Prudence Brinker Vs. The World (Mockingbird) (Book 2)

Perched on my windowsill, and hummed along quietly.

"This is cute." Cher said, holding up a blue shirt that shows a lot of stomach. I wouldn't wear that. I shook my head at her and she shrugged, putting it back on the rack and taking a sip of her Slurpee. "I needed this. Thanks, Pru." 

"No problem." I mumbled, drinking my Slurpee. 

Aiden came out of the dressing room moments later, wearing what was probably the gayest outfit ever. Literally. 

He had on tight leather spandex and one of the shirts Cher had just showed me. 

"Well. What do you girls think?" he said, posing. My mouth dropped and I crawled over Cher to keep her from looking at what our friend was wearing. 

"MY EYES!" Cher screamed, dropping her Slurpee on the floor. 

Aiden gasped. "Cher! Clean that up!" 

"GO CHANGE INTO YOUR NORMAL CLOTHES!" she said, laughing and rolling around on the ground. 

"Bitches. You're just jealous you don't have an awesome body like me." he joked, striking another pose. I started giggling like a maniac and soon I was with Cher on the floor. 

Aiden came out again, wearing the clothes he was wearing before. He balled up the clothes he tried on and aimed at my head, but instead of hitting me, he hit a mannequin. The mannequin fell and hit another mannequin which fell and hit a big rack of clothes. It was all domino effect after that. 

Me, Aiden, and Cher all exchanged scared glances, before booking it out the door, leaving a huge mess for the store owner and a Slurpee covered floor. 

We ended up at the food court. For lunch we ordered Chinese. I got pad thai with tofu and Cher shared with me while Aiden got his own order of orange chicken. 

"So what was up with last night?" Cher said. 

I looked at her before shoving a huge forkful of noodles in my mouth so I wouldn't have to answer. 

"Prudence!" she whined, slapping me on the shoulder. 

I held up one finger and slowly chewed. 

Aiden helped me out. "Oh Cher. That dude is totally checking you out." 

Cher's head snapped in the direction Aiden was indicating. Sure enough, there was a tattoo covered guy, staring at her. 

"Well don't just stand there. Climb that guy like a tree!" Aiden screamed at her. I giggled into my food. Cher got up the courage to walk over to the guy. I turned to Aiden and said thank you. 

"Are you gonna tell me what she's talking about?" 

"I kissed this random dude on a sidewalk last night." 

Aiden gasped. "Was he cute?" 

I'm glad he dodged the topic of Harry Styles, the boy who's supposed to be my boyfriend and who I cheated on. 

I smiled and nodded my head. "Extremely." 

Aiden fangirled. "What's his name? Are you gonna see him again?" 

"John and no. It was a one time thing. I don't want to do that to Harry, Aiden." I said, pushing my plate away. I wasn't very hungry anymore. 

Aiden stared at me in disbelief. Then he took out his phone and typed in some random numbers. Then he put the phone up to his ear. Oh no. Harry!

I grabbed at the phone, but Aiden dodged me. "Hey Harry. How you dooin'?" Aiden asked, smirking at me. I stuck my tongue out at him and gave up trying to get the phone. Instead I settled for kicking him under the table. He yelped out in pain. "Oh nothing. I just dropped my straightener on my foot." 

A few pauses. "She's here right now. Do you want to talk to her?" I looked back at Aiden and mouthed NO! before kicking him again. I looked desperately over to Cher who was flirting aimlessly with Tattoo Guy. 

"Harry wants to talk to you." Aiden said, handing me the phone. I rolled my eyes at him before groaning. 

"Aiden I really hate you." 

"You'll thank me someday." he said, smugly. 

I picked up the phone and placed it to my ear. "Ya?" 

"Hey." 

A man of so many words. 

"Oh hi, Louis!" I yelled into the phone and then I shot death glares at the boy across the table from me. What a liar. 

"Hey, doll. Whatcha up to?" 

"Nothing, sitting here eating pad thai." 

"I'm jealous. I'm stuck here eating cold pizza." The boys started their first tour today. I was jealous that I wasn't able to see them off before they left. 

"How's everyone doing?" 

"Niall's hungry, Zayn is sleeping, Liam is playing Sims 3, and Harry is crying in his bunk. I think I heard him mention your name a couple times." 

I heard someone smack him. "I AM NOT!" Harry yelled. 

"Harry wants to talk to you." 

"NO I DON'T!" he screamed at Louis, smacking him again. My heart broke. Maybe I should stop calling Harry my boyfriend now. 

"Come on Harry. Don't be a pussy!" 

"I'm not a pussy..." I heard Harry mumble. Then I heard the phone shuffle around. 

"Hi." Harry said. 

"Er...Hi." I said back. 

"How are you?" 

"I could be better." I said, truthfully. 

"Ya. Same here..." he drifted off. " I miss you Pru." I could hear squealing in the background and figured Louis was fangirling. I heard another smack and then a door close. "Sorry. I had to go outside." 

"I miss you too." Aiden giggled from across the table and I shot him another glare, before leaving too so we couldn't be interrupted.

"I'm sorry about the other night too. I was drunk and stupid. I shouldn't have treated you like that." 

"Okay..." I said. Truth is, I wanted to hear him say more.

"It's stupid, really. Why I'm trying again to get you back. But I figured you only left the X-Factor because of your dad." Well, duh, Hazza. You idiot. "As much as he said he didn't want you to go back to Cheshire, I know he really wanted you there." Aw. I felt like crying now. "I've been thinking a lot about everything. I want you back in my arms and sometimes I wish you wanted to be in them just as much. I want you by my side forever and sometimes I wish I didn't let you leave my side...I've been so...stupid, Prudenc-Pru." 

I pulled Aiden's phone away from my mouth so Harry wouldn't hear me whimper. "Harry, why didn't you do this before. Now I want to see you so bad and I can't for a long time!" I cried. 

"Oh, love. Don't do this to me." he said. I could hear him start crying too. "I'll be back before you know it." 

I shook my head violently. "No. Because when I want something to happen, the days drag on longer. Because life hates me. It'll be 3 months but it'll seem like 6. I can't do this, Harry." 

"Shh. Don't cry. Please. We'll get through these few months, even if it means we'll be miles apart from each other." he said. I imagined him here with me, cradling me and running his fingers through my hair, telling me not to be sad. 

"Okay." I gave in. I wiped at my nose with my sleeve. "But Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't cheat on me again." I pleaded.