Crossing Oceans

Chapter 13: Searching for Harry

Chapter 13: Searching for Harry

Nick couldn't stop his knee from bouncing up in down as he sat on the bus to Venice Beach. Looking out the window, he watched the streets and palm trees race by, anxious to see the sign that means he's reached his destination. Within minutes, the bus came to an abrupt halt at the front of the beach parking lot. As soon as the doors opened, he jumped up and ran to the front, making sure he got out before the slow-moving, lethargic crowd.

Immediately, Nick started to look for Harry. The beach wasn't necessarily small, and Harry never really said where he was. Muttering a curse, Nick began to trudge through the sand in search of his best friend.

After walking for two or three minutes in the deep sand, he started to get worried. Surely Harry would be lingering here around the parking lot...

"HARRY! HAZ WHERE ARE YOU," Nick called, walking faster. The ocean breeze was a bit chilly, despite the daytime summer weather. No one swims at this time of night. As Nick scanned the beach, he could see that the only people here were couples. Couples having late-night picnics, sitting near the water, looking up at the stars, while others were simply feasting on each other's bodies, a mess of entangled limbs in the shadows.

Trying to steer clear of the latter of said couples, Nick began to call for Harry again.

Someone nearby cleared their throat. Nick turned to see a couple a few feet away who had chosen to detach their lips long enough for the boy to speak.

"Bro, do you mind?" the boy spat. Nick glared.

"I ACTUALLY I DO MIND. I MIND MY OWN BUSINESS!! NOW MIND YOURS DOUCHEBAG, YOUR RANDOM HOOKUP OF THE NIGHT AWAITS," Nick yelled back, smirking as the girl gasped. The boy just rolled his eyes and reassured the girl she was his only one with lacy words and empty promises. Nick gagged and left.

The wind was getting crisp and Nick was starting to get really cold. He veered to the left to check a different side of the beach. Right about now he really started to wish he had grabbed his cell before he left, so he could call Harry instead of calling him.

He came around a corner and saw the outline of volleyball nets.

'Ah I think these are the ones were I met Harry's friends... this is always gonna be a special place. Maybe we can all meet back here later...' Nick thought. Coming to a realization, he stopped immediately. Meet back here later!

Louis was probably going to meet Harry near here!

Sure enough, Nick squinted and could just make a man's figure, sitting, hunched over next to the pole of the net.

"HARRY," Nick called. The figure lifted his head.

"Nick?" the figure called back. Nick smiled in relief. It was Harry.

He began running to the net. Harry slowly lifted himself up and Nick pulled him the rest of the way. Once they were both standing, Nick enveloped Harry in a giant hug.

"Haz... I'm so so glad you're okay!" Harry halfheartedly hugged him back.

"I'm not okay." Nick raised an eyebrow. Harry took a deep breath.

"Louis blew me off. He tricked me. He broke my heart and I've had an hour to sit here and feel miserable and used. I don-"

"Look Harry," Nick cut him off, "let's talk about this later. Let's just get you home, yeah?" Harry nodded.

Giving the shivering boy his denim jacket, Nick led Harry to the car, held open the door for him, and began the drive back to the dorm.

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Sorry this chapter is so short! I promise promise PROMISE I'll update on Saturday to make up for it. Thank you all so much for reading! -Cam💕