Chapter Text
April 1992
It all started back when Louis was... seventeen. Louis, the highschool sweetheart met the most misterious and dangerous guy. Louis was a junior, and his name was Toby, a high school drop out who would often hang around the school's parking lot.
Their eyes met for the first time after a football game, Louis' boyfriend, Andrew was the quarterback, and Louis the perfect cheer captain. Cliché. Louis walked out with his friends after the game carrying his bag, and Toby was standing there, with a cigarette on his mouth and holding the lighter with his left hand. The bunch of girls giggled, and Louis blushed. Toby directed his gaze to the group and stared into the gorgeous blue eyes. He walked over to them, and Louis turned his gaze down to the ground when he saw the boy approach.
"Hey babe."
...
They sort of ran away together. After dumping Andrew, skipping Spring Dance, and losing his virginity to Toby, and big fighting with his parents, and a bunch of bad decisions, Louis packed his bag and at four a.m. he was riding the back of Toby's motorcycle. Road to ruin.
April 1994
Louis sat down and sighed. He knew he had messed up. With just a few bills on his pocket, stolen from Toby's wallet he swallowed the lump on his throat and ordered a cup of coffee. The constant noise of the cars annoyed him and he looked into his bag for his pack of cigarettes. It wasn't long until he gave up looking for his Camel Blue. He sipped his coffee and looked around, so far he was sure that Toby was still passed out on the living room. He bit his lip and stared at the long road from the big window. He was far, pretty far, he knew that because of the cheap clock on the rather kitsch-y restaurant.
...
He had no idea how he did it, but he found himself serving coffee to trailer drivers and couples on summer road trips. He crashed his first night there with another waitress and soon they became friends.
It was two months later, the sun was very hot. Not long before he settled he found out he was a few miles from Cali. On Sundays Louis and his new friends would drive down the road for a little and go shopping once they were in the city. He would spend his nights gossiping and laughing with the girls after closing the restaurant. Drinking stolen beer and saving up money.
It wasn't a surprise to Louis after a while to receive stares and whistles every night from truck drivers and bikers. His skirt was a little short on the back, and the apron wouldn't help. But believe it or not, Louis was still shy, funny, bright, beautiful, that kind of beauty that screams innocence. Yeah, innocent and still pretty naive, a little afraid, but oh so brave, and wouldn't miss the chance to jump, to yell back, to leave, to be free, to fight.
He rolled his eyes.
And then a pretty, expensive looking car parked outside and two tall and refined men walked in. They were both wearing suits, and looked a little exhausted. One of them was definitely looking at him. And Louis almost spilled the coffee.
The man presented himself as Zayn once the restaurant was empty except for Zayn and the waitresses. His friend nowhere to be seen.
"You are such a pretty boy." Zayn whispered. "Mind joining me tomorrow afternoon? Gonna be in California for the weekend, business, you know. And I don't know, but after your shift I could drive back here..."
Louis said no.
And when Zayn still came back the other night, Louis said no. After four nights Louis finally asked.
"Ain't you gonna leave? like... ever?" Louis raised a brow.
"One date."
Louis said yes.
Louis said yes when Zayn asked him to stay for the night. 'No sex involved', warned Louis. Zayn was a 32 business man, he lived in San Francisco and he was leaving next Sunday. And Louis said yes when Zayn asked him to come with him.
Louis would dress expensive Chanel, and Dior. He would drink wine and wear pretty yoga pants around the house. He was still a kid, and Zayn couldn't really understand that he was acting his age. Zayn's apartment was big and bright. On the rich side of town. Louis drove a chevy malibú and wanted to see life.
He stayed with Zayn for a year... and then two. When he met Zayn's parents they looked surprised to find such a young sporting a diamond ring on his left hand.
Engaged.
Louis and Zayn got married when the summer ended. Zayn looked happy, and his family pretended to be happy for him. Louis fed Zayn of their delicious gourmet cake, kissing him in between bites and giggling. Zayn's family would comment on about Louis' clothing, Louis' "intentions", would call him gold digger and roll their eyes every time Louis would walk by.
A year after they got married, they had a big fight. Zayn brought out Louis' actions, claiming they were childish and vain. He yelled about the money and stormed out. They figured it out and lived through that and most of their fights. Until Louis felt pregnant. He had no idea, neither did Zayn. Then another fight came. But this one had a different ending, Zayn came home drunk and Louis decided to bring up that Zayn's mother called, Louis was so annoyed and rolled his eyes trying to explain Zayn that she didn't liked him. Zayn got angry. Both of them yelling louder and louder.
But then it got too scary for Louis and he started backing off. Zayn was extremely angry and drunk. One slap. Louis yells "how dare you, this is the last time you ever touch me like that aga-" but then Zayn pushes him. Louis turns around and Zayn pushes him again, harder. Making the petite boy hit himself with the kitchen counter and then falling to the ground, landing on his stomach. Zayn panics when he sees blood and rushes into the hospital with Louis.
Two months, possibly a boy. Aborted. And the chances that Louis would ever concieve another baby were low, very low. That's when they grew apart. Louis barely spoke to Zayn. He would still assist to some business diners with the older man, but they wouldn't touch and Louis wouldn't look at Zayn. He couldn't.
And Zayn felt terrible, and hated himself. Over and over, he tried to apologize, he was so very sorry. When he apologized, Louis asked for the divorce.
It was the perfect moment for Zayn's mother to come and visit. When Zayn informed his mother the terrible news she rolled her eyes. "I always knew he wanted the money. The pretty face is just an excuse."
"It was my fault, mom." Zayn admitted.
"Of course he would make you believe that..."
"He was pregnant and I pushed him. Then I... I don't know. I saw blood, and- I-I, I don't know, mom." Zayn cried.
...
Louis was almost done packing when Zayn walked in. Zayn just stood there, watching Louis empty his drawers.
"Why?" Zayn whispered. Louis dropped his panties and socks to his case and meet Zayn's eyes with a sad smile. He walked until he was standing just a step away from his soon to be ex-husband and took a hold of Zayn's bigger hands on his small dainity ones.
"People like the family you come from would never look at me without thinking I'm fishing something the minute I decided I wanted to be with you. They don't because they are a little conservative, and the age difference seems scary to them. And most of the people who live here. You know my story so far, and yet you fell in love with me. Yet, you looked at me once, then twice and over and over without any judging". Louis let out a sob, " But I think they're right. I didn't wanted to let them win, but look at us. A child, Zayn. Really? You can barely look after me, and me... I can't even take care of myself, that was a hard slap of reality to my face." Louis wiped his tears and then proceed to wipe Zayn's. The he looked down at his hand, and took off his diamond ring, he grabbed Zayn's hand and placed it on his palm.
Louis bit his lip to try to hold the tears and packed.
He got two millions after the divorce and the NY apartment.
May 1998
Louis hesitantly moved into the NY apartment, Zayn reassured him, and said it was totally fine, and Louis could feel Zayn's mother eyes on him , probably cursing him.
Louis decided to finish highschool, online schooling. It was okay, he got a job at a book store and learned to live by himself, it was a bit hard at the start, there were no maids or personal chefs. And NY was much more crowded than San Francisco. The apartment was in a definitely good expensive zone, and that made him feel bad. Louis knew he wanted to live.
He sold the apartmet and headed to Las Vegas. What for? He had no clue, the minute he stepped on the casino and the bright lights hit him, he gulped. Innocent, beautiful, rich, naive, young, brave Louis.
He walks in and goes staright to the bar, and immeditaly he gets the attention of a thousand boys. He acts a bit flirty, won't take drinks from any of them, 'cause really, they could be weirdos or creeps and he's not willing to find out. Eventually he leaves the casino and find a hotel room.
He assists to different casinos for the rest of the week, until he bumps into Alejandro. Alejandro is the exotic handsome guy. Photographer. And he is instantly captivated by Louis' beauty. Alejandro approaches Louis carefully and tries to seduce him. Louis is was too smart to fall in his game.
After a day or so, Louis accepts one drink. And they sleep together.
Turns out Alejandro owns a condo a little away from the Vegas attractions. Louis falls asleep after the sex and he has the most perfect angel face Alejandro has ever seen. So carefully he snaps a few shots with his Nikon and sighs at the perfect picture.
They continue to go out, Louis practically living with him after a few weeks, They go out and fish for adventures, and Alejandro takes thousands of pictures of Louis.
...
Alejandro gets a contract with a modeling agency. And the first thing he does is show his bosses Louis' pictures. Then he hurries to get home and starts packing like crazy. He turns to Louis.
"Baby, we're moving to London". Louis opens his big blue eyes. "You're a fucking model!" Alejandro proceeds to explain.
July 2000
For the next few years, Louis learns that he is not the only one in Alejandro's life. He knows. They fight. They never dated. Louis still works with him, even after Alejandro banged Louis' first friend in London. Louis becomes quite popular. He's everywhere, he does runways. Louis sits with challenging eyes for H&M, and bites his lip for Gucci.
January 2004
Louis makes his own fortune. He sits one night in his apartment in Cabo and sips his wine trying to handle his crisis. He cries. Cries because of Toby. He cries because of Zayn, so much, and cries because of Alejandro, because of his lonely life. He feels sick and anxious. And sad, So sad.
Alejandro calls him one night and tells him he is too old, that they have been fantastic four years. And Louis chooses to announce his retirement. Alejandro doens't matter, it doesn't fucking matter to him if they think he is old. He still own a proper angel face. And goes four days out of seven to the gym to keep his fantastic body. He doesn't need them. He messed up. Where did his life go? How come a bad decision drove him there?
He's moving. He's gonna try to have a good life.
It gets harder and harder. Just after he retired his sex video is out. Probably leaked by Alejandro himself. He cries a little.
March 2005
Louis tries to find a perfect place, he tries somewhere calm like Ohio. Doesn't work, he feels extra lonely. It's a month when he receives a call. Zayn died, heart attack on a plane.
Louis cries, truly cries and doesn't care if Zayn's family doesn't want him there. He assists the funeral and regrets every bad decision in his life but leaving Zayn. California brings him so many memories, back where the real adventure started.
He goes back to his place in Ohio and packs. Makes a few calls.
"We're having new neighbors!" Anne walks out of the kitchen with a smile. "Harry go wash up, you're all sweaty from football practice and set the table, diner will be ready soon" Anne Styles says at last and turns to the stove.
Harry runs up stairs to his room and grins when he sees the moving truck down to the end of the street.