The story of my life
I take her home

“You’re coming home with me.” Harry said.

Before Lara could respond a hospital employee entered the room with a concerned look on his face. He looked familiar, but before she could figure out why, he spoke.

“May I interrupt for a moment?” He asked and Harry nodded as he stepped to the side.

“We have provided a little security, but it seems that both entrances have been blocked. We are happy to let you wait it out.”

“No, that won’t be necessary.” Harry shook his head.

“Are you sure you don’t want to contact your management?”

“No. I came here alone and that’s the way I want it.” Harry said firmly before gesturing to Lara. “As long as you think Lara can handle it.”

“Physically she’s fine, it’s just-“The man glanced at Lara. “Has the doctor spoken to you yet?”

“Just briefly.”

“Well then, I would prefer to speak to you privately before you leave.”

Lara listened to the exchange with interest, as though she was not the focus of their conversation. It’s only when Harry left the room that she suddenly felt vulnerable. All she knew was that she was in hospital and that Harry had magically appeared. Everything else was a mystery; including Ben’s whereabouts. She froze for a moment, thinking about the prospect of Harry crossing paths with Ben.

She lay there for what seemed like forever, until the click of the door sounded and Harry returned.

“Is everything okay?” Lara asked.

“Yeah… how are you feeling?”

“Just a little tired.” Lara replied. “Harry, what happened?”

“You collapsed… that asshole must have freaked out because he called the ambulance and
then just disappeared.”

Lara listened carefully as she tried to remember the events of that night. She remembered they had argued and how he had closed his hands around her throat. She remembered the fear she had felt and how she had struggled to escape.

“But how did you find out I was here?” Lara asked.

“They couldn’t track Ben down, your parents are not around… and you kept mentioning my name so they checked your cell phone.” Harry half smiled. “I didn’t think they expected me to walk through the door though.”

“I’m sorry Harry, I didn’t mean to.” Lara said sounding embarrassed.

“It’s okay.” Harry said gently. “The last thing I want is for you to be on your own.”

Lara paused, as tears pricked her eyes and she hung her head. They were interrupted by a soft knock on the door. Lara looked up to see the same hospital employee enter the room.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I’d like to have a chat with Lara before she is discharged.”

“I’ll be outside.” Harry turned to leave when Lara grabbed his arm.

“No please stay.” She said and Harry nodded and sat down on the plastic chair next to the bed.

“We had this conversation yesterday but you ignored me.” The man said, and Lara’s eyes flitted down to his name badge to his name was Dr Bell. She recalled him trying to speak to her and how she had feigned sleep until he had walked out.

“Lara, I strongly recommend that you enter a rehab facility. We have an excellent thirty day treatment program that will help you-“

“I don’t want to do it.” Lara interjected. She glanced fearfully at Harry who placed a reassuring hand on her arm.

“Hear him out Lara.”

Dr. Bell opened his mouth to speak again before Lara interrupted.

“I’m not going to do it. I don’t need to do it. I’ll be okay.” She rambled.

“We think it would be the best thing for you.” Dr Bell told her but Lara vigorously shook her head.

“She’ll be staying with me.” Harry spoke up. “I don’t know if that counts for anything.”

“Yes, but you won’t be there all the time. We’re lucky we managed to get you to come in yesterday.”

Harry sighed deeply as though he was contemplating his reply.

“I can hire someone to…” He began.

“No!” Lara cried. “I don’t need anyone to take care of me. You can’t force me into anything…
I know my rights.”

“No we can’t.” Dr Bell replied with a resigned look on his face.

He lectured her for a few more minutes before leaving her to get ready to be discharged.

Harry watched as she dressed, periodically checking his phone.
“It’s going to be a bit hard for us to get out of here.” He said finally as Lara combed her hair back into a ponytail.

“What do you mean?” Lara asked.

“It kind of got out that you’re in hospital, and that I’m here with you.” Harry said.

“How?”

“I don’t know.” Harry shrugged. “Stuff like that gets leaked all the time.”

“I’m so sorry.” Lara said. “I didn’t want to drag you into this.”

“Don’t be sorry. I just want to see you get better.” Harry said.

Lara’s phone suddenly rang and they both looked down on the table to see Ben’s name flash across the screen. Lara heard Harry swear under his breath before he looked at her pointedly.

“So are you going to answer it?”

Lara meekly picked it up and held the phone to her ear.

“Ben?”

“Thank God you answered.” Lara heard Ben’s relieved voice. “I’ve been worried sick about you.”

“You knew I was in hospital.” Lara said dully.

“I wanted to come and see you… really I did. I was just scared. I wasn’t sure if I was the one that had hurt you.”

“You didn’t.” Lara said, but the words sounded hollow. An overwhelming urge to hang up on him came over her, but before she could, Harry snatched the phone from her, accidentally bumping the speaker button.

“Listen here asshole. This is the last time you contact her, you hear me?” Harry rasped.

“Don’t even fucking think about calling or seeing her again.”

“Harry.” Ben’s voice suddenly sounded amused. “I should have known you would have come to save poor Lara.”

“Fuck you.”

“You sound a little pissed Harry. Not so nice to find out that maybe just maybe your girlfriend’s been with someone else, is it?”

Harry angrily terminated the phone call before flinging the phone on the bed.

“Come on let’s go.”

They regarded each other for a moment and Lara noted the sadness and disappointment in his eyes. Before she could dwell on it, he headed toward the door and after a quick glance around the hospital room, she followed him.

It was not until Lara saw the crowd of photographers that had gathered outside the exit when it finally hit her how big Harry’s gesture was. For some unknown reason her hospital visit had created a frenzy amongst photographers and even curious passers-by. Heads turned and the yells began as Harry protectively placed his arm around her waist.

“Head down, don’t say a thing.” Harry said lowly.

Lara did as she was told as they were suddenly hit with a barrage of questions. She glanced at Harry to see a perfectly neutral expression on his face as they briskly walked toward his car.

“Are you two back together?” One reporter asked.

“Harry, where’s Sky?”

“Is it true you never broke up?”

“Harry aren’t you meant to be in Australia?”

Harry opened Lara’s door and waited until she was safely sitting inside the car before climbing into the driver’s seat.

“Where’s the security they promised?” He muttered out loud just as Lara noticed a couple of guards at the exit of the car park. They had somehow managed to coral the waiting throng at the exit, to allow Harry the freedom to drive through. The camera flashes continued as Harry slowly drove out onto the street.

Minutes passed before Lara spoke.

“What did they mean you were meant to be in Australia?”

“We were meant to leave today for the promo tour.” Harry said staring straight ahead at the road before him.

“And you didn’t go?”

“Well I’m here aren’t I?” He replied as he turned a corner.

“I’m sorry Harry.”

“Can you stop saying that? I did it because I wanted to. I did it because I care.” Harry stopped at the end of his street and turned to look at her. “Lara, when they called me, I didn’t even think twice, I just came to you. I just sent Julian a text message telling him I was going to fly out on my own.”

“You did?” Lara said, her eyes widening with surprise

“He’s been calling me non-stop but you know what?” Harry smiled. “He can wait.”

She could not remember the last time Harry had openly flouted the rules. Instead, he usually chose to sneak around, hiding from the public and especially his managers. Walking into that hospital today was probably his biggest public demonstration of rebellion, and Lara could not help but get nervous.

“But now he’ll know why.” She said. “He’ll know it’s because of me.”

“So he knows.” Harry shrugged. “It was bound to come out sooner or later.”

“I guess.” She said uncertainly.

“Just tell me one thing.” Harry said and Lara looked up at him expectantly. “All this time we were seeing each other… did Ben know?”

Lara saw the sadness return to his eyes and if she looked closer there was even a little doubt.

“No.” She said. “No he didn’t.”

Harry nodded, his face deep in thought, his hands tightened around the steering wheel.

“Okay.” He said half to himself.

Before anyone could speak, they were interrupted by the sound of Harry’s phone. He looked down at it with a frown before answering.

“Julian.”

Lara nervously watched as Harry listened closely, his eyebrows furrowing as he licked his lips.

“Okay… yes I heard you. Okay.”

Harry mumbled a few more words before he hung up and turned to Lara.

“Julian’s at my house right now.” He said tensely.

“Now?” Lara asked apprehensively. She could feel her heart begin to beat a little faster as she took in a few quick breaths.

“Yep.” Harry said. “I guess it’s time to face the music.”

Notes

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