And then a bit

VII

Billedet blev taget på en sommerdag
Jeg finder det frem og alting vender tilbage
Os to i parken i morgenens tåge
Jeg viser dig mit billede og du hvisker til mig
Jeg har aldrig holdt af nogen som jeg holder af dig
Du ved hvad jeg tænker uden jeg siger noget
(Marie Key – "De her dage")

CHAPTER VII:

"Okay," Ben says as he steps back into the room. "Right. We're just gonna talk the concept over one last time before we start filming, yeah?"

Louis nods from the sofa where he's sitting next to Harry, cuddled up in the younger man's embrace. It's early, like really, really early (alright, it's 9.30 in the morning, but it feels very, very early to Louis, and they've been up for a while, okay?), and Louis is just tired. So, so tired. Harry is warm, and soft, and comfortable, and they're surrounded by people they're supposed to look like a couple in front of, so Harry's arms are totally fair game.

They're shooting the video for the third and last single of their new album today. The album is being released tomorrow, and Louis is feeling quite optimistic about it. Their second video and single were released two weeks ago, and with two videos and two singles out, the reception so far has been beyond everything they dared hope for before Modest! had suggested their charade. The massive media attention given to Harry and Louis, and PR's tireless work to make sure that their new album and tour was mentioned in each and every one of the articles discussing their relationship, seems to have paid off. Thank God. Louis would hate to think that they were doing all of this for the good of nothing.

The video they're about to shoot is the ballad out of the three of their singles, a song Louis wrote himself. He's quite honoured that it's been chosen as a single, to be honest. It's to be a black and white video, as far as Louis has understood, somewhat reminiscent of the Little Things one. All of them have just gone through make up, hair, and wardrobe, with the only thing left to do being waiting for the actual shooting to begin.

"So," Ben says, drawing Louis' attention back to him. They had considered if they wanted to try their hands at a new director for their new videos, but had ultimately decided to keep Ben, mostly out of loyalty, probably. He was good, though, Ben. Still. The two first videos he'd made for this album had been great, so Louis has high hopes for this as well. The song is kind of his baby.

"As you know, we're going with no visible scenery or props except for the piano Louis will be at. We're going for sentimentality, we're going for the dramatic effect. We're putting you in a kind of black box, or white box really, and I want you different places, sometimes a couple of you together, sometimes all alone, and then you're all moving to stand around Louis' piano towards the end of the song. We'll be playing around a lot with light and shadows.

Harry, I think we're going to try to place you on the piano stool with Louis. I'm supposed to make sure there's plenty of love in the air between you two," He pauses and looks meaningfully at the way they're curled around each other on the sofa, "But I suppose that won't be too difficult. How you managed to hide this for a year without any of us suspecting is beyond me."

Louis offers him a sheepish smile while he reaches down to take Harry's hand, squeezing gently. They'd discussed it early, who they were going to tell the truth to, and they'd both agreed that it was smartest to let as few people as possible know. The only two on their team who would know were Lou and Paul, everyone else knew just as much as the general public. It was best that way, least amount of risk. Didn't mean it felt good lying to their close friends.

"Anyway," Ben continues, "Let's get this show on the road. Come on, boys." He motions with his arm towards the door he just entered through. They get up one by one, stretching and yawning, and sluggishly make their way towards the door. Louis will never understand why an inside shoot needs to start this early, but here they are.