Meant For You

The Real Goodbye

Author Note: Hey guyyyssss, I’m just gonna suggest that you listen to Never Say Never by The Fray in the second part of this chapter. OK thanks… Or Words by Skylar Grey!! They fit perfectly!

Chapter 29: The Real Goodbye

Two weeks later…

--- Hope POV ---

It’s been so stressful. It’s only June and I can’t keep doing this.

I’ve been working on the fashion show for the past few weeks I’d say and I haven’t seen Harry. I saw him on my birthday and I haven’t seen him since. He hasn’t tried to talk to me for the past two weeks or maybe he’s been too busy, either way I haven’t spoken to him in two weeks. This is one of the biggest nights of my life and he’s supposed to be here.

Tonight is the 30th of June and one of the biggest nights of the show. Even though it runs for another few weeks, tonight is just one of the three nights where they show one designer exclusively. Tonight is my night. Even mum and Ivy flew out to be here for me. Just this one night.

Harry got permission to stay in New York for an extra night to come to the show tonight. It worked out perfectly and I was ecstatic… now… not so much.

He isn’t even here.

“Hope, sweetie, the show’s about to start.” Abi calls softly and I snap my head up, to stare blankly at her. “Oh god! Hope!” Abi gasps rushing over to me. I hadn’t even noticed that I had tears running down my cheeks until she gently wiped them away.

“He’s not here.” I say quietly to her, resting my head on her shoulder.

“He’s probably just caught up Hope. He’ll be here. You know he will. But, you need to pull yourself together right now because the show is about to start and tonight is all about you. I wish I could give you a proper pep talk but you have to be on stage in literally 2 minutes.” She says, stroking my hair lightly. I sigh, straightening up and brushing off the tear tracks from my cheeks.

“I know. I’m just nervous and I guess I’m over reacting.” I sigh before hauling myself from the ground. “I know he’ll be here. I just don’t want him to miss too much.” I say with a shrug before rubbing my hands together in an eager action. “Let’s get this show on the road… or catwalk then!” I shout and I hear a few cheers causing me to smile.

Tonight is going to be a good night, or at least I wanted it to be.

*

I watched for Harry the entire show. I wasn’t really there. In the moment. I couldn’t even enjoy myself. Sometimes I’d lose myself to the runway, but always, always, there’d be the nagging thought in the back of my head.

He’s not here.

Finally, when the show ended I came back to myself full force and the mantra ‘He’s not here’ changed to a bitter;

He never came.

So here I am, standing at the end of the runway, everyone else has left, but I’m still standing as though the show never finished, bearing my soul to an invisible audience.

My phone is shaking in my hands as I scroll through the numbers. I’m not shaking because I’m sad, there’s no room to feel sad beside my steadily burning rage.

He should’ve been here.

My fingers hover over Harry’s number before I press the call button and hold the phone to my ear. I can hear my harsh breathing reverberating through the line. My hand immediately flies up to play with the chain around my neck, a comforting gesture.