Secrets / Black & White / Playing for Keeps

Lara watched Tony eating his meal as her mind raced with a thousand thoughts.

Japan.

Harry.
One Direction.

Louis.

JAPAN!!

Julian sharp response was that she needed to make up her mind by today. But the bottom line was: she was needed.

“I’m going to Japan.” Lara blurted.

Tony paused for a moment before giving her a disbelieving look.

“What?”

“I’m going to Japan.” She said.

“Where has this come from?”

“They’ve asked me. I mean, Julian has asked me to go.” She said slowly.

“Oh?” Tony’s tone was flat and his expression neutral. “Why is this happening Lara? I know they wanted you for a few appearances… but Japan?”

“I don’t know.” Lara replied, not meeting his eyes, only to hear Tony’s chair scrape back. He stood up and walked out onto his apartment balcony. She instantly followed him, placing her hand on his arm.

“Hey.” She said softly. “Talk to me.”

“I am.” Tony said turning to face her. “I’m trying to figure out where this is going. Why do they want you there?”

“Harry has been having problems-“

“Problems?” Tony cried. “He gets to have you by his side!”

“I don’t think he wants me there… he has a girlfriend.” Lara said. “This is all Julian’s doing I’m just going to tag along and to be honest with you, I was planning on using this as an all-expenses paid business trip. All I can think about is all the beautiful things I can source from there.”

“If they’ll let you get away.” Tony muttered. “Something tells me he’s not going to let you out of his sight.”

Lara did not know whether he meant Julian or Harry and she did not want to ask. Instead she fell silent as they stared anywhere but at each other.

“I don’t know Lara.” Tony finally said with a sigh. “Do whatever you have to do.”

Lara did not call Julian that night and she was secretly surprised when she did not receive a call badgering her for a final answer on whether or not she was going to Japan.

Her answer to this came the next day when news broke about Harry’s latest bender.

1D Promo Trip Cancelled After Street Fight

Lara frowned as she quickly skimmed the article.

After a night of heavy drinking, Harry Styles claims he was accosted by twenty five year old Dean Myer. Styles asserted to police that he was acting in self-defence after Myer harassed him as he was leaving the establishment. Myer and a few onlookers are telling another story, claiming that Styles attacked Myer after taking offence to a light hearted remark.

“The guy said something stupid but Harry just went after him.” A bystander reported. “He could hardly walk straight and it looked like he had been drinking, but he still managed to knock that guy off his feet.”

One Direction were scheduled to visit Japan this week, but this has been cancelled as a result of this incident.

Our sources have confirmed that Myer has chosen not to press charges.

Lara resorted to their usual line of communication and messaged Harry immediately.

Are you okay?

She received a message a few hours later, the words stark on her screen.

Harry: When did you ever start giving a fuck?

Lara: Don’t be like that. You know I do.

Harry: Well if you did, you’d come and see me

A few seconds passed before his next directive.

Harry: Now

She swallowed nervously and glanced around, even though she was alone at home. She was halfway through packing her things ready to move in with Tony and she knew she was meeting up with him for dinner that night.

Lara: I don’t have much time

Harry: We don’t need much time

Lara felt her skin tingle in response, her cheeks growing warm at the mere words.

Lara: Okay

Harry: Come through the back. I’ll let you in from there.

Her answer did not reflect the array of confusing emotions she was feeling at that moment. For Julian not to have contacted her about Japan and for Harry to be cautious about her being seen, she knew the band was probably under lockdown. But before she could change her mind, Lara quickly changed into her skinny jeans and Converse sneakers before pulling back her hair into a braid that fell over her shoulder.

The anxious butterflies in her stomach did not stop fluttering the entire time it took to reach Harry’s apartment. By the time she knocked on the door, she was slightly out breath.

Harry appeared at the door, a small smile playing on his lips.

“I hope you didn’t have your heart set on Japan.” He said.

Lara was not sure if the expression on his face was a smirk or truly regretful.

“I wasn’t going to go.” Lara responded before pushing her way in, but she did not miss the smile disappear from his face. She turned to face him only to notice the small bruise and cut above his left eye.

“Harry… what happened?”

“You gonna kiss it better?” He asked teasingly and laughed when she quickly shook her head. “What do you mean you weren’t going to go?”

“Like I said… I just wasn’t going to go. I’ve got too much on. Now about last night… what happened?”

Harry absentmindedly touched the bruis and shrugged his shoulders ignoring her question.

“But why? You always said you wanted to travel.”

“Two days of babysitting you is not my idea of travelling the world.” Lara said, regretting her words as she said them when she his face drop as he bit his bottom lip.

“Yeah thanks.” He said tonelessly.

“You know what I mean.” Lara said apologetically.

“Yeah…” He trailed off as he walked into the kitchen. “That just goes to prove I’m right.”

“Right about what?” Lara called after him. She heard him slam a cupboard shut before reappearing in the living room.

“You never gave a fuck did you? Why would you now?”

“I’m here, aren’t I?”

Harry’s green eyes steadily regarded her before he ran his hand through his long hair.

“Are you still moving in with him?” He asked.

“Yes.” She said simply.

“Big mistake.” He replied. “Are you ever going to learn?”

“Learn what Harry?” Lara replied testily, not really wanting to hear his opinion.

“You really want me to say?” The old smirk was back and she found herself heading toward the door.

“Where are you going?” He asked.

“Where do you think?” She retorted as her hand closed over the doorknob. Harry was right behind to stop her and she turned to face him again, her face clouded with anger.

“You keep asking what I want… but what do you want Harry?” She seethed. “Do you even know?”

“I’ve always known.” He said quietly.

“What is it then?” She asked.

“What do you think?”

His head was bent so his eyes were level with hers and she shyly lowered her eyes.

“I remember that look.” He said with a fond smile. “You used to do that a lot when we first met. Haven’t seen that look for a long time though…”

“Harry.” She said nervously looking away.

“No need to be scared. I’m not gonna bite.”

“I have to go…”

“But you just got here.” He said clearly enjoying her discomfort. He placed his hands on the door on either side of her, leaving her no space to move without touching him. “Gimme a break Lara… I’ve had a shit week… everything is just falling apart.”

“Don’t you have a girlfriend you can talk to?” Lara said lightly.

“You’re a girl… you’re my friend… can’t I talk to you?”

“What about that woman I saw in your bed?”

“Yeah Jade is my friend… she’s a girl… she pisses Julian off like you wouldn’t believe. It’s kinda funny.” Harry reached up to lightly tug her braid. “Why do you always tie your hair back? I used to like it when you left it down.”

She remembered how he had always pulled her braid like a schoolkid in the past. Her eyes lowered to his full pink lips recalling the way they had travelled over every inch of her body. In the past. The way the touch on her hair lingered reminded her of the times he had pulled her ponytail in moments of intimacy. In the past. His tongue briefly flicked out of his mouth to lick his lips but the fleeting moment was enough to remind her of the times his tongue had made their way down below. All in the past, but it was enough to make her head spin now.

She was so immersed in past memories that she did not even notice him tentatively lean forward. Lara only focussed when she felt the sensation of being kissed. Her eyes widened as she felt the softness of his lips and the familiar way they pressed against hers before he slowly deepened the kiss. She tried to speak but opening her mouth only allowed him more access to let his tongue dart inside, gently massaging her tongue, totally at odds to the firm almost hard kiss. She lifted her hands to resist him, only for Harry to interlock his fingers with hers, his body now standing flush against hers as he took a step closer until she could feel how hot and hard he had become. She momentarily melted into the kiss when the sudden sound of a hard knock on the door, just beside her head, caused her to jump and Harry to bump his head on her forehead.

“Fuck.” Harry breathed, gingerly touching the bruise above his eye. They were now eye to eye and Lara could not miss the dark and hungry look in his eyes being replaced by a visibly annoyed face. She took the opportunity to step away from the door as he reluctantly spoke up.

“Who’s there?”

“It’s me.” The voice on the other side of the door said. Harry nervously glanced at Lara before wrenching open the door to reveal Skye.

“Hey.” Harry said awkwardly.

Skye’s eyes flittered from Harry to a visibly nervous Lara.

“Hi Skye.” Lara said brightly, purposefully not glancing at Harry and hoping her cheeks were not as red as she thought they were.

“Hi.” Skye replied hesitantly. She paused for a moment before walking in, her gaze now firmly on Harry who was now running a hand through his hair. “I heard about last night… and I thought I’d check up on you. You weren’t answering her phone.”

She now looked at Lara, as if she were the reason Harry was not taking any phone calls.

“My phone has been switched off.” Harry said shooting Lara a warning look. She looked back at him blankly, but did not say a word. “I woke up late too…Lara just came over a few minutes ago.”

“Are you okay?” Skye asked.

“Yeah I’m fine.” Harry said sitting down on the couch. He looked up at Lara and then at the couch pointedly and she reluctantly sat down. Skye on the other hand needed no encouragement, sitting beside Harry with a concerned look on her face.

“I’ve been worried about you. What happened exactly? Why did he hit you?”

“He said something… I can’t even remember what and I just flipped.”

“Why?”

“I’ve had a shit few days.” Harry said glancing briefly at Lara almost accusingly. “I guess I took it out on that poor guy.”

“Oh Harry.” Skye said mournfully.

Lara sat there listening to their conversation and unable to think of a graceful way to escape this awkward threesome, simply stood up.

“I have to go.” She said.

Skye eyed her warily as she quickly made her way to the door before Harry could protest. Despite this, he was right behind her.

“Don’t do it.” He said lowly. Lara regarded him for a moment before taking a deep breath.

“I’m moving in with him Harry.” She said. She saw him slightly shake his head in response, but the last vision she saw before the door closed was Skye’s thunderous stare. Lara quickly hurried down the corridor, leaving the sound of raised voices behind her.

Notes

Wow, it's been so long since I updated! Hope you enjoy the chapter and as I always say, please leave your comments and let me know what you think :)