Broken

Chapter 45

I stared at my phone for a bit, before snapping to action. "Shit!" I dialled Harry's number, waiting for him to pick up, but he didn't. I groaned, stepping up and grabbing my jacket. I walked past the kitchen, pausing briefly.

"I don't want to rain on your parade... Just. I have to go," I said, and they both turned to stare at me.

"What's wrong?" Olly asked, rising slowly.

"The girls in the hall saw us and told Harry we were going on a date."

Olly's face contorted. "And he believed them?"

"I mean, he called me to check up, and I told him I was with you and he..."

"Fuck," he cursed, fishing his phone out from his back pocket. Dan was staring at us.

"Wait, does he not know you're pan?" Dan asked, and Olly shook his head, phone by his ear.

"You lot should go." Dan said, staring at Olly longingly.

"He's not picking up," Olly said. "Listen, D, we're going to go... And you can, erm..."

"I'll text you Olly's number," I said, pulling Dan into a hug. I rushed to the door and Olly followed me, and we ran to the car.

"He's going to do something dumb," Olly said. "This is the second person that's 'cheated' on him."

"But with differences," I said. "I didn't -- I wouldn't -- cheat."

"And another thing," Olly said, starting to drive.

"What?"

"He didn't love Leila. He loves you."

The words made my stomach flutter.

~*~

I knocked on Harry's dorm, but he didn't answer. I knocked again and again, but no answer came.

"Are you sure he's even in there?" Olly asked, and I shrugged.

"Where else would he be?" Dread began to bubble inside me.

"Erm, I don't know. Where would Harry go?"

"I don't..." I paused. "What if he went to find another girl?"

Olly shook his head. "Don't think like that. He'd be moping, he loves you."

"But..." My voice cracked, and I clamped my mouth shut.

Olly pulled me towards him, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. "Hey, hey, hey. Maybe he's at his dad's. He wouldn't do something stupid, trust me."

"I'm sorry for this. Ruining you date, and possibly ruining your friendship with--"

"Are you guys fucking serious?" Harry asked. I jumped away from Olly, staring at Harry, who was walking up the corridor. He was shirtless, with a shirt bunched up in his hand, sweatpants on. He'd gone to the gym. I closed my eyes, thinking about how bad Olly hugging me must have looked to Harry.

"Hey, Harry, dude, don't..."

"Don't fucking dude me!" Harry snapped, and I watched Olly tense.

"Listen, it's not what you think--"

"I was going to let you explain. But this is an explanation enough," Harry said, shaking his head. He turned to me, and I saw the anger in his eyes.

"How could you?"

"It's not what you think!" I insisted. "If you'd just listen!" He shook his head.

"It never is! Both of you, leave. You're making me sick, just looking at you."