Catching Red Eyes - NYC

Chapter 37

"Funny and no. My mother was here, she took me to lunch."

"Oh God, what did she want now? Remember last time she was here and she brought her cleaning crew and her trainer?"

"Yes but this time she was...different. Like she was pretty genuine about me being happy with Harry. Apparently her friends' daughters saw those pictures of Harry and me and knew everything about me."

"The balcony pictures?! Your mama saw you getting dirty on a balcony!"

"We were only kissing...a lot and I don't know what she saw but I wasn't asking for details."

"Whatever, come help me please!! I hate literature."

After quizzing Laurie on the plot, characters, setting, and almost every detail of the Scarlet Letter, I was exhausted. I checked my phone was shocked to see it was after 11 pm. I hadn't heard from Harry yet which was ok but I still heard that little voice in my head say he disappeared again. I pushed it from my thoughts and went to grab my laundry.

I grabbed my headphones and walked down to the communal laundry mat that was a short walk from the apartment. It was dark but I felt safe being so close to NYU. As I was rounding the corner, I collided with someone and my laundry almost went flying.

"Oh, I am so sorry, I didn't see you...."

"Its o—oh Rowan, didn't think you were still alive."

Shit. Pryce. He had called me a few times after I had disappeared to Harry's mini mansion but I never returned his call.

"H-hey Pryce."

"How are you?"

"Uh, good, good. Just getting some laundry done before bed. Look I—"

"Don't. I get it. You're with that Styles guy. Just be careful, Row and this isn't coming from any place but our friendship. Just be cautious, ok?"

I nodded and watched him walk away from me.

In another life he and I would be perfect but this was my life and Harry was my choice for it.

I finished and folded my clothes and realized it was 1 am and still no call from Harry. This was silly. I just had to call him.

It rang a couple times before someone picked up then the call ended. I looked down at my phone and called him again. This time someone picked up and it wasn't Harry...it was a much higher voice...a female voice.

"Harry Styles' phone, how may I direct your call?"

Whoever it was sounded drunk or on something else. My voice caught in my throat but I stayed calm.

"Yea, can I talk to Harry, please?"

"Ummmmmmm....he is...indisposed at the moment!! Wanna leave a message??" The voice was laughing between words and I swore I heard a deeper voice in the same room as hers but I couldn't tell. There were multiple female voices but no Harry came onto the phone.

I hung up and slammed my phone into my laundry basket. I stomped almost the entire way home but made myself breathe before I walked inside my apartment. I didn't want to talk or tell Laurie anything right now. Thankfully, she had gone out. I took my laundry basket and threw it into my room and felt myself pacing the kitchen back and forth.

I never felt every fiber of my being so angry. It took everything in me not to call back but I couldn't hear that whiny, shrill voice of whoever it was that picked up his phone. I clenched my fists. I felt like I needed to hit something but knew it wouldn't help me right now. I needed to just breathe and keep myself calm.

I got a glass of water when I heard a strange knock at my door. Maybe Laurie forgot her key. I went to open the door and a lanky, curly haired boy dressed in tight black pants and a white t shirt and tattoos on his arms walked, more like fell, into my kitchen. It was Harry.