How It's Going To Be [h.s.]

Chapter 43

Chase was a project manager for an up-and-coming social media company. Chase convincingly pitched his idea. He came bearing spreadsheets that evidenced investors' interests in the startup. His goal was to get One Direction involved by creating a band account on the social media site and having each boy create a personal account. In essence, One Direction would generate more publicity by being active on a new social media account and the company Chase represented would benefit by having One Direction bring their tremendous following of dedicated fans to the site.

I left the lounge in need of fresh air after enduring Chase's cologne and fake charisma. Eli and the driver were silent throughout the car ride as I called Ruby on the phone and reported that the company was a waste of time because the social media site did all of the same things existing social media sites One Direction was already part of did. She thanked me for going to New York and wished me a safe trip back to London.

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The following morning, Eli and I drove to JFK under a sky of thick, grey clouds. The traffic was heavy during a morning rush and the incessant honking made listening to the radio useless. I couldn't be bothered by traffic or raindrops beginning to collect on the windows of the SUV because I was too excited about seeing Harry that night after weeks of separation.

We made it through every checkpoint at the airport and finally slumped in chairs at the gate. A sign flashed the word, "London" overhead to label the gate. I watched as people filled the seats around us. The time to board the plane was nearly thirty minutes away. I stifled a yawn and rested my head on Eli's shoulder.

"Kate?" Eli's voice sounded soft and distant.

I raised my head from his shoulder and rubbed my eyes. "I'm awake," I muttered.

"The flight has been delayed."

I was really awake then. "What? What do you mean?"

"Thunderstorm," he said slowly. "There's lightning right over the airport. We just have to wait for it to pass."

"How much longer?"

"Not sure. Let me make a few phone calls." Eli stood up and disappeared into the anxious crowd.

I felt my chest tighten. My blood ran cold. Every voice surrounding me became a quiet hum. I got to my feet, pulled my handbag over my shoulder, and began walking without a destination in mind. My feet carried me away from our designated gate and even out of the terminal. I found myself in a commons area where shops and restaurants were located. In one of the cafés, a television was mounted on the wall with a news program playing.

"We have some severe weather blasting the Northeast. Let's change it over to Mike to get a full report of the weather," the news anchor said.

I stopped in front of the television with my eyes glued to the screen. I watched the weather forecaster point to a computer-generated map of the northeastern section of the United States. Patches of color indicating different amounts of rainfall mapped out the current storm system. The screen changed again to show cloud cover over the New York City area. The clouds stretched out over the city and into the Atlantic. The weather report included phrases like, "unprecedented storm," "impressive lightning," "stay inside," "dangerous conditions," and worst of all, "flights grounded."

My phone vibrated in my pocket and I withdrew it. Part of me hoped it would be Harry, but instead, I got an irritated Eli Paige.

"Where are you?"

I glanced around to get my bearings. I had no clue where I had wandered. "By the information center."

"Stay put." Click.