After The End: Book 1

32. Triumph

Harry's POV

Obviously I couldn't stay where I was. The situation looked pretty bleak and the only alternative I had to the nefarious thoughts being developed in my brain was to not think at all. That's  how I instinctively ended up throwing the shot glass against the hallways perfectly bland paint job as hard as I could. It shattered with a crash that was drowned out by the music and one glance down the hall told me that nobody had noticed. The alcohol reeked as it soaked into Melvins carpet.

The alcohol gone solved one of my immediate problems, the temptation. It was only slightly managed but enough that I could move onto the next thought: Finding Lux. I'd been on my own for all of 5 seconds and I had already started to crumble. I needed to not be alone.

If she wasn't in the dark hallway, that meant my next move had to be going back to the party where she was undoubtably looking for me. I didn't want to go back in there but standing in the hallway that was now covered in glass shards didn't feel like much of an option. What was I supposed to say if someone showed up?

I started back towards the party and tried to put my brain on tunnel vision. Waiters offered me drinks, I kept mumbling no and letting my eyes scan the group for either Lux or Louis. Louis meeting would be over right? I didn't even know how long he'd been gone.

I bumped into Stella again while trying to scan the crowd with my eyes. She was holding a drink and leaning in the doorway between a sitting room and the entryway. I tried to keep my head down and acted like I didn't notice her. Despite that, she grabbed my arm lightly and said "Hello again."

"Have you seen Lux?" I asked without greeting. I realized how blunt I sounded and tried to self correct. "I lost her."

Stella giggled. "Alex? Is she your girlfriend?"

I blinked hard. Stella was drunk I realized. Her drink hand wavered slightly. She smelled like booze. "No, she's my friend. Have you seen her?"

Stella shrugged. "So you're available then?" She asked. Then she wavered and I put my hand out just enough to keep her from falling before her knees buckled and she fell into me anyways, spilling the brown liquor in her glass down my shirt. A portion of my brightly colored suspenders turned dark.

I cringed and considered dropping her. Instead I dragged her to a nearby chair and settled her down in the sitting room.

"So that's a no on the Lux thing?" I asked annoyed. The liquor was cold as it seeped its way through my shirt and onto my torso.

She just giggled again. "Do you have any coke?"

I frowned and stared at her with wide disappointed eyes. I was never going to agree to go to another party ever again. "No," I told her. She wouldn't remember any of this tomorrow. "I fucking wish I did though."

Then I left her there in the chair to continue my search, all the while feeling nauseous at the sticky alcoholic scent making its way off of my clothes and the cocaine filled thoughts drowning my mind. Waiters kept offering me drinks. I kept declining. Jameson waved at me again but considering I was well aware that he had actual drugs in his pockets, I decided to pretend I couldn't see him. I saw the men Louis had spoken to previously and approached them.

"Hey, have you guys seen Louis? Or that girl I was with?" I asked interrupting their conversation.

They spared me annoyed glances. Then, one of them said "The hot one?"

I didn't like the description but I knew he meant Lux so I nodded.

"Is she your girlfriend?" The other one said.

"No," I answered without elaborating.

"Then I wouldn't tell you if I saw her," the first one joked. "I'd at least take a minute to shoot my shot."