Wait

chapter 9

Harper

"Harper! Harper! My god why are there so many bottles everywhere?! Have you been drinking again?"

Eleanor shoved bottles around on the floor and I stare at her, half asleep.

"What?"

"Harper you mope around here drowning alcohol when you're not out and about; you should be out with me."

"Anything that matters, is gone." I said, "Nick hates me, so I hate everything. You are dismissed."

texts: luke and Nick - morning

L: Nick can you meet me in the left corridors for lunch?

N: yeah sure, just let me go to my locker

Nick

I grabbed my things from my huge locker and shut it. Meeting Luke for lunch was probably the highlight of my college days. We didn't have many classes together and his presence was unfortunately the only strength I had left.

People at uni were nice to me, definitely. There were no bullies and everyone treated me like a normal person. I just felt out of place in every situation I was in because of the H-word.

Saying my life is complete hell after the H-word is an understatement.

I saw Luke from a distance and grinned.

"Nick!"

I waved at Luke, thinking he was shouting at me to hurry, but he wasn't. My body got shoved to the side by another person as I fell onto the pavement. I winced as the guy (who was riding a skateboard) collected himself. Hearing Luke come towards me was a relief.

"Dude!" he shouted, "Watch where you're riding that thing!"

"So so sorry," he sighed, "Didn't see you there. Here let me help you."

I looked up and saw Luke's eyes widen as the boy picked up my stuff and helped me up.

"I'm Mark? Not that introducing myself would help the situation."

I shook his hand and awkwardly stood there as he waited for me to say my name, when I couldn't.

"Mark is it?" Luke cut in, "Hi, I'm Luke, and I'm here to tell you that this is Nick and he's mute so he wouldn't be able to reply to you."

"Oh, sorry mate, my bad." he gave me a wide grin and looked at the both of us.

"So, let's go Nick." Luke said. Although I heard him, I couldn't break my gaze from Mark. He made me want to stare at him all the time.

Luke looked back and forth from one to the other and suddenly smirked.

"Or, I can go do that extra credit work in the library, and you two can chat?"

"That'd be great," Mark smiled at me again and I attempted to smile back.

"Great! See you Nick."

Harper

one month later

"So Harper, word is that you've purchased your lovely girlfriend a sapphire promise ring?!"

The fans in the room began to squeal as I emotionlessly confirmed the topic. Honestly, although I was mildly intoxicated, my mind kept wandering off everywhere. My career no longer had any meaning. It was like Nick took every drop of joy and meaning from me.

I've yet to see him in two months. I wasn't able to contact him (management cut me off), and with the Eleanor pregnancy rumors, I don't think he's want to talk to me.

Eleanor began to talk about her 'token of love' as I tried to push Nick away from my mind.

luke

iMessage: Why did you ever let that guy spend lunch with me? He won't leave me alone and he's pretty much convinced that I'm in love with him when in reality it's been two months and I'm still waiting on Harper's apology.

"Nick," I sighed, "Harper treated you like s**t. I'm just trying to--"

iMessage: Then stop trying please? I don't want to move on, and if I eventually want to, I will.

I nodded and Liam shook his head at me.

"Love, you can't force this. I know you only want the best for Nick, but those two, their love is--was unexplainable. I never even imagined them splitting."

"Yeah me either, that's why I'm so worried," I whispered, pushing Liam back into the kitchen.

"What do you mean?"

"Have you seen the reports? Eleanor's 'pregnant' and Harper isn't himself. Liam I don't know what's better, moving on or--"

"What do you think we should do then?"

"When's the next flight to Los Angeles?"

text message: luke and Harper - night

L: you have one chance. one chance to fix this.

H: when are you coming

L: now. we're at the airport, arriving about 8pm

L: make this right

L: he's not okay

H: neither am i

magazine article #3

TEENAGE ARTISTS

It feels like just yesterday we were discussing Harper O'Neil' rising career and Justin Bieber's failing career. Time goes by fast. doesn't it? Well although it went fast for Harper, his name on the charts is going up, and his life is crashing.

We think it has to do with the disappearance of Nick Judge...