Soundtrack Series

FOUR - No Control

Harry: He was gone before you ever had a chance to wake up. You didn’t know how he did it, partying all night and still waking up on time to make his meetings. He hadn’t invited you out tonight, probably because you had turned him down all the other times. You didn’t enjoy the London party scene, especially with the people he decided to associate himself with. It wasn’t an atmosphere you wanted to be in. You sit on the kitchen counter, a cup of tea beside you and a book in your hand. You would much rather be doing this. Loud voices bring you from the words on the page. He’s home, and with a guest. You look over at the clock on the stove; it was well into the morning. You keep quiet as you listen to him struggling to unlock the door. You feel no desire to help him. Once the door is open you get a good look at his guest. Blonde. They were always blonde. Neither of them see you as you remain perched in the kitchen and they stumble up the stairs. There goes your place to sleep. You roll your eyes and quietly thank the builders of this house for not making the bedroom above the kitchen. You bring your attention back to the book in your hands. You remain on the counter; you didn’t really have anywhere else to go now. You do everything you can to block out the noises trickling down from the bedroom. It was hopeless though. You get down from the counter, walk across the living room to the office. You need headphones. You pull out the pair hooked into his computer and make your way back to the kitchen. You place them over your ears, hooking them into your phone and blasting music. You couldn’t comprehend any of the words in your book with the music this loud, so you just listened, setting the book aside. Five or six songs go by before you dare press pause. The house was quiet. You sigh, taking the headphones off and picking your book back up. The sound of voices once again brings you from your reading and you roll your eyes in annoyance. This time it was just Harry’s, he wasn’t even trying to be quiet. He was being so courteous tonight. He drunkenly brings himself downstairs, the sheet from the bed wrapped around his hips. You would definitely be doing laundry later on.  “Oh, hey,” he greets, a little caught off guard that you’re sitting in his kitchen. “Hi,” you return, wanting to keep this conversation short after knowing what he had just finished doing. “Why aren’t you asleep?” He questions, he clearly hadn’t caught the short conversation memo. You show him your book and he nods, heading straight to the fridge for a drink. Well this is awkward. Probably not for him because he’s still clearly drunk and has no idea what is going on. For you on the other hand you have no idea what to do. What do you say to him? Obviously nothing now, but what will you say to him? He had never brought a girl home with him while you were around, ever. He usually never even went out. His focus was always on you. Things had obviously changed. You watch him, wanting so badly to say something but not knowing how. This kind of behavior was terribly destructive, nearly as bad as what he was doing to himself by being in that relationship. You want to help him, but you just don’t know how. All of this is still so new to you. So you let him go. Back up the stairs to be with the girl he had more than likely just met a couple of hours ago. This isn’t him; someone else has taken over. 

Liam: You look down at the clock on the computer screen, it was a wretched time. However, you hadn’t spoken to him very much since getting back from Australia, and now he was back on the road. Japan to be exact.  “How is everything?” You inquire, putting your earbuds in, trying hard to be awake enough to have a conversation with him, the kind of conversation you know he deserves. “It’s Japan. It’s always great here. We just landed, so we haven’t had a lot of time to do anything, but tomorrow Niall and I are going to one of those robotics stores, so that should be a lot of fun.” “That’s awesome. You’re going to take me to Japan with you one day, right?” You tease. “If Japan is where you want to go, then Japan is where I will take you.” You smile at his words, he was such a sweetheart. “How is everything at home?” He continues. “Everything here is good,” you begin, thinking back through the last couple of days. “I can’t really think of any neighborhood gossip to tell you because nothing has been going on. It sucks.” He laughs at your joking frustrations. “I miss that laugh,” you remark, you hadn’t heard it in so long. “I miss you,” he counters and you smile. “You’ll just have to bring me along more often,” you tease. “Don’t tempt me,” he replies, completely serious. Just then a groan comes from behind you and you silently pray that Liam hadn’t heard it. You watch the screen carefully for any inclination that he suspected anyone else other than you in the room. His expression remains the same and you let out the breath you had been holding in. You had to get out of the bedroom. You were stupid for answering his call in here anyways. You slowly slide the chair away from the table, picking up the laptop. “Where are you going?” A sleepy voice asks from the bed. You look down at the computer screen; Liam’s attention had just been gotten. “Who is that?” He asks, his eyes looking directly at you. You sigh deeply. You didn’t want to tell him. You watch as he rolls his eyes and rips his headphones off. “Liam,” you say helplessly as he pushes the laptop from his legs. It was hopeless to try and talk to him, he couldn’t hear you. The stare at the headboard of his hotel bed for only a moment before the screen goes back and the call is disconnected. “Fuck!” You shout in anger. He hadn’t even given you a chance. But then again when had he ever given you a chance with Mark? Never. “What’s happened?” You turn around to face the bed, the room was dark but the light from your computer screen illuminated the space enough. “The call was dropped. Lost connection, I guess.” You had to lie. You couldn’t tell him that your best guy friend acted like a jealous madman every time his name or even the thought of him came up. You wanted to keep Mark around, not have Liam scare him off. “Oh, well maybe he will call back. If not, there’s always tomorrow.” He had no idea, you felt bad for keeping information from him, information you knew he deserved to know. It just wasn’t the right time for it though. You were sure he would be able to sense Liam’s attitude if they met, when they met. Wouldn’t that be the day? You didn’t want to think about it. You set the computer back down on the desk, closing it, and taking a step back. You wouldn’t be talking to Liam anymore tonight. You turn to face the bed. A smile from Mark quickly brightens your mood. You crawl under the covers with him, his arms wrapping around you as you turn the light off. You would never be able to understand how someone so sweet could be hated so much by a person that has never even met them. It made no sense. You had to step in and take charge of this situation and soon. Liam had clearly allowed his senses to take him over, and it was going to be a fight to get him back.