Carmen - H.S

Chapter 15

Carmen smoothed out the wrinkles of her scarlet evening dress and awaited Hugo's arrival. The patio felt chilly, and she suddenly regretted the decision to forgo a coat. The wind raised goosebumps on her arms, as if it had seeped into her skin and was pushing up and up until it could burst free. There was something swirling in the air, potent and stifling, pressing down on her shoulders. Tonight would be different somehow.

Where was Hugo? she wondered absentmindedly. He was usually never late. Punctuality was his religion, and he followed it diligently. She leaned back onto the frigid metal bench and sighed deeply.

Attending the promotion gala was the last thing she'd wanted to do. Normally, she adored these types of parties with a fierce joy. They sparkled with a sort of elegance that only magnified her own. The tantalizing gourmet food, the glittering, softly glowing chandeliers, the gorgeous couture that dotted the dance floor. It was all like a dream.

But lately, she'd been so tired. And not just sleepy. The kind of tired that put heavy lead in her bones, slowed the fragile beats of her heart, and made every second feel like it was melting into infinity. She wasn't sure she could take it much longer.

She pulled her slim white phone out of her nude clutch and checked the time. 8:50. She was already going to be late. Where could Hugo be? It wasn't like him to be tardy, and she felt worry seize at her chest as horrific scenarios scrolled through her bustling mind. Another glance at her phone revealed an incoming text from Ron. She poised her thumbs to select it, but at that moment, Hugo's sleek vehicle pulled in.

Sighing with relief, she gathered her things and scurried to the back door, waiting for him to emerge and open the door for her. When no one appeared for a few minutes, she huffed in frustration, her cheeks burning with two dots of red. Carmen yanked on the handle, letting the cold air swirl into the car, and finally caught a glimpse of who had been behind the wheel the entire time.

Harry sat in the driver's seat, nervously tugging his wild curls. He could feel sweat collecting in the folds of his clothing and loathed the uncomfortable sensation. He offered Carmen a small smile, then watched as her delicate face morphed from utter confusion to fury that mingled with disgust.

"Where the fuck is Hugo?" she spat, fists clenched tightly at her sides.

Harry squeaked involuntarily before clearing his throat and trying with all his might to maintain eye contact with her. "He's i-in the hospital. He had a stroke." His words were rushed and barely intelligible.

Carmen's eyes widened almost imperceptibly as she quietly gasped. She could feel tears burning in the back of her eyes, yearning to be free. But she wouldn't let them escape, not in front of Harry of all people.

Without a word, she clambered into the car, dismissing the hand Harry offered her. He started up the car, and they drove along in silence, only the occasional traffic noise trickling in through the windows.

Harry glanced over at her and was surprised to see her eyes shut tight, to hear her breathing as if she just jogged a handful of miles. It almost frightened him to watch her composure crumble. She looked so unstable, and the strands of human decency running through Harry's being set off a twinge of pity in his chest.

"Are you okay?" With a note of satisfaction, he noticed that he hadn't stuttered. Maybe it was because she seemed so vulnerable right now, and her mesmerizing, intimidating eyes were hidden from view.

"Fuck off," she snapped without opening her eyes.

"Just trying to help," he mumbled a bit breathlessly.

Silence. Then Carmen sighed and relaxed slightly.

"I didn't ask for your help, bitch." He said nothing in reply.

Now, she looked at him out of the corner of her eye, letting him fill her peripheral vision. He was biting his rosy lips as if holding back words that rested on the tip of his tongue.

She laughed, and he almost shivered at the sound. "Go ahead," she urged, eyes twinkling with a mix of malice and amusement.

Harry simply glanced at her questioningly.

"Tell me to stop. Curse me out, yell at me, whatever you want."

His eyes expanded like a balloon filled by a determined pair of lungs. Instead of responding, he tightened his grip on the steering wheel and rigidly faced forward.

"C'mon. You know you want to, Harry." Something about the way she put emphasis on his name disturbed him. He wanted to open his mouth and let a tidal wave of words smother her and her insolent smile. But they wouldn't come, and he didn't think they ever would.

Carmen sighed at his lack of response. "Are you always this fucking boring?"

A nervous cough but no words reached her ears. Rolling her eyes, she reached under the seat and extracted her emergency stress kit, which consisted of a pack of cigarettes and a fluorescent violet pocket lighter. Quickly, she lit up the stick between her slender fingers and took a slow drag.

"Could y-you not smoke in here?"

Carmen glanced at him and raised the cigarette to her lips again.

"I have asthma," Harry said at the same soft volume.

Abruptly, she turned to face him and blew a slightly crooked ring of smoke into his face, a trick she'd learned while touring in Venezuela. He began to cough vehemently; his eyes watered, and his chest began to ache, but there was not a speck of sympathy in Carmen's wide brown eyes. Luckily, they were at a stoplight, but the glowing dots above were apt to change color at any time.

"Let me look for a fuck to give," she giggled, and he flushed without knowing exactly why.

"You're adorable when you blush," she simpered, but it didn't sound very much like a compliment. In fact, it only caused his rosy cheeks to become redder, something he hadn't known was possible.

"Smoking's bad for you, you know." Harry winced as soon as the words left his mouth and hoped that he'd spoken too quietly for her to hear. But of course she had.

"Oh really!" she exclaimed in faux shock. "I thought it lowered cholesterol!"

"You could get cancer."

He had no earthly idea why he was telling her these obvious facts. Normally, he wouldn't even speak to her unless absolutely necessary, but now he was, as if the past weeks of all her aggression and moodiness never happened. Maybe it was because Carmen had already snapped at him and dug her claws into his heart. And maybe now he was finding that the sting got easier to bear as time crawled by.

"Last time I checked, you were a fucking assistant, not my doctor. So shut up."

And he did. At least until they arrived at the gala. Carmen blew out one last mouthful of toxins out the window and snuffed out her cigarette on Harry's armrest, just barely missing his tanned skin. She stowed her belongings under the seat and picked up her small clutch. Just as she'd stuck a leg out of the car and started lowering herself down, he piped up.

"H-Have fun," he called to her as loudly as he could, which admittedly wasn't very loud at all. He had to be nice to her, he decided. Her life couldn't be easy, and as his mother had taught him, it was best to kill people with kindness. Besides, it was his only option at this point.

She whirled around, quick as a flash, and narrowed her eyes at him with such contempt that he shrank back, heart pounding foolishly. He almost wasn't surprised to see her flip him off as if the rude gesture was second nature. Then without another word, she took off, stilettos stabbing the gray pavement, and left him with nothing but the fear flowing through his trembling veins.

this is a stupid chapter also srry for taking so 3.8 years to update i kno i kno i suck ass

anyway did any of u watch the livestream? i'm sure the other guys looked nice and all but did u see zayn??? his hair his lips his sparkly eyes i'm sweating now gawd