Chasing Empty Spaces

Chapter 1

"Oh, Harry!" Faye exclaimed and rested her hand on the Bandana Man's shoulder, "This is Louis."

"Nice tuh meet you," Niall extended a hand and grasped Louis'. "Niall Horan, Lawyer."

"Louis Tomlinson," He shook Niall's hand. His nose scrunched, "Um, Mechanic."

"Hear that!" Faye leaned in closer towards Harry. She giddily said, "He's a mechanic, isn't that just adorable?"

Harry's eyebrows furrowed together as he looked back at her, "Not the word I would have used for a mechanic."

Louis cocked his head to the side, attention on Harry, "And what word would ya have used?"

"Dirty," Harry answered without thought. When Louis' eyes widened, Harry embarrassing flushed and rushed out, "Not that you are! I mean - Um, grease?" Louis started to laugh as he helplessly rambled on, "There's a lot of grease so you probably get dirty, right? But, uh, you're clean now."

Harry ducked his head down and winced when the other three started to laugh. He shrugged Niall's arm off of his shoulders and self-consciously folded his arms over his chest, refusing to meet any of their eyes.

"Shit," Niall cackled and clapped Harry on the back. "I think that's the most I've heard ya talk in one go."

Faye chimed in, "So he don't talk much to you either?"

"This is my dear buddy, Harry Styles," Niall brashly said, gesturing between Harry and Louis. "You'll have to forgive 'im, he's not the best with new people."

Louis' eyebrows shot upwards, "Styles?"

"Yeah," Harry nodded. He already knew Louis' next question, so he sighed, "And yes. Styles, like the cigar."

"Holy, shit!" Louis laughed as he shoved his hands into his pockets. "Your family makes a good smoke."

"Thanks," Harry mumbled, always feeling uncomfortable when people recognized his family's name. He cleared his throat and quickly changed the topic, "Who wants a drink? Gonna get myself a Southside."

Niall eagerly chirped, "French 75, extra lemon juice."

"Bee's Knees," Faye batted her eyelashes.

"Right," Harry coughed and turned towards Louis. "What d'you want?"

"Don't worry," Louis waved him off. "I can get my own."

"Harry is our little trust fund baby," Niall easily laughed and shook his head. He nudged Louis' side, "He's got the money for it, pal."

It wasn't a lie, far from it, but Harry still felt uncomfortable under Niall's statement.

"Um," Harry scratched the back of his neck, "He's right. I mean, I don't mind."

"Hardly breakin' the bank for him," Niall tacked on.

Louis frowned at Niall and slowly shook his head, "I'll get my own."

Harry's jaw slightly dropped and he scrutinized Louis' face, already preparing for him to change his mind about paying. Niall started up a conversation with Faye, leaving Harry and Louis to turn towards the bar. Louis rested his forearms against the wooden lip and gestured towards the barkeep. Harry cautiously stepped forward and mirrored Louis' position.

"What can I get for you, doll," The bartender asked, her eyes landing on Louis.

Louis held up his index finger, "One Highball."

She nodded and glanced at Harry, "And for you?"

"French 75 with extra lemon, Bee's Knees, and a Southside."