Soundtrack Series

FOUR - Change Your Ticket

Harry: You had changed in front of him many times before. However, these last few days he’s been giving you a look. A look like the one he’s giving you now. “What?” You finally question him. You had remained quiet about it up until this point. “Nothing, you’re just so beautiful.” “Shut up,” you counter, rolling your eyes and pulling on your sweatshirt. “No, I’m serious, you really are so beautiful. It’s not like I haven’t always known that you were nice to look at, but damn.” You couldn’t take his compliments. You knew he was just talking out of his ass. Not that he was meaning to or anything. He was just latching onto the nearest thing he could that could give him compassion, and that just so happened to be you. These last few days on the road with him you had seen a shift in his emotions towards you. They were much stronger, clearly. The sex didn’t help. It never does. You should have known better. Never have sex with your best friend; it’s some sort of golden rule or cardinal sin you’re sure of it. But he had been true to his word though, at least in the last couple of days after he had said it. He hadn’t gone back to his ex, which was your main reasoning for flying all of the way out here. You are sure it has something to do with the fact that you can never leave his side while he’s on the road. But nonetheless, she hasn’t come up once while you’ve been around. “You’re delusional,” you comment as you walk into the bathroom to brush your teeth. You had to get back to LA and knew he was going to put up a fight. “Why are you even getting ready? I don’t have to be at the stadium until one.” And here he goes with the ignorance. “You know exactly why I am getting ready,” you say from the bathroom, running the water over your toothbrush and stealing some of his toothpaste. “I don’t, and it’s really bothering me.” You poke your head into the bedroom, glaring at him as you begin to brush your teeth. He only laughs, he knows exactly what he’s doing. You return to your reflection in the mirror, questioning if you should have even made the trip down here. You know you are his rebound, but isn’t it better for him if it’s you and not someone else? It’s definitely better for you and your sanity. You have control of this situation. Now you can really be the one to help him get back to the old Harry, the Harry he was before that retched girl ever walked into his life. You had the power now. You can’t do that to him, though. Harry is your best friend. You can’t just use him like that, no matter if it is a better alternative. He has to find his own way. Your thoughts are broken up by his arms lacing around your waist. “You really shouldn’t be getting ready,” he says into your ear. You see the smile on his face as he begins to kiss your neck and your heart aches. These emotions aren't real. Nothing he is feeling or has been feeling towards you in these last few days means a thing. It hurts you to see him like this, to see him so blind, yet again, to what he is doing to himself. “Well I am,” you return, pulling from him to begin packing your bag. Definitely something you should have done while he was still asleep, he is now going to make this a nightmare for you. “You don’t have to stick by your old rules anymore,” he acknowledges, “I never liked them in the first place.” “I made those rules,” you begin as you pull your bag onto the bed, “so that no one beyond those walls can ever say I am around too much. This is your tour, not mine.” “There’s nothing wrong with you being around, though. You’re three day rule has always been shit to me.” “Yeah, I know that.” “Then don’t go. No one will care at all if you stay for a few more days.” You turn to look at him, you were finished with his playful demeanor. “I will.”

Liam: You weren’t at all sure where you were going. All you know is that apparently Liam was involved because this private plane certainly wasn’t Mark’s. This is all so out of the blue and so very unexpected. You had gotten a text from Mark this morning telling you to take the bag that was packed by the front door of the apartment and get in the taxi to come to the airport. You hadn’t encountered either of them on your journey so far, so that brought even more questions up. You were assuming none of the staff on the flight were allowed to say anything about your destination because they hadn’t said a word to you other than a simple greeting when you stepped on board. You weren’t big on surprises, but Mark was one of the best at them so this, whatever this was, was sure not to disappoint. You were so proud of Liam. He had actually taken your advice towards Mark and given him a chance, obviously. He had actually helped Mark out with all of this. Of course, none of that had actually been confirmed by either of them, but this was a surprise so why would they tell you anything. This plane is definitely Liam’s doing though; you have been on it before. Your legs begin to fidget in anticipation as the plane begins to descend. All of the windows had been closed, and you had been instructed not to lift them. You wanted to so badly, though. You want to know where you are. You hadn’t been in the air for very long. Less than an hour you are almost certain. You surely still have to be in the UK. But your passport had been packed in the bag for you. Confusion was sweeping over you quickly. As the plane prepares to land, your heart begins to race. You are so close to finding out where Mark had sent you. Once officially on the ground, the attendant brings you your bag from storage, a bright smile on her face. Of course she would be smiling, she knows what is going on. The pilot opens the cabin door, and you get up from your seat. He smiles at you as you make your way to him. “Cheers,” you say to him as he extends his hand to you. You shake his hand, and he nods. You step out into the air; it was cold. Looking around, it all seems vaguely familiar. A car is waiting for you at the bottom of the stairs;  its driver stands beside the open door. You quickly walk down the stairs to get out of the cold. A smile on your face. Mark must be in there. You walk up to the open door, empty. The entire car is empty. Confused, you get into the backseat, setting your bag beside you as the driver closes the door. You watch as he walks around the front of the car and gets into the driver’s seat. “Can you tell me where we are?” You ask, hoping he was actually able to tell you. He shakes his head with a smile. Mark was really going all out with this. As you begin your drive away from the airport the streets are looking even more recognizable. You are looking around for any sort of popular land mark, hoping something will catch your eye but nothing comes. He must have been instructed to avoid them. You keep your eyes on the street names, and it soon hits you. You’re in London. But why did you need a private flight to London? Surely Mark knew you would have much rather made the drive with him. That had to be Liam’s suggestion. The car slows as it approaches a very tall building. One you are sure you have seen before, possibly even been in. You haven’t made very many trips to London in the past, but you are certain you know this area. The car dips down into a parking garage, and all the familiarity of the surface goes away. The car stops by the lifts, and the driver gets out. “He should be down any moment, you can go ahead and get out.” You slide out of the backseat, it was useless trying to identify where you were based on a parking garage. You hear the lift chime, and your focus turns to the doors. They slowly open and you smile. Wherever you are, you are happy to be here with…Liam?