Criminal

Chapter 12

The drive to the party was long but fun. Harry wore a nice outfit- A suit. I wore a navy dress that I wore to a dance once, it was really pretty, and it was just about to my knee, i thought it was beautiful.

When we got there, my breath was taken right from me. There was a huge house and there were cars all over.

"Harry they will know you're-" I started but he cut me off.

"Friends," he reminded me and I nodded. Friends. I still think it's a risk, but I went along with it.

We parked at the end of the long driveway and Harry opened my door for me. We walked up to the party and immediately tons of people came to say hi to him.

I stood there awkwardly as everyone came through but I smiled at them and most smiled back.

There was one guy, who came over to me and grinned at me. "Hey I haven't seen you before," he said and I laughed a little bit.

"I'm not from around here," I said and he laughed once he swallowed his swig of beer.

"Where from?" He asked and I glanced over at Harry who had a drink I'm his hand and was socializing with some friends.

"I live about 2 hours west," I said and he smiled.

"Nice. Can I get you a drink?" He asked and I shrugged.

"I don't drink alcohol," I said and a sly smile creeped across his face.

"Coke?"

I smiled and nodded. He then disappeared into the crowd. I took a seat in the sun right beside me and I was just people watching.

He came back and I thanked him.

"I'm Jake by the way," he said and I squinted my eyes as I looked up at him, the sun was getting lower.

"Caroline," I said and he smiled.

"I like this song," he said and he reached for my hand. "Dance?"

I grinned, but I grabbed it and he led me to where people were dancing. This was about to get interesting.

I don't really know where my drink ended up but soon enough I was dancing all over the place. It wasn't until they played a slow song that I noticed he wasn't Harry.

Jake had short brown hair and big brown eyes. He was really cute, and really sweet. But the way he looked at me was nothing like Harry does.

When we were slow dancing he leaned into me. "You're so beautiful," he said and I blushed a little.

"Thanks," I said and smiled. He was all over me, a little too much to drink, when I slipped away. I told him I was headed to the bathroom, but I really just wanted to see Harry.

I wandered around the dancing people but I couldn't seem to find him anywhere. I was ready to give up when I saw a shadow of someone near the water.

It was my last hope to wander over there, but I wanted to know. I watched the shadows moving as I walked over there and I reached the tree and I listened.

I heard lips kissing, and I started walking away. That obviously wouldn't be Harry. I mean, we kissed earlier.

I was almost out of earshot when I heard a sharp cry. I covered my ears, but it kept replaying. Over and over.

"Harry!" A female voice shrieked.

I felt sick to my stomach. I know that Harry and I weren't boyfriend and girlfriend, but I did think there was a connection of some sort. Then again, how would i know what friends act like? I've only had a few, and never a guy friend. I felt betrayed by him; and it hurt.

I had to be sure. I put myself together and turned around on my heels. I walked over and I walked past the tree and turned around. I covered my mouth.

Harry was leaning her against the tree and I started running away when I heard a thump. I didn't turn around but even over the music I could hear him.

"Caroline!" He yelled, followed by a curse word. "Caroline!" He yelled again and I heard footsteps behind me.

I ran around the crowd, but I started shoving through to get to the house.

People were dancing, and it was nearly midnight, so they were wasted. It was a foul smell, but I reached the house and I pried the door open and got inside.

I found the bathroom rather quickly, and I hustled in, closing the door behind myself.

I let the tears fall.

When I was a little girl, about 8 years old, my father took me fishing.

He loved to fish, I would watch him all the time. He caught little fish all the way to huge multicolored fish which I couldn't even pronounce the names of.

My favorite part of watching him fish was the look that spread across his face when he actually caught one.

It was pure happiness.

That first time he took me fishing, we didn't catch anything. I was disappointed, so my father tried to cheer my up by taking me out for ice cream.

I remember going to the shop and sitting out on the dock with our bare feet dangling over the edge.

He told me the story I constantly wondered about- how he fell in love with mom.

He simply told me she made him feel like no one else ever had- like no one else ever could or ever would. She was unique for him.

But after that, I remember him telling me to be careful. Love is a powerful thing, and you have to be careful with it. You will love more than one person most likely in your lifetime, but one will stick out.

For him, that was my mom.

For me, who knows.