Texting Styles / hs

Chapter 39

Harry P.O.V.

Shelby was obnoxious. Her mother told her off for kidnapping Lexi, then asked her to explain herself. She told me she didn't want to to be stuck with a whore. Her mom told her she was lucky I didn't call the police. She then stomped her foot and went on a tangent about starving children in Africa and how Lexi was a waste of good food.

Her mother demanded she show me to Lexi.

"Fine," she muttered. "God, you always ruin everything, Mom."

But she led me upstairs and down the hall, into a room at the end of the hall. Her bedroom, I was assuming.

I couldn't wait to see Lexi. But what if she didn't want to see me? I had heard of Stockholm Syndrome. What if she wouldn't want to leave? What if she was disgusted that I told her my name was Alfie? What if she left me?

We went into the bedroom, a semi-large room with a bathroom attached. The room was frilly and pink, neat and tidy, and was covered in One Direction posters. Most disturbingly, there were pictures that I didn't remember. Of course, paparazzi would sneak photos all the time, but these were not even from paparazzi.

These pictures, I realized with a jolt, were from before One Direction was even together.

Meaning she had found pictures from when we were children, from when we were twelve, from before our auditions, that we hadn't released.

I didn't want to question where she'd gotten them. Because, more importantly, there was no sign of Lexi being in the room. Not even a strip of rope hinting that she'd been tied up. Not even a footprint in Shelby's impeccable carpet.

Before I could question it, try to leave the room that Lexi clearly was not in, the door was locked.

"What are you doing?" I asked. "Let me out. Give Lexi back!"

Shelby just smiled. "I will. She's just downstairs, in the basement. But first, I have a few questions. Answer them, and you'll get Lexi back immediately, I promise."

Reluctantly, I nodded, seeing no other options. "How many questions?"

She waved her hand, dismissing the question. "Just a few."

She patted a spot next to her on the bed, but I remained standing. She shrugged, as if to say, suit yourself. "Number one: are you and Louis really in love?!"

Good grief. I was expecting something like, why are you dating Lexi? or, will you give me your autograph?! But no. This was a straight up interview. Fabulous.

"No," I replied, as evenly as I could. "Why would I be dating Lexi if I was in love with Louis?"

She supplied an answer immediately: "She's a beard."

This was going to take a long time.

~~~

"Number forty-two: what's the name of the new album?"

I sighed. "Can we please stop now?"

"No. What's the name of the new album. Tell me. Tell me now."

I sighed. "Take Me Home." (A/N: TMH came out in 2012, but idk when this story even takes place in that year tbh. Just go with it idk)

We were planning on announcing it next week anyway.

"Number-"

"No!" I exclaimed. "Just take me to Lexi. Now."

She rolled her eyes. "Fine, cranky pants. Follow me."

Finally. Jeez.

She led me downstairs into a dank and disgusting basement, especially in comparison with her pristine bedroom.

But Lexi still wasn't there.

Then, upon further inspection, I saw a rope, a chair, and an open window. She got out.

Half of me was thankful and relieved, but half of me was pissed and annoyed that I just spent an hour and a half answering some little brat's stupid questions.

"What?" Shelby hissed. "She's gone?!"

I walked over to the rope, picking it up. "It seems so."

There was a little bit of blood of the rope, which was slightly alarming. But it was probably just from her struggle of escaping.

Frantically, I pulled my phone out of my pocket, hoping for word from her.

What I saw made my heart stop.

Something even crazier?