Stay

I never thought I’d find myself in a situation quite like this. When I’d started dating Harry I never thought I’d be up in front of a member of management alongside him being told that we had to do something that we’d never anticipated.

Just half an hour ago we were at home, snuggled up on the couch for an afternoon movie marathon when Harry got the call. I’d questioned why I was being pulled in too but Harry said that the man who’d called never said. He’d never even mentioned why we had to go down to the offices. Nevertheless we did what we were told, not expecting anything too serious only to be vastly mistaken.

I’d only been dating Harry for, what, six months and everything was great. I’d always valued his company and his care. He means the world to me in ways that I can’t even explain. From the moment I’d met him I’d been happier than ever before but it seems that it was never meant to last long because now we were being told that we had to split up.

“It won’t be for long,” said the man on the other side of the desk.

“Not for long? That’s not the only thing I’m worried about, its just this is shittiest idea management has ever had. This would never work and I’m not putting Claire through that, I’m sorry,” Harry said from the chair next to me.

I hadn’t said a word for this entire meeting. I sat there staring at my knees as I twisted the purity ring on my finger. He was right of course… Harry. From what I’d heard, publicity break ups and relationships never lasted and someone was always hurt in the end.

“Harry, its not going to be serious,” said the man.

“You’re asking me to publicly “break up” with Claire and then go out with this model I don’t even know and you’re saying it’s not serious? Think about it logically. How are we supposed to spend time together without being caught out? They’ll think I’m cheating on this model for one thing. And like I said, Claire doesn’t deserve that,” said Harry, fighting to keep his voice calm.

“Well, I’m sure you’ll find a way,” said the man and at that moment I tried so hard not to break my silence and bite his head off. Both Harry and I knew that this was stupid. I wasn’t jealous, of course. I cared about Harry’s career and his reputation. You see if anyone got wind of the reason behind all of this, which wouldn’t be too hard, Harry would get torn to shreds by the press and be labeled once more as a “manwhore”, a word that does not describe him at all. In fact he’s far from it. He respects me and he respects other women and that is one of the many reasons why I love him. He doesn’t deserve to be put through that again.

“Why did it have to be us? Niall’s single isn’t he? I mean I’m not trying to push this on anyone else but why us? Why our band?” Harry asked.

“You boys are the biggest thing right now. It’s the way publicity works. More attention will be drawn to you and Rebecca if you get together after you’ve broken up with Claire.”

“I can’t believe you’re saying this all as if it’s the most normal thing in the world! It’s not, no one does it!”

“Harry, please…”

“No! You can’t make me… us do this! You need my co-operation and right now, things don’t look too bright for you do they?”

“Well, actually, I believe we can. It’s in your contract. Under a section stating that you are bound to do publicity that is assigned to you.”

“That’s fucking interviews not setting me up with someone when I’m currently in a relationship!”

“It’s says publicity. This is publicity, Harry.”

Well, we were in deep shit now. Contracts are binding, we all know that. But the thought of it all to me was still absurd. I mean there have been reports of this kind of thing happening but never did I dream that it would be Harry and I. There had to be a loophole… some way to get out of it.

“Fuck this! You’re gonna be sorry!” says Harry before standing up and grabbing my hand, leading me out of the office and down the hall as quickly as possibly.

“Stupid motherfuckers, fucking meddling in our personal lives,” Harry muttered under his breath.

“Harry?” I said quietly.

“Yeah, babe?” he said and seemed to cool off a little in that moment.

“It’s… it’s going to be ok,” I said, trying to convince myself at the same time. But as I said it he seemed to lose all anger but in a way that it seemed as if his spark had gone out.

“Claire, I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to lose you. You know how these things turn out. The last thing I’d ever want is to hurt you or to be caught up in the press because that’s what’ll happen,” he said.

“Harry, I’m sure there’s a way out of it. I mean, Simon would never allow it. I don’t know what’s going on here if I’m quite honest but we’ll get through it,” I said.

“Well, that’s exactly what I thought. We’d always had a bit of license. We’ve been able to make our own choices,” he said.

There was silence before I asked, “So what are we going to do?”

“The only thing we can do for the moment. Be good little kids and do what we’re told. I’m sorry Claire but I can’t think of anything else. I know it seemed like it back in there but once he came down on us with the contract… I don’t know. But please know that this is the last thing I want to do,” he said as we left the building and walked towards the car.

“I know, Harry,” I said, squeezing his hand. “I’m just… worried.”

“I am too, babe. I hate this as much as you do because it could hurt so many people,” he said as we got into the car and he started the engine just as a text came through on his phone. He opened it and took a look at it before sighing.

“What is it, Haz?” I asked.

“The boys know. Louis just told me,” he said.

Neither of us knew what to say to each other after that. It was as if every good thing, every happy memory of the past six months had come crashing down as reality set in. And here was me thinking that we’d be together forever and live happily ever after and all that. I thought there’d never be a reason for me to be unhappy again. I thought that all my problems were solved. It must have been too good to be true.

Notes