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

But before long she was singing along

"Never."

Our call was interrupted by Cher running into me to tell me about her experience with tattoo guy.

That was a month ago and I didn't know what to do with myself. I had literally done nothing for a month. Cher was off recording and Aiden went to visit his family. Other than them and Harry, I had nobody.

Ugh. Harry. His name made me want to cry. I wonder if he was dying almost as much as me.

I picked up my iPhone and scrolled through my contacts, pausing at the name and throwing my phone back down.

I couldn't do it. He probably found somebody better. My talent was decreasing anyways.

Oh screw it. Just say hi, Pru.

I tapped on the name and put the phone up to my ear, waiting for the familiar voice.

"This is Simon."

"Hey, Simon. It's Prudece Brinker."

One month later

Things have been crazy.

Crazy is an understatement actually.

Right when I walked into SyCo, Simon wanted me recording immediately.

I haven't had time for anything anymore. So many song ideas ran through my head and I wrote and perfected the as quickly as possible.

"It's too cold outside for angels to fly..."

I finished the cover of Ed Sheeran's A-Team and look to Tom outside the recording booth.

He pressed a few buttons before turning the speaker on and said, "Okay, Pru. That's a rap. Come back on Monday."

I said thank you and put the headphones back, then walked out of the office and the building all together.

The air outside was freezing. It nipped at my exposed skin as I fumbled for my scarf and coat. I put a beanie on my newly cut and died hair. It was still blonde, but had some brown highlights in it.

I took my iPhone out of my bag and read through some tweets, as I walked to the Starbuck's a few blocks away. Cher wanted to meet up.

@Harry_Styles: One more month :) I'm starting to miss home...x.

One more month. Anything could happen between now and then. But Harry told me not to think like that. It's just so hard being away from him, though. Plus my MacBook broke so we can't Skye anymore.

@DearPrudence: Recording went well today. :) #missinghim

I slipped my phone back in my bag and pushed the door open to the Starbuck's, immediately finding Cher in the back corner, sipping at her coffee.

"Hey." I said as I sat down.

Cheri's eyes got wide. "Who the hell are you?" she joked.

I rolled my eyes and tested the temperature of my hot chocolate.

"It's like some hot model overtook my best friend."

"That's an insult! Models are too skinny."

"Whatever. I'm just saying. Someone's getting excited to see Harry." She smiled and winked.

"How do you know I didn't do this for myself?" I tried.

She looked at me like I was stupid. I just shrugged.

"Anyways. How's recording go?"

"Good I think. How about yourself?"

Cher shrugged."I think I'm starting to get sick."

I could tell she was by the way she wiped at her nose. I pushed her coffee towards her. I didn't want her to get too cold. She smiled and drank some.

Later that night, when I got home, I started warming up some leftovers from last night in the microwave.

The I sat on the couch and watched the news.

In the middle of dinner, I felt something digging into my back. I fumbled fr the object and found my journal hiding behind a pillow. I thought I had lost it a long time ago.

I flipped through page after page of songs. "Those are going to Simon." I told myself.

On the very last page was a song i didn't remember writing at first, but then my mind wandered back to the night of Simon's party.

I set my plate down on the end table and sat up, reading through the lyrics.

Halfway through the song, my handwriting stopped and another one started.

Harry's.

Summer arrived on the back of a mockingbird.

It sang a sweet melody, but couldn't seem to find the right words.

I don't know if you've heard, but it's all over town,

Yeah they're buzzing about it now.

I was singing alone when the mockingbird came to me,

Perched on my windowsill, and hummed along quietly.

But before long she was singing along, and she said, yeah she said:

"I've been waiting so long for these words to come out,

It's practically all I've been thinking about.

So thank you for finding the words I couldn't find on my own,

Now I'm not alone."

Autumn was on it's way and summer was on it's way out;

The mockingbird told me: "I change with the seasons,"

And so she was leaving town in a few days now.

We said our goodbyes, and I secretly wished for more time,

But the seasons are merciless.

For a while we both stood in silence

Until she said:

"I've been waiting so long for these words to come out,

It's practically all I've been thinking about.

So thank you for finding the words I couldn't find on my own,

Now I'm not alone."

A tear ran down my face. How did Harry have enough time to write this? When did he write this?

I set my journal down on the table and picked up my phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi."

"What's wrong?" he sounded worried.

"I just found Mockingbird."

He was quiet. "I love you Pru."

The tears started falling faster. "I just want you home."

"I know babe."

"It's like I want to forget that you're gone, but everywhere I turn...You're there. In every conversation, on every billboard, on every radio station. I'm done sharing you with the world." I sounded selfish but it felt good to get that off my chest.

I could hear talking in the background. And then Harry's voice again. "We're leaving right now."