Secrets / Black & White / Playing for Keeps

Palm trees dotted the landscape, as Lara stared out the window. She was in LA and it was a sunny day outside. She wished she was outside exploring this city, which was so different to London and New York. But Ben had insisted she join the boys at the recording studio. She had no idea why but she didn’t have the strength to argue.

Lara entered the studio clutching a book, hoping it would be a distraction. She had purposefully left her uni work at home, not wanting to look at it for a few days. It was fast becoming clear to her that she had no interest in being a teacher.

Instead she had just started reading George Orwell’s ‘1984’ and figured if she was going to be stuck indoors, she might as well keep herself occupied.

Niall suddenly appeared at her side, and grabbed the book from her hands. He held it upside down, pretending to study the cover.

“Ooh, a book!” He cried. Zayn swiped it from Niall and looked at the cover.

“Hmm… very deep.” He said. He then noticed Julian walk in. “Speaking of Big Brother…”

He tossed the book to Liam, who glanced at it before handing it back to Lara. Harry looked over at her and laughed.

“Bookworm, eh?” He asked cheerfully. Lara resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at him, but she couldn’t help but smile. He looked more relaxed than he had been in a long time and it was kind of rubbing off on her. It seemed as if escaping dreary London for sunny California had had an immediate effect on the both of them.

Lara sat down on a chair and opened her book. The room was full of laughter and banter, but she had no real interest in getting involved. She was turning the page when she felt something hit her head. Lara turned her head slightly but then faced forward again, thinking it was her imagination. Thirty seconds later she felt it again. She reached up to touch her head, and picked out a lolly wrapper from her hair. Lara twisted around to see where it came from and caught a glimpse of Harry and Louis seated on the couch a few feet behind her.
They were laughing as if it were the funniest thing in the world.

She ignored them and returned to her book, only to see two more wrappers fly over her head and onto her lap. This continued for a while, until Lara sighed with frustration. She collected the fifteen wrappers in her hands and shot up from her seat. She marched over to where the boys were sitting and dumped the wrappers on Harry’s head.

Lara didn’t expect him to playfully grab her wrists and pull her toward him. She stumbled forward, trying not to fall in his lap. Instead she pulled back in an attempt to escape, whilst valiantly trying not to squeal like a girl.

“Ooh I’ve got a live one here!” Harry whooped.

He knelt down before her and pulled her down to the floor. She tried to roll away, but he restrained her by straddling her. She couldn’t help but smile up at him as he held her hands down and let out a roar of laughter.

“Harry!” She cried helplessly.

“That’ll teach you to fight back.” Harry said with a triumphant smile.

“Oh get a room.” Louis made a face and rose from the couch, leaving the two to untangle themselves from each other. Ben watched intently from the other side of the room.

“Harry, I think they need you in the booth.” He said in a strained voice.

“What’s with you and your Uncle lately?” Harry whispered as they scrambled to their feet.

“He hasn’t been letting you out of his sight.”

“What’s with you and Louis?” Lara whispered back. “Back together again?”

He made a face at her and didn’t answer.

“Louis hates me.” Lara persisted.

“Nah, he’s just being cheeky.” He said as he headed toward the booth. “Now go and read a book or something.”

Ben chose that moment to approach Lara. She had since rationalised what he had done to her and was convinced that it had been a mistake and that he was sincerely sorry. But she couldn’t help but feel slightly uncomfortable, despite there being other people in the room with them.

“I didn’t bring you here today to be a distraction.” He said quietly.

“Then why did you bring me here?” She asked.

“I was hoping we’d go out for a coffee or something. It’s going to get a bit boring here now…they’re about to start.” He gestured to the sound booth and Lara looked over. Before she knew it, Ben had gripped her arm and led her out of the room. There was no way for her to pull away without causing a scene, so she allowed herself to be escorted outside. She couldn’t help but look to see Harry’s eyes follow them as they left the room.
Once in the hall Lara reluctantly held back.

“You’re still not angry at me are you?” Ben asked turning his head to look at her. “Lara, I’ve already apologised. What can I say- the shots got to me… *you* got to me.”

She blinked at the last comment, wondering why he would say that. Why the sudden change in him? He had never shown any interest in her before. He led her down the hall and into an empty office.

“This isn’t a café.” She said, standing at the door refusing to enter.

“For fuck’s sake Lara, I just need to do something before we go.”

She walked in tentatively and waited for him to take a seat before she chose a seat opposite him. He proceeded to take out a vial of something and a credit card, and prepare the surface in front of him. Lara sat in shock as it dawned on her that he was about to snort a line of cocaine.

“Want some?” He looked up at her. She shook her head emphatically, unable to drag her eyes away.

“So you and Harry seem to be getting along really well lately.” He said. “Really well.”

Lara tried to decipher the tone in his voice. He spoke casually but the last words had an edge to them.

“You like him, don’t you?”

Lara gave a little shrug, not trusting herself to speak.

“You can admit it to me. I won’t tell Julian…” He stopped to grin. “Oh and I won’t tell Harry, unless you already have...”

He sat up and rubbed his nose thoughtfully.

“So how far have you gone with him?”

Lara looked away clearly uncomfortable.

“Go on, you can tell me.” Ben persisted.

“We haven’t done anything.” She finally said.

“Yeah right. You’ve been all over each other for days now.” He said. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”

“Harry doesn’t like me that way.” She said shaking her head.

“Oh yes he does.” Ben chuckled at her indignant expression.

“You’re high.” Lara said which prompted him to burst out laughing.

“That’s why I like you Lara. You’re such an innocent… I’m surprised Harry hasn’t corrupted you yet.”

She was tempted to make a snide comment about Louis, but stopped herself in time.

“Trust me, he likes you…” Ben dipped his head forward again. “I can tell. And who can blame him?”

Lara considered his words carefully, wondering what his intentions were. Was he jealous of Harry? He hadn’t given her a second glance until Harry started to show an interest. And Harry’s interest in her so far had been physical. What did Ben want with her now?

“Oh but all the things I could teach you, if you’d just let me…” Ben smiled at her.

Notes