Townes' POV
Harry never came home last night. Now it was noon the next day, and he still wasn't back. I felt like I was moving through the day on autopilot. I hadn't washed my face or brushed my teeth. I couldn't twist my hair up properly no matter how much I tried. The clip was just barely hanging on each time.
Macy made small conversation with me, knowing I wasn't fully there. The only thing motivating me to get through all of this was Sarah and Mitch. Sarah had easily become one of my best friends, and today was her special day. I wanted it to be special. Not only would it be the band, Tasha, the Jones' and the Rowland's but Anne and Gemma would be joining too. I just wanted everything perfect.
"Townes, please eat something." Macy said softly and I shook my head, unclipping my hair and throwing the clip to the side.
"I'm okay." I said, pushing my hair behind my ears and tugging at it.
"Townes, you need to eat something. I can cut up an apple, I made a delicious caramel sauce for tonight, I want you to try it. Please?" She said, and I saw the worry in her eyes. I nodded, not wanting to worry her more.
"Okay. That's fine." I said, crossing my legs in front of me on the floor. I kept looking over at the door, just hoping he would come in. Hoping he wouldn't leave me feeling like the fool I felt like in this moment. I chewed on my lip and looked down, picking at the skin on my nails; trying to keep the tears in.
I hardly noticed when Macy came back from the kitchen, she lowered herself in front of me, placing the apples between us. She searched my face, then looked down and dipped an apple handing it to me. I sniffled and took it from her, biting into it as tears escaped me. I chewed, sniffling, it tasted delicious. Nothing Macy ever made tasted anything other than delicious.
"What happened Townes?" She said in almost a whisper.
"Camille, engaged. Harry found out." I threw the last bit of apple in my mouth, chewing as I cried. I felt so pathetic. I knew it didn't mean he still loved her. I knew it didn't mean he hadn't moved on. I could understand his hurt, I completely understood it. I just hoped he wouldn't run from me. That he would count on me to support him.
I knew it didn't help Mitch and Sarah's engagement was at the front and center of this week. I just didn't know how to make it better.
"How?" Macy asked, I knew now her concern was not just for me, but for Harry as well.
"She saw James at dinner, and came over to say hi. The rock was clear as day, and then her fiancé came over, and called her just that. His fiancé. I swear I heard his heart shatter." I shook my head, pulling my knees up to my chest. I couldn't control my tears anymore because I was also hurting for him.
Harry didn't deserve any of this. He was such a good person, such a beautiful soul. It killed me to think how much he was hurting. It wasn't long before I felt Macy wrap her arms around me, soothing me like a child.
"Everything will be fine, Townes. Him needing space right now is probably more than appropriate. He'll be back though, he really loves you. More than I think he ever loved her. It just....it's always going to be painful....you know?" She said in the most soothing voice, and I peeked up at her and nodded.
"I'm sorry, I know I smell and I haven't brushed my teeth." I said biting my lip and she laughed shaking her head.
"I didn't even notice. You're fine. Now come on, let's get this house party ready. Okay?" She put her forehead on mine and I nodded.
"Can I have a moment to freshen up, please?" I said wiping my face and she nodded.
—
Macy and I somehow pulled it off. The decorations, the food and we both got ready and looked pretty put together for how quickly we had to finish. I applied a light gloss to my lips and looked at my reflection in the mirror. I looked tired, no matter how much make up I put on. I smoothed my curls the best I could, pinning them back on both sides with bobby pins.
I took a deep breath before turning around and heading back downstairs. As I got there Sarah and Mitch's parents arrived, Macy welcoming them in and I quickly made my way over introducing myself to them, pointing them in the direction of the little bar I had set up. The rest of the band arrived, followed by Anne and Gemma. Unfortunately, still no Harry.
"Townes, you okay?" Gemma asked after she hugged me, analyzing my face.
"I'll be okay. Not the time or place to talk right now." I pressed my lips into a smile and she nodded as Anne came over and hugged me.
"Where is Hazza sweetie?" She kissed my head and I swallowed.
"Um, hopefully he'll be here soon. Excuse, I need to make sure everything is ready for when Mitch and Sarah arrive." I smiled and grabbed her hand, squeezing before heading into the kitchen. I grabbed on tightly to the sink, holding onto it, and taking a deep breath. I felt like I was on the edge of completely loosing it, and I was trying hard to contain every emotion I was feeling.
"Townes, they are walking up!" I heard Macy call out and I rolled my shoulders back, turning on my heels and quickly walking out to the living room.
"Everyone yell congratulations when they walk through the door!" I said quietly and they all nodded.
It took a few moments but they opened the door and walked in. We yelled congratulations and Sarah's eyes were already red from crying. She covered her face quickly and shook her head.
"Oh my gosh what is all this?" She smiled uncovering her face and ran over to her parents hugging them tightly, "Who did this?" She asked and Mitch laughed as he hugged his parents.
"Are you really asking that?" He raised an eyebrow tilting his head towards me, and she let go of her parents quickly running over and hugging me tightly.
"You really are my best friend, Townes. Thank you so so much." She said pulling back and searching my face. I saw it, the moment she realized something was wrong and I quickly shook my head.
"It's your day. When Mitch told me, I couldn't not plan this. I love you both and I'm so incredibly happy for you." I smiled and I was thankful when Tasha...well, made a true Tasha appearance.
"Did I miss it?" She yelled as she ran through the door and we all turned, laughing at her.
"If it makes you feel better, you almost could have ruined it but you didn't." I shrugged and she rolled her eyes, walking over and hugging Sarah. She looked at me and I mouthed "kitchen" and once she nodded, I walked away to start putting out the appetizers.
Macy joined me, and began taking out the trays as I removed the wrapping. Tasha eventually made her way in and popped up on the counter next to me, "Apparently Sarah thinks something is wrong, and now from the look of you, I think she's right. What's up Townes?"
I bit my lip and wished I remembered where I threw my clip. My hair feeling in the way of my thoughts again, "Harry left last night and hasn't come back." I said softly, my voice cracking.
"What? Why? What happened?" She said searching my face and so I told her everything. She pulled at her lower lip and looked over at me, "He's going to come back Townes....there is no way he wouldn't."
I shrugged and looked down at the fruit board in front of me, picking at a grape and eating it. Not even the sweetness of the fruit could settle the sour taste in my mouth.
"I don't know Tasha. He's missing his best friend's engagement dinner. And I get it, this is probably the last place he wants to be....but not even a text. A call. I don't deserve this either."
"I'm not saying you do, Townes, but....maybe he deserved to be selfish, with just this one thing. Just this." She said and I locked eyes with her. She meant it. She meant it with every bone in her body, and I knew she wouldn't be saying it if she didn't.
I closed my eyes and nodded, opening them and taking a deep breath, "Okay. Maybe you're right. Maybe." I smiled small, and she jumped off hugging me quickly.
"I've seen him, Townes, he's in love with you. It'll be okay." She smiled and I nodded, really trying to believe her and everyone else who kept telling me this.
—
We made our way through the starters and moved onto dinner, all of us sitting around, eating and laughing. I couldn't stop staring at how happy Sarah and Mitch looked. I felt so happy for them, they truly were everything and more. At one point, Mitch tapped softly on a glass as him and Sarah stood up.
"We just want to give thanks to everyone here. We love you all and are so happy to share this moment with you. And to my fiancé, baby thank you for saying yes. I truly am the happiest man alive." They smiled stupidly at each other and I couldn't help the tears that fell from my eyes, I reached up and wiped them quickly.
"And to Townes, my band mate, my best friend, thank you for putting this together. It's as perfect as you." Sarah smiled, raising her glass at me and I did the same.
"To Mitch and Sarah." I said and everyone repeated raising their glass themselves.
Suddenly we heard the front door slam open, hitting harshly against the wall. We all turned and in walked Harry.
Harry with two other women at his side, "Congratulations!" He slurred, hanging on to them. I felt everything in me burn. Everything in me shatter. I just froze and so did everyone else, "What's with the long faces? We's supposed to be celebratin' the happy couple." He said and pushed off the girls, toppling his way over and he mom was quickly up. She walked over to him and to all our surprise she slapped him.
His eyes quickly widened, his hand moving to his cheek, "Mum? I didn't know....—what that I would be here? So you thought it was appropriate to show up like this? To your best friend's engagement party? That the girl you are seeing planned?"
His eyes moved to me and I quickly looked away.
"She'll be fine. She knows. The rules." He slurred and I closed my eyes, shaking my head.
You are a damn fool, Carolina Townes.
"Excuse me mum, I have lady friends to attend to."
When I opened my eyes, everyone was as speechless. Their eyes all one me and I felt so embarrassed. I could feel the burn on my skin indicating how red it was. Anne had tears in her eyes and I couldn't handle it all.
"Excuse me." I said getting up quickly and headed upstairs. I was ending this, once and for all. He didn't get to make a fool of Carolina Townes.
I quickly walked in and pushed the door open, and I for some reason didn't feel surprised when I saw him kissing on their necks. His eyes met mine and he smiled, pushing them to the side and walking over. He reached up and placed his hand on me face, "See I knew you knew the rules, I knew you would come play. I have your favorite, well Carolina's favorite." The look in his eye was dark, his pupils wide. He was high. Drunk and high.
I swallowed hard and turned away from his hand, shaking me head.
"Maple. Maple on everything. On you. On this. Whatever the fuck you led me to believe this was. I'm done." I said, and quickly turned away. I made my way to the door and as I reached for the handle he quickly grabbed my arm and tugged me towards him, my shoulder getting the pain.
"No, you can't."
"Yes, I can. That's the safe the word. The word that makes everything stop." I said pulling my arms free, but the cocaine made him quick and strong and he grabbed me and pinned me on the wall.
"No. You can't. You can't leave me. I'm...you can't." He said, pushing me harder against.
"Harry you're hurting me." I called out, because he really was.
"You can't leave." He yelled and I just squeezed my eyes closed as he pushed me harder against it, his lips aggressively on my neck.
"Harry, maple. Maple. Maple! Maple! You're hurting me stop!" I kept yelling and he wouldn't stop, until the door swung open and before I knew it, Mitch was punching him in the face, causing Harry to fall back and off of me.
I quickly ran into Mitch's arms and he pulled me close, "Stay the fuck away from her Harry. You hear me!" I clung on tightly to him, crying without control. I felt ashamed, embarrassed, hurt, disappointed...the list just went on.
The rest was a blur, until I came to some sort of clarity in my thoughts and I realized I was in my bedroom in the apartment I shared with Tasha. I sat up and looked around the room, somehow hoping it was all a dream, but when Tasha opened my room door, I just knew it wasn't.
She walked over and hugged me quickly, causing me to just break down in tears again. She laid us down and held me close, until I fell asleep again
At least in my dreams, this never happened. Harry never came home, because he never left in the first place.