Winter Air [H.S.]

Forty-Four

- 

The book was finally finished. It was published. Harry didn't think that this day would ever come. Yet here it was. In his hands was the physical copy of "Haunted". The piercing eyes of the woman on the cover spooked him. But that was exactly what he needed. The eyes were the physical incarnation of what he felt whenver he thought about Delaine. They were haunting. They expressed what he felt whenever he thought of her (and quite frankly, what he felt when he was with her). It expressed the chilling, misguided love that her being brought him. 

"Looks good kid," Adam put his hand on his shoulder and gave it a soft pat. "Congratulations!"

"Thanks," Harry murmured quietly. He couldn't believe it was all happening. 

The excitement that he knew he should be feeling was being held back by an aching feeling in the pit of his core. She should be here with him relishing in this excitement. Ava. But Harry kicked those thoughts in the back of his mind and put on the best fake smile he could muster up. 

"Well, we should probably go over the final details for the launch party this Friday night." Adam continued. 

"Right." Harry didn't look up. His eyes were focused on the book in his hands. 

"Are you okay kid?" 

"What?" He looked up quickly wide eyed. "Yeah, I'm fine. It's just weird looking at this. Sorry mate. What were you saying?" 

"It's definitely a surreal thing! But enjoy it." He gave Harry a knowing smile. "Let's go to my office and go over these plans, yeah?"

"Sure, Mate. Yeah. " 

- 

Friday had creeped by slowly and before Harry could catch up it was here. This had meant that it was finally time to launch his book. The realization of that brought anxiety and a rush of panic. He knew that he wasn’t ready for this but it was time. 

June had hit Los Angeles with a scorching heat. It had been an average high of twenty-five celsius which was rather uncommon for this time of the year. Not that Harry was complaining. He had enjoyed the heat of the LA sunshine. It was a welcoming change- something that he did not get often when he lived in Vancouver as well as London. 

He had spent most of the day outside in his jean shorts and white band tee. His Ray Bans sat on the bridge of his nose while his hair had been wrapped up in a scarf-style headband. He sat on a bench in a nearby park and observed the different families that littered around. Whilst he sat on the bench, the anxiety and panic that he felt that morning had slipped away.

As he sat, he watched a little boy and girl play. The boy had unruly curly hair that his mother tried to hold down in a baseball cap. The little girl had long brown hair that was pinned back with little butterfly barrettes. They were playing in the grass and couldn't be no more than eight years old. The little girl was giggling at something that the little boy said to her. Soon enough they got up and ran off to the swings, giggling and holding hands as they ran off. 

Even when Harry didn't realize it, little things like this reminded him of him and Ava. They two little kids brought him back to a few months before, back in October, when they had only been "just friends." Ava had convinced Harry to go to the park with her regardless of the frigid winds. She pouted, he sighed, and they ended up on a swing set. He had pushed her and she giggled.

"Not too high! Harry watch out!" Ava screamed as Harry pushed her swing once more. A fit of giggles escaped her bright pink lips as he pushed her higher and higher.

"Don't worry love, I won't let you fall. I would never let you get hurt." 

"Hey stranger!" Harry jumped as a familiar voice brought him back from his daydream. He saw the bright red hair that he had became quite familiar with just above his shoulder. 

"Hey." Libby took a seat beside him on the bench and leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. 

"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be getting ready for your party tonight?" 

"Probably." 

Libby shifted awkwardly and faced Harry. "Um," She looked around before she spoke once more. "Am I still your date tonight?" 

"I guess.”

"I just," she looked down at her hands. "I just don't want any press photos of me be taken. I don't want people to see and then word get back to Sam." 

"We're friends, Libby. That's all you will be introduced as. Not my girlfriend, not my date. Just my friend who is my plus one. That's it." Harry replied harshly. 

"Don't need to be an ass about it." 

"You don't need to be there if you don't want to be."

"I already bought a dress for it." She said quietly. Harry let out a sigh and turned to face her. 

"I'm sorry. I'm just nervous." He tucked a piece of loose red hair behind her ear and left a soft kiss on her cheek. She let out a small giggle. 

"It's okay." She gave him a small kiss on his lips and got up. "We should probably go get dressed for this thing anyways. You have to be there in two hours." And with that, Harry left the park hand in hand with the wrong girl. 

- 

Foundations was a small venue. The walls were a deep red brick with black and white photos of mixed matched patterns. The floors were split up into two sections: one half a paisley printed carpet and a second half with a lightly stained wood. The walls were lined with white plush couches and small tables with high bar stools. It had a large balcony door that led to an open plan patio. The trees that lined the outside had twinkling white lights and lanterns. There where more white bench style couches that sat on the patio.  On a table stood a photo of Harry and a pyramid of copies of the book. 

Harry stood outside with a whiskey in his hand and stared at the photo of himself. He cringed a bit as he looked at it. His hair was all over the place and he smacked himself for not smiling with his teeth. His dimple was showing, however. 

A hand slipped under his blazer. "You look handsome." The sultry voice that he had grown fond of spoke in his ear. Harry turned around and faced her fully. She was wearing a black off the shoulder velvet dress that went mid thigh. Her red hair was down and her blue eyes were shining bright. 

"You look sexy." Harry spoke into her ear. "But that dress will look more sexy off."

"Soon." She winked and took a sip from his cup.

The venue had filled up fast. People that Harry didn't know where gathering around drinking champagne and eating different appetizers. Only a few journalists roamed the party and one photographer had been snapping shots of the guests. Harry stared off and looked at the different faces of the guests; his guests. He couldn't help but wish that Ava was here with him. He couldn't help but imagine her in that little floral dress that he loved so much and her brown hair down and in natural waves. He could almost hear her laughter. 

Harry snapped out of his thoughts suddenly. That laugh. It was not in his imagination. It was happening in now and here. He looked around the room frantically trying to pin point where that familiar laugh was coming from. 

Standing on the side of the room, in that damn floral dress with an arm holding her close, was her. She was here, laughing, with a man holding her close. What the actual fuck is that douche receptionist doing with Ave, Harry thought to himself as an inappropriate sense of jealousy and anger began to creep up into him. Before he could think twice, he put his glass down. He ignored Libby’s questionings on where he was going and made his way over to Ava; his Ava. 

- 

A/N: I was going to wait to update but I just couldn't! I'm probably going to update more often. If that's too much, just let me know. I can hold off and update every few days. 
As well, the photo on the side is of Libby. 

Vote + Comment! I can't get over how crazy it is that the last chapter got 33 votes AGAIN in only one day. SERIOUSLY! You all are the best friends and readers a girl could ever ask for.