I Wish I Could Say It Was a Mistake

Chapter 15: We always find a way to make it out alive

As Ed Sheeran heads to the stage, I walk to a room that says "Fun and Games" on the door. Only a few people are there, including Emma, but I still prefer staying there than going back to Helena's singing.

I grab a can of diet coke and sit on a chair. Emma's talking to a few people on the other side of the room, and doesn't even flinch as she sees me walk in. I have to say I didn't expect less of her, so I drink my coke and watch how Ed Sheeran goes on stage.

"Oh, he's such a genius, don't you think?"

I turn around to see where the voice is coming from and my jaw drops as I recognise Harry. How does he always take me by surprise? When did he get in here? I haven't heard anyone come in. 

"Yeah, sure. He wrote a couple of songs for you, right?"

"Yes, that's right.", he answers, and sits next to me. I look back at the screen to let him know that I'm not comfortable with him being here. "Have you listened to any of them?"

"Why?", I answer, and immediately realise I might've sounded a bit too rude.

"Whoa, ok. I didn't realise you hated them so much."

I can't help laughing as he grins. WHY IS HE SO F*CKING CUTE? It's so hard to be mad at him when he's sitting next to me, talking to me, and I can smell his perfume.

"Am I going to have to sing them to you so you listen to them?"

I laugh ironically, "Like you did with Lights Up?"

Harry frowns and takes one of his hands to his lips. 

"Are you still mad because of that? Listen, I'm sorry, Layla. I shouldn't have tried to take you out of work. I-"

"It's ok.", I sigh, but he still looks at me with concern.

"No, it's not ok. What's up with you? Tell me."

It's that Helena b*tch. It's the fact I feel so intimidated by him. It's that I feel I'm not worthy of his attention. It's that...

"Nothing, really.", I say, feeling my eyes fill with tears. God, please don't cry.

"Layla, don't do this.", he supplicates. Then, he raises one eyebrow and presses both lips together. "I'll show you my songs. Or I can sing them to you if you want. I promise."

"Don't promise me anything.", I interrupt.

Harry looks down and pulls his hair back.

"I'm trying, Layla."

"I know. I just can't do this, I'm sorry."

Harry claps his hands and stands up.

"Alright. Whatever.", he adds, as he walks away.

I wait until he's out of the room, and then cover my face with my hands as I feel a tear run down my cheek.

"Trouble in paradise?"

I look up and find Emma smiling kindly at me. I nod and she hugs me, which only makes me cry harder. She takes my hand and pulls me to a bathroom. Once in there, she locks the door, and stares at me with concern.

"What's up with you two?", she asks. I can't understand why she's suddenly being so nice to me, and she notices, so she continues, "I'm sorry, ok? This job got to my head, and I made it my priority. I shouldn't have chosen it over you. I'm sorry."

I doubt. Is she being honest? It's been so hard to live without her these past weeks and I really could do with some of her advice. After all, we've been friends for years and she's basically my sister. And sisters fight, don't they?

Actually, I don't care if she's being honest or not. I can't deal with more drama. I just want everything to go back to normal, so I smile and hug her.

"It's alright. Let's just not work together ever again", I say.

Emma laughs and shakes her head.

"Never again."

"I'm sorry too, by the way. You were right, I should've listened to you. Harry's such a d*ck."

"What's he done to you? Tell me everything, please."

And so I do. I explain to Emma how I went to his house and had a fantastic night next to him, how we texted after that, and how I found out he was doing the same with Helena. Emma watches me with a worried look as I cry my heart out. Putting it into words is really helping me make sense of how I'm feeling and why.

"What a son of a b*tch.", she says, once I've finished. She then thinks for a few seconds and asks me, "What do you feel for him?"

I go silent. What do I feel? I feel a thousand different things right now.

"I'm not sure. I'm not sure if I know who he is.", I shrug, and feel my eyes water once more.

"You listen to me, Layla. If he wants to treat you like this, then don't f*cking let him."

"What?", I say, with a shaky high-pitched voice.

"You deserve someone who thinks you're worth all of his time and attention, alright? You're not going to settle for a stupid rich boy who only calls you when he feels like it just because he's got a pretty smile, ok?"

I nod, "Thank you. I really needed to hear that from someone else". 

Emma takes her hand to my cheek and wipes the trail my tears had left.

"We don't even know what happened that night...", Emma continues. She looks even more confused than me. "The good news is you're not going to have him around anymore."

"Ed Sheeran invited me to a party tonight.", I remind myself, and feel a pinch in my stomach.

"Ed Sheeran invited... what? How?"

We both burst into laughter.

"When did my life get so surreal?", I giggle.

"Will he be there?"

"I don't know, but knowing my luck, he probably will."

"Well then, we're also going.", she states.

"What?"

"Honey, you definitely are going to that party.", Emma laughs. She's got that 'I'm planning something evil' look, "And you're going to blow his mind away. Come, I've got a dress you can wear at home so that his jaw drops when he sees you. Oh, he's going to wish he'd worked harder for you."