Chapter ten

Danielle, Eleanor and I all stared in the direction of the living room where an obvious argument was taking place. Unable to take it any longer, I began to get up from my chair.

“Wait,” Dani said, grabbing my arm and holding me back. “You might not want to go in there just yet.” Just as she was finished, more raised voices sounded.

“I can’t take it!” I said, rushing towards the living room. I didn’t enter it right away, instead I stood behind the wall around the corner, listening to what it was they were talking about.

“You know how people react, Harry!” An older man’s voiced bellowed, and I assumed it had to be Simon. “It’s not worth pissing off the fans just so you can have a public fling!”

“Oh my God!” Harry yelled. “Are you not listening?! It’s NOT a fling! The only ‘public flings’ I’ve ever had were because of you, remember? Taylor Swift was all you, so clearly you don’t have the best judgment either!”

“We got all we wanted from that relationship-” Simon started to say before Harry cut him off.

“Oh did we? Cause I sure as hell didn’t!” Harry yelled again. “Why does my relationship have anything to do with the band?”

“Because your image is the band! Ruin that, and you have nothing!” Simon retorted.

“It’s not ruining our image, Simon,” Liam tried to reason. “But we can’t stop living because of our jobs and our REAL fans will support us no matter what.”

“C’mon, Simon,” I heard Louis say. “You made a fuss about El and Dani, too, and now you love them and say that they’re great for our image!”

“Yes,” Simon conceded. “And they do, but I cannot entertain Harry’s every whim for every slut that looks his way!” He said angrily. My own rage was now brewing.

“I swear to God, if you say one more thing about her-” Harry started yelling, unable to remain composed. Seeing his anger only made mine more unbearable. I stormed out from behind the corner.

“How dare you!” I came around the corner, fuming. Harry was already standing, and was surprised to see me.

“Speak of the devil,” Simon muttered sarcastically.

“Yeah, I’m looking right at him.” I retorted. “You’re such a pompous ass, what gives you the fucking right to make insinuations about OUR relationship!?” I said sternly, raising my voice. My words had clearly triggered something in him, as he stood up and came towards me. Harry quickly came over to position himself in front of me.

“I’m sorry; I don’t believe I invited you to this meeting!” Simon said haughtily.

“Well, I’m sorry, but I don’t remember inviting you into our house.” I responded. Simon immediately looked to Harry.

“’Our house’?” he questioned. “Now you’ve got her moved in, Harry?”

“It’s my house, and she is my girlfriend, so yes, it is OUR house.” Harry spat out at him. Liam stood up and walked over to us.

“Why don’t we calm down, and have a civilized chat?” he said, ushering Simon back to his seat.

“Why don’t we,” Simon said. “Sarah, why don’t you go make us some tea?” he asked me, his tone infused with condescension.

“Why don’t you go fuck yourself.” I said in the same tone. Harry outright laughed and promptly led me to the sofa.

“Nice to see you’ve gone the classy route, Harry.” Simon commented sarcastically.

“It is, isn’t it?” Harry said, wrapping his arm around me where we sat on the couch. Zayn was sitting next to me, and placed his hand on my knee, squeezing it in warning.

“Listen, lads,” Simon began. “There’s not much to say. Your new album will be released in December, the fragrance premiere is coming up a week today, the movie release day is set and then next month you’re back on tour!” Simon laughed a hard, cold, unfeeling laugh. “We don’t have time for your usual screw ups, Harry.” I looked up at Harry’s face. The vein in his forehead was pulsing and his face was growing red with anger. He let out a gust of air and lurched from the sofa.

“I don’t need to sit here and take this shit from you!” he spat as he left the room, leaving me, the lads and Simon staring after him.

“This is nothing personal, Sarah.” Simon explained matter-of-factly and I turned back to look at him. “And I’m sure you wouldn’t want to do anything to hurt the band.” He said. I simply looked back at him, my face blank.

“No, you’re right I wouldn’t,” I responded. “But clearly you do.” I said leaning forward in his direction. “All these lads, they dedicate their ENTIRE lives to this band and their fans and you deny them the one personal pleasure they have in their lives. You might not understand this, seeing as how no one loves you enough to be in a relationship with you, which might make understanding this a bit tricky, so allow me to enlighten you.” I paused and Niall was laughing under his breath. Zayn’s fingers were digging into my knee, begging me to stop while I was ahead. Louis looked at me with a smirk on his face as he nodded in approval. “You can pull all the stops to prevent this from happening, but it isn’t going to work. And not letting us girls to come on tour is only going to take away from the concert experience.” I finished, leaning back in my spot.

“Now that is an excellent point!” Louis defended. “If El’s not there, I become beyond distracted, not to mention pissed off at the world.” He joked. Simon kept his eyes on me, a half smile on his mouth.

“You know, Sarah,” he said. “I think that under any other circumstances I might just really like you. You certainly don’t mince words and are absolutely un-persuadable.” I cocked an eyebrow.

“I wonder who that sounds like.” I implied and Simon laughed under his breath.

“Alright,” he began. “How much is this going to take? How much to you want?” he asked me.

“What the hell are you talking about?” I questioned him.

“I’m saying, what is your price to leave this band alone?” he asked bluntly and I felt my eyebrows shoot up in surprise and the lads began bickering at Simon, clearly unimpressed.

“Please tell me I did not just hear what I think I heard.” Harry said, standing in the entry way silencing the room. Simon just looked at him, not even bothering to repeat himself. “Are you seriously trying to pay off my girlfriend?” Harry shook his head and ran a hand through his hair as he laughed without a trace of humour. “Why do you not want me to be happy?” he asked.

“Harry, what more do I have to do to make you happy?” Simon asked rhetorically.

“Accept my girlfriend.” Harry said simply. Simon looked me up and down doubtfully. “Or let me put it this way,” Harry continued. “Accept Sarah as my girlfriend or I quit.”

“You can’t do that,” Simon laughed. “We have a contract.”

“Yes, we do!” Harry said in mock amazement. “I wonder, where in that contract does it say that you control who we engage in relationships with?” Simon narrowed his eyes and looked both Harry and I up and down before breathing out heavily, realizing he’d lost the argument.

“Alright,” Simon sighed. “You two can go public, management will back you up.”

“What about the tou-” Louis started.

“Yes, Louis, all the girlfriends may tour.” Simon conceded. He turned back to me and Harry.

“Your first event will be next Friday at the fragrance premiere.” He said, standing up and the lads stood up with him. “We’ll be in contact about studio dates after the tour.” He added and he shook all the lads’ hands before turning to me and offering his hand which I accepted hesitantly.

“I’m sorry about what was said,” he apologized. “I really do think you're something, but do realize that my first priority will always be the band.” He said.

“Understood,” I replied. “So long as your plans don’t interfere with mine, we’ll be just fine.” I told him. He laughed lightly, easing the tension of the room.

“I see what draws you to her, Harry,” he said, clapping him on the back. “I’ll be in touch!” He called as he exited the room. No one spoke until we heard the front door close behind him. As soon as we heard him leave, Eleanor and Dani rushed into the room.

“Oh my God,” Dani exclaimed. “I cannot believe that that just happened!”

“Were you listening?” Liam asked her.

“Duh, of course!” Dani Laughed.

“We couldn’t believe the things you said to Simon, Sarah!” Eleanor said. “Not going to lie, we’re totally impressed!” Everyone laughed.

“Harry wasn’t joking,” Louis said. “You’re like a piranha!”

“I kept trying to make her stop!” Zayn said, and I remembered his stressed grip on my leg.

“Well thank God she didn’t!” Louis replied, overjoyed with the meeting’s results.

“Yeah, Harry must never win any arguments!” Niall laughed and I rolled my eyes.

“You guys make me sound like a total bitch!” I laughed. Harry leaned in and kissed me square on the mouth.

“You’re perfect,” he breathed in my ear before we all plopped down on the sofa and began planning our tour together.

Notes

Things are all set in motion now! Comment your thoughts, as it makes me happy :) Please rate/comment/subscribe. I love you for reading!