Four

“Cosmopolitan passion fruit” She hands me the drink and I take a big sip that almost empties it.

The sweet taste makes me crinkle my nose and the alcohol burns my throat as he finds his way straight to my stomach.

Note to myself: never accept Charlie choosing drinks for you again. I don’t like her alcoholics taste.

The music abruptly lowers, and a huge floodlight is turned on. Before we can even ask to the guys what’s going on, Theo, Jake and Harry had already disappeared.

What the heck?

For several minutes nothing happens, but I seem the only one who’s anxious about it.

I feel a little sick: my abdomen is tensed, my heart is pounding fast against my ribcage and I have goose bumps. I’m about to throw up.

And, finally, I see it. Right where the stream has been pointed, there’s a drum kit and few amplifiers. On the front stage, a microphone.

Oh, sure. A gig.

I unconsciously look for Harry, but he’s nowhere to be seen.

“Are you looking for someone?” Charlie raises an eyebrow.

“Surely she is.” Brianne nods.

I shift my gaze over them, making up my best ‘I-have-no-idea-what-you-two-are-saying’ and trying to look convincing.

Maybe I can fool Charlie, but not Brianne.

“That Harry guy is fucking hot” she singsongs  “Good choice. I approve”

I flush. What? Surely he’s hot. But we haven’t even really talked. He could be a dick. I doubt it, but still.

“There’s nothing to approve, Bree.”

”Then I’m going to ask him out.” She pushes me.

“Fine”

My voce trembles. She laughs at me.

“You should have seen your face”

 I don’t reply and I focus my attention on Ben, who’s just appeared behind the microphone.

Some people whistle or shout his name, and he winks with a wide smile.

“Hi guys!” He starts with his charming voice “Are you enjoying this night?”

People loudly agree. Somebody yell a dirty joke and we all laugh along.

“If you are, then thanks the ‘Old Charleston’s’ stuff. Or rather me.” He chuckles “If you’re not, hold on a minute, and you will change your mind.” He makes a pause for effect. “Dim the light, Frank. We are ‘The Reckless Promises’, and this is our first single: ‘Disguise’. Make some noise!”

He doesn’t even have to ask.

All goes dark, then coloured flashing lights turn on as the other band members place themselves around Ben, who seats now behind the drum kit. Theo on the left, Jake in the middle, Harry on the right.

My eyes stay glued on him. I’m utterly fascinated by the way he holds his black electric guitar and moves his long fingers onto the strings. I’ve no idea what’s happening in my head right now, but I don’t like it. I’m losing my mind.

I find myself liking the song more than I imagined. On the second chorus Charlie grabs my hand and Bree’s and swings our arms in the sky. On the last one I’m already humming the words:

“You will never know me, you will never see the real me.

That’s nothing you can do, nothing you can say, that’s what I can show you.

It’s my disguise.”

I wonder who wrote down the lyrics. It’s not Ben, for sure. Neither Jake, he’s Ben brown-coloured version.

Maybe it’s Theo. Yeah. He’s gay. It’s not exactly a secret, but still.

Maybe it’s Harry. It suits him. The more I look at him- the way he bites his lower lip, the way he closes his eyes in concentration- the more I convince myself this song is about him.

My mind is going a mile a minute. I’m jumping to hasty conclusions, and it’s not sane.   

Before I can think straight, the song has ended and everybody’s encoring.

“Another one! Another one!”

They play ‘Other side’ by Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and the crowd seems to like it more than the original. At least, I do.

Few songs- and minutes of endless applauses and handshakes -later the band leaves the stage and I follow them with my eyes, feeling a little bit dizzy.

“Run, Fran! Catch him!” Charlie pulls me away, not-too-friendly.

“Ouch. Watch your manners, lady” I hiss, as I regain my balance.

Brianne darts me an evil glance.

“Fine” I sigh “I’m going.”

When I decide to look over Harry, they’re already disappeared. Again.

I can’t help the horrifying feeling of panic that’s invading myself each second further. Where is he? Has he already left? Why? Why wouldn’t he stay the night? Is he trying to hide from me?

Obviously not, Fran. He doesn’t even know you. You’re being paranoid.

I frantically search for him among the crowd, elbowing my way and craning my neck to pick out his green eyes.

Cmon, Harry. Where the fuck are you?

As I make my way to the dance floor, saying ‘excuse me’ a hundred times, I turn every tall dark-coloured guy to face me. None of them is Harry.

A curly head pop up in my visual. My heart skips a beat. Here we are.

He’s giving me the back, but I’m almost sure it’s him. It has to be.

When I reach him, I grab is forearm and he turns around. My heart sinks. He has a confused look on his face, with arched eyebrows and lips pressed in a hard line. He’s tall, curly and he wears a shirt. But definitely, he’s not Harry.

“Excuse me?” the guy blurts, clearly annoyed.

“Uhm, s-sorry. I thought you were somebody else. Bye” I quickly turn on my heels and go away, my lungs suddenly too big for my ribcage.

It feels like, this time, Cinderella has to look for Prince Charming who has left without allowing her one last dance.

- 

Later, that night, I dream about Harry.

He’s here, few inches from me, nothing like he was when I saw him.

He’s dressed in a plain white t-shirt, that shows completely his black tattoos, and blue jeans, and he’s all smiley and kind and so adorable he makes me wanna cry.

He speaks a lot, but I can’t remember a single word. I just focus on the sound of his voice: raspy and slow, as the slosh of the sea.

He takes my hand into his, intertwining our fingers. His touch is warm, and tender, sending chills all over my body. My heart skips another beat even if I am asleep.

We walk together, side by side, eyes glued to the horizon that never seems closer. Everything seems so right. I don’t wanna wake up. I wanna stay asleep forever.

Next to this weird and absolutely-good-looking guy I barely know.

Forever.

***

A/N:

Hey, how are you all? 

I'm soo sorry for the late update, but the summer has finally started, the weather is perfect and I'm like "aw, let's have some fun cause it's nearly over!" 

June and July were so rainy, ugh.

Anyway, here we are. It's not a really eventful chapter, but clears something about the title, doesn't it? *wink wink*

Please, check my grammar and help me editing the previous chapters, I'm all ears! 

Next chapter will be from a different point of view. I hope it will be as good as the others. 

Please, Fan / Vote / Comment, you'd make me so happy you can't even figure it out! 

Love you all, 

Tod