Strawberries & Cigarettes

Chapter 1

"Paynoo! I'm ho‐ome!" called Louis as he entered the apartment that was now their new home, away from home obviously. It still felt weird calling this place home when they only shifted two days ago.

Louis smiled as he put down his keys on the kitchen counter and dropped his bag on the polished floor as he made his way to sprawl his scrawny arse on the couch. Well, not scrawny, but you get what he means.

He'd just come back from the primary school nearby, Princess Park Primary, where he'd gone to submit his resume for the drama teacher position. The kids there were adorable, with their little faces, happy smiles, and excited waves.

Louis loved drama. When he was in high school, he performed in his hometown's production of Grease, and he had loved it. It was incredible. Not the acting, but the adrenaline he felt when he was on stage was amazing. He'd fallen in love with drama, and his mother and sisters had supported him when he decided to major in it. The feeling of being up there, and jumping into a new life intrigued him to no ends, but he preferred teaching it than the actual acting, partially because he liked handling little kids. He had four little sisters after all.

"Payno? You there?" Louis called again without any returning responses. After a few minutes, he heaved as he got up and stretched. He could hear every fucking bone in his body crack, one by one.

"Ow. Ow. OWWW. WHATS WRONG WITH MY FUCKING BODY?!" screeched Louis as he made his way to the kitchen, having realised Liam was apparently not going to show his ass and make him some tea.

Beep. Beep.

What the fuck was that? He turned around to look at his cell phone, mentally swearing he was going to fucking kill whoever decided to spam him with shit. Looking at his phone, he sighed. Of fucking course it was Liam.

Louis call me we need to talk.

LOUIS IM BEING SERIOUS HURRY UP. Louis sighed. Of course Liam was going to use all caps and periods in his sentences. Why? Because he was just that posh.

What do you fucking want????

OMG YOU HAVE TO COME TO MY OFFICE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Louis decided not to respond to that. He grumbled, why the fuck did he have to go out now? When he just got back? It better be worth it, he thought, or I'm gonna kill Liam. He grabbed his denim jacket that was thrown lazily over one of the armchairs near the Christmas tree. In July. In fucking summer. Did he mention Liam was a little extra?

It was then he realised he was still wearing formal track pants and a white button up. What the actual fuck was wrong with him today? Sighing, he threw his phone and jacket at the couch, the former crashing into the coffee table, as he stalked to his room and changed into something more ‐he paused‐ presentable.

Sure enough, twenty minutes later, Louis trudged out of the house in black skinnies, his Toms, a 5SOS t‐shirt (because yes Louis is proud enough to admit he loves their music. Like, REALLY LOVES IT) and his denim jacket. Because trends be damned, Louis ain't going nowhere without that jacket.  

**

Pushing the door open to the clinic, he paused as he eyed the man standing in front of him, with blonde‐brown hair and a rather lovely pair of legs. Damn, he thought, reckon I could do you right love.

Licking his lips, he was about to advance on this rather unsuspecting lovely looking‐arse guy when a voice called out from behind him, causing the blonde to turn his head suddenly.

"Niall! You done?" Niall? looked around and nodded, calling out, "Yeah mate! Just gotta sign these!"

He smiled at Louis, blue eyes twinkling and sunlight shining on his rather lovely face.