Catching Red Eyes - NYC

Chapter 24

I woke up to my alarm and I also found myself alone. It was bright and warm in my little bedroom but Harry was missing. I looked around to see if there was any evidence of him left behind to tell me he hadn't gone yet. But I couldn't find anything. I could smell the faint scent of him lingering in my sheets, but I was totally alone.

It was Monday. I had class all day and the paper layout. I went to sit up and a crinkled sound came from somewhere under my arm. It was a note.

*Didn't want to wake you, love. I had to run and catch a flight but will ring later.*

His handwriting was in cursive and it fit him perfectly. I stared at it, holding it with both hands. I wonder where he had to fly to and when he was going to come back. I felt a tug in my stomach wondering if it was an international flight and if he had a phone to call me. My mind wandered to Harry sitting on an airplane with headphones on and looking out the window. I then imagined myself right next to him, laying my head on his shoulder and looking out the same window.

Rowan, focus. School. Paper. Move. Now.

I pulled myself out of my daydream and forced myself to shower and put on my normal outfit of jeans, sweater, boots, and black rain coat. I dried my hair and put it in a top bun and grabbed my bag and walked to campus. During class, I found myself daydreaming about him again and checking my phone constantly to see if I had any new messages or missed calls but I had nothing.

The day dragged on and on until I found myself in the paper studio completely distracted and not able to pay attention. It took everything in me to not google his name to read the latest news story. I opened up my email and tried to distract myself with the new articles that were going to print this week. I was able to edit a good portion of the articles when my phone starting ringing. I jumped and flung myself towards the phone.

It was Marc and George's main line calling me. I was instantly annoyed that I was getting called by anyone but Harry.

"Hey Marc," I said.

"It's Maddy actually. So, can we break the story yet?? Harry is back home so it'll probably be a little bit before you see him and then with the tour and all, basically your 15 minutes of fame will be up soon."

He was home? Where was his home? I never thought outside his hotel suite to another place where he would sleep. His tour too. I tapped my fingers on my desk trying to comprehend this. Why wouldn't he tell me he was going home?

"Row!"

"Oh, sorry. Um, no. Nothing is going on between us. I have to get back to editing. Sorry, Maddy."

I ended the call and dropped my phone on desk. I put my hands in my head and knew I was going crazy because it hadn't even been a day and I was already worried about where Harry and I were heading. I needed some air. I pushed back the newspaper room door and almost slammed into someone.

"Shit, sorry"

"Its ok, Rowan."

I looked and saw Pryce. He didn't look well.

"Pryce, are you ok? You don't look so good."

"I may have drank a bit more then I wanted tonight. Rebecca...she. She broke up with me," Pryce slurred a few inches from my face. He reeked of alcohol and I moved my face to get away from the smell.

"Pryce, I am so sorry. Listen, let's get you home and in bed." I didn't have the strength to ask him how or why his girlfriend dumped him or how he found his way outside the newspaper room door. I also didn't realize how late it was already. It was pitch black outside.

"Row, I need you to talk to me. I don't want to sleep."

"Ok, how about we take a walk and get some food." I had dealt with Laurie drunk before so I knew the remedy to help Pryce. He decided I was his leaning post as we walked to the convenience store on the corner. It was notorious for drunk NYU students to get their munchies, eat and pass out.

By some grace of God and my weird human strength, I was able to half carry Pryce to his dorm apartment after getting him something to eat. Thankfully, his rugby playing roommate carried him up the stairs, fireman style.

"He's good. Just drunk as hell. I have to get back to my lady downstairs. You good?" his roommate asked.

"Yea, cool, thanks for the help."

His roommate disappeared down the stairs as I went into Pryce's room.

"You ok?"

He was on his side passed out with his sandwich half eaten. I laughed and shook my head. I wrapped the sandwich back up and put it on his bedside table.  Before I was about to leave, he moved and grabbed my hand.

"Row...he isn't good for you...he's going to hurt you."

"Who?" I knew who he was implying but I wanted to know why he said that, considering he had no idea what was going on and it felt like someone socked me in the stomach considering I was already very vulnerable by the still silent cell phone in my pocket.

"You know who. He is a musician. He travels all over the world. I want you happy and he won't make you happy." Before I could even say anything back, he closed his eyes and fell completely asleep.

I sank onto his bedroom floor because a part of me knew he was right.