Ripped Away (A Harry Styles Fan Fiction)

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty

Harry strode back into the kitchen and placed the phone back on its charger.

“What was that about?” Louis asked, taking note of Harry’s expression.

“Management,” was all Harry had to say for all the boys to roll their eyes. They knew all too well what that meant.

Exhaustedly, Niall breathed, “What is it ‘dey want ya ta do ‘dis time?”

“Find a new girlfriend?” Louis muttered bitterly.

“No,” Harry answered, leaning back in his seat. “Just pretend the one I had didn’t die.”

Everyone’s heads snapped to meet Harry’s eyes with jaw-hanging stares. His eyebrows went up as if to validate what he had just said was true.

After a few seconds of stunned silence, Louis piped up furiously. “Are you kidding me?!”

“Pretend like Crystal’s still alive?” Liam asked blankly as though it was the dumbest thing he’d heard.

“How ‘de hell is ‘dat gonna work?” Niall added, equally confused.

Harry was so glad he had the support from his band mates. He probably couldn’t deal with this right now if it weren’t for them. “I know. I don’t get it. How can they be so mechanical? Like, did someone forget to inform them that an actual human being has been murdered? I guess that stuff doesn’t matter in the world of business.”

“I guess we all saw that coming, though, didn’t we?” Zayn chimed in, not surprised that management would try to pull a stunt like this.

Harry shook his head in annoyance. At this point, he couldn’t care less about his own career. But he knew he had to comply with management, because there were four other boys that shared his life, and he couldn’t ruin it for them for his own selfish reasons.

Anne was speechless up until that point. “Harry, that isn’t right. They can’t expect you to do that.”

“Ya, what are ‘dey thinkin’? ‘Dat everythin’s just gonna go back ta normal?” Niall said.

Harry nodded. “I guess I’ll just have to do my best to fake it.”

“Woa, woa. Harry, wait a minute. You’re not actually going through with this, are you?” Zayn asked, concern overwhelming his features.

“I don’t really have a choice, Zayn. You know what happens when management doesn’t get what they want. I’m not jeopardizing your careers just to be stubborn. And besides, they did make a valid point that releasing this kind of news wouldn’t produce a particularly positive response…”

Liam shook his head slowly. “They can’t do this. It’s too far. You’re entitled to grieve over your loss; they can’t ask you to live in denial. It’s not healthy.”

“Guys, I’ll do what I have to for now. It’ll be fine. When the time comes, I’ll let everyone in.” Harry finished, and everyone at the table suddenly realized why Harry wasn’t going mad about it. Deep down, he didn’t really want to tell anyone about Crystal’s death. Sure, he wanted to be truthful to the fans, but he wasn’t sure if he was ready for the world to know. He needed a little time, and management’s method of stalling, though immoral, was a method nonetheless.

Anne rubbed Harry’s back to reassure him that he was understood, supported, and loved. As they continued their feasting, the subject of conversation was dropped, to Harry’s great relief.

Looking up, Harry noticed that Louis had been unusually quiet amongst the dull roar of chatter filling the room. His eyes were glazed over, as if he were lost in his thoughts. He stared blankly at the centre of the table, his body absent of movement.