You've fallen down so far.
How could someone mislead you at all?

Louis took one step back and let his eyes rove over her body, pausing over her bare legs.

Lara nervously pulled the shirt down, even though there was no way it could be stretched further over her thighs before looking up at Louis helplessly.

“What are you doing here?” He asked.

“I was sick… Harry let me stay.” Lara replied in a small voice. They were the same height but he still managed to stand over her in such a way that she couldn’t help but feel intimidated.

“So the little puppy found its way home again.” His voice softened using the despised nickname he had once given her.

“Louis…” She said in a warning tone, although it sounded more like a whimper. She didn’t know why he had this
effect on her, but she found she couldn’t construct a proper sentence let alone sound threatening.

It didn’t help that she was confronted on a day when she felt sick, sorry and sober. Her hair was still damp from her shower and she was suddenly conscious of her underwear being on display, so she quickly sat down at the kitchen table and wrapped her fingers around her coffee cup. She and Louis eyed each other as she took a tentative sip.

“So what are you doing here?” She finally asked.

“I live here.” He said and he couldn’t help but smirk at the surprised look on her face.

“Live here?” She repeated slowly.

“Yeah, didn’t you know?”

“Where were you last night?” Lara asked in confusion. She was sure he had not only just walked in the apartment at eight o’clock this morning but he looked freshly showered and dressed.

“Out.” He said flatly and she rolled her eyes at his obvious answer. She noticed how he stood awkwardly by the kitchen counter, his arms crossed defensively and she wondered if he felt as uncomfortable as she did.

“Harry still asleep?” He asked and she realised she had been staring at him.

“Yep.” She replied looking away.

“So are you going home now?” Louis asked pointedly. Before she could answer she heard a phone beep from the living room.

“Because it sounds like someone’s looking for you…” Louis said with an amused smile. Lara stood up without thinking and went to find her handbag. She heard Louis chuckle behind her back and she was mortified to realise her underwear and possibly backside was on full display. She pulled the shirt down roughly as she hurried into the living room, and then grabbed her phone.

Where are you?

It was from Ben of course, and she was so busy looking at those three words, trying to figure out an explanation to give that she didn’t realise Louis approach her from behind. He swiped the phone from her hand, ignoring her squeal of protest.

“So I was right.” He said quickly glancing at the message. Lara lunged toward him in a bid to grab the phone but he held it above his head. She panicked at the thought of him seeing Ben’s name, and didn’t care what she had to do to retrieve her phone.

“Give it back Louis.” She said through clenched teeth and he stumbled backward onto the
couch. His laughing face turned to surprise when she climbed on him and reached up for the phone that he still held up high out of her reach, waving it in the air.

“I didn’t know you had a boyfriend.” He said with a smile.

“It’s not from my boyfriend.” She responded angrily. “Now hand it over!”

“I wonder if Harry knows…” He mused.

“Give it back!” She now straddled him, her knees on either side of his body as she rose to make one last desperate lunge for the phone.

“Guys what are you doing?” A bleary eyed Harry stood at his bedroom door. Louis and Lara’s heads snapped toward him, but not before Lara took the opportunity to successfully grab her phone.

“Lara was showing me her phone.” Louis said sounding amused. She looked down at him and she saw that he was now eye level with her chest. He stared for a moment before lightly pushing her. “You can get off me now.”

She quickly stood up, her fingers pulling down the hem of the shirt.

“Can you guys quit fighting?” Harry said huskily. “My head feels like it’s gonna explode.”

He slowly wandered into the kitchen and Louis and Lara uncomfortably looked at each other before they both scrambled to follow Harry, bumping into each other as they did so. Louis won the battle when he pushed her out of the way so he was the first to enter the kitchen. Lara shot him a dirty look and then glanced at Harry who seemed to be completely unaware of the two jostling for his attention.

“I. Feel. Like. Shit.” Harry said burying his head in his hands as he sat at the kitchen table.

“Want a cup of tea? It’ll make you feel better.” Louis said and Harry miserably shrugged his shoulders.

Harry watched as Louis began to bustle around the kitchen. He seemed to be familiar with the space, not even pausing before opening drawers or finding the teabags. Harry then looked up at Lara who stood awkwardly to the side.

“How are you feeling?” He asked weakly.

“Not so good.” She responded with a sympathetic smile before sitting down at the table and finishing her now cold coffee. Louis set the cup of tea in front of Harry.

“Drink it while it’s hot.” He said before the sound of his phone distracted him. He checked to see who was calling before leaving the kitchen to take the call.

“Is it true Louis lives here?” She asked once he was gone.

“Not now Lara.” Harry held up a hand, his eyes closed. Feeling slightly annoyed she stood to place her coffee cup in the sink and turned to see Harry take a quick sip of his tea.

“I still feel like shit.” He mumbled before placing his head on the table.

It wasn’t long before Harry climbed into bed with a moan.

“Do you mind bringing me my phone?” He asked miserably.

“Okay, but then I have to go.” She said and he nodded before rolling over and closing his eyes.

“It’s in the office.” He mumbled.

The office was a small room that contained a table and chair, and a couple of guitars propped up on the wall and was a room that Lara had rarely entered. As she walked out into the living room she gasped to see Louis kneeling by the coffee table. She looked down at the white powder before him.

“Sorry.” She said without thinking and she looked up at Louis to see his mouth set in a grim straight line.

“I thought you were sleeping.” He said.

“I-I just came to get something.” She stuttered.

“Why so shocked? Little goody two shoes never seen coke before?” He asked and he bent his head to prepare the cocaine before him. It had been twenty four hours since her last hit, and she could feel a pull toward the white powder. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves, her hand twitching as she watched him. It was achingly obvious that it was something he had not done many times before and she could feel the insane urge to take over. Before she could even stop herself she walked over and pushed his hands away.

“Do you even know what you’re doing?” Lara mumbled before she swiftly began to prepare the lines.

“What the fuck?” Louis said a dumbfounded look on his face. He watched as she snatched the fifty pound note from his hand and then dipped her head down to sniff a line without even asking his permission. He leant back and watched her in wonder.

“Er, so it looks like you’ve done this before.” He said unnecessarily.

“You could say that.” She said leaning back against the couch and she turned to see a look of disbelief on his face.

“Does Harry know?” He asked and Lara shook her head. The familiar burn in her nose had just subsided, and she saw a sheepish smile cross Louis’ face.

“He hates it, you know.” He admitted. “He doesn’t even know I’ve started up again.”

He bent over to snort a line and then lifted his head up.

“Have you been doing it for long?” Louis asked.

“A while… you?”

“I used to do it on and off...” He said.

They sat wordlessly looking at each other for a few moments as though they were seeing each other for the first time.

“Who knew we had so much in common?” Louis finally said.

“What? You mean Harry and coke?” Lara said.

“Yeah… both addictive as fuck.” Louis said, and they couldn’t help but grin at each other.

X

Lara was just about to sneak into her bedroom later that morning when Ben’s door opened with a loud click.

“Well well well.” He said in a sing song voice. ”Look who the cat dragged in.”

Lara hung back from entering her bedroom and reluctantly turned to face him.

“Didn’t you get my message?” He asked.

“I was on my way home when I saw it. I figured I’d see you soon so I didn’t bother answering.” Lara replied calmly, hoping that he wouldn’t question her further.

“So where were you then?” He asked lightly, although the air was now loaded with tension.

“James’ house.” She said quickly. “We went out for a few drinks last night and I felt sick… so he let me stay over.”

“James?” Ben said looking surprised. His eyes then narrowed but she cut him off before he could continue.

“Nothing is going on so don’t even go there. I accidentally touched his arm and he thought I was trying to hit on him.” She said noticing Ben trying not to laugh. She dramatically groaned as she clutched her stomach. “I’m going to go and lie down… I feel horrible.”

“Do you now?” Ben asked fondly. She closed the door behind her before flopping on her bed. She had felt her phone vibrate during her conversation with Ben, and so looked down at her phone to read Harry’s message.

Sorry about this morning. I felt so sick… I still feel so sick. I don’t know how you managed to get home but I hope you’re okay. See you soon…I hope x

X

James was quick to apologise when he heard what had happened to Lara.

“It must have happened literally as I was walking out the door.” He said. “I’m so sorry Lara.”

“No you’re not.” Lara smiled at him thinking of the girl he had left with, and she laughed when he thought for a moment and then chuckled.

“No I suppose I’m not. But the truth is I just couldn’t hang around the two of you…”

“No? Why’s that?” Lara asked lightly.

“I don’t know. I think he was surprised to see me, and I guess I felt uncomfortable. It felt like you guys needed to have some time alone.”

“Well just be aware that he thinks you’re my boyfriend.”

“What!?” James cried. “Why would he think that?”

“He saw us together and just assumed.”

“Jesus, Lara no wonder he kept looking at me like that.”


“I didn’t lie to him… I just didn’t correct him.” The last few words were said quietly and she could feel herself blush. “But I need to keep that up my sleeve. Please James.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.” She said honestly. “I think it will work in my favour if he thinks I’m taken.”

“Work in your favour?” James asked confused.

“I don’t know what I mean by that.” Lara said hanging her head. “I don’t know what I’m doing, but I just think things will be easier if he thinks I’m with someone….”

A brief silence followed before a thoughtful look came over James’ face.

“Just out of curiosity…” He said, “What did he say when I disappeared?”

“Oh he wasn’t happy.” Lara said, trying not to laugh at James’ mortified expression. “He saw you chatting up that girl by the way.”

“Shit, do you think One Direction is going to kick my ass now?”

They both looked at each other and burst out laughing.

Notes

"Harry and coke… both addictive as fuck.”
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