"If you don't struggle on the way up, then you haven't done anything efficient, and you'll fall off rather quickly."

~~~

When Louis woke up, he didn't expect to be in an empty bed.

His heart dropped as he listened, hoping to maybe hear the shower running or smell bacon or something like that, but none of that was going on.

It was dead silent.

Louis sat up, looking around, begging for a sign of Harry, but there was none. He finally got up and walked around the flat, looking for Harry but the man was nowhere to be found.

Louis found his phone and dialed Harry's number, hoping to reach the stripper through a phone call, but there was no success.

He went to his messages, typing up a speedy little message.

Hey, I was wondering why you left? Did you have an appointment or something? I was just wondering; there was no note. -Lou

He was about to click out when a few words appeared, but it wasn't a text. Read 8:13 a.m.

Louis waited for the typing bubble or another message but neither came. He tried calling again, but it didn't even ring twice before Louis was sent to voicemail.

~~~

Louis angrily pushed Niall onto the bed, attaching their lips together in a needy fashion. He needed to release this built-up stretch and since Harry had gone MIA, Louis had no choice but to resort to his best friend, who was currently undoing his trousers.

"God, get these jeans off so I can fuck you," Niall moaned.

Louis didn't even find it hot, like he would if it was Harry. The sex with Niall was gentle, but not in a caring way. Niall was slow and sensual. Harry liked it rough, but he was passionate and Louis had to admit, he preferred that over Niall any day.

It was still nice to cum and to be in a mindless era for a few minutes, not even thinking about Harry for exactly 213 seconds- Louis managed to count.

~~~

Louis nearly fell off of Niall's lap late one night, three days after Harry's disappearance, because Harry was suddenly in his living room.

"Hey," Harry said slowly, eyeing the pair. Louis had just managed to slip beside Niall, looking as casual as possible, happy he'd put on clothes after the sex they'd just had. It was the sixth time since Louis rode Harry a few days beforehand.

Louis didn't even speak, he stared at the telly. Niall looked over at Harry in surprise before looking back at Louis.

"Why's he here, Lou?" Niall asked, glaring at Harry.

"I'm here to see Louis," Harry said briskly.

"I don't want to see you," Louis said coldly, keeping his eyes focused on the television.

"What if I told you that I could could you your job back?"

"The club is closing-" Louis started, but Harry held up a palm.

"Tell your friend to leave so we can talk about this properly," Harry ordered.

"You aren't the boss of me," Louis countered in a shaky voice.

Harry raised his eyebrows, making his way to the couch. "Is that so?"

"Niall, I think you should go," Louis said immediately, not wanting his friend to witness Harry in such a state.

Niall let out a sort of laugh, looking between the two. "Seriously?"

"Please," Louis said quietly, placing his hand on Niall's cheek. "I'll call you tonight, yeah?"

Niall got up from the couch, pulling on his shoes and leaving without another word and the slamming of the door.

"Why was he here?" Harry asked immediately.

"Niall is one of my best friends," Louis said blandly, not sparing Harry a glance.

"Louis, I swear if you're sleeping with him-"

"You're the one that sleeps with your friends. I did it for a test run," Louis snapped.

Harry grabbed Louis's chin roughly, forcing the older man to look at him. "You will not speak to me like that."

"You left me, Harry! In the bed, no note, ignoring my calls-"

"Last time that I checked, Louis Tomlinson, we are strictly in a fuck buddy relationship and I am not going to let you tie me down while I've been-" Harry smirks, green eyes glistening- "Pulling some strings."

"What are you on about?" Louis hissed. Harry let go of Louis's jaw, pulling a thin, crisp envelope out of his black coat, handing it to Louis, who immediately opened it, eyes scanning the page. "Blimey, Harry! How'd you manage that?"

Harry grinned, falling onto Louis's couch. "Well, the night we... The night I stayed, I was... Well, I was thinking right after you went back to sleep... I thought about that old building by Alive, the empty one that's beside the alley you and I first met in front of, you know the one?"

"Yeah," Louis said slowly.

"Well, I got up early and left here... The past few days I've done a few things, a few favors, and got the owner of the building to give it to me, no charge."

"How'd you manage-"

Harry waved him off, continuing his story, "Anyways, I got Scott and Peter to come together and, well, we're now about to open another club. I've gotten a friend to donate the money you have in your hands and soon we'll be open for business."

Louis grinned, practically jumping on Harry for a hug. "Also," Harry added, gripping Louis's hips, "You and I are going to come together to be the faces of the club. I figured that us together is double the sex appeal, what with my face, and your body, and, well, we'll be hell together, Louis."

"Really?" Louis asked, pulling back.

"We already have a connection..." Harry trailed off, moving to kiss Louis lightly on the lips. "Sexually, of course," Harry added, pulling away again and smiling softly as he knotted his fingers in Louis's hair, pulling it and making the smaller lad moan.

"Harry," Louis said suddenly.

"Yes?"

"Why were you ignoring me?" Louis looked so innocent and so helpless, widening his blue eyes.

"I... I wanted to surprise you. I knew if I was around you, I'd spill, but... Now it's okay to tell you, so we can get started. It's good to see you smile again," Harry admitted, watching Louis carefully.

Louis studied the way Harry smiled and the way Harry was acting oddly.

Louis wondering if Harry was staring to feel for him, like he did with Harry.

~~~

Awh Louis

QOTC: what should the name of the new club be bc I have an idea but I don't rly like it so offer your opinions

Also, do you think Harry and Louis can pull this off?

PQOTC: Do you like mysteries?

MA: like crimes and stuff are cool I'm watching Sherlock Holmes rn

Oh and hey I just got another job so I'm about to be busy af. That won't stop my writing of course but I'm letting you know just on case it takes a day or two longer than usual

Xx