Secrets / Black & White / Playing for Keeps

Harry’s offer was tempting. She could either remain in the restaurant and with the same trapped feeling she always felt whenever she was in public with Harry or they could make their escape.

“So are we gonna go or not?” Harry asked.

Lara grabbed her handbag in response and began to head for the front counter.

“I’ll pay for the drinks.” She said.

“No, I’ll pay.” Harry retorted.

“No, I’m paying. It’s only a couple of drinks.”

The waitress who had been serving them approached the front counter to find them knocking elbows in a bid to extract money from their pockets and handbag. Not long after, Harry and Lara spilled out onto the sidewalk laughing.

“Did you see her face?” Harry asked.

“Your tab has been taken care of Mr. Styles.” Lara mimicked.

“Good old Julian.” Harry muttered.

Lara suddenly noticed how they had emerged from the side door of the restaurant and how Harry had swiftly put on a beanie that he must have had stuck in his back pocket, just like he always used to do when he was in public.

“You didn’t want to go out the front and have your picture taken again did you?” Harry asked, acknowledging the curious look on her face and she quickly shook her head. “I come here often… and I know how to get out of here without anybody noticing.”

Lara knew that was not what Julian had in mind when he had arranged this dinner date. Hi-res photos were what he was expecting and Lara fervently hoped that he would be satisfied with the photos that were taken when they entered the restaurant earlier that night. Harry slowed down his pace, allowing Lara to catch up as they made their way down the dim lit street.

“So where to now?” Harry asked.

“I was planning on going home.” She said wondering if Tony was home. “You?”

“Well I’m definitely not going home.” He said, casting his eyes around the street. “Not sure where I’m going though.”

A sense of awkwardness came over them as soon as they reached the main street. They walked silently as Lara tried to figure out a way to leave. Harry suddenly looked up to see a small cinema across the road.

“Wanna see a movie?” He blurted.

Lara doubtfully looked down at her dress and high heels and then at Harry.

“It’s gonna be dark in there, I don’t think anyone is going to notice what you’re wearing.”

Harry said as he began to cross the road. “We’ve never been to the cinema, did we?”

His last comment was said quietly and Lara hurried to catch up with him.

“Just that once.” She replied, thinking back to the night Harry had decided he wanted to see a movie. It felt like a life time ago. Lara watched as Harry smiled and could tell he was remembering how they had been kindly kicked out by the manager, after he had been spotted by a few overzealous fans. She could then see his eyes then darken as he recalled how he had later backed her against an alley wall.

She could hear him softly chuckle in her ear as he slowed down again, fingers teasing, his lips finding her neck again as he nipped her with his teeth. He broke her skin and she found herself caught on a tightrope between pain and pleasure.

Lara swallowed nervously as she turned to leave.

“Hey where are you going?” Harry said. “Let’s go inside.”

“You’ll get recognised.” Lara told him.

“Well I’ll just have to be careful.”

She felt his hand close over her arm as they made their way into the cinema. It was unexpectedly quiet and it seemed as though the latest movie had begun. The crowd had thinned out as the movie had just begun but Lara insisted on paying for the tickets. They were arguing as they approached the ticket counter only to see that there was nobody there. They stood there for a moment waiting for someone to appear. A couple of minutes passed before Harry made a move.

“Well that settles it.” Harry said pulling her by the arm.

“Harry, just wait.” She protested.

“The movie’s probably started already.” He said impatiently.

They ran down the corridor toward a random cinema and quickly snuck into the darkened room. Lara tried not to stumble as they bunkered down in one of the first rows. The movie had already begun as they settled in their seats and looked up at the screen expectantly, only to hear a stream of Italian. It didn’t take long to figure out that they had crashed a screening of a foreign movie and Lara was contemplating her escape when she felt Harry tap her on the shoulder.

“I’m hungry.” He whispered.

“So am I.” She replied, thinking about the dinner they had just bypassed.

“Can you get me some popcorn?” He began to dig into his pocket for his wallet only for Lara to wave him off.

“This one is on me.”

They were about to launch into another argument about paying when they heard someone clear their throat loudly.

“Just shut up and sit down.” Lara hissed, ignoring the surprised look on Harry’s face. She returned minutes later with a large box of popcorn and a couple of Cokes.

“You should have let me pay.” Harry said through a mouthful of popcorn.

“You don’t have to keep reminding me about how rich you are.” Lara retorted.

“It’s not about that and you know it.” Harry shot back.

Harry angrily held her gaze before returning his attention to the screen. A few minutes silence followed before he spoke up.

“Why are you so fucking paranoid when it comes to money?”

“I’m not paranoid.”

“Yes you are.” Harry told her. “You won’t even let me buy you a fricking box of popcorn.”

“You’ve paid enough.” She couldn’t help but quietly respond.

“I did it because I wanted to.”

“Well you don’t have to anymore.”

“For fuck’s sake, why can’t you-“

“Shhh!”

Lara looked over her shoulder to see a woman throw her an annoyed look.

“Just relax.” Harry finished his sentence.

Lara crossed her arms and stared straight ahead. She tried to focus on the film but was distracted by the sensation of something hitting the side of the head. She looked over to see Harry taking aim with a kernel of popcorn.

“Stop it.” She warned.

“Why are you so uptight?” He countered.

Lara did not have the heart to remind him that she had always been like this. Maybe Harry had forgotten that the drugs and alcohol had unleashed Lara’s uninhibited side, but she knew what effect it had had on her. Lara picked at the popcorn in her hair and glared at him in response.

“I’m not uptight.” She said before irritably grabbing a fistful of popcorn.

“You wouldn’t-“Harry began but was proven wrong when the popcorn ended up being thrown at his face. He caught a couple in his mouth and howled with laughter.

“Shhhhh!” This time it was the sound of a few people who were clearly irritated by the interruption to their movie.

“Keep it down or get out.” Another voice from the audience spoke.

A sudden flash light glow appeared and they both saw an usher descend the stairs. Without another word, Harry grabbed her hand and pulled her up. They rushed past the usher and into the foyer laughing at the sight of popcorn that fell out of their hair as they ran out onto the street. Lara stumbled in her high heels only to feel Harry’s hand close over hers.

“Can’t take you anywhere, can I?” Harry said as they rounded the corner.

“You started it.” Lara replied breathlessly.

“And you had to end it.” Harry said.

His tone was suggestive and she looked down to see they were still holding hands. She attempted to loosen his grip, but he still managed to hold on to the edge of her fingers.

“You can let go now.” Lara said.

His hand dropped automatically and the awkwardness seemed to return as they tentatively walked down the street. A street vendor caught Harry’s attention and he quickly purchased a couple of pies.

“Here you go.” He said, handing one to Lara. “You must be starving.”

Lara accepted it gratefully before realising that a light rain had begun to fall. She followed Harry to the back of the van and took shelter under the canopy. Harry polished off his pie in record time and waited patiently while Lara ate whilst trying not to spill any food on her dress.

“Would you take a look at us?” Harry said amused. “All dressed up and eating pies in the rain.”

They watched as people rushed down the rainy street, either trying to find cover or hurriedly opening umbrellas. Lara looked down at her fancy dress and high heels and could not help but smile.

“Where are the paps now?” She joked.

“You’re always so serious.” Harry said. “It’s nice to see you smile.”

“Yeah?” Lara said. “Well you make it hard sometimes.”

Harry frowned at her before his face suddenly softened. Lara finished her food under his watchful gaze, the only sound being the rain hitting the canopy.

“What did I do? Exactly what did I do?” He finally asked quietly.

His eyes were wide and earnest and she found herself shifting from one foot to the other, when her mobile phone suddenly sounded. She took the opportunity to tear her gaze away from an expectant Harry and answered the call.

“It’s me.” Tony spoke.

“Hi.” Lara said, looking up to see Harry avert his gaze.

“I know you’re probably still out and about, but I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“I’m fine.” Lara said averting her eyes.

“I hope so. Do you think you could come over later?” Tony asked.

“Yeah… I’m leaving now actually. We-we just had dinner, so…”

“Excellent. I’ll see you soon then.”

“Yeah… see you soon.”

She hung up and turned to face a solemn Harry and could not help but drop her eyes in response.

“I have to go.” She said quietly.

“Are you going to him?” He asked lowly.

“Yeah, he’s waiting for me.”

“Fine… whatever.” He replied, stuffing his hands in his pockets and walked out into the rain.

“Let me find you a taxi.”

The rain had started to cascade down now, but he made her stay under the shelter whilst he hailed a cab.

“Aren’t you going to come with me?” Lara asked, once the taxi pulled up to the kerb.

“I don’t think your boyfriend’s expecting me.” Harry said.

“I mean, don’t you want to share the ride? We can drop you off at your place.”

“Nah, I’ll make my own way home.” He said lightly.

Before she could reply, he had closed the car door and she could only glance back to see him standing there watching after her for a moment before making his way through the rain.

Notes

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