Stranded

Chapter 45: Will I Ever See You Again?

Harry's POV

I looked at her in awe. She is real. Something sparked inside me, making me want to get the answers to my questions, to squeeze the details out of her. I have to.

"You are real." She blushed as I stepped closer and touched her shoulder. I was expecting her to disapear at once, to vanish like thin air, but she didn't. Holy guacamole. I ran my hands through my hair.

"I am." She replied shyly, her voice almost inaudible. She is weak on her legs and barely able to stand because of fear that Louis, who has been standing beside her since she arrived, put his arms around her to support her.

We had time to talk after the event. Rae had agreed to meet us at the backstage so our conversation would not be heard by anyone nor caught on cam by the paps. Only a few people are left aside from us and most are busy cleaning up the place.

I am so nervous at the moment that I could hear the faintest sounds. I could hear the creaking of the chairs being moved, the brooms making contact with the floor and the wild beating of my poor, nervous heart.

"Is Erin real too?" And that's it. My mouth is so out of control that I just blurted out the question I have been wanting to ask her the moment I saw her. I have to know. I need to know.

If Erin is real, where is she?

Is she fine?

Does she know me?

If she does, did she have the same dreams as me? Us?

And if she did, does she want to meet me?

Does she... feel something towards me?

"She is. All the other girls are." She managed to answer though it barely came out as a straight, coherent sentence. My heart dropped to the ground and the lads' mouths gapped in utter shock. Louis, on the other hand, pulled shaking Rae to his chest for a hug.

Rae is pale in nervousness. She is tense and barely able to stand by herself that Louis just carried her to the nearest couch. I wanted to bombard her with questions but looking at Louis' worried look, he would tell me to shut up at once.

"Are you okay, love?" Louis asked Rae, making her head rest on his shoulder. Rae was a bit hesitant but she was too shaky to negate. She nodded, still uptight.

Then there was knock on the door, interrupting the scene I was busy watching.

"Jassy Rae? Are you there?" Sigh. But of course, Vicky just has to interrupt.

"Coming, Vic." Rae replied as she shot up instantly in surprise. She still has not recovered from the shakiness caused by our coincidental and real meeting at today's event but somehow, she was like an electrocuted metal, recharged.

"I'm sorry, Louis, um, guys, but I have to go." She stood up and straightened out her dress, heading for the door.

Louis stood up as well. "I'll walk you to your car."

***

Louis' POV

I was walking alongside Vicky and Rae when a drunk man suddenly came out of nowhere and started yelling at us, at Rae, especially. He was not really threatening, but he looked quite scary, with his reddened  face and violet facial bruises.

"Heyyy. Fancy seeing you again, ex-girlfriend." Er... what? Ex-girlfriend who? The man stepped closer to Rae but instinctively, I pulled her closer to me and put my hand at the small of her back.

"You must be her new boyfriend?" The drunk man slurred his words. He looked disgusted but after a short while he suddenly smiled. "My name is Ian. I am your girlfriend's ex. And just to warn you, bro. You're not getting any from this girl."

"I know, pretty face, nice body but sadly, mate, she's too damn conservative and shit. Tsk. Virgin Mary."

Veins on my neck were starting to show because of anger. Good thing Rae noticed them and gripped my arm tight or else I would have just punched this lunatic.

"Useless bitch." I lost it right there. My anger made me lose my calm that I just punched the guy's nose, making it bleed. I threw another punch right at his gut, making him fall flat on his butt. 

"Louis, no."

"Well, guess what, asshole?" I said through gritted teeth, barely containing the urge to punch the guy to sleep. "You must have been too busy thinking about getting into her pants that you didn't see that you were lucky just because you had her."

Rae's mouth was agape and so was Vicky's. Maybe it's just the wine a while back that is making me brave now. But honestly, I highly doubt that.

"Rae is more than just looks, you jerk. too bad you didn't see that." I stepped back, holding Rae's hand, entwining her fingers with mine.

"Huh? Who are you?" Ian stepped forward, speculating me as if I was some kind of specimen.

"I'm Rae's boyfriend."

Defeated and barely walking with two feet alone, Rae's shitty ex-boyfriend left us. I didn't let go of Rae's hand and I could tell she expected me to let go once the guy left. Why should I? It fits my hand perfectly, like we were really meant to hold hands.

We stayed that way until we reached Vicky's car at the farthest end of the parking lot. It was a moment I dreaded. What if I'll never see her again? What if, the moment I let go of her hand, I'll never have the chance to do it again?

The bigger question is, now that I met her in real life, will I still dream of her? I held her hand tighter.

"Will I ever see you again?" I asked, afraid. The possibilities are endless, but I want some kind of assurance. Any kind will do.

Rae let go of my hand and gave me a big hug. "When fate agrees, we will."

She pulled away and stepped into the car. Vicky already started the engine when she rolled the car window down.

"Thank you, Louis." She smiled, her doubts and fears no longer evident in her face.

I watched the car that carries the girl of my dreams drive away into the night, still wishing that fate will agree with me, us, again.

---
Haha. I'm LouRae af.

Last five chapters? Epilogue? Not sure yet.

Lastly, will you please check out Chasing Ella (in this account) and Hear Me (paynexstyles)?

-Shelly