stand here with me || h.s

14.

Fourteen : Harry & Hallie

We sat there, the four of us, tails between our legs, timidly awaiting the inevitable lecture. It was Louis's doing, and it was a doozy, but we weren't about to abandon him when the only thing he had done was stood up for the rest of us. Kevin, the oldest of the men leaned forward, eyes scanning over the single sheet of paper in his hands. "Have you blanked on the four years we spent as brothers, you fucking selfish prick?" He put the paper down now and zeroed in on each of us, but mainly Louis. "And that's only the beginning. Well done, Mr. Tomlinson. Well done."
"What was I supposed to fucking say? He was bashing on us when the only reason-"
"I am not interested in hearing your view on this matter, Louis. You have, once again, put a damper on this band and this only furthers your reputation as a short-tempered, crazed young man. We're not going to tolerate it any longer. This ends now. Unless you want your social media rights entirely provoked, then we all suggest you quit your childish bickering with Zayn and get over it. He's been gone for almost a year now, it's time to move on." Louis shook his head, clearly aggravated. "And as for you three, do not engage this. It's only been two hours and the fans are already going crazy. Do not give them anything more to work with. You're dismissed." He actually just dismissed us, like we were a class full of rowdy school boys. We filed out of the Los Angeles office and walked down to the underground carpark.
"Fucking wankers, every one of them, fuck them."
"Lou..." Liam warned.
"No, you know what? Fuck Zayn! This is on him. He and that fat fuck start this shit and I say something and suddenly we're all at fault."
"Well, m'pretty sure they're only blamin' you, lad. Sorry t'say." Niall scratched at his head awkwardly, yet still managing to reduce some of the tension.
"I was sticking up for you, for us because apparently we mean jack shit to that bloody Eminem-wannabe-fucker." I couldn't help but laugh at that slightly accurate description.
"Let's just...take a breath, mate. Go home, sleep it off, let's just forget about him. Forget about all of this, yeah?" He watched me intently for a few seconds before knocking on the hood of his Range Rover.
"Fuck it, you're right. Fine, I'll forget it happened."
"Good call, Tommo." Niall slapped him on the back and Liam hugged him from behind.
"Let's have a lad's night tomorrow, yeah? Before you lot fly home?" They exchanged glances before nodding at me.
"I'll bring the beer." Niall volunteered.
"I'll bring my lovely new vape...it's wicked, boys."
"I'm the snack guy. Junk food all around?"
"How about some broccoli? Or juice, Liam?" He smiled a very fake smile.
"How about no, Styles!"
"Alright, alright. Seven at mine?"
"Seven at yours. We'll see you then, mate." We then went our separate ways, each of us climbing into a different car and pulling out of the dimly lit garage.

Hallie.

I couldn't sleep. Not for the life of me. I was alone in my house, but it was okay. I was okay. E! News was on in the background, Louis's very verbal slam on Zayn and his fat friend was practically on repeat, and I wasn't going to lie, the blue eyed boy was spot on. As my phone rang, I lowered the volume and wiped the popcorn remnants from my fingers. His name appeared and I took a breath before answering. "What?"
"It's me." I stayed quiet, not wanting to say anything-not even sure what to say. "Hello?" Again, nothing. "Hello? Hal..."
"Hello."
"Hi."
"Hi." Now it was his turn to remain silent. "You can't call me..."
"You think I don't know that? I know that. I can't call you, I can't talk to you, I can't see you...we can't do this."
"We can't do this."
"What did I say? I know." I let out a sigh, not wanting to have this conversation but also not wanting it to be over. "Hal-"
"No. Pretend I'm somebody else, someone you hate. Hang up."
"You hang up." I didn't say anything and I didn't hang up because I physically could not hang up. When he realized that I wasn't going to end the call, he continued on. "Did you see Louis's lovely outburst?" I couldn't help but smile.
"I'm on my third viewing." We both laughed.
"He rang the 'we're not brothers anymore' bell. He's...jesus. Louis Tomlinson, ladies and gentleman..."
"And the crowd goes wild."
"He's getting so much negative criticism, Hallie. And now they're lookin' at us and no one's speakin' out in his defense."
"Are you going to say anything?"
"I can't-management won't let us say a bloody word." I could hear the defeat in his voice, the disappointment. He was a good friend-the best friend.
"You have to make a choice, Harry."
"I know."
"This thing with Louis...it's everywhere."
"I know it is."
"You wanna know what I would do?"
"No." I could hear him smile. "I don't need you." I let a wide smile grow on my face.
"To hell with management. Do not let them box you in or push you around. This is your life. Louis is your friend. They do not own you, they can not control you. Own this. Own being the man who you are. Harry Edward Styles is not a little puppy dog who lets a few assholes tell him what to do. Take a stand, be the man who I know you are." He didn't say a word for what seemed like forever, but when he did, I knew he was smiling. I could hear his smile.
"I hate you." My smile was everywhere. My eyes, my voice, my lips, my heart...
"I hate you too." More silence followed, but it was the kind of silence you relish in. I didn't want to hang up, but I really didn't have anything further to say. We sat there silently, phones to our ears, breathe coming out in relaxed puffs...
"Goodnight, Hallie Mantegna."
"Goodnight, Harry Styles."