Chasing You

Chapter 21

ADDIE

"So, you and Chris?", a familiar voice sends chills down my spine. My friends stayed to talk with Nathan a bit longer, and since we've decided to go grab lunch all together after the interview, I told them I'd wait outside. I really needed some fresh air, and I also needed to get away from anything Espen related. Surviving the interview was a challenge. I tried to focus on what Chris told me seconds before it started and his voice as he answered the questions to keep me from doing anything stupid like starting to shout at my old team or running away.

Seeing Harper right now does not help with that pending wish.

"Cut the bullshit, it's not like you care", I find the guts inside me to tell her. "Or you do, but it's not because I might have found happiness with Chris. We both know why."

"Addie, I..."

"Did you go ask Espen for the job, or did they reach out to you?", I need to know for some reason. Because if Espen reached out for her, it would still excuse what she did. But if she went over to them...

She rubs her temples, answering: "I asked them for the job."

"Why?", it's all I'm able to say. "You knew what they did. I told you what they had me do. They wanted me to tell dirt about innocent people, Harper. That's not who we are."

"Oh, I have one question for you", she counters, crossing her arms at her chest. "I always thought you protected Astoria in that article because of the history with your Dad, but was it because you were fucking their driver this whole time?"

"Excuse me", I think I might be sick again.

"I saw the way he looked at you, Adeline. Or how he would touch your back as he thought nobody was looking." Harper points an accusing finger at me: "From us four, you were the one who wanted this life the least. Yet here you are, having the legendary Christopher Graves wrapped around your finger. How the world works..."

"Do you think I wanted to fall for him?!", I find myself shouting. "Do you think I wanted to fall for the most unreachable guy ever? No! I don't know how it happened but I don't regret that it happened. So you don't get to come here and give me shit for the only thing I have that makes me happy. Chris and I met way before this season. So you don't get to judge me based on things you don't even know."

"Oh, I don't judge you", she laughs hysterically. "I would have done the same thing if I were you. But just so you know, I am a part of Espen now. And that task that got you fired? It still stands. So you better tell your little boyfriend to be ready, for we will strike, and it will hurt." Harper turns to leave, before she looks one more time at me, her face getting a bit more emotional. "I hope you understand it is only business. And I do hope we can remain friends after this."

That she even implied... "You and I are not friends. Not anymore." I make the effort to move my legs, my body, through my racing breath and shattered heart, and make the effort to be the first one leaving. "Goodbye, Harper."

~

There is sad Harry Styles playing in the background, my body cuddled around a cup of Ben&Jerry's, the television playing some random reality TV show on mute. I don't know for how long I've been here. After lunch, I came straight back to my hotel room and began my pity party.

What Harper told me hurt. Because I had thought she would be the one to stay. As the days got nights and I wouldn't care if I would not sleep or starve or sink after my Dad died, Harper was the one to force me out of my misery phase. She would be there with breakfast, not moving until I ate something. She would take me out if only to leave the apartment.

I never saw I'd see her leave just as fast as she came.

I don't even hear the door of the hotel room open through my tears, nor do I acknowledge the heels clattering on the ground. I only look up as someone shadows over me. Yvonne, wearing a glittery dark-green party dress, smoky eyes makeup on, her black hair styled into a high ponytail. She looks ready to go out. I check out my jogging pants, graphic tee saying "Life sucks" and messy bun and have to frown.

I go back to staring at the ice cream, and as she notices I make no attempt at moving, she walks over to my phone and stops the Harry Styles.

"Hey, I was listening to that", I protest, reaching out with my hands hoping she would give me my phone back.

She doesn't, places it on the coffee table that is the furthest away from me, and goes through my suitcase once, searching. As she found something that seems to please her, she takes out a purple mini dress, again, one of the only 'fun' outfits I had packed, and throws it over at me, saying: "That's it, we're going out."

"No, Yvonne", I try to stop her, yet she's already prepared some shoes and makeup for me. "Can't you see I'm sad? I want to mope inside."

"No, because you've clearly only been doing that for hours. Maybe ever since lunch?", she already guesses. My lack of response is response enough. "Oh, babe", she tries to comfort me, "I'm so sorry." She walks over to me, handing me the things she chose for me. "Life can be a bitch, I get it. I really do. But you can't let others become the main character of your life." She takes a deep breath, before she continues: "Some people go, and some will stay. It's the way life works. But the one person you'll forever have? Yourself. So don't kill yourself just because others thought you're not worth it. They must not know what worth is."

She must have seen me stop and think about what she said for a second, for a mischievous smile lights up her face, and she adds: "You know what else is worth it? Going out with me tonight. Let's dance the night away and forget about that bitch."

And it might be the pending boredom or the effect of the Ben&Jerry's, but I get up and get changed in the dress she's picked for me.