Lockdown | Harry Styles | AU

Chapter 24

"She's here with him."

Timothee didn't even need to explain any further, Aubrey knew what he meant.

The reality of his words making a lead balloon fill up her chest and fall down to her stomach.

"Ohmygod." Aubrey let out quietly in one breath, her palm spread across her chest as though the mere conversation knocked the fucking wind out of her. Her body doubling over slightly as the physical pain of her disappointment and crushed dreams consumed her entire body— she almost couldn't stand it.

This couldn't be happening...

"What? I mean, what is, what am I-- Why is she here?!" Aubrey fired out in a fierce whisper after stumbling over her words.

"I don't know, Aubs. Maybe because she's his girlfriend." Timothee hushed his reply in a panic as Aubrey began pacing around slightly. "He just decided to bring her." He added as he ran his fingers through his floppy hair, tugging slightly at the roots.

Both of them completely alarmed and stressed by the situation while also trying to remain as quiet as possible. Their unfortunate conversation taking place just by the doorway that led outside and into the kitchen. From where they both stood, they could hear Harry and Dakota's soft voices and occasional laughter as they chatted away in the living room.

The sound made Aubrey want to vomit.

It made her want to cry.

She couldn't do this.

She couldn't stand the humiliation of seeing them together. She couldn't stand the jealousy.

She couldn't stand the pain of it— she'd die first.

"What do I do?" Aubrey pleaded as she paused her movement, her big watery doh eyes looking up into Timothee's as their gaze connected. The pure remorse etched across Timothee's expression actually made Aubrey want to smack the sympathy right out of him.

He felt sorry for her.

And she was tired of him feeling sorry for her.

"I can't do this, Tim." Aubrey's bottom lip trembled as she felt a lump begin to build in her throat. The urge to cry becoming so overwhelming that she wasn't sure she could fight it away.

"You have to, I already told them you're here." Timothee regretfully told her, his hand resting on her shoulder as they continued to stare into each others eyes.

Aubrey squeezed her eyelids shut as soon as he spoke. Her expression utterly mortified as she opened them once again only to watch as Timothee's face flooded with waves and waves of fresh pity.

"Listen, I know Harry," He suddenly grabbed Aubrey's shoulders firmly, stepping closer to her to make sure she paid attention to every single thing he was about to say. "With Dakota here," the sound of her actual name made Aubrey wince, "He won't make a scene. He'll pretend everything's fine. So just be cool, okay? You're just his new dialect coach, that's it. Then after a few minutes, just pretend you don't feel well and head upstairs. Yeah?"

"Tim, I, I don't know..." Aubrey trailed off, hearing the warm sound of Harry's laughter once again in the distance of the house, followed closely by Dakota's gentle giggle.

She was going to be sick. Her stomach jolting with so much envy and anxiety that she felt like she could burst out into tears at any moment.

How was she supposed to get through this.

The same guy that used to touch her, kiss her, hold her. Now she had to see him do that to someone else, someone so perfect! Right in front of her?!

"You're such a strong person, Aubrey." Timothee then interrupted her thoughts, the look on his soft features so serious that Aubrey found herself lost in his eyes for a moment.