About Time // Larry Stylinson

Chapter Seven

"I like your shirt, Haz."

I look down, buttoning up the shirt. The grey and pink fabric hung loose around my body. Smiling at Louis, I begin tucking the shirt into my jeans.

Louis walks over to me. "Leave it untucked," He says, giving me a cheeky wink and, to my surprise, he reaches out and pulls the fabric out of my waistband. I look down at him, watching the way his now dry hair falls onto his forehead every time he lowers his gaze.

"Management wants us again today, you know? It's all of us this time," He looks up at me, removing his hands from my waist.

"Oh," I said. He must have gotten the phone call. "When? What for?"

"In about five minutes. I thought you knew, sorry," He looks down. "I don't know what for, but I can only assume it's about the album or tour or something."

-

I walk into the meeting room, and part of me wants to walk straight back out again. The all too familiar hotel-song-recording set up is in place; mattresses lined the walls and ceiling, and a microphone stood in the corner of the room. Looking around, I find an empty seat and sit down, though I can feel that Louis is stood behind me.

"For f-ck's sake," I hear him whisper. I turn and grab his hand, getting nothing but glares from members of the team. I glare back and don't let go.

When the other boys get here, I drop his hand - we hadn't told them what had happened between us, and Louis wanted to keep it that way. I watch them take seats around the table, the one next to me still empty. Louis sits down in the vacant chair, and slides his hand onto my knee under the table.

"Alright," Lizzie's voice comes from the other side of the room. "As you can see, we're starting recording today," She looks around. "The writers will take you through the first song, and we hope to have it finished today."

I look over at the clock on the wall. It's already two in the afternoon, and she wants it finished today? If this is how we're going to be working, and next few months are going to be a nightmare. Feeling the grip on my leg tighten, I look over at Louis. Rage is taking over his face; his eyes darken, and his eyebrows pull together, almost forming one. I place my hand on top of his in an attempt to calm him. Feeling some tension leave his arm, I look over at him. A smile forms weakly on his lips, and I take that as a good sign.

"Alright," One of the writers, who I recognise as Jim, stands up. "I'm taking Harry and Niall. Savan will take Louis, Liam and Zayn."

I secretly hoped I would be with Louis, but I also want to be with Zayn. He's not the same man who joined One Direction in 2010. He's quieter and more withdrawn, and I worry he won't make it through the tour. None of the other boys had picked up on it, as far as I could tell, so I feel partially responsible for him. I roll my eyes and stand up, following the writer out the door and into the next room.

"The new song's called Jenny," He hands both me and Niall the sheet music. "I've highlighted the parts that each of you will do, and we're coming back together in an hour to start recording."

I look down at the sheet. Crappy lyrics, mimicking that of the songs the writers used to do, stare back at me. I look over at Niall, who seems just as disappointed.

"What do you think?" Jim breaks the silence.

I open my mouth to speak, but Niall cuts in. "I think," He says, pushing his glasses up his nose. "That these are nothing compared to what I've been doing, or Harry's been doing, or any of us for that matter."

Jim remains surprisingly calm. "I know."

I stare in disbelief.

"We wanted to keep the lyrics simple, to appeal to the same audience."