Harper’s Point of View

Jai wasn’t downstairs, so where could he be? Panic flipped inside me as I made my way back through the house. I clutched unto his tank top, praying it would give me good luck.

A bedroom door opened beside me and two girls came out giving me a death glare. I ducked my head, biting my lip as I quickly walked faster through this hallway. Where the hell was he?

“Jai?” I croaked, wondering if he could hear me.

Before I could call his name again, police sirens began to wail and a dark-toned older guy came running from what looked to be the kitchen. He shoved me rudely out of the way without a second thought.

I watched him as he banged on the basement door, screaming for everyone to come on. 

“Shit,” I mumbled, seeing the huge crowd of people running up the stairs and diving out windows of the living room on their left.

Was I supposed to run? I see on movies that you run, but I just stood there in shock and wanting to cry. Where the hell was Jai? It seemed that my mind could not register anything before I felt a hand on my wrist, and I was being pulled to a bedroom.

Kicking and screaming for help was my first thought before the light switch came on, seeing the face I’ve been waiting around to see. Jai.

“Where the hell did you go?” I asked angrily, pulling my arm away from his grasp.

“Come on, Harper. I’ll answer questions later,” He mumbled, grabbing my arm, pulling me to the window that was in the far corner of the enclosed space that I assumed was a bedroom.

Jai flipped the lock, and pushed up the window pane. “Turn off the lights, will you?” He asks me, nodding to the light switch by the door. What if the Police come in then? I cannot have something on my record! I have to get into Harvard next summer.

“Then I won’t be able to see!” I nervously said, looking at Jai and awaiting his response.

“I’ll get them in a second,” he responds saying as he grabbed my waist before I could protest, lifting me out of the window.

I pulled my legs over and got my balance before jumping out. It was not a high drop, but I still managed to feel like I had just pulled something.

“Jai, come on,” I yelled when I saw Police officers with flashlights coming around the house.

Seconds before I wanted my feet to run, Jai’s legs tumbled out of the window, jumping to the ground. You could see the glow of his white shirtless chest, and my heart leaped more than seeing that Officer around the corner.

He didn’t even get his balance as he grabbed my hand, pulling me behind him. Jai and I ran to what seemed to be a backyard, and I could spot a few other people running for a gate.

The full moon above us shined bright enough to let me see Jai in front of me. I watched his lips as he gave me instructions, “You need to crawl under here and I’m going to be right behind you.”

I nodded as he lifted up the fence wire, and I bent down to slip under it. Dirt spread on his shirt mixed with paint was not lovely. How am I going to explain this to my Mom when I go home? God, did Madeline ever experience something like this?

“Go, go,” Jai whisper yelled, pulling the wire up higher. It caught unto some of my hair, pulling out some strands. I whimpered quietly, shuffling through the leaves as I stood up unto the other side.

“Hey! You kids! Stop!” A Police officer yelled, jogging over to where we were.

“Jai, come on!” I cried, as I lifted the wire for him.

“Just go, Harper. I got this!” He yelled as I let go of the fence, letting it fall.

I began to run down the street, following other people who were splattered with paint from the party. My car was around the street, I thought to myself. Should I go back and get it?

I stop as my heart pounds against my chest making it hard to breathe properly. I’m so not in fit for all of this running. The street was pretty clear as I began to speed walking back around from the fence I ran from. There was no sign of Jai. “Oh my God,” I said to myself, “did he get taken in?”

I look around, “Okay,” I breathed, trying to keep calm. “My car is right around the corn-,” I stop mid-step; staring at the same place I’m pretty sure Jai parked my Mazda.

My mouth hung open slightly as I ran my hands through my hair frustrated, knowing Jai must have taken my car. I could not believe what a dick move that was.

Sirens began to wail again behind me as I turned around to see blue and red lights from behind me. A couple of people stepped out of a bush from across the street of the house, taking a run for a car that was in front of me. I could hear string of profanities as they fumbled the door handle, trying to quickly get in.

The lights began to come closer as I heard tire wheels screech beside me, and a blue Mustang pull up. “Hey, do you need a ride?”

My hair blew in my face before I could see who clearly said that. I bent down to the window, pushing my hair back as the person rolled down their window.

“No thank you,” I say. My mother taught me well enough never to get in the car with a stranger, someone I do not trust, or someone drunk. I was definitely not going to break her rule right here and now just because Police were down the street still, looking for runaways. Why are they even here? I didn’t see anything wrong with the party. No one could tell it was a crazy shit paint party, we were downstairs.

“Harper, come on. It’s me,” I didn’t recognize the voice, but the face did seem vaguely familiar.

“Do I know you?” I ask, wondering how this creep knows my name.

I then can see enough to realize it was a guy with bushy blond hair. Somehow, I couldn’t place him anywhere. “Yeah, but you only knew me in a bad way because of Madeline.” He puts both hands on the steering wheel, leaning closer to the passenger side window, peeking up at me.

“Because of Madeline? Now you’re not making any sense. What are you talking about?” I mumble while I quickly sneaked glances at the Cop car that sat at least a hundred feet from us.

Lights lit up again on the car, which made my heart leap. “Well, I have to go now…” I slowly start to back away, still watching the Cop car.

“Harper, just get in the car; there’s a party down the road from here, and that’s where I’m headed.” He calls out from behind me as I stumble to get away.

“I don’t know you, okay?!” I yell, tripping up at that moment, falling to the grass. I could only see so much because of the street light and the guy’s car head lights. Great, another stain on Jai’s top.

I could hear him slam on brakes and seconds later the car door shut. As I try to help myself up, I see a pair of gray Vans trudging to me. Warm hands lift me up, as I meet his face. How did he know me?

“You alright?” He asks, letting me hold onto his arms as I gain my balance back.

Pain shot through my leg; I must have scraped it badly on something. “Hey, let me take you home or to that party and we’ll get you cleaned up. How does that sound?” He smiles cheekily, his dimples start to show. Who is this guy? And how did Madeline keep him from me?

“Okay…” I mumbled as he bends down, scooping me up in bridal style, carrying me back to his parked Mustang.

“Home or the party?” The stranger asks as he buckles me in like I couldn’t do it myself; I’m not handicapped for Christ’s sakes.

 Maybe party because Jai could be there. “Party,” I respond quickly as I push him away.

He nods slowly, closing the passenger door and walks to his side of the car. Once he got in, he cranked it, letting the radio softly play.

“So, how do I know you?” I quick fire at him.

“I’m Madeline’s ex-boyfriend,” he says coolly, like he tells someone that every day.

I scoff, “If I had a nickel for every time I heard that line.”

He rolls his eyes, while turning on to another block. We are silent for a couple minutes until he comes to a stop in front of another house that was streaming with people.

“Come on,” he takes his key out of the ignition, stuffing the lanyard he had it on in his pants. “I’ll show you around since I know you were too of a good girl to come to these.”

I fumble for the handle to open it through the dark. Once I find it, I make sure my leg doesn’t get hit by the car door since it still gradually stings.

I follow behind him, getting in step as he walks up the front door, leading us in. The house is already crowded, and it had very low ceilings. I was already feeling claustrophobic as the bodies were packed around us. I was shoved aside for a second as a guy in a jersey came running down the foyer.

For a couple of seconds, I forgot what I needed for my wounds and looked around for Jai’s face. People who I use to go to school with were all around me, reminding myself of how I shouldn’t be here; I’m coping with graduation better than any of them. I lost the stranger which panicked me more because he was my ride. Rap music blared over the crowded living room; bad choice of music.

Beer pong was going on in the next room I managed to slip into. Where would a First Aid kit happen to be? I thought to myself.

“Hey, Harper,” I heard behind me as I turned to look. The guy who brought me here smiled at me, showing his deep set of dimples. Now that there was light in this house than the dark night outside, I could really see who it was. His blond curls I vaguely remember from a couple years ago were now covered up by a red knit beanie. “I-I’m going to go no-o-ow,” I stuttered, backing up. My butt accidently hit someone’s plastic cup from their hands, spilling the dark liquid unto the hardwood floor.

Wyatt apologized to the angry party-goer on my behalf as I tried to hide into the crowd. My arm was yanked on by the boy Madeline warned me to stay away from. “Why can’t you leave me alone?” I ask, pulling my arm back.

He managed to get us in a hallway, and I did not like this at all. “I’m just trying to help you.” Wyatt ran a hand behind his neck, rubbing the area back and forth.

“The last time I saw you, you were being put in the back of a Police car in handcuffs.” Wyatt shook his head, taking a step closer.

“I’m not that boy anymore,” he smirked. His eyebrows narrowed, tilting his head down more towards me. Wyatt’s lips were closer than I wanted them.

“Maybe if I was Madeline and this was three years ago, Wyatt,” I began to walk away, but he pushed me back unto the wall. I grunted as I watched Wyatt’s eyes darken, and he pulls me back a little.

I take a deep breath in, not knowing how he would take my sudden slip. “I’m not that boy anymore…,” he quietly mumbles once more.

Wyatt scratches his chin and hesitates. The boy is at least a foot taller than me so he gives off the intimidation vibe. He pulls his arms above his head for a moment, stretching, as he looks at me carefully.

“Harper,” he hesitates. The music echoes down the hallway and I suddenly wonder why there is nobody else around. Why are we alone? Shouldn’t this be the part of the movie where someone drunk stumbles by and happens to be the boy she really loves? I really wanted Jai right now even if he pulled a dick move and left me. I wanted his arms around me, protecting me from this fear that is building up in my chest.

Wyatt looked as if he had been hurt, yet closed the space between us. His body mushed against mine as I tried to push him away. “Get off me,” I mumbled as he began to kiss me. My guard automatically went up as I even scraped his back, clawing him to stop this. Please don’t let this happen, God. Please.

“Wyatt, stop!” I try again though he only presses me harder against the wall. The denim on his jeans scraped against my knee, making me wince.

“I’m not going to hurt you, Harper.” Wyatt pushes back a couple strands of my hair as his clammy hands cup my face. “Like I said, I’m not that boy anymore.”

He grabs my waist as his fingers dig into my skin. The pressure of his big hands on my hips makes me gasp as I struggle to remove them. It wasn’t working; he was moving his hands to my butt, pulling my hips to his.

“Stop, Wyatt,” I cried. “You said you aren’t that boy anymore, so why are you doing this to me?”

Wyatt met my eyes as a smirk formed on his lips. “I’m a man now, and I know how to have better fun.” The boy chuckles deeply, pulling me to the end of the hallway towards a door that was unlocked and cracked open.

I tried to pull away, kicking if possible. My screaming didn’t work as he smothered my face with one palm while using the other to unbutton my shorts. I tried to knee him in the crotch, but he dodged it, gripping my hurt knee and spreading my legs. “Stop!” I screamed again. He pushed me back against the bed which felt like sandpaper.

The room was dark, and I felt scared and just wanted to get away. My fist pummeled into his chest repeatedly, but he grabbed both of my wrists in response. His hand pinned both above my head in just one palm as he climbed on top of me. Wyatt hovered over me; his breath ragged and smelt of mint gum. I probably will never like the smell of mint again, I decided.

Why couldn’t I have gone home after the concert? Why did Madeline leave? Why didn’t I just stay home?

“Wyatt, can’t you just stop…,” I mumbled as he slipped Jai’s top off of me, shoving his clammy hand up my sports bra.

That was probably the last time I would see Jai’s shirt again, and those were the last words I could plead before seeing the eyes of a man who hurt my best friend and now me.

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Hey Julia and whoever is reading this: I just hate Wyatt. Ugh. I hope you agree. And I just want to hug the crap out of Harper. So, I got kind of emotional on this chapter, and I hope you enjoy and VOTE and COMMENT and all that jazz. If you have any comments or questions, just message me! Like, seriously. I have nothing else to do. I'm pretty bored 24/7. :/ Well, see you guys later. I love you. x