Secrets / Black & White / Playing for Keeps

“You’re late.” Julian said.

“Here let me check.” Niall reached for Lara and inspected her neck, presumably for any suspicious marks. “Nope, that’s not the reason why they’re late.”

Lara tried to hide the mortified look on her face as she heard laughter echoing around her.

Her eyes scanned the crowd to see Niall smiling at her looking a bit tipsy, Ben waving cheerfully, Liam watching her as he embraced Sophie. Harry led her through the crowd, as the camera flashes blinded them.

“We’ve been waiting for twenty minutes.” She could hear Julian telling Harry who ignored him.

Lara smiled at a few people who called out birthday greetings as she was led to a couch next to a low table. Harry gestured for her to sit down and as soon as she did the lights switched off. Lara saw the cake with nineteen candles before the singing began, and she sat there dumbfounded as the cake, held by two waiters made its way toward her. It was a huge two tiered pink fondant cake decorated with pink hearts and her name written in a beautiful script.

She had never felt so overwhelmed in her life, unable to remember the last time someone had bought her a cake, let alone sang happy birthday to her. It was something that had never been a part of her life, and despite herself, she felt tears well up in her eyes. Luckily Harry appeared at her side, snaking his arm around her.

“You have to make a wish.” He whispered in her ear, the ensuing camera flashes momentarily blinded them. A moment later she heard his voice again.

“Now you have to blow out the candles.”

She followed his instructions, and somehow blew out the candles all in one go.

“That means your wish comes true.” Harry smiled at her. He kissed her cheek impulsively, and was then instructed to repeat the action twice before a suitable photo was taken.

“Now when you cut the cake, you’re not supposed to touch the bottom, otherwise the wish won’t come true.”

All these silly little superstitions, Lara thought with a smile, no wonder her parent’s refused to take part. But the feeling that someone had taken the time to organise all of this for her moved her beyond words. More photos were taken as Lara cut the cake with Harry dutifully by her side. Once the formalities had ended, everyone began to mingle.

“Thank you.” She turned to Harry her eyes shining. “For all of this.”

“Let me guess, nobody’s ever sang happy birthday to you either.”

The look on her face said it all. At that moment a few people approached them at that point and started a conversation with Harry, leaving Lara to sit there and observe everyone whilst sipping on her wine. She noticed Louis sitting a few feet away, with Eleanor perched on his lap. Niall was chatting up a pretty brunette near the bar, and Liam was waiting for his drink to be served. She looked over at Zayn and Perrie who were locked in an embrace. She watched for a moment, feeling a pang of envy. Their relationship seemed effortless; they were together because they liked each other. Simple.

She and Harry were locked in a contract that sometimes included forbidden physical contact.

Complicated.

She finished her drink and accepted another one from a roving waiter. By her fifth drink she was reeling. She wanted to stand, but something told her to remain seated. She looked over at Harry, who looked preoccupied. He took a swig of his drink a faraway look on his face. He stood up and made his way toward the bar where he stood alone.

Lara unsteadily stood up and took a few steps toward him. She looked back at Eleanor who was now hugging Louis. Another uncomplicated relationship. Why did hers have to be complicated? Why did she have to wait for Harry to always make the first move? And why does the first move never progress to something more significant? It’s as if they were going round and round in circles. All these thoughts swirled around in her head as she approached Harry whose back was now turned. She embraced him from behind and he half turned to look at her.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you for tonight.” She breathed. He looked at her curiously as her embrace tightened. He gripped her wrists and turned around to face her.

“What are you doing?” He asked.

“I’m just hugging you…” She smiled up at him. “What’s wrong with that?”

He didn’t reply, and they stood looking at each other. She leaned in and kissed him.

“How much have you had to drink?” He asked.

“Enough to know that I want you.” A part of her could scarcely believe she was saying the words, but her body was acting on its own accord. She loosened her hands from his grip and gently pushed him against the bar. She kissed him again, this time with more urgency. She placed her hands under his shirt.

“Can you stop that?” Harry self-consciously looked around.

“Why? Don’t you like it?”

“I’m not in the mood.” He mumbled. He roughly batted her hands away, leaving her to stand alone. The feeling of rejection washed over her and she quickly looked around, hoping nobody had seen that embarrassing exchange.

Feeling chastised she walked over to where Ben was sitting with a few of his colleagues. She sat beside him, quietly, ignoring his questioning look. An hour passed and she watched Harry from her vantage point; he stood in a small group listening to Liam looking serious, and checking his phone every now and then.

Minutes later, he was headed toward a door, looking behind him as he did. Once he disappeared, Lara waited a few minutes before making her way toward what she now realised was the fire exit.

She opened the door of the stairwell and could hear murmurs on the landing below. She frowned to herself as she edged closer to the sounds, curious to see who Harry was talking to. It soon became clear that he was doing more than talking, when she saw him pinning someone against the wall. They were kissing, but the sound of her footsteps made them stop suddenly. Harry pulled back, and Lara stared in shock.

“Oh fuck.” She heard Louis’ voice.

Notes

Okay, you might have seen that coming from a mile away, or it might have surprised you.

Sorry to the people who aren't Larry fans and weren't expecting that!

This isn't necessarily a Larry Stylinson story though... so keep reading to see what happens.

Did you expect this to happen??