A Lost Object [h.s]

Chapter 49

Aurora

Odyssey and Louis were completely wasted. I watched as they danced and sang up on the stage with the stripper. They tried to get me up there multiple times, I was not for it. I know I was being a party pooper but this wasn't my scene at all. Although they did get me to take a few shots of bourbon and tequila, that was as far as I was going to go. It was something I was never going to try again. The taste was bitter and the burning sensation was not worth it. I did manage to get up a few times to throw dollar bills at Odyssey and Louis from the stack of money she handed me. I did not want to ruin their good time at this 'bachelorette party' with my indecisiveness.

Instead I sat back in my seat at the bar with Liam by my side. This was not a place I wanted to be alone in. "It looks like those two are having the time of their life" Liam had said as he watched the two who were currently stripping. I hesitated to get up and stop Odyssey, but I knew she couldn't be drunk enough to strip completely naked in a bar full of complete strangers. 

"Looks like it."

Liam took a sip from his beer bottle with a raised eyebrow. "You don't seem to be having fun. Everything alright?"

"I'll be fine. This isn't exactly what I had in mind when I told Odyssey we needed a break from studying, but this isn't a step back, it'll be over soon, hopefully."

Liam leaned back in his stool with a hum, "Is that what you're running from? Studying."

"Yes."

"I don't know, usually people tend to stay within their hometown for a break during finals weeks. It seems like there is more to this story than you are leading on."

I turned to look at him with pursed lips, "What brings you to New Orleans then? It has to be more than finals week stress as you proclaim."    

"I'll tell you my reasoning if you tell me yours." I studied him for a while trying to figure out if it was worth bringing up Harry to this person I had met only two hours ago. He was a decent person. He didn't seem like the type to judge anyone for their personal problems.

"You first" I told him

"I'm just here for my friend over there really. He's got loads of things going on in his life at the moment and I'm just being a supportive friend. This is actually the fourth state we've been to in the last two weeks. We recently came from Seattle, the plan is to hit New York on our way back to home."

"You two seem to be having a nice getaway. I wish I can travel to four states in two weeks. With that being said, it's wonderful that you are there for your friend in his though times. That's what friendship is all about."

"It most definitely is. Now your turn." 

I let out a sigh, getting ready to spill basically everything currently going on in my life, "I'm trying to get away from a person. I need to take a few steps back and clear my head of him before I see him again. Boston wasn't the right place to do that. There was absolutely no way of escaping him their even when he wasn't around. I think I just wanted to get away so I can get things straight really."

"Who is this person if you don't mind me asking."

I looked down at my hands and pulled on my fingers. "A guy my parents want me to marry. At first I thought this was going to be my worst nightmare, but now.. now I'm not so sure. He's a lovely guy there is no denying that."

"What seems to be the issue then?"

"I'm conflicted. I recently lost someone near and dear to my heart. It just feels like my parents are shoving this guy at me in hopes to get rid of any sorrow or grief in my life. It certainly isn't for the right reasons. It was easy to dislike him at first, but now I find myself developing these feelings for him. What's even more confusing is that it seems like this guy has a girlfriend, but he doesn't want to admit to it. Not to me at least. I don't want to fall for a person who doesn't feel the same way about me. I don't want to marry a person who seems to be smitten over someone else."

"Did you ask him if he's seeing someone else?"

"I can't bring myself to do that. I don't think I have a say even if he does. His personal life isn't any of my business. He's made that clear multiple times and he's right. I can't have my standards high in an arranged marriage. The even confusing part of it all is that he seems to care. At least he acts like he does. He says and does things that lead me to believe he might actually really care about me. Other times he says and does things that also lead me to believe that he could careless. Like I said, I'm conflicted."

"You should confront him. What have you got to lose right? If he denies it then ask him to prove it and if he admits to it I think the only logical thing to do is leave him. If his actions don't match his words, or his words don't match his actions then he isn't the one for you. You are a beautiful women Aurora, inside and out. You deserve to be with someone who loves you unconditionally."