"You don't need to, Joey. I trust him".

These words were echoing through Zayn's head since his newest client today had started to talk about his dreams of the future. He was a dancer, who needed a professionally shot video for an important audition. Just like back then when he met Louis and that's how his thoughts had drifted back to his best friend and the messy situation he was in.

"Good job, Jordan. Let's do the same thing again from another angle, okay?" tried Zayn to focus back on his work.

"Fine with me" gave Jordan him a thumbs up.

While Jordan got in position Zayn checked his phone quickly but felt disappointment rush through him the second he spotted no new messages from Louis or Harry. That Louis didn't text him yet made Zayn concerned. He knew Louis was at work but still. Normally he would have broken by now and admitted that he was feeling sad or whatever he was feeling. That he kept this act up, pretending he was okay and not feeling abandoned by Harry and that he was still trusting him, worried Zayn shitless. He couldn't mean that.

On the other hand, he was getting madly pissed at Harry for not responding to any of their text messages. That he apparently fell off the face of the world was suspicious and angered Zayn a lot. How dare he treated Louis like this. First, acting as if he really cared about him to make him open up and trust him. Then impress him with a cute date to get in his pants just to drop him the next morning without saying a word, breaking Louis' heart and soul although he knew about everything and should have known better.

"Can we start now or is something wrong?" looked Jordan questioningly at him.

"No, everything's alright. Let's get your video done. This will be the last take. Promise" assured Zayn him embarrassed.

Still distracted and unfocused, Zayn tried his best. His reputation was on the line if he fucked this job up. So, he sucked it up and focused on Jordan for the next few minutes until the video was finally done and even really good.

"Wow, the video is amazing. Thank you, Zayn. Even when you're not at your best you're still amazing. That's what I call a real pro" complimented Jordan his work after watching the whole video.

"Yeah, sorry about that. I have some private family issues and I can't get them out of my head" apologised Zayn sheepishly.

"It's okay. Really. We all have those days but you managed to make a great video. Now they have to invite me for the actual audition. I really wanna have this job" jumped Jordan excitedly nervous on his spot.

"I'm sure you will. What musical are you even auditioning for?" asked Zayn curiously.

"A Mamma Mia production. A smaller one but this play is always amazing. And the size of the show isn't what really matters anyway, don't you think?" told Jordan him ecstatically.

"I couldn't agree more. If you really wanna be part of that production and you love the musical then that's all that really matters. Dance is about passion, isn't it?" could Zayn only agree with him.

"It really is. I love to dance. Dancing in Mamma Mia would be everything. Then I might even cancel my next audition. Not sure if I wanna try that out. This part is cursed" got Jordan kinda lost in his own thoughts.

"Which musical or whatever are we talking about?" hooked Zayn nosily.

"They're bringing Dark Desire to the stage again in London and my former dance teacher hooked me up for the audition. She was positive I could get the lead dancing part but I'm not sure if I want this" let Jordan him know.

"Why not? I only heard amazing things about it" tried Zayn to cover up his shock.

"As I said, the part is cursed" repeated Jordan his words.

"What do you mean?" frowned Zayn in confusion.

"Have you ever heard of famous uprising dancer Louis Tomlinson?" asked Jordan him innocently.

But Zayn froze on the spot immediately. Of course, the dancing world still knew about Louis but sometimes Zayn forgot about that. Louis was so far away from this part of his life by now that it felt weird and a bit traumatising to even connect him with dance to this very day. Of course, Jordan didn't know that and was maybe simply an admirer.

"Not sure that I have" coughed Zayn suspiciously.

"You good there?" examined Jordan his face closely.

"Yeah, sure. Go on" lied Zayn badly.

"Whatever. Louis was an amazing dancer and a lot of people looked up to him. They were impressed by how he managed to get out his former dance teacher's grasp, who has a horrible reputation around by now if you wanna know. We all admire him for shining the way he did and stepping out of the shadows of Luke O'Brien. He could have been the best but he auditioned for the lead dancing part of Dark Desire and the rumours say something went terribly wrong and he got injured or whatever. No one saw him again after that incident and no one ever managed to get this part right after him. It's like it's cursed. Every time someone tried something went wrong" explained Jordan everything to him unknowingly of the fact Zayn already knew that but it was nice to hear which impact Louis had and still has on the dancing world.

"To me, it sounds like he retired after the accident because maybe it was better for him. Who knows. But um ... did you say the former dance teacher has a shit reputation now?" wanted Zayn to get information out of Jordan subtly.

"Yes, indeed. Barry Gomez is his name and a lot of his former students have spoken up over the years about the cruel way he treated them and they all mentioned the forced rivalry between Luke and Louis and how this destroyed their friendship over the years. Luke was the first to talk. He despises Barry and everything he did to him and his ex-friends. He was the one to bring light into the darkness. Sadly enough most of them don't dance anymore because Barry ruined them. Not even Luke. It's ... there is no word for it" let Jordan him know downcast.

"Atrocious" was the first word that came to Zayn's mind. "He deserves nothing less. He should rot in hell. Or at least jail for mental abuse and even physical abuse like breaking people's backs".

"What? Breaking ... This sounds like you know something about him" caught Jordan on now.

"People talk in here. I know a lot" made Zayn up an almost believable excuse.

"I've never heard about that specific thing though. Whatever. You probably have your reasons. But if you wanna know Barry isn't allowed to teach anymore" informed Jordan him.

"That's fantastic!" exclaimed Zayn in pure joy, spacing down on his spot and mumbling to himself. "Louis needs to know that. Maybe he'll answer now".

"So, you do know Louis" crossed Jordan his arms over his chest and Zayn paled on the spot. "I figured. Don't worry. I won't say a word but tell him about this someday. People really look up to him and would love to know if he is alright".

"He is. He's good but dance is a tricky topic and you probably know why" revealed Zayn to him.

"I figured as much and that's devastating but very understandable. Hearing about all of the shit that went down in our business from manipulating results and mentally abusing kids over physically abusing them and sexual assault at competitions and auditions made me wanna quit and I'm still not sure if I wanna keep dancing in a world like this" confessed Jordan to him shockingly.

"I see where you're coming from and I understand better than anyone. I've seen what it can do to people but it seems to me your story is different and you're an amazing dancer. Don't let this world bring you down. You're very talented" encouraged Zayn him honestly.

"So is Louis".

The conversation didn't seem to leave his mind for the rest of the day. Even when he was hanging around with Sean and Kayla at Kayla's flat could he not focus on them. Jordan had said too much to let it go. Louis should know about all of this but Zayn hasn't texted him yet. He wasn't sure if this was the right moment. He had enough on his plate already. Being confronted with his dancing past wasn't something Zayn could just drop on him over the phone. Or at all.

"What has you staring into thin air this whole time, Zayno?" waved Sean his hand in front of Zayn's face, wanting his attention.

"I was thinking about Louis" sighed Zayn out dejected.

"Understandable. I can't even imagine how he must feel right now. Probably confused and sad and worried and ...".

"Worried?" cut Zayn Kayla off in disbelief. "Why in the hell should he be worried?".

"Because no one knows where Harry is maybe," said Kayla as if it was obvious.

"He better stays lost" grumbled Zayn madly.

"Why would you say that? Louis is devastated and misses him. We should all try to find him" countered Kayla surely.

"He just left after they fucked. He used my best friend for sex. Why would I want to find him, Kay? Tell me!" lost Zayn his patience. He was already feeling unsettled and talking about this dick was not helping.

"Woah, slow down there, mate" intervened Sean now aghast. "Harry did not use anyone. He deeply cares about Louis. I've seen it from the start".

"So that's why he pissed off and doesn't answer his phone although he should know how he made Louis feel by just leaving after fucking him?! Looks like great caring to me" snorted Zayn disbelievingly.

"You don't even know what happened, Zayn. Don't jump to conclusions without knowing both sides of the story. He has a reason for all of this. I'm sure" stood Sean his ground.

"You're only sure of this because you're his best friend" rolled Zayn his eyes.

"And you are biased because Louis is your best friend but Louis has still faith in him and trusts him. Louis knows there has to be a reason because Harry would never do this. Why don't you trust your best friend's judgement?" grew Sean louder now.

"Because he is blinded by his feelings for your dick of a best friend. He can't see clearly or think straight. He has to tell himself there is a reason or he would break. I don't wanna see him break again. I simply can't" started Zayn to shake now, feeling the tears pooling behind his eyes.

"Oh, Zayn" sighed Kayla and hugged him tightly. "None of us wants to see Louis down again, least of all you because you have seen him at his lowest. We can never understand the way you feel about him. But we know you only want what's best for him. You should have faith in him though. He is stronger now. I've seen it".

"Well, yeah. He is a lot stronger now and I thought Harry really was good for him but then he left. I just can't think as positive as Sean when no one knows where he is and Louis is at home doing God knows what" opened Zayn up to them truthfully.

"You don't have to trust Harry. Leave this to Louis and me. We know he would never do anything like this to Louis without a reason" smiled Sean understandingly at him.

"How?" snivelled Zayn depressed.

"Because I've seen him change for the better. I've seen the way Louis has impacted him from the start even though he didn't understand it at first and didn't want it. But I was there when he realised he cares about him no matter what he does and I was there when he got in a fight with Kyle over Louis. Kyle said horrible things about Louis, called him a worthless slut and assumed Harry would only use Louis for sex and to prove Kyle wrong. I saw how he flipped after that. None of Kyle's words were true and Harry was hurt and pissed and so mad that day. There I knew he loves him and I know he himself probably doesn't know that yet but he does. Louis is the most important person in his life and he would never intentionally hurt him. There is a reason for his absence. I just know it" reasoned Sean his belief in Harry in the softest and calmest voice Zayn had ever heard.

There were no words left in Zayn's throat or head or heart. Sean had sounded so genuine and his words have touched Zayn's heart. He didn't know about most of those things that have happened in the past obviously but hearing about how much Harry cared about and for Louis calmed Zayn down and gave him hope. No trust but hope.

"Okay, fine. You've got me with that, Sean. Let's find that idiot and make things right but if we don't find out where he is at until next Saturday I'm gonna kill him as soon as he shows his face, deal?" offered Zayn him his hand.

"Guys, you're the idiots" threw Kayla in but they ignored her.

"Deal".

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Question of the Chapter: Thoughts on that deal and Zayn's outburst?