Labels || H.S. [#Wattys2020]

FORTY-NINE

Harry tapped his long fingers against his steering wheel as he drove his Range Rover past Reagan's house and directly to the studio. Lydia had called the night before, a day after the news had broke, and calmly had told them to meet them in the studio that morning. Lydia's voice had sounded calm and even enough, she wasn't a terribly unfair person. But Harry knew that when something needed to be done, she did it. So it was understandable that he was incredibly reluctant as he reached the studio. It was even more understandable that he was really missing Reagan's presence now that she wasn't in the car with him.

Reagan had of course suggested that they shouldn't carpool anymore, and as much as Harry hated it, he couldn't dispute it. She was right after all. They had no idea what Lydia was going to say to them. Factor in the fact as well that the rest of the boys have yet to land, and that they were going to be completely alone with her and Paul discussing what to do next.

Louis had texted him last night, just having heard what had happened. Reassuring him that things would be okay. But he sounded off to Harry, something just didn't seem right, he almost sounded distracted. Harry would've pressed further, but there were just other things to worry about at the moment.

As soon as he pulled into the parking lot, he saw Reagan sitting in her car. It was only 9:50 and they had agreed to meet at 10:00AM. Knowing Reagan she was just waiting for the clock to strike 10:54 so that she could be on her way. So Harry didn't get out of his car, knowing that she didn't want them both to go in together. He knew that they had acted stupidly, that he had flaunted the fact that he and Reagan were close without acknowledging the consequences. And now he had to pay for it.

He didn't even know what Reagan was feeling at this point. He had only conversed with her through texts, a few here and there, just enough to know that her father was furious and that maybe they shouldn't carpool anymore. Other than that, he knew nothing. He was terrified that she would revert back to her closed up self, that all they had been through that month would be erased.

So as he watched her get out of her car, he prayed that he still had a chance. He was a religious man after all.

And Reagan didn't head straight for the elevator when she got out of her car at 10:52. No, she walked over to Harry and tapped on his window, a smile playing upon her face.

"Well?" She asked when he rolled it down.

"Well, what?"

She looked at her watch, "We're going to be late."

"We're going in together?"

She shrugged, "Don't make a big deal out of it, Styles."

He smirked, "What, you think I'll make a big deal?" Harry replied in his slow drawl, obviously trying to keep his cool.

She rolled her eyes, "Come on now, we'll be late."

It looked as if his prayer had been answered, so he feigned nervousness as he said, "This is one thing I wouldn't mind being late to."

"You think she's going to tear into us?"

"Not us, just me."

"Why is that."

"Because I'm the one who always gets in trouble, you're like, perfect. She knows you wouldn't have done anything."

"You think?"

"I know."

But he didn't. All he wanted was to reassure Reagan, and maybe even lie to himself to quell his anxiousness.

"This feels like we're walking on death row." Reagan quipped.

Harry laughed, "Don't exaggerate."

"I'm not. It feels like she's going to kill us."

He shrugged, "Depending on how big this story got, she just might."

—✴—

"I imagine you two know why you're here?" Lydia asked, not even looking up from her laptop when Harry and Reagan walked in.

"Um, yeah?" Harry said, sitting down next to Reagan.

"Didn't I warn you this would happen?" Lydia said, her voice rising an octave higher as it usually did when she became annoyed. She had a steaming mug before her, and Harry could smell the chamomile in it. She usually reserved that particular blend of tea for when Harry was getting on her last nerve.

"Yes." Harry conceited.

"But you didn't listen anyway, did you, Harry? Because you just hate listening to any sound advice. Now look what's happened. Poor Reagan has hundreds of girls outside her house-"

"Actually, they've cleared out." Harry said, raising a finger, "Won't be a problem anymore."

"Beside the point." Lydia replied."The point is that there is now a lot of speculation going around that you two are most certainly an item."

"Why is that bad?" He asked.

"Are you?"

Reagan quickly shook her head and Harry rolled his eyes. He would've liked nothing more than to tell the world that they were together, but of course he'd hold his tongue once again.

"No." He said firmly.

"Then we have a problem."

"How so?"

"I imagine you've received the papers?"

"About the hiatus?" Lydia nodded, "Yeah." Harry said firmly, "The other lads haven't. They don't know yet."

"They were mailed to your houses here, weren't they."

"Yeah. They'll see the letters when they come back."

Lydia closed her laptop and looked directly at Harry, "You're going on hiatus. We don't know for how long."

"I know."

"How do you think that'll effect your reputation? On top of Zayn leaving, on top of the spat between him and Louis? On top of everything that's happened this year? You want to add on this? You with your PR intern?"

Harry shook his head solemnly, "No."

"That's right no, because it's not fair to Reagan. She's going to be demonized out there. She's one of the best we've had here, we can't lose her because of yet another one of your childish and capricious whims."

Reagan tilted her head slightly, "Wait, so you're not mad at me?"

"Oh, heavens no. I know you and Harry aren't in a relationship, goodness."

Harry furrowed his brow, "Why does that sound so unbelievable?"

Lydia shrugged, "I just don't see it happening."

Reagan could read between the lines though, Harry too, and they didn't like it one bit. But they bit their tongues for the moment, simply wanting to end this conversation.

"So, do we have to take any further action?" Harry asked.

"Actually, I have an idea." Lydia said, pushing a stack of papers towards Harry, "This is Hailey Stone." She said, obviously referring to the picture of the brunette at the top of the pile. She was slim and perfect looking, that Reagan could see just from one little glimpse over Harry's shoulder. "She's launching her singing career in the US this year. She's Australian. Wants to be the first female Aussie to go number one here in the States."

"And?" Harry said, taking the picture in his hand. He didn't know what to make of the girl smiling back at him in the picture.

Lydia picked up her mug and calmly responded, "She's your new girlfriend."