louis bounced back to the bar, unable to wipe the ecstatic look off of his face.

"what's up?" niall asked. "only time you're ever this happy is when you-"

"don't even go there," louis said and grabbed three shot glasses, filling them up with vodka. "you, are looking at the new manager of bounty."

"holy shit!" liam jumped. "i'm so happy for you lou!"

niall congratulated him and louis passed the glasses between the trio.

"to louis!" niall bellowed. they cheered and louis pinched his nose as he took the shot. the vodka burned intensely down his throat and into his stomach. he grimaced after swallowing and took a drink of his cold water to sooth the firey feeling.

"you work at a club and can't handle your liquor, shame shame," niall teased.

"you're irish, you're fucking bound to he an alcoholic," louis says and a group of girls come up to the bar. they requested a few shots, a beer and a martini.

niall asissted louis with the drinks, passing them out as louis made them. they were a fun pair to work with. their nights went by fast and they were actually fun when they worked together.

"so, liam," louis said as he wiped off the counter. "did you finish your project?"

"sure did. printed it at the library and it's in the car in my backpack."

"i don't miss uni at all," niall said, shaking his head as he collected tips from the bar. "i chose a shitty major though."

"wasn't it agriculture?" louis pondered.

"i wanted to grow marijuana the right way, leave me alone," the purple headed boy huffed and served a few more drinks.

louis looked around the slowly filling club. the dj turned the smoke machine on, began changing the lights around and ended up speaking into the microphone by his stand.

"good evening ladies and gentlemen, you all know we have some great bartenders here at bounty, right?!"

many people held up their drinks as they cheered.

"look back at the bar behind you. you see my short friend? lots of you know him as lou.wave, lou!"

louis stood on the counter and waved, setting his hands on his hips. "what the fuck is this for, man?"

"louis got promoted!" kane yelled into the mic. "say hello to our new manager!"

loud yells filled the room and they started chanting, "lou! lou! lou!"

louis laughed and ran a hand through his hair. "kane, you're absolutely ridiculous!"

"i love you, mate. round on the house!" kane replied, getting the middle finger from the short boy across the bar and niall darted to make sure they had plenty of extra cups.

"so, boss," niall hip checked his co-worker. "what do you say we go out sometime and celebrate? on me."

"i would love to, but we work. alot," louis replied as he filled up four small cups of scotch.

"what about lunch? we could go sunday or something," niall suggested.

"fine by me," louis shrugged.

---

by nine, the place was packed. people continuously congratted the small boy behind the bar about his position and gave louis a tip for their drinks and food. louis went out for a smoke while niall covered the bar, perched up against the brick building.

"you know, you're too cute to be smoking."

louis jumped when the voice came out of nowhere and he turned his head. "pardon?"

"you're cute. and you shouldn't be smoking," the lad repeated.

"oops?" louis shrugged. "i like cigs, i don't care."

the man chuckled. "do you work here?"

louis pointed down at his shirt. "sure do."

"i see, this place seems decent. first night here, i wanted to try something new."

louis nodded, unsure of where this conversation was going. he wanted it to be over so he could enjoy his cigarette in peace.

"i'm josh," the guy spoke up to break the awkward silence. "what's your name?"

"louis," lou replied, huffing as he threw his cigarette butt. "i gotta go."

"see you," josh waved as louis walked back inside. damn, he was cute.

---

louis didn't really get a look at the guy when he was outside but he heard the familiar american accent when someone approached the bar.

"hey, bartender," josh said. "can i get a beer?"

"comin' right up," louis grabbed a cold bottle, popped the top off and placed it on the table.

louis wouldn't admit it, but josh was attractive. his black hair was slightly up in a quiff, he had a ring pierced through the center of his bottom lip and his eyes were as blue as the ocean. maybe bluer than louis'.

"thanks," josh muttered as he took a drink. "how would you like to get outta here, maybe go somewhere?"

"'m on the clock," louis replied as he dried off some freshly washed glasses.

"what about after?"

"i don't get off until late."

"i can wait."

jesus fucking christ, this boy was getting annoying. but then again louis has a short temper so he shouldn't be as flustered as he is.

"i can't, i'm sorry," louis shrugged. "i'm not really into the whole one night stand thing, i know what you're doing."

"but-"

"sorry," louis rolled his eyes and retreated to the other side of the bar. he took a few more orders and soon his break arrived.

"oh, you remembered!" louis smiled as niall carried in a bag from the restaurant, plus a drink. "you're the best, thank you so much."

niall laughed and gave louis his food and change, then walked off to the bar.

louis took his free 30 minutes to relax, eat and smoke. he should really quit, but if he did then he would probably end up killing someone from nicotine withdrawals. they're bad for him, but they keep him slightly sane.

"excuse me," a deep, but lavishing voice knocked louis out of his trance.

louis blinked and glanced at the man who was leaning against his table. he was wearing all black, except for the silver cross necklace around his neck. his green eyes melted louis' face, his eyes going wide at the sight of the beautiful man.

"uh, yeah?"

"would you like to dance? you seem a little lonely," the tall man asked him.

holy fuck, he was cuter than josh.

"i-i don't dance," louis blushed.

"aw, c'mon. what's a pretty boy like you doing at a club and not dancing?" he continued.

"i-i'm on break," louis replied.

"well, when do you go back?"

louis checked his phone. "like...six minutes."

"that would give us enough time for one little dance, yeah?"

louis couldn't say no to the gorgeous man. and when he smirked as louis stood, louis swore the man was going to kill him from his glory.

"there you go. now, what's your name, handsome?" he man asked as he snaked an arm aroud louis' waist, leading him to the dance floor.

"louis," he replied. thank god his nerves moved out of the picture. the man's touch was warm and shocking, it made louis flutter all over.

"it's nice to meet you, louis. i'm harry," he said and bit his lip. get low by lil john began to play and louis smirked as the song blared through the speakers.

they danced. and maybe grinded a little, but when niall jumped on the bar with a beer in his hand screaming, "TO THE WINDOOOOOOW TO THE WALL!" louis busted out laughing, doubling over from the irish boy's stupidity.

"your laugh is beautiful," harry murmured in his ear, grasping onto his hips. louis smiled and turned to face him.

"thank you," louis hummed. "and thank you for the dance. don't tell anyone i said this, but i enjoyed it."

"thank you for dancing with me," harry said and left a kiss on his cheek, almost below his jaw. "get back to work, beautiful."

louis turned on his heels and clocked back in, returning to the bar.

by the end of the night, he had gotten a generous tip from harry for serving him and the dance. he may or may not have gotten harry's number, too. all louis can say is that for the first time in a while he had a great night at work.

---

was this alright? it was a little rushed at the end im sorry )): i started school today & have a serious itch to write so i came up w this before i went to bed. thank you for the reads, votes and comments! 💚