Stockholm Syndrome - A One Direction Story

Chapter Ten

Harry's POV

I was at home & had fallen asleep on the couch while watching TV. I awoke early the next morning, still on the couch with the TV on, as there was a knock at the door. I wondered who it could be. I rubbed my tired eyes before getting up & glancing at the time. It was 7am. I never got visitors this early in the day. But I got up & answered it anyways. As I swung the door open I was surprised at who I saw.

"Hi Haz." The girl with the long blonde hair & crystal blue eyes said to me. Her hair was slightly disheveled & she had a brown coat on.

It was Oakley.

"Oakley?" I questioned.

"I miss you. I wanted to come see you. Aren't you happy to see me?" She asked.

I nodded as I stepped closer to her. She took a step closer to me as well & wrapped her arms around my neck & gave me a hug. I wrapped my arms around her body so tight & didn't want to let go. "Of course I missed you." I said. & after a couple more seconds we pulled away from each other.

"Oakley. Where have you been?" I asked. 

"I've been closer than you think." She said, with a little wink. 

"We've all been worried sick about you. I can't wait to bring you back to everyone." I said as I grabbed her hand, but she pulled away.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nobody can know that I came to visit you."

"Why not?" I asked.

"Because I have to go back."

"Go back where? You just got here." 

"I know. I'm sorry. Just promise you won't forget me." I stared into her eyes, not knowing what to say. "Haz, promise me you won't forget me." She repeated.

"I promise... I could never forget you."

She smiled. "Good... Take care Harry." She said, before leaning in & kissing my cheek. "Can you close your eyes & count to five for me? I have something to give you."

I nodded & did as she asked. When I reached five I opened my eyes again & she was gone. She had left me her favorite pink bandanna on the welcome mat. I picked it up & stepped out into the hall.

"Oakley? Oakley?" I called. But she was gone.

I woke up calling her name, as I found myself sat on the couch with the TV still on from the night before. I got up & went to my front door, opening it & looking down the hallway. Nothing & no one was there. I had so hoped that my dream wasn't a dream, but that is was actually real. But I wasn't too surprised that it wasn't real. I got up & started getting ready for work.

***

It has been just over a month now that Oakley has been missing. Everyone missed her bright smile on those early mornings. Even customers were sad to hear the news... Or rather see it. Her face was posted in the diners window as well as pretty much everywhere else in the city. I swung open the doors to the diner as I walked in for my Saturday eight to four shift. Usually I would be working it with with Oakley, Amelia, & Justice. But since Oakley was gone & Macy was the only one on part time shifts, she got to take over all of Oakley's shifts. Tiffany; although she didn't want to hire someone new, she had no other choice, as we couldn't keep up the pace. SO she hired a new part time girl. Her name is Callie. We don't like her very much, for obvious reasons. At the same time we know it's not her fault & we try not to let our feelings get in the way. The only days a part time staff would get a full shift is on the weekend. Both Saturday & Sunday when the shifts were 12 hours. Then they would work three other days during the week, but only four hour shifts. This weekend Callie was working six in the morning to six in the evening. We also had one other part time staff; Laura. But she had been working with us for a month before Oakley had went missing. This weekend she worked six in the evening until six in the morning, which means I wouldn't be seeing her today. That's what they do. The two part time staff switch off every other week between the night & the day shift. It just works.