Chasing Empty Spaces

Chapter 7

Harry’s mouth instantly turned downwards, brows pulling together. He shook his head, “Don’t just leave me with her.”

Louis quirked an eyebrow, “You can’t expect me to wanna see that.”

“Lou,” Harry shuffled forwards and hushed his voice, “Don’t leave.”

Louis’ mouth formed a straight line and he turned to face forwards. Under his breath, but loud enough to be heard, he muttered, “That’s not fair.”

“I – We don’t even know if she’s gonna come,” Harry rushed out, feeling slightly on edge that the night would be ruined before it started.

“How ‘bout,” Zayn cut in, pulling Harry and Louis’ attention to him, “If she shows up and talks to Harry, Lou and I head to the bar. Harry shakes her loose and we all go somewhere else.” He lifted an eyebrow and looked between them, “Sounds fair to me.”

In that moment, Harry was exceptionally grateful to have Zayn’s support.

“Yeah,” He eagerly nodded, looking to Louis. “Can we just do that?”

Louis’ tensed posture lessened as he agreed, “Okay.”

Flashing ID’s to Paul, they pushed their way inside. A heady culmination of brass and smoke immediately engulfed them. Harry stood behind Louis and tried for subtlety as he pushed swaying bodies away from the slighter man. They trekked towards the bar, Louis weaseling his way to the lip of the surface with ease. Harry pinched Louis’ waist and tilted his head towards the stage.

“Good luck, Stud,” Louis said over the noise, a smirk playing along the curve of his lips.

Harry flushed and took a step back, “I’ll see you after?”

“Yeah,” Louis nodded and made space for Zayn to sidle up next to him.

Harry kept his eyes on Louis’ profile for a moment more before he started towards the stage. He offered apologetic close-lipped smiles as he bumped into couples. A relieved sigh left his mouth when he didn’t see a trace of Faye dotting around the bar. Finally stepping backstage, Harry looked over the crowded space for Niall. Even though there was a new underlying tension that Harry felt when he was with Niall, he didn’t want to lose one of his only friends. He caught sight of the other man, a halo of tobacco smoke circling his body.

“Niall!” Harry called out, slipping between stage hands to make it to the other musician.

Niall looked over his shoulder and exhaled a puff, his eyes flickering with a hint of hurt that Harry hadn’t seen before. Harry slightly faltered in step, but didn’t stop until he was stood towards the man’s right.

“Hey,” He cautiously greeted, his hands fidgeting together.

Niall wordlessly nodded and offered Harry a whisky. Harry slowly took the offered glass and tipped it back, swallowing half of the amber liquid. There was a brooding silence that stretched between them.

“Did I do somethin’ to piss you off?”

Harry roughly coughed at Niall’s bluntness, his eyes going wide. He scratched the side of his neck with a fingernail and scrunched his nose, “Uh…What?”

“You’ve been actin’ weird the past month,” Niall slumped against the brick wall. He flicked ash into a nearby tray, “Ya never come ‘round anymore. I dropped by on Friday and your mamma said you were off in Atlanta with someone named Tomlinson.” Niall pointedly narrowed his eyes, “Who I’ve met and know is a mechanic, but for some reason, your mamma thinks is in lumber.”

Panic rose in Harry’s throat as he barely got out, “I –”

“Not to mention,” Niall wildly failed his hands out as he spoke over Harry, “You jus’ up an’ left before a performance! Right after I said somethin’ about Faye.” Niall shook his head and looked up at Harry, sadness dipping into his creased forehead, “And I dunno know what I did wrong.”