The Journalist

Chapter Twenty-Four

I told Elsie everything, I had too since I woke her up last night with my crying. She actually seemed understanding and volunteered to do all the interviews from now on which I accepted gratefully. I hid in my hotel room the two days until the wedding and even then it was hard for me to drag myself outside. I was wearing the black dress and Elsie had done my makeup.

“You want to show him that you don’t care about him, that you can go to his own wedding and still look like you don’t give a shit.” I had smiled then, the first one in days. We had gone down to the lobby with the rest of the wedding party.

Just before I entered a woman and a girl with blonde hair stopped me.

“Excuse me, are you Emma Knightly?” The woman asked.

“Yes, can I help you?” I asked. Now that I was looking at them I could see that the girl had to be the woman’s daughter. The daughter smiled at me and it felt familiar somehow.

“I’m Anne and this is Gemma, and we’ve been reading your articles about the wedding and can I just say we’re both huge fans!”

“Oh, well thank you.” I had never been recognized for my work before.

“You’re so funny, I always laugh out loud.” Gemma said, smiling widely. She has dimples like Harry, I thought.

“Thank you, that means a lot to me.” I said with a smile. The woman and her daughter said their goodbyes and then made their way into the other room.

“You look amazing!” Liam and the other guys had exclaimed when I walked in. Harry had barely turned around. The photographer began taking pictures. I took one with each of the boys in their handsome black suit and white ties. Then we took a group shot. Most of the photos were us making weird faces and then laughing. It was the most fun I’d had in days.

“Emma and Harry need to take one together.” Louis said, smiling mischievously.

“It’s fine.” I said.

“Please Emma!” Niall chimed in.

“Yeah, it’s only fair.” Zayn said. Harry and I looked at each other, I bit my lip.

“Come on, one won’t hurt.” Liam said.

“Fine.” Harry snapped. He came over and put his arm around my shoulders. He looked like a model in his black suit with purple tie, the only exception to the theme. “You look beautiful, as always.” He muttered as the camera flashed.

“Thank you, you look great too.” I said quietly.

“How was the water last night?” He asked. I looked at him in surprise.

“What?”

“How was the water?” He must have seen me down by the water last night; I had been there almost every night since I came here.

“Cold.” I said finally.

“I know the feeling.” Harry said and then walked away. I stood there in shock. I couldn’t pretend that I could care less that he was getting married, because I did. I did very much. I walked over to Elsie.

“You’re in charge now.” I said.

“What?”

“I quit.”

“Excuse me?” Ms. Richmond said, coming over.

“I quit.” I told her bluntly. She raised an eyebrow.

“You’re making a mistake.”

“I’m not.” I said. I turned and left the room and went back to my room, packed my bag and did what I do best; run away.