Secrets / Black & White / Playing for Keeps

A few days passed and Lara threw herself into her school and work. Every time Harry called she would beg off, telling him she was in the middle of an important assignment or at the library.

Harbouring the knowledge that One Direction were about to be disbanded weighed on her.
She knew, but Harry did not… so she found it easier to limit her contact with him, until he was told by his management team- and not her.

When Harry was finally summoned to Julian’s office one Friday morning, he did not seem to concerned, even asking if Lara would meet him afterward.

“I don’t think I can.” She responded instantly.

“Jesus Lara, I haven’t seen you in days.” Harry said, sounding exasperated.

“I need to finish my assignment, it’s due on Monday.”

“So you have all weekend to do it.” Harry shot back.

A few more moments of Harry whining was enough for her to back down and agree to meet him after his meeting. As she readied herself at home, it dawned at her that maybe seeing him after his meeting was the best thing that could happen. She did not know how Harry was going to react to the news and chances were, he would need to vent.

An hour later Lara was outside a café, contemplating whether to wait inside, when she saw Harry walking toward her. Despite his dark sunglasses, she did not miss the dejected look on his face.

“It’s over.” He said flatly. “We’re done.”

“What do you mean?”

“One Direction.” He said, but Lara was distracted by the sight of Louis emerging from the office building. Harry followed her gaze before placing his hand on her arm.

“Come on.” He said, leading her into the café. They sat in a booth facing each other as Harry removed his glasses.

“I can’t believe it.”

“Is it really such a surprise?” Lara said softly. “You and the guys haven’t been happy for a long time.”

“I know that.” He said still sounding troubled.

“Well then?” Lara said. “Here’s your chance for a new beginning.”

“New beginning?” Harry mumbled as though his mind were a million miles away.

“There’s load of other things you could be doing.” She said trying to sound upbeat. “You could go solo… release stuff that you actually like and not what they tell you. Remember when you said you wanted to try acting? Now you’ll have the time to do it. You could even study acting if you like.”

Harry remained silent as though he was letting everything sink in. Lara placed her hand over his and plaintively smiled at him, when a shadow fell across their table.

“Can you come with me?”

Lara looked up to see Louis standing over her and as she opened her mouth to respond, he took her by the hand.

“Louis what are you doing?” She cried, but he did not reply as he briskly walked her out of the café. She half turned her head to see Harry following them as they crossed the road and into Modest! Management’s office building. Upon reaching the empty foyer, Harry was free to speak without making a scene.

“What is this all about?” Harry asked impatiently.

“Just take it easy.” Louis said calmly. “I know what I’m doing.”

“Louis, I don’t want to go in there.” Lara shook her head fearfully.

“Listen to me.” Louis said calmly. “You’re going to walk in there and tell them the truth.”

“What!?”

“You’re going to walk into that office and tell Julian everything.”

“About what?” Lara asked, shaking her hand loose from his grip. “What are you talking about?”

“Ben.” He said, his voice crackling with anger. “That smug bastard just sat there and laughed while Julian shut us down. Well, guess what? Now it’s his turn to get shut down.”

The elevator doors opened and he glanced at a confused Harry before grabbing Lara’s hand.

“You’re going to tell Julian everything that bastard has done to you.” He said firmly.

They walked past the receptionist without acknowledging her, ignoring her polite greeting. Louis knocked on Julian’s door and then turned to Lara.

“Don’t be scared. Harry and I will be right there for you.” He said softly. The door swung open to reveal a frowning Julian sitting behind his large desk.

“What’s this?” He said, his eyes fastened on Lara who appeared to shrink back.

“Where’s Ben?” Louis asked.

“I don’t know.” Julian shrugged.

“Maybe you think this is over, but it’s not. Your management team is a joke… I feel sorry for whoever comes after us.” Louis said.

Julian looked over to Harry who hung back, a small frown on his face as he merely listened. Louis did not waste time launching into his attack, starting from the very beginning. Julian may have known a few things about Ben’s personal life like his alcoholism, but he had no clue about Ben and Lara’s early relationship and how he had hooked her onto drugs and how his influence had been the catalyst for her ending up in hospital. Julian frowned as he listened, his gaze turning to Lara.

“Is this true?”

“Yes.” Lara said in a small voice. “And it’s never stopped. A few months ago he was following me everywhere… constantly calling me… I had no idea who it was until I caught him outside my apartment.”

She did not dare look at Harry, realising too late that he had no knowledge about Ben stalking her. They were suddenly interrupted by the click of the door with Ben appearing from the adjoining office.

“What’s going on?” He asked, a faint smile on his face.

“It seems as though Louis and Lara are making some serious accusations about you.” Julian
said evenly.

“Oh?” Ben raised his eyebrows. “What kind of accusations?”

“Accusations like you’ve fucked up Lara’s life. She was meant to be with Harry, but you couldn’t let her do that, could you?” Louis said.

“I fucked up her life? And Harry’s innocent in all of this? He could have let her go… she had her life back on track and what does he do? Acts like a fucking baby until he gets his way.”

“So what?” Louis spat out. “So what if he did what he did. He wanted to be with her and maybe that’s the only way he knew how.”

“He can have any girl he wants; why does Harry Styles have to chase after a junkie?”

“You son of a bitch.” Harry shot back.

“You’re just pissed that you can’t have her for yourself.” Louis added.

“Doesn’t Lara know then?” Ben asked and the room suddenly went completely silent. “How you fucking begged Julian to get her back in your life. Julian sure as hell didn’t want to make that call to her… but how else could he keep the money machine going?”

Lara stared at Ben confused.

“That’s why Julian got in touch with you.” Ben told her. “That’s how this all started. Harry wanted you back again. And when he didn’t get his way, he acted like a spoilt brat until Julian had no choice.”

Lara thought back to the phone call she had received from Julian and their first meeting about Harry. Julian had practically blackmailed her to force her back in Harry’s life and Harry had hardly cooperated.

“And even when you were back, Harry still couldn’t stop being a brat.” Ben added, as if reading her mind. She recalled how Harry would barely speak to her in person, but would constantly send her snarky texts. She tried to piece together the pieces of the puzzle, remembering how resentful and angry Harry had been, especially when he knew Lara was involved with someone else. Had he really orchestrated all of this from the beginning, knowing that if he forced her into his life that eventually she would succumb? It had taken months but he got what he wanted; they had gone from being estranged to friends to lovers.

She fixed her stare on him, but Harry did not meet her eyes. He stood by the door as though he were completely detached from the scene before him.

“So does that give you the right to attack Lara?” Louis suddenly spoke out. “When are you gonna get it into your head that she’s not interested?”

“Attack her?” Ben scoffed.

“Go on and tell them.” Louis urged Lara. “How this prick can’t keep his hands off you. Julian this just happened last week.”

“It’s not true.” Ben shot back.

“I was there.” Louis said firmly. “We should have called the cops, but she’s too nice for her own good.”

It was now Harry’s turn to be dumbfounded, but this soon turned to anger.

“Ben get out.” Julian warned, his eyes firmly fastened on Harry. He half rose out of his chair, but was too late to shield Ben from Harry who lunged forward. Lara backed away, grabbing the opportunity to escape the office. She could hear a scuffle behind her, but did not even bother to look back as she rushed down the hall.

“Lara!”

She looked back to see Louis standing there.

“Don’t go.” He said and she shook her head in response, turning to leave again.

“Lara, I’m sorry.”

She heard the words but could not bring herself to respond. Things had come full circle and it felt like the bottom of her world had fallen through again.

Notes