"Do you really think that's a good idea, A?" Louis musedthrough the phone unsurely.

"Of course, Lew. When are my ideas not good?" his friend Àmberanswered over the phone.

"You might have a point there but a love song? I'm more in themood for an angry song. Like, really angry and petty" Louis thoughtout loud without really thinking about his words.

"Why? You're not someone to be petty. Or really angry. Didsomething happen?" Àmber grew suspicious.

"Nothing worth mentioning. Just some familiar strangers from oldtimes showing up and acting as privileged as ever. Zayn and I can handlethis" Louis waved the matter off.

"If not you'll let me know, okay?" Àmber asked unconvinced.

"Sure, A. By the way, how's Ari? Is she still at work?" Louischanged the topic pathetically.

"Yeah, she has a late class. I never understood why Universitieshave classes so late. Who can focus in the evening on studying?"Àmber wondered seriously confused.

"No idea but those people seem to exist, Love. Anyway, let'sjust do that song on Saturday. You're right. Your ideas are alwaysgood and this is a group thing, not a solo thing. If you want thisthen you'll get it. Always" Louis came back to the original topic.

"Thank you, Lew. This means a lot to me" Àmber thanked him.

"Just like Aria" Louis smiled to himself.

"I love her. You'll get this when you're older" Àmber joked.

"I am older!" Louis exclaimed outraged, completely forgettingthat he was still standing outside the little café and people couldhear him but right now, he couldn't care less.

"Not old enough as it seems. Twenty-six and not even alittle bit wise" Àmber mocked him playfully.

"Why do I even like you?!" Louis asked himselfsmilingly.

"Because I'm fantastic" Àmber laughed freelyinto his ear.

"That you are, Love" Louis grinned happily.

"Now go back to your boyfriend," Àmber told himsmugly.

"Not my boyfriend" Louis corrected her defensively.

"How many dates have you been on since January?" Àmber askedas if she didn't know the answer by heart.

"I stopped counting after twenty" Louis murmured quietly.

"It's the end of May. You've been seeing each other since thebeginning of this year and you like each other. Why in the world areyou not boyfriends yet?" Àmber wanted to know honestly.

"You know I can't do it. I don't want a boyfriend right now.Dylan is amazing and I like spending time with him but 'dating' is asfar as I can go at the moment. No lovely-dovely sappy bullshit thatleads to nothing at the end of the day. I have Zayn and that's morethan enough for me" Louis answered genuinely.

"Oh, Lew" Àmber sighed sadly but before Louis could reply anythingshe started talking again. "Alright. If you need me just call me,okay? Now go back to your date and get the affection you deserve".

"I'll see you on Saturday, Am. Love ya" Louis ended the call.

He put his phone back into his pocket, only to be startled byHarry standing right in front of him. "God, damn it! You scared theshit out of me. How long have you been standing there?".

"Only for a few seconds. Saw you standing here. Who was that onthe phone?" Harry asked intrusively.

"That's none of your fucking business. What do you want? Ithought you want nothing to do with me" Louis wasn't having any ofthis bullshit.

"Actually ...".

This was the moment Dylan decided to show up right behind Louisand wrap his arms around his waist, pressing a short kiss to hischeek. In surprise, Louis jumped and turned around in Dylan's arms toface him. He looked cute but slightly confused.

"For a second I thought you left because you didn't come backin" Dylan chuckled cutely.

"Sorry. I was stopped" Louis pointed with his head at Harry.

"Oh. Hi, I'm Dylan. Who are you?" Dylan introduced himself.

"I'm Harry Styles" Harry boasted arrogantly.

"Harry Styles? That name sounds familiar" Dylan tried to placeHarry's name somewhere in his mind.

"He was in a boyband. Oh, wait, sorry. He is in a boyband. Veryimportant bugger that is but don't worry. He was about to leaveanyway. Right, Harold?" Louis stared him down.

"I was but now I'm more interested in getting to know yourfriend, Lewis" Harry glared back before putting on the fakest smileLouis has ever seen and turned to Dylan. "So, Dylan. Are you Louis'boyfriend or why are you so touchy?".

"Harry" Louis hissed pissed off.

"Um ... no, I'm not. We're not together. We're just ... err ..."Dylan stammered overwhelmed.

"So, you're just fucking. I get it. That's quite nice sometimesbut I'm not sure if in this case, this is better or worse" Harrylooked them up and down judgemental.

"What in the world are you talking about? Which case?" Louislooked at him dumbfounded.

"Does Zayn know about this or are you doing this behind his backeven though you're practically living off his pocket?" Harrypropped his hands up on his hips.

Louis inhaled deeply, trying not to rip Harry's head off right onthe spot. "I really don't know what kind of fucked up scenarioyou're picturing in your head but I couldn't care less. If you don'tmind, we're leaving. We had something planned".

"Don't bother running away again. I was about to leave anyway"Harry hissed at him and then just walked away.

"What was that, Louis? Is he your ex or something?" Dylanwanted to know utterly confused.

"What?! Harry? No! Absolutely not. He's not my ex. That bastardis straighter than the wall. Biggest flirt in the industry. You knowthe drill" Louis couldn't believe Dylan even asked that.

"Could have been. This whole conversation was pretty intense.Why is he so pissed? And why was he talking about Zayn?" Dylanstill couldn't wrap his head around the situation.

"What do I know? He's gone now, so who cares?!" Louis shruggedunchanged. "How about I walk you home now?".

"That'd be lovely" Dylan blushed cutely.

...

After Louis had walked Dylan home and had said goodbye properly,he made his way home but all he could think about was this incidentwith Harry. With Dylan, he has been able to block it out but now thathe was alone he couldn't seem to get it out of his head. Harry hasbeen freaking impudent and rude towards him and Dylan, who hadnothing to do with anything.

Five minutes after he finally arrived home, the doorbell rang.With a groan, Louis stood up from the couch to open the door. Heregretted it the moment he spotted Harry outside the door.Apparently, Harry hadn't expected to see him either because he lookedshell-shocked the moment he spotted Louis.

"Louis? What the hell? What are you doing here? I wanted to seeZayn. I know he is not at work, so I came here to visit him at homeand ..." Harry rambled befuddled.

"Don't hurt your head, Popstar" Louis cut him off. "I livehere".

"But this is Zayn's address".

"Ever thought that we might be living together?" Louis wasseriously wondering if this kid's brain was working.

"Even worse than I thought" Harry mumbled barely audible.

"What was that?" Louis hooked already annoyed.

"Nothing. My throat is just dry. Can I come inside and wait forZayn?" Harry cleared his throat loudly.

"If you have to" Louis clicked with his tongue and steppedaside.

"Nice house. Fancier than I expected" Harry looked around.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Louis eyed him suspiciously.

"Just that Zayn never liked all the posh and fancy stuff but I'msure you knew that" Harry stated challengingly.

"You do remember that I've known Zayn since the day he was born?Or did the fame ruin your brain?" Louis shot back.

"Technically, you can't know him from day one because you can'tpossibly remember, considering you were a baby yourself" Harrynoted weirdly.

"I'm just gonna leave that uncommented" Louis shook his headand walked into the living room. "Thank God, you're pretty".

"Look who is judging now! I might say weird stuff but I'm notdumb" Harry got upset, making Louis wince because he was right butthat was beside the point. "But good to know you think I'm pretty".

"Wipe that smirk out of your face, Harold. It's an objectiveobservation and something you most definitely know. I'm sure everyonetells you you're pretty. For me, it was just nice to see you're justas beautiful as all those years ago. If not more" Louis talkedbefore speaking, causing Harry's eyes to grow to double their size. "Justtoo bad the rest of you changed so much. It's sad to see really. Ireally don't understand".

"What is that supposed to mean?" Harry frowned.

"I remember a young lad, who was lovely and kind and friendlyand not funny at all. But most of all, he loved his family andfriends and music. He only cared about fulfilling his dream with hisfriends. I would have even said he was beautiful inside out but Ican't say that anymore. That lad is long gone. I never thought youcould be so judgy and cold and mean towards someone you don't evenknow. Towards me. Since when are you so mean?" Louis couldn't stopblabbering, regretting every single word leaving his mouth. "Shit.Forget it. Don't answer that. I really don't care".

"So, that's what you think about me? You wanna know what I thinkabout you?" Harry challenged him, making Louis swallow.

"Don't think I have a choice".

"Damn right, Louis. I might be meaner than you expected butyou're worse than I could have ever imagined the day we met. Youalways act like you're kind and caring and humble and insecure butthe truth is you're an arrogant son of a bitch, who thinks he is sogood and talented and amazing but runs away like a freaking cowardwhen he doesn't get what he wants. If things don't go your way youjust leave, not caring about anyone other than yourself. Not evenZayn, who you claim to love" Harry told him mercilessly.

"Leave Zayn out of this. You know nothing about us" Louisgrowled at him darkly.

"Oh, but I know enough about the two of you. You always claimedto love each other so much and now you even live together in thiscute little town, that you call your home but do you even have one?This is Zayn's house. Don't tell me you paid anything for this. It'sway above your pay level and it shows. Which wouldn't be so bad, justslightly pathetic. But of course, you have to be even worse andbetray Zayn, on top of that. You already have a sugar daddy and thenyou cheat on him with someone like Dylan?! That is pathetic, Louis.You and your life. Absolutely pathetic and I feel so bad for Zayn. Hedeserves better than you" Harry judged him cruelly.

The anger rose inside of him with every new word and he balled hishands into fists by his side. Every single part of him was trying toignore Harry's horrible accusations but the moment he told him he waspathetic and Zayn deserved more, Louis had enough. He snapped andslapped Harry across the face. "Fuck off!".

"Louis!" three voices sounded from the living room door. Twoangry, one definitely shocked but worried.

Shortly, Louis glanced towards the door and saw Liam and Niallstanding there with open mouths while Zayn was running over to him,taking his place by Louis' side. Where he belonged.

"How dare you talk to him like that! I want you out! Right now!All of you!" Zayn exclaimed outraged, shocking every one of them.

Zayn was such a quiet and introverted person, who never got loud.That he was literally screaming into Harry's face hit them allunprepared but they had it coming. Louis didn't feel sorry one bit.

"No, Zayn. Listen to me! I'm here to talk to you about Louis. Heis only using you and cheating on you with this Dylan guy and eventhough I'm not quite sure what your sugar daddy relationship thingreally is I wanted you to know that. You deserve so much better thanhim. Someone who didn't ruin your career and is living off your moneynow because he didn't achieve any ...".

"Shut up, Harry!" Zayn screamed, shaking out of pure anger."Everything you just said is so fucked up. Your thoughts and mindare fucked up. Are you even listening to yourself? Why do you hateLouis so much?".

"You out of all people should know that" Liam threw in.

"You have been in this business for years and been put throughso much shit and lies and drama and you still think what he wastelling you seven years ago was the truth?" Zayn couldn't believeit.

"Joey, it's okay" Louis tried to soothe him.

"No, it's not!" Zayn contradicted him sternly, making Louisshut up. "Use your heads, guys. How many lies were you forced totell because of him? Are you still forced to tell? You know whathappened with me and you still chose to believe what he said aboutLouis? This is fucked up and freaking immature. Leave now and neverbother me again. You don't wanna see me really angry".

Speechless, the three unwelcomed guests made their way towards thefront door when Zayn held them back one more time. "Oh, and Harry.If anyone would be a sugar daddy here it'd be Louis. For yourinformation".

"Zayn!".

"What? It's only the truth, Babe" Zayn shrugged unbothered.

"Why do I even love you? Did I mention yet that I love you,Joey? Because I really do" Louis looked up at him fondly.

"I love you too, Tommy" Zayn smiled down at him.

At that moment, the front door fell close and they were alone.Finally, Louis could let out a sigh of relief and plop down on thecouch again. Zayn followed his suit and snuggled up to him.

"They showed up at the tattoo parlour again. They don'tunderstand a warning when they get one" Zayn told him.

"Harry bugged me in town while I was out with Dylan and thenshowed up here just to insult me. I mean, I also wasn't nice to himbut why should I? Just because he didn't delete my number? Which isstill something I don't understand. You think it will be cut out ofthe interview?" Louis let his thoughts run wild.

"Maybe. Who knows? Who cares?" Zayn breathed out.

"Sadly enough, I do, obviously. I shouldn't. Especially notafter today. Why can I not hate him?" Louis sighed out frustrated.

"Because you know who he really is, Tommy" Zayn said as if itwas obvious.

"Who he really was. That version of him is not my Harry" Louiscorrected him, wanting to slap himself afterwards. "I meant, theHarry I knew".

"I know what you meant, Tommy. It's okay" Zayn assured him.

"Even after eight years, which includes seven years of silenceand underlying hate from his side?" Louis checked timidly.

"Even with all of that in the mix. You've been pretty close backthen. It makes sense" Zayn stroked soothingly over Louis' back.

"You don't seem to care about Liam anymore. You even seem tohate him" Louis stated his observation.

"Hate is such a strong and big word. I don't hate him but I alsodon't necessarily like him anymore. The days of me liking him as afriend or anything else are long over" Zayn clarified without aproblem. "And now enough of One Direction. Let's watch a movie".

"Fine with me. But thanks again. For sticking up for me like youdid, Joey. This means a lot to me" Louis thanked him softly.

"No biggie. I love you" Zayn pecked his cheek.

"I love you, too".

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The fronts are pretty hardened but were Jonah able to shake them awake, or at least make them understand he wants to be left alone?