I'm feeling like right now
I wish you were here with me

Once she was dressed and ready to go, Harry led Lara to the front door.

“Whatever you see or hear.” He said. “This proves you’re mine.”

Harry traced his finger over one of the love bites on her neck

“These fade.” Lara said.

His hand moved to her cheek where it rested for a few moments.

“I’ll always know they were there.” He finally responded.

As Lara walked away, she couldn’t help but still wonder that once they have faded, what would she have left? As she walked out onto the street she looked down at her phone to see an unread message from Harry.

Not sure I can meet up tonight

A quick check saw that he had sent the message before she had arrived at his house the night before. No wonder he looked surprised to see me, Lara thought to herself. She remembered how annoyed he had looked when he found out about her ‘friendship’ with Louis. It was obviously Louis had told him about it before she had arrived. Damn Louis, Lara thought to herself.

He knew. Louis had definitely told him. Lara found herself dialling Louis’ number.

“Hey.” He answered.

“Why did you tell Harry about us meeting up?” Lara asked sharply.

“Jesus Lara, do you think you could’ve waited until I left Harry’s before calling me?”

Lara paused uncomfortably.

“He’s in the bathroom so talk fast.” Louis continued. “And do you think you could actually walk away from his house instead of hanging around at the front?”

“I have.” Lara lied as she briskly began to walk.

“I can see you through the fucking window.” Louis told her. Lara glanced up at Harry’s house and squinted her eyes.

“Don’t you have any sunglasses or anything? Are you hoping someone recognises you?”

“Okay, okay I’m going.” Lara huffed. “But tell me one thing? Did you tell him about the drugs?”

“No I didn’t tell him about the drugs.” Louis said with a sigh. “Is that all you’re worried about?”

“What did you tell him then?” Lara ignored his question.

“I would have thought you’d have something more to worry about.” Louis persisted.

Lara did not speak for a moment, until she realised that her silence could be considered an admission of guilt.

“Like what?

“Like maybe hiding your phone the next time your boyfriend calls.”

“Boyfriend?” Lara squeaked before clearing her throat. “I don’t have a boyfriend.”

“Oh sorry, I meant to say Uncle.”

Lara abruptly stopped walking and heard Louis laugh in her ear.

“I can still see you.” He said.

“Do you have a pair of binoculars?” Lara asked as she half looked over her shoulder before picking up the pace again.

“Don’t change the subject. I think I know your little secret. And I bet Harry doesn’t.”

“Louis-“Lara began.

“He’s out… gotta go.” Louis said quickly before hanging up. Lara stared at her phone for a few moments before texting:

Please don’t tell him

She didn’t know if that was enough for Louis to keep silent, but she did not have any other ideas. Not with a hangover and the fear of having to face Ben when she got home. As she walked up the steps to her apartment she lifted the collar of her jacket, hoping that the line of love bites were not too visible. She unlocked the front door and walked in to hear Ben pottering around in the kitchen. She attempted to do a quick dash to her bedroom but he must have heard the door because he suddenly appeared at her door.

“Hey.” He said in an odd voice.

“Hey.” Lara echoed. She avoided his gaze by rustling through her bag.

“You’re not going to tell me where you’ve been? I’ve been trying to call you.” He spoke lightly but Lara could detect the edge in his voice. She stole a glance at him and could see he was fighting a hangover.

“I went out last night… slept over at a friend’s house.” She said shortly. She heard footsteps but did not have time to react as Ben strode toward her. His hand tilted her chin toward him as he looked down at her swollen lips.

“Looks like you and your friend had some fun.” He said and Lara silently cursed Louis for biting her bottom lip so hard. She stiffened when she felt Ben’s cold fingers trailing on her skin as he closely inspected her neck.

“Lots of fun.” He mused. “So who was he?”

“Just someone I met last night.” She told him.

“One, two, three…”

Lara held her breath as Ben began to slowly count the love bites before his eyes settled on hers.

“He must have liked you.” Ben said softly.

His hand gripped her arm and she could smell the alcohol on his breath as his lips brushed over her cheek.

“Ben, please.” She said trying to shrug him off.

“What was his name?”

“I don’t know.” Lara said.

“I didn’t think you were that type of girl.” He countered.

“Well I’ve changed.” Lara thought thinking back to how she had brazenly kissed Louis. The events of last night were starting to take on a sharper focus and she could scarcely believe she had not only kissed Louis but allowed him to intimately touch her.

“I’ve changed too.” Ben murmured.

“How?” Lara felt compelled to ask.

“I’m starting to get sick of waiting.” He said, his lips hovering near her face.

“Ben-“ Lara tried to push him away but he held onto her tightly.

He leaned forward to kiss her when a loud knock on the front door sounded.

“Who is it?” Ben growled loudly.

“It’s me.” Claire replied from the other side of the door. Ben quickly glanced at Lara before
loosening his grip.

“We’ll talk later.” He said before striding over to the door.

“Hi babe.” Claire said with a peck on the lips. She then entered the apartment to see a shaken Lara.

“What’s wrong with her?” Claire asked, glancing from Lara to Ben.

“Lara was just telling me what she got up to last night.” Ben said. “Have you seen her neck?”

“Looks like you’ve been branded.” Claire said peering closely at Lara.

Lara’s eyes filled with tears as she stalked to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.

She was branded all right. Branded by Harry Styles… only nobody was to know. It was their dark secret.

She stood in the middle of her room not knowing what to do or where to go. These were the moments when she felt most alone. There was nobody to turn to and nobody there to comfort her. She toyed with her phone for a moment before texting Harry.

Just saw your message. Didn’t you want to see me last night?

Harry’s response came mere moments later.

Nope. I was pissed off.

So what now?

I don’t know. I go back to work soon. The holiday is over baby

If it didn’t already feel like she was losing Harry, he had to hit her with the news that he was going back to work. She knew that meant time away from home, time away from her. Now she felt more alone than ever. She lay back on her bed and closed her eyes with a sigh.

X

Lara groggily opened her eyes when she felt a weight descend onto the bed beside her.

“You awake?”

She turned over to see Ben peering down.

“No.” She said.

“Come on, I’ve got something for you.” He said pulling out a baggie of pills. “You’ve been going on about being so tired lately… I thought these would help.”

Lara looked at them curiously. Ben had not given her any drugs since their fight months ago.

And now here he was flaunting his stash, reeling her back in to temptation. The same way
Louis did it, time and time again.

“These are uppers…” Ben pointed to them. “These are downers.”

He took a pill out and poked her chin until she opened her mouth. Ben placed a pill on her tongue and waited for her to swallow it. He kept talking but Lara tuned out, first half wondering which one he had given her and then trying to figure out his motivation for this sudden turnaround. His hand reached over to caress her neck, giving her the answer she was looking for. He felt threatened by the possibility of there being someone else.

“I’m still trying to figure out who did this to you.”

He spoke in a soft voice but Lara could not ignore the grim expression on his face.

“Nobody you know.” She said.

“Are you sure?” He asked. “Because I think I do.”

Lara body froze with fear and she could feel her heart begin to thump furiously.

“You haven’t mentioned him in a while…” Ben continued. “Maybe I know why… maybe you didn’t want me to find out.”

“There’s nobody. I’ve got nobody.” Lara murmured and it pained her to realise how true that statement was.

“He’s always around.” Ben said. “You’re with James all the time.”

“James?” Lara said unable to hide her surprise. “You think James did this?”

Ben shrugged but his eyes remained fixed on hers.

“How many times do I have to tell you that we’re just friends? He’s my manager… I’d never let him do that.” Lara said. She could see Ben relax and she could tell by the look on his face that she had convinced him.

“Can you blame me for being a little jealous?” Ben said with a little laugh.

“You don’t know him, okay?” Lara said. “You don’t know him.”

Lara found herself lying down on the bed, the tablet starting to take effect as she curled up into a ball. She felt Ben’s arms wrap around her waist as she muttered.

“I don’t even know him.”

Notes