Trace

Chapter 60

HARRY'S POV

"Where is she?!" my throat burns at the loud, raspy outcome of my angry voice.

I look beyond the startled dick in front of me, who is trying to place his hands on my chest to move me back. I suddenly glare down at him and grab his wrist to move away from my body.

"Where's El?" I growl deeply.

Recognition sparks in his eyes, but quickly dissolves, as if he knows who I am.

"I will give you one more fucking second to answer me," my voice increasingly grows louder by each word, "where the fuck i-"

"I'm right here," a small, timid voice comes from behind the guy in front of me.

I tear my gaze instantly from the short prick and see the beautiful girl with tears rolling down her rosy cheeks.

She's wearing a simple, dark blue dress but it looks so stunning on her, filling all her curves completely.

"El," my voice breaks as I rush to greet her, and I reach out to envelope her body completely, but she jerks away from my touch like I'm some stranger trying to take her away.

"Baby?" my eyebrows raise in confusion.

She looks up at me with a pain in her eyes so deep that it nearly breaks me.

"El, what's wrong?" my voice is quiet and shaky, afraid at what her response may be.

"I-I'm sorry, I just can't," she turns away, covering her mouth to stifle a quiet sob.

She rushes back to wherever she came from, leaving me standing there very frazzled and confused.

I go to follow her, but feel someone grab my arm.

"Harry, I think it's best you leave," the stranger says to me.

How the fuck does he know my name?

"Excuse me?"

He releases his grip from my arms and gives me a cold stare.

"She is such a sweet, sweet girl. It sickens me that you could hurt her like that."

Regret and hurt stir the pit of my stomach.

I step away from him. "I'm sorry, but you clearly don't understand a thing. This was all just a misund-"

"El, wait!"

I shoot my head up to see El pacing back to us, her purse and sweater in hand. Along behind her is a girl with short brown hair who I do not recognise either.

An older couple, who I assume is one of these two parents, cautiously appears to investigate this dramatic scene.

El doesn't even look at me as she passes me to reach the door. She wisps on her heels as she opens it.

"Thank you, Ruth," she chokes to the other girl, "for everything. It's just best that I go now before this dinner party gets ruined even further."

Ruth opens her mouth to say something, but closes it in the same moment.

As El rushes out of the door, I quickly follow.

Luckily, none of the other people come behind me to stop me.

"El!"

I sprint as she takes the stairs down instead of the elevator.

"El, please!"

I jog down the stairs after her and finally catch up.

I grab her by the arm and spin her around to face me.