Secrets / Black & White / Playing for Keeps

“Skye’s dead.”

The words reverberated in Lara’s head but it still took her a few moments to make sense of them.

“Dead? Oh my God, what happened?”

“Lara, I need you here… please.”

“Are you at home?” Lara asked.

“Yes.”

“Okay, I’ll be there soon.”

Lara hung up and sat there for a moment feeling the shock wash over her. What could have happened to her? She didn’t let herself think about it as she grabbed her handbag and slipped on her shoes. As she made her way to the front door, she heard Camille’s voice penetrate her daze.

“Lara, are you okay?” Her gentle French voice was enough to stop her.

“Camille.” She said breathlessly. “Harry just called…”

Camille’s eyes widened and it would have been funny if the situation was not so serious. Lara had briefly told her about her relationship with Harry when Camille confessed she recognised her. She had been a One Direction fan from way back and could not hide her excitement when Lara had given her an abridged version of her time in the spotlight.

“Is everything okay?” Camille asked.

“Not really… I’ll call you later and let you know when I’ll be home.”
“Take all the time you need.” Camille said concerned.

As Lara sat in the taxi, she checked her phone to see if the news had been picked up, but nothing could be found. A quick Google search showed that Skye was a breakout singer for Syco Records and there were the usual stories about her supposed romance with Harry.

Most of the stories had been created to boost Skye’s profile, but Lara knew there were real feelings on Skye’s side. She had grown close to Harry and after their last confrontation, it did not take a genius to figure out that she wanted him for herself.

As her thoughts turned to Harry, she could not help but think of the last three months. It had been hard not seeing him or talking to him, but she had needed the time alone to get her life in order. Surprisingly Harry had respected this and kept his distance, although he had sent the odd text.

Missing you x

Wish we could talk…

Hasn’t it been long enough?

She knew that not much had been happening with One Direction. They were on a break which meant that Harry usually headed for LA. But judging from the articles and photos she had randomly come across, he had spent the last month in London.

By the time Lara reached his house, she was still in denial about Skye. Surely it wasn’t true, maybe she had heard wrong. The answer came in the form of Harry’s face when he opened the door. They stood for a moment regarding each other and Lara could not miss the look of grief on his face. She stepped forward into his now open arms and closed her eyes as he held her. They stood there for what seemed like forever, until she heard Harry whisper,

“Thank you for coming.”

“It’s okay.” She whispered back.

He dropped his arms suddenly and turned to walk inside the living room and Lara followed. The curtains were drawn and the room was dark. She watched as Harry sat on the couch and placed his head in his hands.

“Harry, what happened?” She asked sitting next to him. Lara placed her hand on his back and caressed it gently as she waited for him to speak.

“She’s gone.” He mumbled into his hands. “I just got the phone call… Julian… he said she died last night…”

Lara shook her head in disbelief, unable to believe his words.

“But how?”

Harry did not answer immediately, his shoulders rising slightly as he buried his face in his hands. Lara heard a soft sob and Lara felt her heart constrict at the sight of Harry crying.

Over the years she had seen Harry express different emotions from happiness to anger, but she had never really seen him cry. Her eyes welled up with tears as he wiped his eyes.
“Pills… she took too many… overdosed.” He said, almost unable to speak.

“Oh my God.” Lara murmured as she wrapped her arms around him. “Why? Why would this happen?”

“I’m a bad person.” Harry said, shaking his head. His hands still covered his eyes and Lara instinctively reached for his hands so she could see him.

“Harry, what are you saying?”

“I’m a bad person.” He repeated and as Lara took his hands into hers, she could see his eyes were red and full of tears.

“Harry.” Lara said firmly. “Why would you say that?”

“I dunno.” He sniffled, looking away.

Lara took a deep breath in a bid to get her head around what she was hearing. Before she had a chance to respond, they were interrupted by the sound of Harry’s phone.

“Julian.” Harry said, before reaching for it. “Hello? Mm… okay… I’m okay.”

He spoke for a few moments and then hung up.

“They’re releasing a statement now.” He said. She knew what that meant and it was not long before Harry’s phone almost blew up from all the phone calls. He answered a couple before Lara took the phone away.

“You need to rest.” She said. It was obvious he was not taking this well and it was showing. He looked and sounded dazed and seemed to be harbouring some sort of guilt from Skye’s death. She knew that if he put one foot wrong right now, the ramifications could be huge.

“Maybe you should have a bath.” Lara suggested and could not help but recall how many times Harry had done the same for her in the past. She had turned up on his doorstep on more than one occasion in absolute tears and he had always followed this ritual.

Once the water had been drawn and she had added a sweet smelling body wash, Lara led Harry by the hand. He wordlessly stripped off his clothes with no hint of embarrassment of the fact that he was now naked. Harry had never been shy when it came to showing his body, but one look at him and Lara knew that he was just going through the motions now. He climbed into the warm water, lay back and closed his eyes. She watched him for a moment and the way the milky water lapped over his skin and his tattoos prominent on his arms, before leaving him alone.

She checked her phone and saw a headline.

Skye Taylor: Overdose at 20

The dream of pop stardom was cut short today for Skye Taylor…

Lara read the stories with a growing sadness. It was almost frightening to see how quickly the story had picked up and it was especially haunting to see Skye’s face staring back at her from the phone screen. It seemed like it had been forever since Harry had found Skye busking on a London street and had been enchanted by her voice. At Harry’s urging, she had been signed to the same record label as One Direction and had even supported them in concert.

Once Lara was out of the picture (and even when they were together), management had pushed for Harry and Skye to go on dates, in a bid to push her career. In the beginning, Harry had wanted to keep his involvement with Skye’s career a secret, but management disagreed with his logic. The publicity was too good to pass up and Harry eventually relented.

Lara heard the sound of water gurgling down the drain and so quickly retreated to the kitchen where she turned on the kettle. By the time Harry emerged from the bathroom, his hair damp and wearing only a pair of boxer shorts, she had a mug of hot tea waiting for him. She poured herself a cup of tea as Harry sat on a stool and slumped over the counter.

“Have some tea.” Lara said and he shifted his gaze toward her, his hooded eyes regarding her for several moments.

“Thanks for being here.” He said quietly.

She smiled back, but did not answer. The rest of the evening was punctuated by Harry’s phone ringing, to the point where Lara gently prised it from his hands and switched it off. Harry looked exhausted and she was beginning to feel sleepy too.

“Can you please stay?” Harry asked, as if in answer to her thoughts. “I know he won’t like it… but I kind of need someone around right now.”

Lara frowned slightly before realising Harry was referring to Tony. He had no idea that she had broken up with him but now didn’t seem the right time to discuss it.

“I can stay Harry.” She said. “I can stay.”

Harry nodded as though he had heard her, but his eyes had a faraway look as he padded into his bedroom. Once he was in bed, Lara awkwardly stood at the doorway.

“You can come in if you want.” She heard his voice pierce through the darkness and she took a few steps before reaching down to take off her shoes. Lara paused for a few moments before lifting the sheet and laying down beside him. Harry had rolled over with his back to her as she stared up at the ceiling and listened to the sound of her breath in the silent room. Minutes passed before she heard a soft sound. Lara turned her head, only to see Harry’s shoulders move slightly and the sound of crying.

“Harry.” She said, reaching out to grip his shoulder. “Harry are you okay?”

“It’s my fault…” Harry said, “She’d still be alive, if it weren’t for me.”

“Don’t say that.” Lara argued. “That can’t be true.”

“It is.” Harry had half turned toward her and she could see the tears streaming down his face. “It’s all because of me…”

Lara hushed him as her arm snaked around his waist. She rubbed his back as she felt the rise and fall of his chest against her as he cried, holding him until they both fell asleep.

Notes

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