Since day one >> H.S

23. British boy

~Aria~

"Go on", he prompted. I looked at our intertwined hands. The small cross looked beautiful on his hand. I twisted our hands together.

"After that is a complete blur for me", I mumbled.

It was true. I remember one day I lost Cole and Max and the other I was in an alley getting high.

"I got under some really bad influence. For months I would do nothing but lock myself in my room and drink away", I choked as I remembered the days I shut everyone out. I remember sitting in a bar, thinking and thinking and thinking. thinking about what had happened that had provoked them to kill Cole.

And Cole being part of a gang didn't help either. He had a lot of enemies around London and I didn't know where to start. His gang put in their best efforts but the death of their leader didn't go easy on them.

After months, we all decided to just end it for good and return to our normal lives.

"It wasn't your fault", he whispered against my ear, rubbing slow circles on my tummy.

"It was. If only I had reached out for help, I would've already found the murderer", I replied.

"But you're so near to finding out. What's gonna happen when you find out?", he asks curiously. I suddenly got up and sat straight.

honestly, I didn't know what was going to happen. I didn't really expect to find out. Was I going to hand them over the police? and what let them get out after eight years or so.

Hell no.

I would probably kill them with my own hands. I massaged my fore head and looked out the window. it was pretty dark outside, telling us to leave and go back.

"Um Harry, we need to leave. its pretty late. I'm sure everyone's worried about you", I started talking the tea mugs and headed to the kitchen.

I heard him searching for his keys and walked into the kitchen.
I stuffed my keys into my pocket, deciding to get a ride from Harry. I needed to meet Austin and end this.

I should never have got involved with him. It should've ended at a one night stand. But I saw something in him. He offered me a chance to move on. He accepted me, and I took that as a sign to move on.

I didn't give a second thought on how it would affect Austin. I was selfish and self centered.

"Could you drop me off at Austin's apartment?", I asked him as we left the building.

"Um sure", he mumbled and opened the car door. I got in and made myself comfortable.

He drove his way through the traffic and stopped in front of Austin's apartment.

"So you're going back to him. Like always", he started.

"Harry, I'm not goi-", I defended myself.

It was the truth. I wasn't there to go back to him for comfort. I was there to tell him the truth and apologise.

"You are. Even after what just happened between us", he interrupted.

His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as he stared at the road ahead. His knuckles had turned white and I could tell her was on the verge of tears. I didn't like seeing him in this state. he had helped me through so much and it killed me, that I couldn't do the same for him.

"Do I even stand a chance with you? Or are you just using me to find whoever killed Cole?", he stared right at me.

"You really think I would do that to you?", I simply asked him.

After everything I had just told him, he still wouldn't trust me. I probably should've expected this. I was with Austin to get over Cole and this made Harry doubt me.

"You used Austin to get over Cole. How do I know you're not using me to get to Cole's murderer?", he replied.

"Harry, I'm going up there to apologise to Austin. I hurt him a lot and he needs to know the truth."

"Just leave", he huffed.

I silently got out of the car and stared at him, as he sat still. He looked at me one last time and drove away. As he drove away, all I could think was I had lost him. I had lost him even before I had him.

Probably forever.

~Harry~

As I heard her talk about Cole, there was only one thing that revolved around my head.

She was never going to love me like she loved Cole. It was selfish of me to think that. I should've held her for some more time and assured her that I would be there for her.

But all I did was leave her alone when she needed me the most.

I drove to Liam's house. He'd know what to do. I didn't know what to do. She would probably be back with Austin by tomorrow morning. Somehow they always did end up together. I was a few feet away from his house when I saw the paparazzi outside. I parked in front of his house and ran inside.

I was almost inside the property when someone shoved a picture in front of me. I stared at the picture in front of me, totally dumbstruck. It was a picture of Aria and me kissing. Oh no, Aria. Austin must've already found it. Before I could do anything else, I saw Liam in front of me and he pulled me into his house.

"Harry, are you alright?", he asked me, closing the door.

I just stared at the picture and immediately took my phone out of my pocket.

I dialed her number, it rang and rang. No response.

I called her once, twice, thrice. No response.

"Do you want to stay over?"

I simply nodded my head and went into the kitchen. I stopped in my tracks when I saw Cheryl cooking.

"Oh Liam, sorry. I didn't know you had company. I'll leave", I mumbled and turned around.

"Nonsense, Harry. You can stay over", she pulled me back.

I was surprised to see Cheryl here. The last time I saw her was when Liam told me that they'd separated.

"So, I'm guessing you both are back together?"

"We're gonna give this and shot", Liam replied while wrapping his arms around Cheryl's waist.

"Where's Bear?", I asked.

"He's with mum for the night"

"Oh my god, I should leave. You both are obviously busy", I turned around again.

"Be safe", I heard Liam call out, as I walked out the door.

I drove back to my place, thanking the gods above for clearing up the paparazzi. I got home and changed out of my clothes. More like Cole's clothes. She was never going to love me the way she loved him. He was a strong, hulk-like, confident person. I wasn't strong or hulk-like.

I got into bed and looked out of the window. It had started to rain again. The slight tapping of the rain against the window put me to sleep. It was in the middle of the night when I woke up again. The annoying ringtone of my phone wouldn't stop. I picked up the call, ready to scream at the person who had called at success an ungodly hour.

"British boy, it's Ronin. Aria's been kidnapped."

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Bum, bum, bum

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