runaways || h.s

three;

Lola stretched her arms across the bed, the coldness of the sheets causing her to withdraw her limbs back under the covers into the warmth of her own body heat. She pulled the blanket over her head when the curtains were pulled open revealing the bright, morning sunshine.









"Harry," she groaned from under the duvet.









A body plopped down onto the mattress beside her and shook her body, attempting to pull the sheet covering her face but she clung to it. "Come on, Lola. Time to wake up, we have a big day ahead of us," Harry cooed, just on the verge of bursting into laughter. He shook her one more time, which only ended in Lola jumping out of the blankets and smacking Harry on his arm clad in a black sweater.









"Hey!" Harry yelped as she hit him again. "Lola!" He ran from the bed and out of the bedroom and across the hall into his own, smaller one, leaving a laughing Lola in her own bedroom with the door now closed and locked.









Just over an hour later, Lola and Harry were sat at the dining table, a breakfast - although it was closer towards lunch now, so brunch - was placed in front of them on plates that they'd managed to find in one of the cabinets. Harry ran out while Lola was in the shower to get some food and snacks and prepared their meal of eggs sunny-side up with toast.









The two of them devoured their food, leaving little drops of yellow yolk in the corners of their mouths and some scattered along the table that didn't quite make it on to the plate or into their mouths. Harry took the plates to the kitchen and Lola wiped down the table.









"Ready to find yourself a job, Ms. Lola?" Harry asked with a smirk tugging at his lips, the yellow already swiped up with his tongue.









Lola nodded and smiled before saying, "I'm ready, let's go."









As they left their new home, the two of them caught a cab and headed to where Harry was going to be working at a club - a different kind of club, though.









It wasn't a strip club, but there were dancers up on a stage in quite provocative outfits, but they sang their own music instead of just dancing to prerecorded songs, so that gave the place a whole twist making it quite popular. Harry was going to work at the bar with some other lads that he didn't remember the names of, but he knew they would be working together most of the time.









The car pulled up to the curb and Lola was already opening the door and stepping out before it came to a complete stop due to pure curiosity and wonder. The building in front of her stood out from the others on its side. The outside brick was painted black with neon graffiti all over it that read "Masquerade" over and over again in different colors and styles. The word was then again repeated above the door on a sign that lit up, but because it was early it was turned off, but Lola could imagine how it looked when it was turned on; bright and beautiful against the black wall.









Harry stepped up onto the cement beside Lola as the car they just left sped off down the street with his generous pay from Harry. "It's fucking sick, isn't it?" Harry said, leaning over towards Lola to say it into her ear.









Lola nodded, taking a look at the boy beside her who was looking at her, as well. "Did you just say fucking sick?" She asked quickly, holding back a giggle.









"Yes," Harry said with his brow raised showing his confusion. "Why?"









"I've never heard you swear," she admitted. "And then you say fucking sick out of nowhere. It's just funny." She shrugged and let a small smile float on her lips.









Harry laughed and shook his head. "Alright," he said, grabbing Lola's hand and pulling her towards the front entrance of the club.









He gripped the cold, metal handle and yanked the door open, revealing a darkly lit room. As they walked further in, they noticed the booth set into the walls and tables closer towards the stage and runway coming from the stage. A DJ booth was off the left-hand side of the stage and bar on the right.









"You must be Harry!" A voice boomed, and then a woman appeared from around the stage curtain and began walking towards the two along the stage.









Harry extended his hand to the lady who was clad in tight leather pants and a matching leather bra and leather pumps. She took Harry's hand and her perfect dark red lips turned up into a smile before saying, "I'm Nicolette, but you can call me Nic."









"As you already know, I'm Harry," he said with a laugh, pulling his hand back.









Nic then turned her gaze to Lola who stood next to Harry, her frame much smaller than his broad one, and Lola's eyes were fixed on the busty beauty in front of her; Nicolette's perfectly curled blonde hair spiraling down her chest and back, her all-leather outfit fitting snuggly on her fit body, and her makeup done perfectly and nothing out of place.









"And who's this?" Nic said, then holding her hand out to Lola who quickly placed her own in it.









Harry said, "This is Lola," before Lola had the chance to answer for herself, earning Harry a look with knitted eyebrows and parted lips.









"Lovely name, dear," Nic said, smiling at Lola, which seemed generous enough as she pretty much had her claws dug into Harry's arm the next second and began dragging him towards what she said was her office, not that Harry minded.









Lola trailed behind; looking around at everything she hadn't seen before Nicolette had made an appearance. But when she finally did make it to the office, Harry had already been seated in a chair in front of a large desk and Nic had planted herself on the edge of the desk right in front of Harry.









"There's Louis and Zayn working the bar around the same time you will, oh, Lola, take a seat, and they'll show you everything you need to know," the red lipped blonde was saying as Lola stood by the open door. Lola did as she was told and took the only other seat beside Harry who was basically drooling over the woman in front of him, almost completely forgetting Lola was there.









"Got it," Harry said with a nod. "So I start tonight?"









"Yes, we've got a new show prepared and a bust crowd so we will need the whole staff on duty tonight." Just as she finished her sentence, music started playing from the main room and a voice began singing. "Perfect timing," Nic said, clapping her hands together. "The girls have just began practice, why don't you come meet them, yeah?"









Lola stepped out of the room first - before Nicolette even finished her suggestion - out of curiosity. When she did, there were about ten girls lined up horizontally on the stage, each wearing a slightly different version of Nic's leather outfit. They were dancing the same routine, all in perfect harmony, too, and they were taking turns singing different lines. Although there wasn't lighting and they didn't have microphones to boost their voices, it was amazing.









"Girls!" Nicolette said, the girls on the stage instantly stopping. Lola looked over at Harry, who was on the other side of Nic, and this time he actually looked back at her and smiled. She smiled back then turned her focus on the girls stepping from the stage.









"This is Harry and Lola, Harry's going to work here at the bar starting tonight, so you've better give him a good show on his first time," Nic said with a wide smile; it was all she seemed to do.









The girls then began introducing themselves to the two, Lola not really paying much mind to them as they only seemed to show much interest in Harry. Lola was just about to turn and take a seat at a table and wait for Harry to be finished when one of the girls came up to Lola and said, "I'm Taylor and I wanted to say I really love your outfit."









Lola smiled at the girl who couldn't be any older than herself and said, "Why thank you," and then added, "I think I'm actually going to ask Nicolette if I can borrow your outfits, they're hot."









Taylor laughed and pushed a strand of dyed red hair behind her ear. "Aren't they? When we were told leather I wasn't so sure, but when we got fitted, I didn't want to take it off!"









"Your clothes are specially made?" Lola quickly asked.









"Just our stage clothes, I still have to buy everything else I wear," she laughed. "Sometimes I'll sneak pieces home and bring them back when their needed, but don't tell anyone." She held a finger to her red lips.









Lola copied and held her finger to her own lips and whispered, "Your secret is safe with me."









Before Lola could say anything else to Taylor, Nicolette ushered them back onto the stage to continue rehearsal and said to Harry, "I'll see you tonight! Bring Lola; I'm sure she'll have a great time." She then turned to Lola and said, "It was nice meeting you, hopefully I will see you tonight," before running onto the stage to help coach the girls.









When the two were out on the sidewalk, Lola turned to Harry and waited for him to say something but he didn't, so she said, "So do you think you're going to fancy working here?"









Harry nodded, "Yeah, seems really fun."









He seemed distant and Lola picked up on it and nudged him in the arm. "Hey," she said. "Stop being all soppy, you've got a job, at least - and at this place!"









"So you wouldn't be angry if I told you I might have landed a job for you?"









Lola grinned and shook her head excitedly. Of course she wouldn't be angry if she worked there, I mean, who could be?









"Well I landed a job for you, that is, if you want it?" He said and Lola nodded and urged him to tell her what it was. "It's not much, but at least it's something for now. Nic told me they needed another waitress and I told her you would do it."









Lola's smile dropped, that was not what she was expecting. She wanted something on stage, something in front of the people to entertain; not just someone who took drink orders and was walking back and forth from the bar to tables.









"I don't want to," she said folding her arms across her chest.









Harry took hold of both her upper arms, "Please, Lola! I already told her that you would do it, you can't back out on me." Harry pulled a face with his bottom lip jutting out in a pout and his eyebrows creasing together and Lola couldn't help but smile.









"Fine! Fine, I'll do it."









Harry wrapped his arms around her petit frame and mumbled thank you's into her neck, sending tingles up her spine and a warmth where his mouth met her bare skin.









"I'll talk to Nic about your singing and see if she'll maybe let you up on stage to make up for it, yeah?" Harry offered as he pulled out of the hug. Lola's grin returned and she nodded. "Alright, good, now let's go explore." He pulled her by the hand down the street, the smiles never leaving the both of their faces.









The club was packed, and by packed there were people wall-to-wall, not even being able to snag a seat at a table or at a booth along the back wall. Even the all the bar stools were taken. When Nicolette had mentioned a large crowd, neither Harry nor Lola had expected this.









Lola was busy working tables, taking drink orders and managing to find her way through the crowd to the bar, and then have to take the drinks back through the winding rows of people, mostly men. Harry was at the bar, filling orders to rowdy men and the occasional girl who stopped for a drink and to mingle with the attractive bartenders.









There were five other guys working the bar with Harry tonight, Harry working one side with two lads by the name of Louis and Zayn. Louis was older than Zayn and himself, but Harry's tall frame made him slightly tower over the blue-eyed man. Zayn wasn't quite as tall as Harry, either, but he wasn't that much taller than Louis. But either way, he worked well with the two of them.









Lola made her way up to the bar, her tray tucked under her arm and her face flushed. Harry instantly slid over to her, wanting to be able to talk to her for a bit before she was off to another table.









"Two beers for the lovely lads at the table in the second row," Lola said, leaning up against the bar, her voice clearly dripping with sarcasm.









Harry grabbed two glasses and began filling them up with the beer in the tap, from what he tasted earlier, it was light. "You seem a bit out of it," Harry noted when Lola didn't say anything else and continued to remain quite as Harry got her order.









She turned and fixed her gaze on Harry who stood just in front of her, well, behind the bar, with two glass cups full of beer, the foam slightly over the rim and running down the side. She shook her head and said, "Just thinking."









Harry handed the drinks over. "About what? It's seemed to consume you," he pried, hoping to get something out of her.









"Nothing important," she quickly said with a fake smile before hoisting the tray with the drinks on it up into the air and making her way from the bar to the table she just left. Truthfully, what was on her mind wasn't quite 'important', but rather different. The guy at the table she was heading to was flirting with her before she had left for their drinks; quite intensely, too.









But before she had much more to think about, a voice broke through her thoughts saying, "Ah, there she is." She recognized the voice and put on a small smile, lowering her tray and placing the beers on the small table in front of the two men.









"Thanks, babe," the flirt said with a wink. She nodded and began to walk away when he caught her wrist in his hand and pulled her back. "Before you go, I want to know your name." He didn't ask, but instead he demanded to know.









"Lola," she said, her wrist still in his not-so-sober grip.









"Lola," he repeated, the name sounding odd as it rolled off his tongue. "Well, Lola, why don't you meet me here after your shift and we can get to know each other." She noticed the Rolex watch on his wrist and the rather expensive suit he was wearing. Then she noticed the membership card on the table and realized he was a regular. But, to be honest, she didn't think see him as a bad guy; she was attracted to him, for an unknown reason. And she wanted to get to know him.









She nodded and smiled, for real this time. His grip loosened on her wrist and his hand slid down into her palm before he took her hand and pressed his lips to her knuckles.









"I'll see you later, Lola," He said just loud enough for her to hear before louder music began to play and the lights dimmed. The show was about to begin. His hand dropped from hers and he gave a genuine smile before turning his attention to the stage not far from the table. She took this as her cue to leave, but most of everyone was focused on the stage, so she hurried back to the bar.









She spotted Harry immediately, standing beside two other guys and were lost in conversation, yet their eyes were trained on the dancers coming from behind the curtain.









"Hi," she said, a smile on her lips as she leaned on the bar, facing Harry.









"Hi," he responded, leaning just opposite of her on the dark wood counter top. "You seem cheery."









Lola's smile didn't falter, her mind full of little visions of what would happen when she got off and met up with the man she still didn't know the name of. Of course she wasn't after his money, money wasn't something on her priority list, but he fascinated in an odd sense, an odd sense she liked.









"A bit, yeah," she giggled, turning around to face what was happening up on stage. But on stage was where she wished she was, dancing and singing for other's entertainment - for her own entertainment.









She noticed Taylor, the girl she had met earlier in the day, towards the middle of the stage swaying her hips, and before she actually noticed, Lola had begun imitating the dancing on stage. No one really noticed her, but Harry did, and his eyes remained on her until Nicolette had taken the stage, her microphone set louder than the other girl's.









The songs that were sung were originals, written by someone at the club, maybe Nicolette or maybe someone else, but they were provocative, and so was the dancing. The girls weren't nude, but they had minimal clothing on during different sets. But this didn't turn Lola away and not make her want to be up there any less than she already did. She wasn't one to look at, or for, the bad in things and people.









When men began whistling and cheering and shouting at the woman on the stage, the entire place became increasingly loud. Lola could hear one of the guys beside Harry say something about an 'especially rowdy crowd tonight' and the other responded with a short chuckle.









The place began to die down a bit after what seemed like the 20th set, some of the girls having solo's, and then one big production for the finale, the leather outfits making their first appearance. Lola's grin spread and she continued to copy the dance moves done on stage, humming along with the song as much as she could, she even heard Harry hum a bit. When it was over another round of cheers and shouting erupted in the room and the women gave a wave and some blew kisses to the men in the audience and disappeared behind the curtain.









When Lola finally turned around to face Harry, he wasn't there. She was confused and could have sworn she heard him humming not too long ago. "Have you seen Harry? The other guy working here," she asked the two other bartenders.









"Yeah, he left a bit ago to meet up with Nic," said the man with wispy hair and eyes as blue as the sea.









"Oh," she mumbled, quite disappointed.









"You're Lola, right?" The darker haired one asked. She nodded, her lips still forming a frown. "I'm Zayn, this is Louis."









They both smiled widely, and she swore the entire place could have lit up with just that, so of course she had to smile back, with a small laugh, even.









"He said we could give you a ride home, he wasn't sure when he'd be coming back around," Louis said.









Lola looked over her shoulder in the general direction of where she was supposed to meet up with someone. When she turned back to the two behind the bar, their eyebrows were raised waiting for her answer. Before, she had been reluctant on going back to the man she hadn't even known the name of, wanting to spend her second night in London with Harry, but he was gone and didn't even know when he would be back. She shook her head, "I've got to meet up with someone, but thanks for the offer."









"No problem," Zayn said with a curt nod, turning to attend to a man who claimed he was in need of more booze but clearly had enough.









She gave Louis another smile before getting ready to turn and make her way back through the crowd to the table by the stage when Louis called her name, making her spin back around to face the blue eyed boy once again.









"Are you going to come around again, or was this your first and last as Harry said?"









"I might be back, you'll have to wait and see," she said, her pink lips tugging up into a smile before pushing off the bar and into the rushing people who were either making their way to the bar for one last drink or out onto the streets of London.









"Didn't think you were coming," a voice said in her ear, making shivers crawl up her spine. She turned quickly, almost losing her balance and crashing into a body whose familiar suit she recognized.









"Surprise," she said, looking up at the dark eyed man before her, his sandy colored hair brushed away from his face.









"Yes," he said with a small smirk upon his lips that weren't quite as pink as Harry's, and not as plump either. "Surprise, surprise." He then bent down and placed a small peck on her cheek and wrapped his arm around her petit waist. "Why don't we get out of here, it's beginning to only smell of booze and smoke."











Lola nodded, sinking into the warmth of his body, his arm wrapped tightly around her to keep from losing her as he pushed through the drunken mess of people who had one to many. She found herself stumbling over her own feet clad in high black pumps from the alcohol she had consumed earlier in the night. Although she wasn't sure where the man she still didn't know the name of was taking her, she felt comfortable with him, if that was possible considering they had only exchanged a small amount of words, but Lola only saw the good in people, whether that itself was good or bad.





Author's note: helloooo, hope you enjoyed this chapter :) please let me know what you thought in the comments down below and by pressing vote! It would also be fantastic if you followed me, I'd love to check out your stories as well. :~)