Girl In The Crowd

Chapter 6: At Your Door

Harry's POV:

Only a few days pass before I come to my senses and realize I have to see her again.

I play a show in Seattle and one in Vegas and then find myself with a convenient couple of days off.

Perfect.

I take my jet back to L.A. with a destination in mind.

As I lock my apartment door behind me, I wonder for a moment how Adelaine even affords to live in down town Los Angeles; most of it is reserved for the music industry and models.

Maybe she's a model?

No, no I doubt it. I've had more than enough experience with models and they have a certain air about them which she doesn't possess. A fake, plastic air, that is.

She's a single mother barely over 20- so how does she afford it?

I stride down the street with my security guards struggling to keep up with me. I turn a corner a little too sharply and nearly send a woman and her daughter flying across the road with my determined strides. I apologize speedily before taking the obligatory selfie with them. A crowd starts to gather, so I force my way through them with my unbothered guards close behind.

The little girl I apologize to has an uncanny resemblance to Emmy. Blonde hair, freckles, an ungodly amount of the color pink evident on her clothing. Hm, maybe I'll see Emmy again too? Yes, she'll be my excuse for this spontaneous visit.

I glance up at the building I approach.

This must be the place. The driver was very specific about where he dropped her off, and this matches the description exactly. As I enter the apartment building, everyone in the lobby glances up simultaneously.

I refrain from rolling my eyes as many gasp, and the rest clasp their hands over their mouths in hushed surprise. My guards glare them down as I swiftly enter the elevator.

The tell-tale ding sounds, and I leave the lift as efficiently as I entered it.

I find apartment 23 speedily enough, dismissing my guards with a wave of my hand. They inform me that I have three hours, tops, before people will start suspecting things.

Without warning, the door to apartment 23 swings open. I stumble backwards slightly in response, but quickly gather myself when the little girl who opened the door notices me. She holds an over full bin bag in one small hand.

"Hawwy? Mommy!"

I wait patiently, adjusting the collar of my jacket as the door is pulled open and Adelaine's face pokes through. Her smoky eyes widen noticeably.

"H- Harry? Wow, what are you doing here?"

This is probably the first time I've ever seen her look remotely vulnerable. Her eyes are wide and surprised, but it's clearly with a pleasant surprise. The realization calms my nerves a bit.

I suppose she's the type that like everything organized and planned, and finding me on her doorstep certainly isn't. Wow, a teen pregnancy must've been quite the shock for her...

She avidly searches my face for an explanation as her daughter jumps up and down elatedly in front of me.

"He's come to play wiv my dollies, mommy!"

Suddenly, the little girl grabs my hand and I'm being pulled into the house. I note the quaint yet tidy apartment surrounding me as I'm pulled towards the carpet in the living room.

Before Emmy has a chance to introduce me to her dolls, I turn to her mother with an almost guilty smile.

"I was in the area, and... I have a few days to myself so I thought I could stop by."

Adelaine smiles appreciatively, but her eyes are curious. I study her for a moment. She's wearing a light red tank top and dark washed jeans that look glorious on her slim figure.

I avert my stare, clearing my mind of those thoughts as I turn back to Emmy. Smiling lightly, I take the doll she holds out to me.

Adelaine regards me with narrowed eyes that instantly tell me she doesn't believe my explanation, and to be honest, I don't blame her. That was a pathetic excuse.

I hear a gasp from behind me and turn around, although I think I can predict who it is.

"Harry? Oh my God- hi!"

The blonde. Again. Does she live here too?

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanna play shopping."

The blonde rolls her eyes, clearly resentful that the little girl interrupted her swooning over me. I furrow my eyebrows as the blonde struts out of the room, leaving Adelaine and I alone with Emmy once more.

"This is Rebecca. She is my dolly and she is making dinner for your dolly."

I struggle to not laugh out loud at how she's talking to me like I'm the one who doesn't understand.

"Harry, if you want a way out of this, say so now."

Adelaine's voice is a playfully panicked whisper. I smirk.

"Well, actually, I was hoping I could take you guys out for some lunch? My treat."

My statement turns into question as I realize that she still has the power to turn me down here. She's unpredictable, and it's impossible to tell if she feels the same pull to me as I do to her.