Secrets / Black & White / Playing for Keeps

They were heading straight for the airport after breakfast and Lara tried to corner Harry at every opportunity. But he was always one step ahead of her, and made sure to surround himself with the other boys or the management team. He refused to look at her, and ignored her every approach. Lara dolefully hung back on her own, keeping her own distance from Ben who for some reason didn’t push the matter. She wondered if Harry had told anyone, but nobody seemed to give her a second look. Louis, however seemed to pick up on the tension, and could only smirk at her.

They had piled into the limo headed for the airport when Lara contacted him the only way she knew would work. She took out her phone and typed:

He’s not my Uncle.

She saw Harry frown when he looked at his phone, and his expression change when he read the message. The frown turned into a look of confusion, and he began to type almost immediately.

What do you mean? You said he was your Uncle.

Lara tried to catch his eye, but he purposefully avoided her gaze, preferring to look out the window. Louis playfully tried to get a look at the phone, and Harry moodily swiped his hand away looking irritated. Lara returned to her phone.

It’s not true. I’m sorry.

Harry momentarily looked at her, his eyes dark with confusion. He toyed with his phone for a moment before typing:

Are you two on together?

Lara’s fingers quickly typed in response.

No. Not now, not ever. Please believe me.

Their eyes met, and he looked at her with a small shake of his head.

We’ll talk in London.

Lara glumly read the message and she watched as he switched off his phone and tucked it into his pocket. More than ten hours of no communication. This is going to be a long flight, she thought with a resigned sigh. Harry seemed to take it okay though as he slept most of the way there, only rousing to eat and watch a movie. Lara sat by herself, and unable to sleep, she read her book or sat there lost in thought.

At one point Niall walked past and looked at her with a concerned look.

“You okay?” He asked. She looked up at him and nodded. “Cool. If you want to hang out, I’m sitting at the back, okay?”

“Okay.” She said with a smile. He nodded and gave her a friendly wink before making his way back to his seat. Seven hours into the flight, and feeling bored out of her mind, she ventured to the back where Niall was sitting. He gave her a friendly smile and gestured to the empty seat next to him.

“Want some crisps?” He held out his packet and she took a couple gratefully.

He offered her one of his ear phones, and they listened to some music as he passed the packet of crisps to her every few minutes. He didn’t seem to be in the mood to talk but that was fine with her. After a while he sheepishly smiled at her and placed the packet between them so they could share them properly.
Harry passed them once and looked at them curiously, his mouth then settling into a straight line before he walked on.

*******************************

“Get inside.” Harry said, as soon as they were dropped off at the apartment. Lara lugged her suitcase up the stairs and through the open door to see Harry standing in the middle of the living room.

“What the fuck is going on!” He exploded.

He had managed to hide his anger for almost half a day, so she was shocked to see him now. It made her realise how much he kept his emotions close to his chest. If he could hold onto that much anger, how much more pain was he hiding?

“So explain yourself.” He said standing there waiting expectantly.

“Why didn’t you let me do that twelve hours ago?” She couldn’t help asking.

“Because I would have hit him, that’s why.” He said sounding impatient.

“Okay, okay… so it’s like I said in the text. He’s not my Uncle and we’re not related. We met a while ago… at the place I worked.”

“Where?”

“It was a café near his office. We were just friends, and that’s all. He asked me for a favour and I said yes. And that’s all there is to it.”

Harry took a few moments to absorb this information. He seemed deep in thought.

“Why were you kissing him?” He asked.

“He was kissing me.” Lara corrected.

“You haven’t fucked him, have you?” His face hardened as he waited for an answer.

“No! I liked him as a friend. I still like him as a friend…”

The words surprised her as soon as she uttered them, but it was the truth. Yes, he sometimes scared her, and most times he annoyed her… but he had been a friend to her in the past. If he could just get past wanting to be in a relationship with her, surely they could be friends… couldn’t they?

“You’re so naïve Lara.” Harry said as if he could read her mind.

“What do you mean?” She asked. She was sick and tired of everyone thinking she was an innocent girl with no clue about the world. If it wasn’t Ben laughing at her, Harry was there to take his place.

“What I mean is keep out of his way. I don’t trust him.” Harry said, holding onto her arms to bring her closer. “And as for you, what happened to innocent Lara… now I find you’re keeping secrets from everyone.”

“You haven’t told anyone have you?” Lara suddenly said sounding worried, “Please don’t tell Julian… or anyone. Please… for my sake.”

“I haven’t. And I won’t.” He said.

“Not even Louis.” She added.

“Not even Louis.” Harry leaned forward and she could feel his warm breath on her face. “I’m good at keeping secrets.”

Lara’s breath hitched at the close proximity of his lips.

“So am I.” She replied.

His mouth brushed against hers briefly and he pulled back to look into her eyes.

“Does he make you feel the way I do?” Harry asked his voice so low she could only just hear him.

“Who?”

“You know who.” He mumbled back.

“No.” She said sounding distracted as his lips moved to the sensitive spot near her ear.

“What about him then?”Lara couldn’t help but ask. “Does he make you feel like this?”

Lara tentatively touched the bulge in his pants before slowly massaging it, listening to the sound of Harry groaning as he melted into her embrace.

“Who?” Harry managed to say.

“You know who.” She said huskily.

He paused for a moment before his lips crashed into hers, causing her to stumble backwards. He held onto her arm to steady her.

“Get inside.” He drawled as he pulled her into the bedroom.

Notes