Lovely Madness // h.s. au

10. Red Hair

We stayed in the store for another ten minutes, Harry went out and walked around while I waited in the bathroom. Yes I admit, I was a little worried. But not for myself, more for him. If he was out there all alone and any of the four saw him, they would have had him. But at the same time I knew I couldn't be of much help anyway. I sat in a stall for a few minutes. I didn't want to be weird and just stand in the bathroom. 

I pulled out my phone and saw one text from Harry, and another from Monica. I opened Monica's first, I wasn't used to seeing Harry's name on my phone. I wondered how he even managed to keep his phone that whole time anyway. I stood up and flushed the empty toilet before I walked out to the sinks. I opened Monica's text, praying Simone hadn't got sick or something. You can come get her around 2, all the other girl's are gone but Jenny missed her so much. Bring your roommate too. As weird as it was, Monica and I had become pretty close over the years. 

I had trouble finding Simone a daycare center and Monica approached me at one and said it was great. Of course she's older than me. She's Jenny's actually mom and had her at a reasonable time. She's about eight years older than me. Monica was almost like a sister to me. Nothing like Nat but, she gave me advice, gave me help, she's always looked out for me. 

I rolled my eyes at her last sentence. She knew damn well Harry wasn't my roommate. She didn't know who he was, but she failed her attempt at being funny. Before looking up to the sink, I ran into someone. My phone dropped from my hands and I stumbled back. 

"I'm so sorry!" she said, gripping my arms. 

I looked into her face. Her dark red hair draped perfectly down her shoulders and her big blue eyes were like marbles. 

"Uhm, it's not your fault. I should have been paying attention," I awkwardly smiled at her. 

Why was she touching me? She needed to stop right now. 

"I wasn't looking either," she let go of me and picked up my phone, "It's not broken is it? I can pay for damages if it is," she said handing it to me. 

I examined it in my hand as a second message from Harry popped up. I opened it and quickly scanned my eyes over the last message. 

Red hair, tall, tribal wrist tattoo, probably smells like cigarettes so don't get too close if you see her. Meet me at the entrance we came in. Let's get out of here. I took a smell of the air around me. Oh joy.

"Um, no. It's fine actually," I smiled back up at her. 

I shoved the phone in my pocket and stepped around her to the sink. I pumped some soap in my hands and she started using the sink next to me. 

"That's good, I have a history of breaking things," she laughed. 

Yeah, like my relationship. Stealing a sideway glance, I caught a glimpse of the tattoo on her right wrist. Beautiful timing, Harry. I turned off the faucet and hurried over to the paper towels. 

"Hey can I ask you something before you leave?" she raised her voice behind me. 

I stopped drying my hands and started biting my lips. I threw the paper towels away turned around to face her. I had to get out of here. She was the girl. She was the girl who hadn't let Harry leave. She was the recruit. And no wonder, she was gorgeous. I had barely noticed the cigarette smoke until Harry had said something. 

"I'm having some boy issues," she smiled innocently, tucking her hair behind her ear. 

"Oh, I'm not the person to ask about that. I'm not very lucky in love," I laughed nervously. 

"Really? I don't believe that. Look at you! Your hair, your eyes, your whole face. And your figure, I'm so jealous. I wish I was a few inches shorter too," she started stalking towards me. 

"Yeah well, other guys don't see what us girls can see."

 I was about to throw up. This could not be happening. The odds of this event were so unreal, God was not on my side today. 

"That's true. But let me just get your opinion real fast okay? I met this guy a few years ago. He was tall, gorgeous green eyes, oh! And he had this really soft, curly, long brown hair. God, you could just curl up in it and fall asleep."

 I had literally said the same thing. She could not be talking to me about Harry. I couldn't do this. I wouldn't even let the victim tell me what happened so I couldn't listen to this fuckery from her. But I didn't stop her. She probably knew how to kill me if I made her angry. Continuing to listen, a small half smile grew on my face to hide my uncomfortableness.

"He had these tattoos when we first met but, I thought he needed more ya know? Really brought together his whole look." 

So that was her idea too, what a bitch. I did like the tattoos though. But that's besides the point. 

"So, what opinion do you need from me?" I muttered. 

"Oh damn, sorry! I could just ramble on and on about him for hours. Anyway, you could say we kind of had an on and off again relationship over the past few years. We lived together and everything. Then a few weeks ago, he just... leaves. I'm not saying I'm IN love with him. But I definitely love him. He's my little lover boy," she smiled to herself. 

I coughed a little too loudly at that, too much information. Harry told me he didn't sleep with her. Technically he was talking about the day he left, I didn't know what else could have gone on. But his relations did not concern me, I sure as hell did not want to know.

"Do you think it'd be worth it? Trying to get him back? I honestly feel like he could be the love of my life," she said quietly. 

I had to avoid rolling my eyes at that. She had no fucking idea. Feeling like Harry could be everything you ever wanted in life was the worst feeling ever. 

"Well, does he feel the same way about you?" I muttered. 

She stood quietly for a second, contemplating. 

"I don't know, you can't tell what guys are thinking," she shrugged. 

I just nodded at her reply and scratched my scalp. I didn't want to say she shouldn't go after him. She didn't know who I was, and as far as she knew, I didn't know her. Telling her to leave this guy alone would only make her more suspicious. But at the same time, telling her to track him down would just... Not be good. 

"I think... you should do whatever your intuitions tell you. If you overthink it then you'll just stress yourself out. Like I said, I have no luck in love. Do what you think is best and... I hope it all works out," I plastered on a nice fake smile. 

She smiled back at me and nodded her head. 

"Thanks. Sorry to keep you like that but, guys can just take over your mind sometimes ya know?" She walked past me and I turned around and followed her out of the bathroom. 

"Yeah. You, you have a nice day," I smiled at her. 

"You too," she said. 

A/N

This bitch... the girl Riley is talking to is meant to be a fake ass hoe so don't worry lol. I know she doesn't seem that bad right now but just hold your horses. Shit is about to get a lot more real. hope you guys are loving it so far. SMILE TODAY AND GO TO A PARTY THIS WEEKEND, LOVE YOU FRIENDS