Soundtrack Series

FOUR - Steal My Girl

Harry: You roll your eyes as you close the laptop, pushing away from the desk. She was at it again. She being your best friend’s girlfriend. Her latest scandal was all over the place, celebrity blogs, social media, proper news sites. You were annoyed. She had never been too careful with covering up her unfaithful ways, mainly because she knew Harry wasn’t going anywhere. You knew it, too; everyone knew it. If after three separate cheating scandals he was still with her, it was pretty obvious he was sticking around. You had no idea why. You tried your best to convince him after the first scandal broke to leave her, but he refused. You wondered when he was going to get the hint. This was number four. When was he going to understand? You walk over to the bed to get your phone. You were just going to talk to him. You hadn’t called him yet today, so you felt now was as good of a time as ever. “Stop,” he says before you can get anything out. Not exactly the greeting you were expecting, but at least he knew you were aware of the story. “I just wanted to talk,” you assure him, even though in the back of your mind you wanted to get through his thick, stubborn skull and get him to see the truth. While on the phone, you constantly had to remind yourself that he was living his own life. Yes, you were his best friend, but that meant that you were his support system. You had to be there for him, no matter what stupid decision he was making next. But you were finding it really hard to be a supportive friend when it came to his relationship. It was obvious to everyone, and you were sure to him as well, that she was using him. And you would never understand why he would want to subject himself to that. “You never just want to talk,” he admits, and you can’t help but ponder on the truth of his statement. The both of you knew what this ‘talk’ was going to turn into, so you just decided to get it out there and over with. “What are you going to do this time?” You question, knowing exactly what he was going to say, but praying he would wise up in the next few seconds. “The same thing I always do. I don’t know why you’re always so concerned.” Nope. Nothing wise about that answer whatsoever. “You don’t know why I’m always so concerned?” You repeat back in awe that he had just said that. “Harry we’re friends, are we not?” There was a pause over the line. A pause you did not want to hear. “Yes, we’re friends, but that doesn’t mean that you always have to worry about my relationship.” You weren’t always worrying about his relationship, were you? Wait a minute! He’s the one with the publically cheating girlfriend. Why wouldn’t you say something about that? “I’m just trying to look out for you, even though you obviously don’t want me to.” It seemed like the truth. “I appreciate it, I do.” Sure he does. “But like I tell you every time you call me like this, I can handle myself.” “Did you hear what you just said? ‘Every time you call me like this’. Harry, this conversation should have happened one time at the most. It’s ridiculous that you keep her around.” “You’re really going to say that after giving me how many speeches on supporting one another?” You sigh deeply after thinking about his question. He was right even though you didn’t want to admit it. You had given him lecture after lecture about how the two of you were each other’s greatest support systems. He was beating you on this, and you weren’t happy about it. However, it was his life, and no matter how much you believed his actions had an effect on you, they did not. “Fine,” you finally say, caving in to your own words. “Thank you, now I’ve got to get to this meeting. I will call you later.” You agree to talk with him later and end the call. You would just have to sit back and watch him fail, keeping your opinions to yourself.

Liam: “You’re awfully quiet,” he huffs as the two of you continue to make your way around West Park. “Just trying to figure out how to tell you something,” you admit as you turn the corner and see the final stretch of your run. It was nice to have Liam back in town; the two of you hadn’t been on a run in a while. “Like what?” He questions, not wanting to wait until you stop. “I’ll tell you when we sit down,” you say to him as you continue to jog, the café getting closer. You notice Liam speeding up his pace and push yourself to match him. He chuckles and turns his run into a sprint. “No fair!” You shout after him, digging your feet into the gravel to catch him. The two of you sprint down the path towards the café, gathering the attention from the people around you in the process. “Asshole,” you seethe as you shove him once the two of you had stopped in front of your lunch destination. “What?” He breathes heavy, leaning on his knees as he catches his breath. You shake your head at him, teasing him with disgust. “That face,” he laughs as he stands up straight and walks up the stone steps to the door. “Let’s get some lunch.” You walk in as he opens the door for you, smiling at the hostess that greets you. She was used to the two of you coming in here, even though it had been a while. You were thankful for her nonchalant attitude. “So what are you going to tell me?” Liam asks once your drink order had been taken and the two of you were left alone. The nerves immediately hit you. You were never nervous around Liam, you had known him for so long; it was like being around your brother. “Spill it,” he instructs sensing your tension. “There’s this guy….” You begin, timidly, unsure of why you were so nervous. Maybe it was because you had never actually discussed guys with him. You had never had to; they just weren’t around. You were ‘Liam Payne’s childhood friend’, the one he always came back home for, no one wanted to be a part of that. “Oh, here we go,” he says during your pause. What is that supposed to mean? You roll your eyes. “No, no, I’m kidding, go ahead.” You didn’t want to. You didn’t want to keep talking about the amazing guy you had met a little less than a month ago. The one that always sent you good night and good morning texts. The one that was at your door five minutes early to talk to your mother when the two of you were going out. He was great, the greatest you had met, and the first thing you thought of when the two of you began to get close was him meeting Liam. It was sure to happen no matter Liam’s schedule, you were just nervous for it. “His name is Mark.” “Oh, Mark; nice strong name. Continue.” He was taking the piss and you knew it. It showed in the sarcasm in his voice. “The two of you want the usuals?” The waitress asks as she sits down your drinks; everyone that worked here knew you. You both nod, and she walks off. “Alright, well he’s at the University of Durham studying engineering and works at Jigsaw as an Electronic Design Engineer,” you inform him, hoping he would be as impressed as you were when you had first been told. “So he’s going to school to be something that he already is?” Well that hadn’t worked. “Well, yes, but not really. He got the job his second year, so he’s doing both.” “Okay. So why doesn’t he just work then?” “Because he has to have the degree.” “Well obviously not if he already has the job.” This was seemingly hopeless. “Why do you need a guy around anyways when you’ve got me?” You stare at him blankly. “I get you about three weeks out of the year,” you acknowledge, still staring at him, unamused by his statement. “Oh it’s more than that. You come on the road all the time.” “I wouldn’t call five or six shows all of the time Liam.” “That’s more than most people get to go to, look at all the special treatment I give you.” He had turned this conversation completely away from Mark and on to him. You were sure he would warm up to the idea of you having a guy around that was not him. It would just take a lot of coaxing.