I stare at the wall for hours, unable to sleep not knowing where Harper is.
I went to all her usual spots to check if she was there before returning back to the dorm, completely defeated.
That's when I spotted a folded up piece of paper on her pillow which I had originally just assumed was apart of the mess she left on her bed. The paper explained how she was going to visit her home town and how she would call me in a couple hours.
The note gave me some relief as at least I knew that there was a reason she wasn't here but the anxiety still lingers, especially because she hasn't called me yet.
The boys stayed up with me at first but once it reached midnight they all started drifting off one by one until eventually I was the only one left awake.
Harper must have a good reason to have left because I know she hates being away from me just as much as I hate being away from her. Regardless of her reason I'm still going to scold her for leaving me worried all night.
Suddenly my phone rings, causing me to jump up and frantically search my messy nightstand. I don't recognise the number but I pick up anyway, praying that it's Harper.
"Lucian?" Her clearly distressed voice rings out from the other end.
"Harper, are you okay? I ask frantically, causing Emilio to stir. "Are you at a party?" I question, hearing music in the background.
"No, I'm at my mum's house," She hiccups. My anxiety spikes when I hear this, scared of what that crazy bitch has done now. "What's happened?" I question, needing to know what has made her so upset.
"I just want to come home now," She cries. "Can you send me some money for a train ticket I'll pay you back I promise," She pleads.
"Harper listen to me, you need to calm down" I say calmly, sensing she's on the verge of panicking.
I run my hand through my hair in frustration. I don't want her travelling alone at this time of night but I also don't want her staying with her mum.
I rack my brain for ideas before finally remembering that I have a friend who lives in Trispen, a twenty minute drive from the centre of Cornwall.
"Alright Harper I want you to wait outside and I'm going to send someone to pick you up," I tell her. "Okay," She sniffles. She gives me the address of her mum's house as I write it down in my notes.
I hear the arguing in the background intensify as a large crash echos through the phone, "I've got to go I love you bye," She rushes out, hanging up the phone.
I quickly sift through my contacts, eventually landing on my friend Callum. I call him six times before he answers.
"Hello?" He questions groggily, clearly having been woken up by my incessant calling. "Hey man I need a favour," I say.
"What?" He replies, completely confused probably because I haven't spoken to him in like six months.
"Listen I'll give you nine hundred quid if you can drive to Cornwall, pick up my girl and bring her back to me," I offer.
"Yeah sure," He says, sounding excited. "When?" He questions.
"Right now like you need to be already heading to your car," I clarify. "Shit okay," He says as I hear him ruffle about.
"Call me when you get to her," I instruct before hanging up and texting him the address.
I sit on the pavement staring at the night sky, my jeans now coated in dirt.
A very out of place looking car pulls up and stops in front of me, the window slowly rolling down. "Harper?" The boy questions.
I nod, attempting to get up but a wave of dizziness hits me causing me to stumble. "Shit are you okay?" He questions, climbing out of his seat.
He attempts to usher me into the backseat but his eyes widen when he gets a better look at my head. "Fuck," He curses, staring at the blood. He closes the car door, leaving me in the backseat while he pulls out his phone.
He speaks worriedly into the phone while pacing back and forth next to the car until he eventually reopens my door.
"He wants to talk to you," He says, handing me the phone. "Harper?" A voice I recognise as Lucian's calls out. I'm about to put the phone to my ear when I realise that it's a facetime.
"Hey," I say sheepishly, knowing he's probably furious with me.
"What happened baby?" He frowns, staring at the drying blood on my forehead. "I'm okay," I say, trying to sound confident.
"Callum take her to the hospital," He demands. "Okay," Callum replies, starting up the car. "No I don't need to go I genuinely feel okay," I assure him.
"Harper you're bleeding," He says, the concern evident in his voice. "It's fine, you guys can treat it when I get back," I smile.
"Okay fine, I'll see you soon." He sighs. "Bye!" I chirp before hanging up and giving Callum back his phone.
"You don't mind if I take a nap back here?" I yawn. "Knock yourself out,' He replies. I pull up my legs, lying down in the foetal position across the backseat before shutting my eyes.
The steady driving and the purr of the engine lulls me to sleep as I slowly drift off.
I start to stir when I feel someone's arms wrapped around me. I panic, struggling to get out of them. "Shh it's just me go back to sleep," I peak through my eyes and see that Lucian is carrying me through the still dark courtyard.
I start to whine when I feel him place me on the bed, removing me from the warm comfort of his arms. "I'm just getting a cloth," He whispers, heading to the bathroom and returning a second later.
He gently washes the blood off my face and picks the glass out of my hair. He doesn't ask me what happened, I think he already knows.
"I'm sorry," I whisper, tears brimming in my eyes at the thought of disappointing him. "I know," He replies quietly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "I trust you and if you wanted to spend your birthday down there then I'm sure you had your reasons." He reassures, leaning in to kiss the tip of my nose.
"But we will be celebrating tomorrow though, presents and all," He says sternly, causing me to giggle at his seriousness.
"I love you," I tell him honestly as I look up into his big green eyes.
"I love you too, so much."