Illusion

Chapter 17: Rejection, Regret and Puzzle Pieces

It was a little past 9am when Harry, Louis and the others finally made it back to the outskirts of Frankston. Harry, Louis and Mark had ridden in Louis’ car while Niall, Lottie, Jay and Louis’ newly appointed security guard, Rowan, rode in Jay’s car. Mark had made the executive decision to hire his most trusted friend to be Louis’ personal security after the events of the night before and Rowan had been happy to take on the roll, arriving at the hospital shortly after 7:30am, keen to start immediately.

He was a short, burly man, not unlike Mark, with sandy blonde hair and soft blue eyes. He had a kind, almost baby face, but carried himself in a way that said he wasn't to be trifled with and Louis bonded quickly with the man. He joined in with Louis’ banter and he made Harry laugh, but he knew when to be serious, Louis’ safety his utmost concern.

Both Harry and Louis had dozed off in the backseat of Louis’ car not long after they'd left the hospital as Mark drove them home. They looked happy and content, Mark thought, as he caught a glimpse of them in the rearview mirror. Both of them were slumped against their own respective windows, their breaths fogging up the glass, hands still linked between them even as they slept.

Mark had insisted on driving them, firstly because he'd been the one to drive them into the city in the first place. Secondly because both of them were sleep deprived and in no fit state to drive and thirdly for security reasons, despite Harry's protests.

Harry and Mark had had a lengthy discussion about the possibility of their being yet more paparazzi, fans and news crews camped outside of Louis’ house, now that news of what had happened had been broadcast world wide. He'd assured Harry it wouldn't take long for them to figure out where Louis lived and that he wouldn't be surprised if they returned home to a mob just as big as the one still currently taking up residence in the hospital car park.

Rowan had been quick to reassure a worried Jay that in the event that there was in fact a multitude of people crowding outside their house, that both himself and Mark were trained to deal with such situations and no harm would befall any of them.

Harry wasn't worried about being hurt, or by the fact that his family's faces would once again be world wide news. His worry came in the form of a salt and pepper haired man, who liked to think he controlled every breath that Harry took. He was already in hot water with Simon, his record label and no doubt his manager Jeff and he was in no hurry to make the situation any worse than it needed to be.

It had been as Louis had complained that he wished they'd been able to disguise themselves a little more or somehow throw them off that the idea had come to Harry and he'd acted quickly. He pulled his phone from his pocket, punching in a few numbers before holding his phone to his ear, listening as the phone dialled before the call was answered.

“Harry, is everything ok?” Tay said as she picked up, her voice sounding groggy and full of sleep.

“Tay, oh I'm so sorry did I wake you?” Harry hurried out, feeling a little guilty now, but he was desperate and he needed her help.

“It's fine Harry, what's wrong?”

“I need you to do me a massive favour, please.”

“Sure, give me a second,” Harry could hear the rustle of what he assumed was Tay’s bed covers and a drawer sliding open and then closed. He waited until she was ready before he continued. “Ok, what is it you need?”

“I need you to book both myself and Louis into my regular suite at the Sofitel under our own names.”

“Um, ok. Any particular reason?” Tay asked a little confused, but Harry could hear her furiously scribbling down notes as he spoke.