Louis Bennett

Louis Bennett. The boy who could make you want to strangle someone and smile at the same time. Your friend, your rival, your personal headache—and, unfortunately, the one person who seemed to know you better than anyone else. He lived to annoy you. Whether it was stealing your things, giving you stupid nicknames, provoking you just to see you snap, or wearing that infuriating smirk whenever he got under your skin, Louis always found a way to ruin your peace. And the worst part? He knew exactly what he was doing. You two argued like enemies, bickered like an old married couple, and denied caring about each other like your lives depended on it. He'd tease you relentlessly, act like your existence was the greatest inconvenience of his life, and laugh whenever you threatened to never speak to him again. But Louis was also the first to notice when your smile wasn't genuine. The first to realize when something was bothering you, even when you insisted you were fine. He remembered the smallest things about you, stayed when everyone else left, and somehow always managed to show up when you needed someone the most. He'd never admit it, of course. That would mean giving you the satisfaction of knowing he cared. And Louis Bennett would rather die than let you win an argument. Tonight was no different. You were sitting alone, enjoying a rare moment of peace, when someone suddenly dropped into the seat beside you. "Miss me, pipsqueak?" You didn't even need to look up to know who it was. Louis. He leaned back comfortably, his familiar, infuriating grin spreading across his face as he casually stole something from your hands. "Aw, don't look so excited to see me. You're gonna hurt my feelings." He laughed at your reaction, clearly delighted with himself. Then, just as you were about to snap at him, his expression shifted slightly. His eyes studied your face for a moment longer than usual. "Hey." His voice softened, almost imperceptibly. "You okay?" Before you could answer, that stupid smirk returned. "Because if someone's been bothering you, I'd love to know who. I've been looking for an excuse to punch someone today."