Lockdown | Harry Styles | AU

Chapter 14

"I didn't really know what to make..." Harry's deep voice mumbled as he entered the dining room, two steaming bowls in his hands along with two forks, "...so I hope you like noodles."

At the sound of his voice Aubrey locked her phone and set it down on the dining table she was sitting at. Her big eyes locking with Harry's as he placed one of the bowls down in front of her, their gaze lingering longer than it should.

Aubrey had been sat at the narrow long table since they had left the basement. Listening to the faint sounds of Harry cooking away in the kitchen while she tried to contact her Mum, Sofia, or anyone for that matter. But with the heavy storm outside her signal was too weak, her calls wouldn't connect, messages wouldn't deliver. So Harry bringing in food was as good as a time as any to give up trying, for now.

"Thank you. I actually love noodles." Aubrey told him quietly. Looking into her bowl to see a large steaming pile of delicious ramen noodles, her mouth watering at the sight.

Harry only nodded in response, his features giving away no emotion at all as he pulled out the chair opposite Aubrey before slumping down into it. His fingers raking through his hair to push it away from his face before he picked up his fork.

"Did you manage to get hold of anyone?" Harry asked after a few moments of them eating in silence, gesturing his fork towards Aubrey's phone as he chewed on a mouthful of his noodles.

"No. I still don't have any signal." Aubrey answered him after swallowing her food timidly.

"I'm sure it'll be fine once this storm passes." Harry casually replied before placing another fork full of noodles into his mouth.

The atmosphere in the room was odd.

Aubrey felt as though there was this huge elephant sat right in the middle of them, which they were both clearly choosing to ignore. What that elephant represented though, Aubrey wasn't sure of. All she knew was that there was an awkward tension. There were words that they weren't saying. Yet, here they were, eating dinner and faking small talk, like everything was fine. Like it was normal for them.

It was definitely strange to say the least.

"Well sooner the better really, I need to organise getting out of here." Aubrey mumbled, taking a sip of the water Harry had given her earlier. Her thick pink lips a little wet once she pulled the glass away and placed it back down.

Harry froze at her words.

His entire body physically tensing as he halted his movements, quickly swallowing the food in his mouth while fixing his emerald eyes on Aubrey. Watching her as she looked down at her noodles, aimlessly pushing the food around.

"Aubrey..." He began, his voice soft and a little rough, the sound of it making Aubrey lift her eyes to meet his. "I don't know if you've been watching the news, but this Lena-19 stuff is serious. There won't be any boats off the island for a while. This isn't just going to be a few weeks, it's a pandemic. The whole country is isolating, everyone has to stay indoors."

Aubrey's chest tightened.

Harry's words were haunting. Worrying.

He spoke so matter-of-factly that it made shivers run down her spine. And all she could do was stare at him, absorbing what he had told her for a moment. Her hand holding her fork midair, like the wind had been knocked out of her, her face draining of all colour.

"It's a virus. A very contagious virus." Harry continued, his expression firm and serious. "Millions around the world are dying. You have to keep safe by keeping away from other people."