Secrets / Black & White / Playing for Keeps

The cracks in their relationship had begun to show even before Lara had moved in with Harry and only seemed to grow deeper with time.

His jealousy of Louis and Ben, Lara’s addiction and subsequent rehab stay, their separations due to Harry’s career, pressure from Management to dissolve their relationship, Lara’s guilt about accepting Harry’s money.

Lara would find herself going through the list, which was so long it almost made her head spin.

How did they think they were ever going to last as a couple?

And then to top it all off, her parents had arrived from Cambodia.

It was the first time she had seen them since they had left after her eighteenth birthday. Once they had caught wind of Lara’s problems they had called to let her know they were returning to England for a short break.

What was a nerve wracking prospect grew even more so when she allowed Harry to organise a dinner, so he could meet them for the very first time.

Harry had even tied his usual unruly hair back neatly and had been slightly nervous in the lead up to the meeting. But he had managed to turn on the charm, trying his best to set everyone at ease. He expressed interest in their charity work and told them about the charities he had been involved with.

He seemed to do everything right, but it was obvious her parents were out of place in the swanky restaurant. They looked visibly embarrassed by the restaurant staff fawning over Harry, the other diners who openly stared and whispered and the photographers who had set up camp outside the restaurant waiting for them to emerge with poised cameras.

As expected, Lara received the brunt of her parent’s disapproval the very next day.

Living with someone before you’re married Lara? We raised you better than that…

He’s a pop star… do you really think you can trust him?

I don’t think this whole celebrity life is for you.

This whole lifestyle is the reason for your problems…

Lara had refused to listen to their lectures and they had left for Cambodia again, deeply disappointed in their daughter’s defiance.

Since the breakup, Lara had tried very hard not to think of Harry and there were weeks when she was successful. But that all paled in significance once she had received the voicemail.
It had been two days though, but Lara had not called Harry back.

She was still surprised that he had called in the first place, seeing as they had had no communication since the day she left his apartment. She remembered how she had waited for Harry to leave the apartment before packing her suitcases and calling a taxi. She had left with everything she owned all crammed in a couple of suitcases and had not looked back. She had wasted so many tears before leaving that once she was gone she was resolute in her decision. They were better off apart.

But of course, it was difficult to get away completely.

Harry had called her incessantly and she was just about to change her number, when the calls suddenly stopped.It was only recently that Lara had seen a dark car outside her house. It had once trailed her as she walked to the bus stop. And someone had called her landline a few times but refused to speak.

Why couldn’t Harry just let go?

He was at the height of his fame with One Direction and after the breakup, the spotlight on him burned even brighter.

She could not help but see or hear of him, whether it was on television or through Louis. It was for that reason she had avoided Louis’ calls for the past month or so and had tried to distance herself from the whole One Direction circus.

But she could not escape the news and when it came to Harry, the news was not good.
Leaked stories revealed a broken Harry who was drowning his sorrows every night, prowling for women and even being photographed being quite affectionate with an unidentified male.
The press jumped on his every move and speculated endlessly about Harry’s downfall.

Lara stared at the latest photos of a bleary eyed Harry and could not help but be surprised. Harry had always been so image conscious and careful about the way he presented himself in public.It was a shock now to see photos of him with a couple of models hanging off his arm, smoking cigarettes in nightclub alleys and stumbling out of bars in the early hours of the morning.

She shut down her laptop and checked the time. She was supposed to meet Tony for lunch in fifteen minutes and she was now running late. She quickly grabbed her handbag and headed out into a rare but perfect sunny London day.

Taking a deep breath, she focussed on Tony and how she was looking forward to a nice long lunch, when her phone suddenly rang. She rifled in her handbag, trying to find it, as she crossed the road without tripping over her feet. The voice on the other end was enough to make her freeze in her tracks.

“Lara. Julian Brand here. Have you got a moment?”

She opened her mouth to speak, but the words stuck in her throat.

“Lara?”

Seconds passed before she found the courage to speak.

“Yes?”

“I would like to see you. I think we need your help.”

Notes

Hope it's not too wordy!