I never would mistreat ya,
Oh I'm not a criminal

“What the fuck do you want?”

“Harry?” Lara said slightly confused by the anger evident in his voice.

“Yeah?” He said flatly.

“You’re probably wondering why I wasn’t there-“ Lara began.

“Yeah I was actually.” He cut her off indignantly. “You’re not here, your stuff isn’t here. And you’re calling me from Louis’ phone. Are you at his house?”

“Yes.” Lara said. “But I can explain-“

“Explain what?” Harry asked. “That I can’t give you what you want? That every time you need a fix you’re just gonna run off to Louis?”

“What?” Lara said and her eyes flickered to Louis. He stood a few feet away from her, closely watching her. “That’s not why I’m here-”

“Yeah right.” He said. “If you like it so much there, then stay there. Or maybe go find your old friend Ben.”

A click sounded and with a sinking feeling Lara realised he had hung up on her. She could feel Louis’ stare burn into her, but for a moment she couldn’t face him.

“Lara?”

She turned at the sound of his voice.

“He wouldn’t even listen to me.” She said plaintively. He placed his hands on her shoulders and she glanced around nervously.

“Eleanor.” She said, although his girlfriend was nowhere in sight. Louis rolled his eyes but did not remove his hands.

“What happened?” He asked instead.

“He’s mad at me.” Lara replied. “He thinks I’m here because… well you know.”

She lowered her eyes and could feel her cheeks flush.

“Why are you here?” Louis asked gently.

“Julian kicked me out… he even brought along Ben and tried to force me to go back to him. I got so scared I just ran out… left my bag behind and everything.” She told him.

“Fuck.” Louis breathed.

“My boss let me stay with him…” Lara answered. “But I don’t know how long that can last. I need to get my things back.”

There had been nowhere to park outside, so she had asked James to drop her off and leave. If she had felt stranded the night before, then she really felt stranded now.

“Do you want me to drive you to Harry’s house?” Louis asked.

“I tried going back but I wasn’t allowed in.”

“Right. Give me the phone.” Louis said firmly. She watched as he dialled Harry’s number, but the phone rang out. He tried again and again, but there was no answer.

“What a prick.” He muttered. “Okay, that settles it. You’re staying with me.”

“What? Here?” Lara squeaked.

“Louis, what are you doing?”

Their eyes snapped over to Eleanor who suddenly appeared in the doorway, as though she
had been listening the entire time.

“I’m calling in sick. Fuck going to Paris. Someone needs to sort her shit out.” Louis told her.

“Why can’t you solve your own problems?” Eleanor directed her disapproval to Lara.

“I don’t want him to do anything.” She replied softly.

“Then why are you here?” Eleanor persisted.

“Louis, just forget it.” Lara said. “Don’t worry about me. I-I’ll figure something out.”

He looked back at her with an unconvinced expression on his face.

“If Julian finds out you didn’t go because of me, who knows what he’ll do?” Lara added.

“Screw Julian. He doesn’t scare me.” Louis scowled. “I’m taking you to Ben’s house-“

“No!” Lara cried.

“Don’t be stupid Lara. You have to move out of there. I’ll come with you and I promise I won’t
let him hurt you.”

“Louis, just stay out of it!” Eleanor interjected.

“Listen.” Louis turned to Lara, ignoring Eleanor. “I leave for Paris tomorrow… and you can stay here until we get back. Okay?”

Lara nervously glanced at Eleanor.

“She’s coming with me.” Louis said gently. “You’ll have the house to yourself.”
Eleanor stormed off, leaving Louis and Lara alone. He reached up and touched her cheek.

“Let’s go to Ben’s.” He said. “Nothing to be scared of, okay? I’ll be there.”

Later that night, Lara helplessly followed him and before long they were on the road. The knots in her stomach grew tighter as they neared Ben’s apartment block and before she knew it they were both ascending the steps. She glanced at Louis to see a determined look on his face, his lips set in a thin line as he pulled the baseball cap over his face. For a split moment she pictured Harry by her side. Harry standing up for her. Harry being there for her, just like Louis was now.

Louis rapped on the door and Lara bit her lip with anticipation when she detected footsteps heading toward the door.

“Who is it?” Ben’s hesitant voice sounded and Lara curiously wondered how very unlike it was for him to do that. Usually he swung the door open with no hesitation.

“It’s me.” Lara uttered.

There was a slight hesitation before the door opened. A flicker of surprise crossed his face when he saw Louis before his gaze fell on Lara, who gasped.

His eye was bruised black, his cheekbone a deep purple. A trace of blood could be seen on his collarbone.

“See what your boyfriend did?” Ben chuckled mirthlessly.

“Harry?” Lara said.

“Yeah, Harry.” Ben said. He turned to amble into the apartment, with his hand placed on his right side, not bothering to hide the look of pain on his face. Louis raised his eyebrows at
Lara before they followed him.

“Wasn’t too happy.” Ben mumbled. He turned around to face them, tipping his head toward Louis. “You brought him along to finish the job, did you?”

“I just came to get my stuff.” Lara replied uncomfortably.

“Is this your new boyfriend, then?” Ben persisted.

“Which way to your bedroom?” Louis asked ignoring Ben.

“You come to beat me up too?” Ben said with an amused look on his face.

“Nope.” Louis gave him a light push and watched as Ben winced. “She’s come to pack up and go. So keep out of the fucking way while she does it.”

Lara wordlessly led Louis into her room and pulled out her suitcase from under the bed. She mechanically began to pack away her belongings and then not long after back to regard them. Funny how her life could be condensed down to two suitcases and a duffel bag.

“Is this your handbag?” Louis asked. She nodded, realising that Ben must have taken it from Harry’s apartment. She quickly checked inside to see her phone and wallet. Her fingers dug into the depths of the bag and she was relieved to find that the hidden pocket still contained the cash Harry had given her before he had left.

“Ready to go?” Louis asked and Lara sadly nodded.

“You don’t have to go.”

They book looked over to see Ben at the bedroom door.

“You can still stay.” He added.

“Don’t listen to him.” Louis said, grabbing the suitcases.

“You’re going to listen to him?” Ben mocked. “He’s probably trying to get into your pants too.
Or do you think he’s doing this out of the kindness of his heart?”

Lara picked up her duffel bag and gave Louis a sideways glance. An annoyed expression came over his face as he bumped his way past Ben.

“Let me guess?” Ben continued. “Harry doesn’t know you’re staying with Louis.”

“She’s not staying with me, so don’t come looking for her.” Louis spoke up. “Lara, come on.”

Lara stood frozen, as she listened to Ben’s missives.

“Prince Charming eh?” Ben said sarcastically. “Bet he’s gonna want you to thank him for saving you. How do you think Louis wants you to thank him Lara? I bet Harry would love to know.”

“Lara, come on!” Louis said impatiently, and Lara blinked before following him out the door.

She looked back to see Ben staring sadly, his hand still clutching his side.
Louis shook his head as he packed the car.

“Didn’t expect that from Harry.” He said. “He’s being a real prick about all of this. Instead of listening to you, he goes after Ben.”

Lara listened in silence as Louis continued to criticise Harry’s handling of the situation and she could not help but steal glances at him as he drove along.

What were his intentions? She recalled Ben’s words and wondered how much truth was in
them. Did he expect anything in return? Was he helping her to get under Harry’s skin?

“Louis, I think I might stay at a hotel tonight.” She said thinking about the stash of money she had.

“Hotel?” Louis frowned.

“Yeah… I don’t want to cause any problems between you and Eleanor-“

“Forget Eleanor. All she’s worried about is whether she gets to go to Paris or not. She’s more worried about her little shopping trips than anything else.” Louis scowled.

“She looked pretty angry at me. I don’t want her to get the wrong idea about us…” Lara trailed off.

“There is no us.” Louis said grimly.

“Yeah I know that… but she doesn’t seem to think so. And I know Harry will get the wrong idea too.” Lara reasoned. “So please… just drop me off somewhere and I’ll make my own way from there.”

“No.”

His reply was abrupt and final and without reason.

“Louis please.”

“I said no.” Louis said. “What? Do you believe what Ben said? You think I’m gonna take advantage of you?”

“No.” Lara fibbed.

“Well you’ve got nothing to worry about.” He said. “You’re safe with me Lara.”

She looked up to see his piercing blue eyes watching her and Lara jumped when she heard the car behind them beep. The traffic light had turned green and Louis broke the gaze to continue driving.

There was no sign of Eleanor when they got home and Louis showed her to the spare room.

“Put your things in here and make yourself at home.”

Louis ordered takeaway and they sat in the kitchen silently eating their dinner. The rest of the night passed uneventfully, as they watched TV, and Lara eyed the front door waiting for Eleanor’s return.

She tried calling Harry several times, but the phone rang out so many times she thre

After a few minutes of getting settled, Lara found herself dialling Harry’s number. It rang out and she tried again, only to throw her phone onto the bed in frustration. She could hear Louis arguing with Eleanor on the phone, and she couldn’t help but eavesdrop.

“Can you calm down?” Louis said. “Nothing has happened between us, okay?”

Lara could not help but recall the way had Louis impatiently lifted her arms above her head before his lips returned to her body.

“Yeah nothing.”

His tongue had darted into her mouth and she had felt him grow hard against her as they kissed.

“Well if you’re so worried, why aren’t you here? Why did you leave?” He asked Eleanor.
He paused for a moment and she could imagine Eleanor responding angrily.

“I don’t have time for your shit.” She heard Louis say.

There was a sudden silence and Lara guessed the conversation had ended because she
heard his footsteps approach her door.

“Lara?” He said, peering into the dark room. “Are you awake?”

Lara paused for a moment.

“Yeah.”

“Can I come in?”

Again she paused, but once again could only say,

“Yeah.”

She felt the bed dip beside her and she nervously glanced over her shoulder to see Louis lie down beside her.

“Didn’t want to be alone.” He half mumbled.

“Was she mad?” Lara could not help but ask.

“I think she’d be madder if she knew I didn’t care.” Louis said.

She could feel him inching closer and she felt her hand instinctively raise to his chest.

“What?” He breathed, his eyes searching hers. “Can I just lie here with you?”

“Yeah.” Lara said, and breathed a sigh of relief when he rolled onto his back. He placed his hands behind his head and silently stared up at the ceiling. Lara watched him until she drifted to sleep.

Notes

You know the drill... now comment away :) x

Also, check out my other Harry story - it's called 'The Wrong Woman'... I'm so excited by this story. The first chapter might sound slow but I promise it picks up and there are a couple of twists! Let me know what you think.