Crooked Hearts

7. Freedom

We stay in the bin for what seems like hours. Outside, the crowd has died down a little. "You think we can go out now?" I whisper.

Aria doesn't answer. She reaches up and cracks open the cover just the tiniest bit. She peeks out of the bin, and finally she says, "We're going to have to run."

"What?"

"There's still a lot of security out there, probably looking for you."

I frown, "So? They'll take me back to the hotel."

"I can't have that." She says quietly.

"Why not?"

"Because there are some things I need to tell you in private, and given the fact they probably won't let me talk to you, I need them not to see you for awhile."

"I can tell them to let you." I say.

She's quiet for a moment. "Look Harry," she finally says, "I know this is crazy, but I need to talk to you, and I do not want to have a chat with you in the privacy of a hotel room. And besides, when will you ever have a chance to get a tour around Rio with me again?"

"You're going to tour me around Rio?" I ask, with a small grin.

"Yes, I'm going to show you some of my favorite spots around Rio, as a gift to you."

"A gift?" I ask.

"Yeah, a gift, since I haven't seen you in like, five years, and I probably won't see you again after tonight for five years more, I'm giving you a goodbye gift and a welcome back gift at the same time."

"I don't know....." I say. "Management will be furious with me. The boys and I have to leave Rio at five AM in the morning. And I don't want to disobey the rules, or have anyone freak out at my disappearance."

"I'll have you back there just before then, I promise." She says.

"I don't know...." I say again.

"Harry, darling, I can assure that after tonight, you and I will part ways, you will go ahead and continue your tour, live a long amazing career as a singer, have a wife, get kids, and when you're old and gray, and have spent most of your life away on investing in fame and fortune, you will think, 'at least I spent one night of my life touring Rio with Aria Wilde'."

I can't help but smile.

"Okay, fine. I'll come." I say.

"Good."

Aria hands me what looks to be a dark black hoodie and a pair of sunglasses. "Here" she says, "Wear these. That way you'll be less noticeable."

I stare at the clothing she's holding out to me. "Are you sure these will fit?"

"Yeah, they're mine, but the hoodie's men size. So that should fit just fine."

"Okay." I pull the hoodie over my head and put on the sun glasses.

"Ready?"

"Yep."

All at once Aria opens the bin and cautiously steps out. I follow her out into the street and my eyes widen. Security is everywhere. Looking for me, most probably. In all my life I've never seen anything like this. It's not like the boys and I ever went missing, but this. This feels like a murder case and I'm the murderer. And they're looking for me.

"Shit." I hear Aria mutter. "Run Harry."

Aria takes my hand and we run. One security guard spots us and yells, "HEY STOP!"