(Mean Girls AU) - Louis is the sassy, fabulous king of the school. Harry is the new, nerdy guy. They sort of clash immediately and might crash and burn eventually.
(other chapters)
Final Chapter
Months later.
Niall ate another scone. It was early autumn and outside the wind whipped through the trees roughly. The sky wore a grey cloak almost every day now. He took another sip of his tea and scanned his fellow classmates.
Ex-classmates. He had graduated, somehow - though it didn’t really feel that way yet. School still seemed too graspable, seemed like its trials never truly ended.
He had spent the holidays in Ireland in a football camp. Got a scholarship, no biggie. He shrugged and fixed his hair, trying to look his best. Not in an attempt to impress anybody of course, just for himself.
Cher had been right about one thing – working out more did him a lot favours. He flexed his arm muscles, pursed his lips and pushed thoughts of that bitch out of his head again.
He was about to throw another biscuit into his mouth when a young man stepped through the door. Niall nodded and smiled when their eyes met.
Liam still had that eager gleam in his eyes but he looked more mature now. The innocence in his features had drastically faded. A few heads turned, appreciating the grownup stature.
“It’s been too long.” Niall was crushed by Liam’s embrace. “Good to see you.”
“Same.” Liam let go of him and patted him on the shoulder. “I thought you were going to miss the reunion.”
“I wouldn’t dare.” Niall shook his head and they stared at each other, seizing one another up. For a moment an awkward silence settled between them before they both burst with laughter.
“I missed you.”
“And I missed that other cunt. Where is he?”
“I don’t know. I thought you did!”
“Huh.” Niall frowned. “He’s probably sick of you.”
“Me?” Liam raised his eyebrows in distressed surprise.
“Yeah, you annoying mofo.” Niall punched Liam’s side.
“I admit that I liked not having him call me every single day …but he even went missing on twitter.” Liam sighed and his eyes glazed over with unreadable emotions. “I got to skype with you often though. That was nice. It was, right?”
“Sure.” Niall noted Liam’s slumped shoulders and sombre tone. His parents had always warned him that everything changed after school ended. “Seemed like things changed between us at some point though. You’re not stuttering anymore.”
“I –“
Suddenly Liam grabbed Niall’s hands, a desperate look appeared on his face and Niall rolled his eyes. “What’s got into you now, man?”
“Z-ungh.”
Slowly, Niall twisted his head in the direction Liam was staring and his whole body froze and set itself on fire at the same time.
Zayn stood in the doorway, cigarette between his lips. He wore black jeans, black boots and a lilac top with “too school for cool” boldly printed on it. His arms were covered in tattoos and his hair, perfectly styled, had a blond streak in it.
-
Adults had told him all his life that school was the best time of one’s life, that everything after was worse than anything one could experience as a teen in the safe confines of the educational system.
He took the remainder of his cigarette and flicked it from his fingers. It landed in a half empty glass that stood all by itself on a table. Perhaps the glass was half full, he mused.
He dug his hands into the pockets of his trousers and stalked forth with long, considered strides. He swayed his body from side to side and tilted his head in an appropriately relaxed and chill angle.
Oh, he was chill.
Zayn was an adult now, was a changed man. He wouldn’t recognize himself if presented with his former self. He would shake his head in embarrassed confusion when somebody told him that he had bolted with waterfalls streaming down his face on the last day of school because Liam had given Niall a promise ring.
A fucking pretty in pink promise ring.
He, in turn, promised himself then that he had had enough, that his limit was reached. He wouldn’t be so pathetic anymore. He wouldn’t do it. He had forced himself to squeeze out from under a pile of Liam’s used towels and a few days and ice cream buckets later, managed to delete Liam as a friend on facebook.
That really showed him, Zayn thought to himself. He smirked, feeling Liam’s eyes on him as he approached. He decided not to give that prick the satisfaction of any acknowledgement yet. He smiled at Niall instead. Even winked.
Determined to get over his crush of sorts, Zayn had spent the summer searching for himself instead of finding ways to impress and delight Liam. He hadn’t even known that he had been lost until he walked out of a tattoo parlour with a sore bum. As the pain in his behind intensified, it had hit him that his whole life revolved around Liam, that he wasn’t even his own person.
His mood soured slightly as he felt the inked word “fetch” burning on his left butt cheek. So he had had a few setbacks into becoming a changed man. Who didn’t? Had a tiny identity crisis too. Didn’t matter. He had wanted, needed to be Niall – not anymore, nope. Now he was just rocking the blond in his hair because it looked smoking hot.
Out of the corner of his eye, Zayn noticed a lot of people staring at him. Would be weird if they didn’t - he wasn’t signed to a top modelling agency for nothing. He dropped his gaze to the floor and lifted it again slowly to smize, to smile with his eyes at his former beloved. He made sure to add a hint of raw danger to his expression.
Liam’s mouth hung open in stunned surprise and Zayn felt an unwanted flood of familiar sensations course through his body. He quickly ran his fingers through his quiff.
He didn’t need a guy to be happy. He was a strong independent, nonwhite man.
“Bollywood got nothing on you. You can slumdog me all night.” Zayn’s glare faltered as he watched Liam slam his hands over his mouth in shock of what he had just said. It was so typical of Liam to word-vomit and blurt out something stupid. It reminded Zayn of the past.
Zayn wasn’t one of those guys who questioned why in the world he had fallen in love, who didn’t remember when and how he fell in love. It was fresh in his mind - he knew exactly how he had become completely and utterly besotted with Liam. He remembered every moment, everything.
He even remembered when Liam had fallen head over heels for Niall. He wasn’t stupid. Well, not really. He could recognize the signs - the lovey-dovey eyes. He never hated Niall for stealing Liam’s heart. Despite barely being able to bear the lovesickness, Zayn couldn’t bring himself to hate his former best friend. He didn’t want any more bad blood between them. They had been so close once after all.
Now, Niall stood in front of him with eyes glinting in the weak light. Zayn saw the same boy he had befriended many years ago. He looked quite exactly the same. Zayn didn’t notice anything different about the kid he had betrayed for popularity, for attention, for what exactly.
Zayn let out a breath he knew he had been holding and let go, gave up on Liam one last time. He collected his courage and decided he wouldn’t prevent Liam from going after Naill anymore, from encouraging their romance.
I’m over him, Zayn thought bitterly. Totes over him.
“You look good together.” At least he sounded sexy. “You make a good coup-“
“No!” Niall yelled abruptly. “No!”
Zayn blinked as Niall took a step away from Liam, gesturing wildly. “We’re friends! Don’t misunderstand. I never – ever – like ever – liked or will like him like that!”
“Gee, thanks,” Liam mumbled and Zayn tried very hard to ignore him. His concentration wavered and he stole a sideway glance at Liam. Their eyes met and Zayn didn’t like standing so close to him. A tingling spread through his torso and he felt himself wringing for air.
“It’s always, always been you.” Niall’s hand snaked around Zayn’s nape and without understanding what was happening, he felt Niall smacking his mouth onto Zayn’s.
-
He heard a hammer hitting something hard very loudly.
“It was love at first sight.” A blush had reddened Niall’s entire face. “I’ve always liked you.”
Liam figured that what he heard was probably the pounding of a heart. It was an utterly deafening noise.
“Woah.” Zayn’s face was blank but it still seemed as though thousand fragments of emotions raced across his features.
Liam realized it was his own heart that sounded more and more like a drill.
“Will you go out with me?” Niall asked with a voice like candy floss. “My cute little cunt?”
The whole world twisted and tilted upside down. Niall liked Zayn?
Zayn staggered back and carefully wiped his mouth with the back of his hand before licking his lips. “I really don’t know what to say. Just – wow.”
“Say yes,” Niall cooed mischievously, wetting his own lips and inching toward Zayn again. Liam placed a hand on his chest as he felt his heart come to a stop. Now it made so much sense for Niall to hate Louis - the prick had stolen Niall’s first love.
Zayn’s eyes flittered to Liam’s and something was written within them that made Liam’s heart jolt viciously. Liam had liked Niall and Niall had liked Zayn all along and who did Zayn like?
As if in response to Liam’s mental question, Zayn nodded toward the exit.
Liam acted after one last look at Niall, reassuring himself that what he was doing was the right thing, the best thing that had ever happened to him. Another wave of heartbreaking quakes shook his body as he leapt forward and came to Zayn’s rescue, grabbing his hand.
It didn’t feel like running as they fled together. It felt like he had grown wings and was flying, soaring through the clouds and he knew that he wouldn’t let go of Zayn’s hand soon.
-
He watched them thunder past him. Zayn’s lips were curled into a wry smile and Liam was giggling like a schoolgirl. They rushed outside into the looming darkness. The laughter rang in his ears like a melody from long ago.
Harry took a deep breath and thought of the way Cher had sneered at him as she placed the prom queen’s crown on her own head.
“The throne was never his,” Cher had whispered. “I am the rightful ruler of this school. He blindsided me and took what’s mine but I paid him back tonight. They hate him so much that they can’t help but love me.”
Harry had stared at her as she waved at the crowd. “Did you never ask yourself who was on top before Louis came along?”
“Me,” she had deadpanned. “Me and Eleanor and the cheerleaders. Louis took my place with some elaborate scheming but, and now I truly have to thank you, you helped move along my plot to bring his reign to an end splendidly.”
Harry still hadn’t been able to move. He had been rooted to the spot and could do nothing as boulders of regret crashed into him, crushing everything within him.
“And now the fab bitch C is back and everything will be in order again soon enough.” Harry pictured how the peacefulness that had followed Louis’ departure from school would be destroyed and a tyranny would arise once again. “Did you really think that high school could operate without a Queen?”
No. He knew that the animal kingdom had to have a sovereign. He shouldn’t have held out hope for humanity. At least he wasn’t there to witness the disaster – he had graduated and Cher was still stuck in the past, still clung onto school. Perhaps she was just trying to avoid having to face reality for as long as possible.
“T.T.Y.L.X.O.X.” Cher had snickered again, blowing him a kiss and Harry shook his head, trying to get the memory out of his head.
He looked back at the car park but could see neither Liam nor Zayn. He wondered what they were going to do now. He knew that Zayn was a very popular up and coming model and that Liam would partake in choir competitions all around the world but what would they do to sustain their bond over the long distance?
Harry sighed. He would start university in a week and Niall would go to the US to a soccer college. They’d all be separated, all thrown into the scary unknown. Becoming an adult was so much fun.
He took a step towards the building before realizing his shoelaces were untied.
“Bloody brilliant.” He knelt down on one knee, hoping this wasn’t an omen of bad luck and began untangling the strings when he felt a shiver run over his scalp. He cautiously moved his fingers, finishing the knot on his boot before standing up again and facing Louis Tomlinson of all people.
Harry couldn’t notice all the changes in the little time he had to roam his eyes over Louis’ body. The most striking difference was this aura of free spiritedness that shone out of Louis.
“H –“ Louis coughed and scratched his forehead. “Hey.”
“Hey,” Harry muttered softly.
“I’m – I’m here to talk to – uh – teachers,” Louis managed. “Apologize and thank them and – and – stuff.”
Louis seemed to get nervous under Harry’s searching gaze. He shifted his body backward and rubbed his arm. “I should – eh – go.”
Liberated – that’s what Louis looked like. A weight had lifted from Louis’ shoulders and he looked free. Not being in command of an army of teenagers, not being in school at all did wonders for Louis’ complexion.
“You better not run away anymore.” Harry’s heart fluttered faintly as the words slipped out of his own throat.
A sassy expression settled on Louis’ face as he readjusted his fringe. “I do whatever I want.”
Harry smiled and looked down at the ground. “How are you?”
“Absolutely incredible.” Harry met Louis’ eyes again and the spark was still there. He nearly sighed in relief. The spark would always be there - their spark.
“You’ve got a few tattoos now,” Louis commented almost tentatively.
“I’ll get more,” Harry said cheekily. “You should get some too.”
“No, thanks. I’m personally not into that kind of look. I mean, uh, looks good on you – but –” Harry grinned.
“Maybe I could change your mind.” Harry smirked as Louis opened his mouth to say something but decided against it. “I can be very convincing.”
Louis rolled his eyes and sighed. “What does that even mean?”
“You know what it means.” Harry smiled as Louis stared at him. It looked like Louis lost his train of thought several times as he attempted to form words. He bit his bottom lip for a second before exhaling.
“Just because I’m flamboyant and fabulous doesn’t mean I’m gay.”
“No, it doesn’t.” Harry nodded. “You’re gay because you’re in love with me.”
Louis closed his eyes and shook his head several times. “That was direct,” he said quietly.
Harry felt giddy because of Louis’ apparent embarrassment. He wanted to swoop in and haul Louis off his feet, wanted to carry him into the sunset.
“Love is such a strong word,” Louis finally stated. He crossed his arms and pouted defiantly.
Harry waited for more but nothing came out of Louis’ mouth. He desperately hoped for something but only silence called out to him. He shuffled his feet and looked down at the ground again.
He thought back to his first day of school, his first time meeting the head of the Plastics. He had come such a long way since then. He wondered where he would find himself a year from now. Anything could happen.
A light touch brought him back to the present. The touch’s strength amplified and he started feeling electricity rip through him.
Louis’ hands grabbed his face and the shorter boy leaned up to press his lips against Harry’s. Their mouths smashed together and never again did he want to miss out on this tingling excitement that overwhelmed his senses.
-
Hands caressed his sides and they broke apart from their snog to breathe, to calm down, to cool the fuck off.
“You’re not plastic but you’re still fantastic,” Louis whispered and Harry laughed lowly as he bent down and kissed Louis’ neck.
He could get lost in this feeling, could stay in this feeling forever. He tried not to moan when Harry bit his skin and his crotch started to vibrate.
Louis absentmindedly pulled out Harry’s phone from his pocket, annoyed that it was disturbing them. He unlocked it with a swipe of his finger and whimpered when Harry licked up to his jaw.
Hiya! <3 hope ur doin good. Can’t wait to see my boyfriend again in a few days. Love u, Swifty
Louis hummed as Harry pecked his lips before the new information finally seeped into his brain and he was able to push Harry away.
“You have a girlfriend?” Louis asked incredulously.
“Oh no.” Harry frowned frustratingly. “It’s not what you thi-“
“How so?” Louis exclaimed, his expression screaming trouble.
“She’s crazy. She got it in her head that we’re together but I only spoke to her once and –“
“That whore,” Louis hissed. “I am so going to wreck her.”
Harry laughed and put his arms behind Louis, pulling him closer by his bum. Louis smirked up at Harry and let himself be kissed to his heart’s content.
He had no clue what was going to happen next, where they were going from here and how they’d make it work together but he was certain that with Harry by his side facing the world would be a lot more fetch.
“You belong with me.”
-
The End.