Running Out Of Time - Completed.

Chapter 3

"Sit down both of you, "Paul barked. "Now that wasn't such a smart move was it?" He looked directly at Harry. What if a pap saw you coming here last night. What if one was outside just now?"

This morning," Harry corrected. "I was giving my boyfriend and spit and polish when you interrupted."

Louis groaned. "Harold," he warned.

"Don't be so vulgar!" Paul said.

Harry huffed. "This is fucked up, Lou." He turned his attention to Paul. "We've done everything you've asked from us. We allow the public to think we have girlfriends, cause heaven forbid they would find out we were gay. We've posed for the paps whenever and with whomever, you set us up with. We've played your games and took part in these ridiculous stunts you force us to do. You really think the fans don't notice I'm now wearing two identical rings, just because Camilla was photographed with the ring in a glossy magazine. They knew my ring was from Ben, they weren't going to be fooled after the stunt you played with Taylor and the paper plane necklace. You need to give them more credit. The fans know more about the band than you even do."

Louis noticed Harry's fists were clenched and so leaned over and rubbed his back gently. Harry breathed slowly as he tried to relax.

"Talking of stunts," The woman spoke up. "It didn't go unnoticed, your little stunt you pulled on The Late Late Show."

Louis remained stone-faced, but Harry smirked as he remembered when the band when to sit down on the couch, he'd jumped ahead of Liam, he was supposed to sit next to Harry and even swopped the cups around so that Liam got his drink back. Harry and Louis needed to be together, they need to have some physical contact and it didn't go unseen by the fans, that their knees were touching throughout the interview.

Paul interrupted Harry's flashback. "And while we're on this subject. Your disappearing act needs to stop?"

Harry stared back with his eyebrows raised.

"You two, disappearing off stage all the time."

"It's not all the time," Louis defended.

"Yes, well. It has to stop." Paul said.

"Why," Harry demanded. "We're not doing any harm. We're still doing our job, entertaining the crowd."

"Because," Paul said. "It's upsetting the rest of the band."

"Bullshit!" Louis spat. "That's a fooking lie."

"Harry bowed and shook his head. "Bet it was Zayn. He's homophobic like the rest of you."

Paul tutted. "You think we're homophobic because we don't want the public knowing about your relationship? This is all for you. So, you keep your popularity. The female fans. To keep your mech and record sales up. You don't like it, we've told you before. When your contract is up, just walk away from the fame, money, everything. But you'd be fools if you did."

"They are bluffing, Harry," Louis said. "They won't let you walk. You're too important. Besides they know if you walk, I'd go too and that would be the end of 1D and their money spinner."

Paul stood up and scowled over them. "Now you listen very carefully. Louis, you're no longer permitted to sleep in the bus. You'll be staying in the hotel like everyone else but separated. And there will be no more disappearing off stage or there will be consequences."

"Oh, will we need hall passes, Sir?" Harry snapped. "Next you'll be telling us we'll need permission to have a piss."

"This is fooking ridiculous. We're not children."

"Then stop acting like one." Paul sat back down.

"Look, Paul," Harry said. "If you allow us our privacy, there won't be no sneaking around and no chance of being caught as we will be extra careful."

Louis nodded his head. "Yes, you need to give us some leeway here, compromise. This is unfair to us and these restrictions are making us unhappy."

Harry pointed his finger at Paul. "And, don't think this will split us up. Cause it won't work. You've tried and failed many times. So now let us live our lives."

"How are we to go out there and put a smile on our face and pretend we're happy when in fact, we're broken. Do you know what it's like for us not being able to look at each other, or worried that if we're caught smiling we'd get in trouble? You're fooking with our mental health."

There was silence and for a fleeting moment, the boys hoped their sincerity came across.

"Oh, don't be so melodramatic." Paul retorted.

Louis gasped and stood up. He tilted his head, took a step towards Paul and said very slowly. "What did you just say to me?"

Harry stood up and grabbed Louis's arm.

Paul gulped. "It only takes one huge slip and it's over for both of you. Do I have to remind you of the list?"

The list was always bought up every time the boys got out of line. Every time they were caught on camera, doing or saying something that could be evidence of their relationship, it was listed. And the list was growing.

"Yeah, well you only hear about our slip up from your minions," Louis stated. "And they get the evidence from our fans. They are the ones that spend hours creating Larry videos. If the fans never went public, you'd never have known."

There was a photo of Harry's hand on the steamed-up window of the tour bus. You could clearly see his rings. Innocent enough until more photos emerged of them leaving the bus with red scratches down their backs. Harry remembered how wild that day was. The fans didn't miss anything. They were relentless detectives. No matter how careful the boys were, the fans knew about it.

"This isn't up for discussion." Paul snapped. "These new restrictions will come into play immediately and I shall have them added to your contracts, which you will both receive a copy of today."