Collide (Impact Book 2) | h.s. | complete

21. Mirage

~ Harry ~

I glanced down at my phone where my map app was open, the pin indicating my destination nearly matching up with the small blue pin that pulsated representing my location.

"This is it." I whispered to myself, shoving my phone into my back pocket. I lifted my cross necklace to my lips and kissed it as I neared the brick house with white trim and massive bay windows. It looked like the kind of place Tori would live. The house was on a corner and as I neared I read the bold white writing on the street sign. Tanneurs Ave. Standing at the door, I took a deep breath and lifted my fist to knock but before my fist hit the wood it swung open and a girl who looked around fourteen stood before me. She was chomping on a piece of gum, smacking it between her molars. As she looked from my feet to my face, realization washed over her.

"MOM!" She screamed, still staring at my face as I glanced behind her. I was most definitely in the wrong place.

"What is it Charlie?" A woman around my mother's age bustled towards us.

"Why is Harry Styles at our door?"

"Harry who?" The woman asked, looking me up and down. "Does he go to your school?"

"Uhm, no, I'm actually looking for someone, I must have the wrong address. I'm sorry to bother you..." I said, slowly backing away.

"He looks a little old to go to your school Charlie," The woman pressed on, eyeing her daughter who's mouth hung open, her gum resting in a clump on her tongue.

"Can I have a picture with you?" She asked and I glanced around.

"Sure," I smiled forcedly and pulled her out onto the step with me as she handed her mother her phone. I smiled for the photo and she thanked me profusely.

"What brings you to Providence?" Her mother asked, still somewhat perplexed.

"I'm just...visiting someone. Do you know if there's a young...couple on this street, they would have moved in within the last year."

"No, no one new has moved in years." The woman said.

"I'm sorry I should probably get going. I have to be in New York in a few hours."I said, turning to leave.

"Harry," Charlie said, stepping out from the shelter of her home again. "What happened to Tori?"

"She's around." I lied and she nodded.

"If you talk to her, tell her people really miss her..." There was silence for a moment before she turned to pull out her phone. "Wow, this is so weird, Harry Styles...THE Harry Styles at MY house." She ranted as her mother closed the door, smiling warmly at me. A few hours later, as I pulled up to the valet at my hotel, my phone rang.

"Harry, are you back yet?" Niall asked as I handed the valet my keys.

"Yea, I'm just going upstairs to change, where are you?"

"Some bar I'll send you the address." He said, and then lowered his voice substantially. "Zayn and Louis are leaving in a few anyways so you and I can talk about-"

"Sure," I cut him off. "I'll see you soon." I changed quickly and headed back out. As I approached the bar I shut off my phone and brushed my hair off my face.

"Haz," Niall flagged me down from a booth in the corner and I nodded, stopping by the bar to order a pitcher. I carried it with me to the table and sat down, tossing my jacket onto the bench beside me.

"No luck," I said and Niall looked down.

"Well, we're getting closer, I feel it." He sighed, taking a drink of his beer. "Old lady again?" He asked, referring to who actually lived in the homes I was actively searching out, attempting to find the one that Tori lived in.

"Screaming pre-teen." I said and he nodded.

"Ah, well...let's not give up hope, yea?"

"Right," I said, downing my second pint of beer.

"How many have we tried now."

"We've asked around on 32 streets." I said. We sat for a while without speaking, each taking in the uselessness of our search. After about an hour and two full pitchers, I excused myself to the washroom, which was, thankfully, empty. I closed myself in a stall and pulled a small baggie out of my wallet, setting up a line of white powder. When I returned to the table, Niall told me an elaborate story about this girl he had met at the club the night before, but I was hardly listening. My head was spinning and I felt my eyes darting around the bar. When I chanced at glance at the front I caught a glimpse of a girl walk in through the door, he hair hanging down in chocolate brown curls. She was short, beautiful, with light brown eyes and perfect lips. She smiled my way and my mouth hung open for a moment before her name came to my lips.

"Tori."