he sets his fork down, raising his brows, “Well,
did’ya forget how to talk all of a sudden?”
It’s now that all attention is on him does Louis realize Liam isn’t sitting with them, instead taking a
chair right next to their dad, shaking the h<strong>and</strong>s of all the executives sitting at the main table. Louis
laughs to himself, of course.
“Styles, he’s my ex-boyfriend, <strong>and</strong> you care why?” Royce speaks up, squinting his eyes at Louis.
“Oh, well he’s my roommate,” Louis states simply, “never said anything about coming tonight.”
“Probably because he new Royce would be here.” Sour-face snorts, even his laugh is annoying.
“Why would that matter?”
Royce sets his fork down, “Don’t know why I’m telling you this, but since you asked, I’m pretty
sure I broke his fragile little heart a few years ago.” He says, like it’s nothing.
“Why?” Louis disguises his voice, pretending to be neutral on the subject. Inside, his stomach is
squeezing, <strong>and</strong> it’s really fucking hot in here now.
“He was weak, was a good lay, but that’s pretty much it. He got annoying with all of his stupid
attachment issues, wore sweaters that were too big <strong>and</strong> like, girly, or something. Told me he loved
me one day,” The whole table tries to hide their giggles, “which, honestly, I told him that he was
stupid for not seeing what this was. I said, ‘you’re a good fuck, kid, but you need to grow up, stop
being such a little girl.’ Haven’t seen him around since.”
Something inside Louis snaps, <strong>and</strong> he can feel his h<strong>and</strong>s start to shake from under the table. The
other boys chime on at Harry’s expense, making jokes about how easy he was to manipulate, one
voice st<strong>and</strong>ing out when they said, “I heard he just sleeps around with like, four other guys now,
it’s pathetic.”
“Of course it’s pathetic,” Royce sneers, “it's Harry, he actually like to be called ‘princess,’ for
fucks sake. Everything about the kid is weird.”
“You know,” Louis says, breaking the mockery from around the table. He st<strong>and</strong>s, slamming down
his glass on the table with a loud clank. “The only ‘pathetic’ thing about Harry, is that he actually
dated someone as slimy as you. And, might I add, you should fire your stylist, because that shade
of blue looks cheap.”
“This suit costs over three thous<strong>and</strong> dollars, you twat.”
“Well, that’s three thous<strong>and</strong> dollars you shouldn’t have spent.” Louis smiles sweetly, “And Harry
probably didn’t come because it would be a step down to actually come here <strong>and</strong> pretend you