Harry's POV

The emptiness of the hallway taunted me, it's eerie silence laughed in my face.

She promised me.

That's all the I could hear in my thoughts. At the time, I didn't think that she'd actually leave and go to god knows where. I thought we were just bantering...joking around...not that she'd just up and leave without saying anything!

She promised me.

The more I think about our last conversation before I went into the studio, the more I wish I never went in in the first place. Standing in the middle of the hallway, I feel the tearing of my heart in my chest. The confidence I had this morning of finally telling her how I feel slowly slipped away at the thought that she didn't want to stay with me.

Don't be stupid! Maybe something came up.

Maybe something did come up. She wouldn't just leave without saying anything unless it was urgent. She's not like that.

Now the worry sets in that something must have happened. My heart no longer feels like it's tearing apart but rather it speeds up at the reality that something is wrong. Pulling my phone out of my back pocket, I hastily dial her number, already having committed it to memory from the many times I stared at it, contemplating whether I should call or not, and listen to the ringing sound. I start to get agitated and more worried when she doesn't pick up the three times I call.

As if on cue, Paul comes into my view from the direction of downstairs the same time Niall, Louis, Liam and Zayn walk out of the room that I just came. They all look at me with confused faces and begin firing questions.

"What are you still doing here?"

"Where's Mia?"

"What did you do, mister?"

However I ignore each one of them and start pelting towards Paul, knowing that he would have been part of the security team downstairs controlling who could and couldn't come upstairs where we were. Which means he would've seen when Mia left and I'm crossing my fingers that he probably knows why as well.

"You boys ready to go?" He asks as soon as he sees us, widening his eyes slightly at the pace I was coming to him at.

"Paul, have you seen Mia?" I fire at him as soon as I reach him.

His eyes flash with recognition and he says, "Ahhh yes! She told me to tell you-"

"Where did she go?" I interrupt him.

He shakes his head and says, "I don't know. She didn't say"

Then, something I never thought I'd do to an authoritative figure in my life...

I exploded in his face.

"And you just let her go?!!" He raises an eyebrow at me and I immediately apologize, not understanding where such a response came from.

"She didn't say where she was going...she just got on the back of some guy's bike and left"

Everything wrong with what he said all stemmed from the word 'guy'.

Guy? What guy? Mia doesn't have any other guy friends except me.

From what she's told you.

Leaving the radio station and heading back home, I couldn't help but be tense the entire time. Niall, Louis and Zayn were driven away in one car - to where, I couldn't tell you because I've been so distracted - and Liam decided to ride with me. The drive was silent for the most part and mainly consisted of me staring out the window, deep in thought.

Where are you, Mia?

"Maybe this is a sign," Liam breaks the silence with a heavy sigh, drawing me out of my thoughts with a jump.

"What?"

"Just think about it for a minute. Maybe there's a reason that things didn't work out today"

"Don't remind me" I say, rolling my eyes and shaking my head, "Everything is ruined. The food...the balloons...the gazebo. I already called off the plane that was suppose to swing by with the banner"

Calling out the list of things that went to shit just makes me feel worse about the situation. Today was meant to be perfect. I did what she asked. I thought outside the box. I wasn't boring and unoriginal. Turns out it just came back to bite me back in the ass.

~Flashback~

Here she was...

Snuggled up under me in my embrace like I always pictured...like I always longed for...what I wished to have forever.

Quite frankly, she was being nicer than her usual sarcastic and witty self, who loved to use my ego as a punching bag, because she felt sorry for me...and I intended to milk the situation dry (cue the devious smirk).

You see, tonight after the show, Niall and I got into a bit of a pickle.

The thing is, we had two shows in Madrid. One was last night and the other just finished. But I just couldn't stop thinking about what happened with Mia yesterday when we took a tour around the city. Truth is, the whole Luigi disguise thing was mainly to see her smile all day but also to keep me hidden. A big part of me knew that attempt to keep a low profile with such a disguise would be futile but it also knew that it would get Mia to laugh...and that's really all that mattered at the time. Now looking back on it had my face turning beet red with embarrassment.

Why am I such a dork?

But what was wracking my brain so much was the fact that I had no idea if she was kidding about actually setting me up with that fan. I mean, sure she was messing with me...but at the same time she seemed so serious though.

Andddd so this is how Niall and I ended up sneaking into the back of a waiting taxi in the city of Madrid while running from a mob of fans.

It was late, Mia had already gone back to the hotel earlier and so I decided to take a nice stroll to think about what happened yesterday and mostly play the entire day over and over in my head so that I'll never forget it...and drag dear Nialler along with me so that I won't be talking to myself.

Let's just say there was no strolling and talking out loud...but a lot of running and screaming for our undies.

And I say underwear because I've had my boxers stolen before.

Crazy animals...I love them to death but some of them really do have me questioning their sanity sometimes. I'm crazy too, no doubt about that, but at least I can admit it.

But anyway, which brings me back to now, with Mia's arms wrapped around me as we watched Love, Actually on my laptop...as per my request, of course.

What? It's a bloody classic!

Nevertheless, she agreed without complaint when she found me in front of her bed on the bus adorned with my notorious puppy dog face.

Works everytime.

She claims it's only because I had a 'wild' night. I say it was a free ticket into my wildest dreams.

We were at the scene where Mark shows up at Juliet's place with a boombox playing Christmas songs and holding large cue cards on which he confesses his feelings for her without the expectation of her reciprocation.

Brings tears to my eyes every time.

A single snort then ruins the moment and I reach forward to pause the movie.

"Really?" I give her a pointed look, "This is my favourite part!"

"I know, I know" she lets out a little laugh, "It's just funny how movies like this are the reason why I have such high expectations of love."

Ohhh now I'm intrigued, "I'd be surprised that I'm not single by the time I'm 40!" she jokes.

"So what you're saying is that you don't think any guy that you meet is capable pulling off such romantic gestures?" I ask with a raised brow, feeling amused. I feel like this conversation might actually be able to help me out.

Be smooth Harry, don't make it obvious.

"I'm not saying they're not capable...just that they're too dense to even come up with one let alone successfully pull it off"

"Interesting..." I mumble to myself.

"Harry let me ask you something" I nod my head in acknowledgement, "As a fellow rom-com fanatic, have you ever seen a romantic scene like this, " she points to the paused screen, "in real life?"

"Well-" I mouth closed shut as I had no words left to say. She's right.

"Exactly!" she exclaims, clearly knowing that she has proven a point, "It's one thing to be obsessed with these movies from such a young age and it's another to expect such things from the men in society today only to be majorly let down."

This, my friends, is the reason why I fell for Mia in the first place. Her passion, her drive, everything that makes her tick. When she feel strongly about something, she sticks to it and nothing can sway her from it.

"Which is why I'll be single forever. My high expectations just refuse to be met!" she chuckles.

And just like that, a light bulb goes off in my head.

"So let's say hypothetically...a guy wanted to ask you out, what would he have to do?" I ask as calmly as possible to make sure she wouldn't suspect anything.

She adorably taps a finger on her chin and looks up at the ceiling as she thinks, "Let me see..."

The suspense felt like it was eating me alive. Truth is, and I'm positive that she doesn't remember, Mia and I had a conversation similar to this back when we were kids. Only that time, we were watching 'Maid in Manhattan'. I had it stored in the back of my brain until I was sure I was ready to use it but so many years have passed since then and who knows? Maybe her ideal first date would have changed...maybe her inner most romantic fantasy has taken on a completely different picture.

"I guess I wouldn't mind whichever way he asks me out...he might even get some extra brownie points if he does something similar to Marky over there" she lets out a little laugh at the end and my brain takes mental notes of her every word while my heart beat grows stronger with every word that leaves her mouth.

"But the date itself though has to be memorable. It can't be ordinary and boring! Especially the first date, don't ever take me to a restaurant or else don't expect a second date let alone a call back! A first date with me has to be something out the box. It can be whatever as long as it's something that I'll remember 'til I'm old and grey!" she cracked a laugh at the end yet something about her eyes told me that it wasn't entirely a joke. This was something that she absolutely wanted but knew she couldn't get.

Bingo!

~End of Flashback~

"Like I was saying...maybe this is a sign. I'm sure you'll have other opportunities to tell her and maybe when that time comes it'll be more memorable than this was supposed to be, " he puts a comforting hand on my slumped shoulder and smiles sincerely, "So don't fret, mate. You'll get your chance"

All I can do is nod. I wasn't thinking about that anymore. Sure it is upsetting to see something that I worked so hard on go to waste but it doesn't compare to the uncertainty of Mia's whereabouts.

I hope she's okay.

"And who knows...it's better this way" he adds and I raise a curious brow, waiting for him to elaborate.

"You yourself said that you want to keep Mia out of the media for as long as you can. Don't you think this would have jeopardized that?" My eyes grew wide as the realization of what he was saying sets in, "No judgments or anything because the gesture is really romantic but don't you think that would attract a lot of attention considering who you are and possibly cause her to run away which by the way, is the thing you told me you feared the most?"

Ladies and gents...Yoda Liam

It's true. I have said before that my worst fear is Mia running for the hills because of the excessive media attention. The last thing I want is to give her a reason why we wouldn't work out.

But I've been so caught up in racking my brain to give her the most romantic gesture possible that I never stopped to think about the effects.

I.

Am.

An.

Idiot.

Not much was said after that. I guess he thought that I needed time to think. When we got to my house, I was surprised to see him stay behind in the car while I got out.

I thought that's why he came with me in the first place...

I said my goodbyes and headed towards the front door. Just as the car was pulling away, the back window comes down and Liam yells with two thumbs up, "Don't worry too much! I'm sure she's fine!"

As if on cue, as soon as the car disappears from my view, my phone begins to ring in my back pocket. My fingers slide hastily along the screen to answer the call as my eye catches the caller ID.

"Hello?" I don't usually answer unknown numbers but the possibility of it being Mia trying to get a hold on me was weighing in ny stomach.

"Harry? Oh thank God I got the number right..." She lets out a relieved sigh and in the background I could have sworn I heard snickering.

"Mia?" My voice filled with urgency, "Mia, where are you?"

"Ummm, that's the thing..." she drawls out and I grow more anxious with every second, "I don't know!" she chuckles as though this is something funny.

Where is the joke?

"What? What do you mean you don't know?!"

I'm freaking out...can you tell?

"Relax dude, she's fine - she's safe" This time it wasn't Mia speaking that got my blood boiling. Oh no. It was the thick, deep American accent that ticked me off.

So he's the guy, huh.

"A, shut up!" She laughs into the phone and I run my fingers through my hair to calm my annoyance at the situation, "As I was saying...soooo I was trying to get back to the house right but I think we took a wrong turn" she says meekly and I wanted to smile at how cute she sounded but I couldn't.

Because Mr. A couldn't keep his mouth shut.

"Just admit it! You got us lost!"

"When you say it like that, it sounds bad"

"How is it that you used to live here yet you don't know where the heck you are?"

"Um hello? You lived here too! A lot longer than me by far. So what does that say about you?"

"It says that I obviously was never a rich kid and didn't venture into these parts of the woods...duhhh"

Their entire conversation sounded a bit far away like she was holding the phone away from her yet I was still able to hear it. The more they went on, the more it reminded me of how Mia and I banter and how they completely forgot that I was on the phone.

Who does this guy think he is anyway?

"Not to be rude or anything..."

"Dude quit it, Harry is still on the call," I hear once more before her voice gets louder and clearer indicating that she's now speaking into the phone, "Hey sorry about that. Where was I? Oh yeah, we took a wrong turn. Can you text your address to this number please? It's Aidan's number"

I remained silent almost to afraid to utter my next words. What I wanted to suggest is that she kept her tush right where it was and not move until I came and found her.

I don't know this guy. I don't know his driving capabilities.

So how could I trust him to bring her back to me safely?

But then the conversation I had with Liam earlier came back to me and all I could do was pout in self pity.

I was the one who had to keep their tush right where it was and not move.

So I gave in. "Of course. I'm sending it right now, okay"

I hear her let out a sigh of relief, "Thank you so much, H. What will I do without you?"

Apparently everything.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll see you in a bit" and then I hung up.

It's ironic how I usually say that to her and actually mean every word yet this is the first time that I've ever heard her say that to me and it holds absolutely no meaning to me except the fact that it's simply not true.

When I say it, I know that I simply don't know what I'd do without her.

I need my daily dose of Mia smiles, cuddles, scent, you name it!

Call me obsessed but I feel like I'd die without it. I honestly don't know how I survived the past four years without her.

She doesn't know it yet or rather she won't admit it to herself but her love is my drug.

And I'm afraid at this point there is no hope for sobriety.

As I'm texting my address to this Aaron guy's number, I couldn't help but think that when she said, the gravity of our little situation become so clear that the times I've been ignoring it keeps slamming into my face like a ton of bricks.

There is absolutely nothing that Mia can't do without me because there will always be someone to take my place. Not that it's intentional in anyway but it's just how our lives turned out and I sometimes wonder if I'm to blame.

We can't ever go to the movies together.

Get in the car and go for a midnight drive. Nope. We can't ever go for a drive. Period.

Have a picnic. I don't think so.

Take a bloody stroll walking side by side. Nada.

Hold her hand? Not even a chance.

Sometimes I itches me to know what my life would be like if I were to give all of this up and live normally.

Maybe then things could be a-o-k like a bloody bowl of Lucky Charms on a Saturday morning.

But then I would never get to live out that fantasy because Mia will be right there dragging my ass by the ear straight onto a stage and shoving a microphone in my face. I think she'd handcuff me to the micorphone stand if she had to.

It's funny how the only factors preventing the Harry and Mia ship from sailing is Harry and Mia themselves.

I was so caught up in my thoughts that the revving of a motorcycle made me jump.

Wait a minute.

Mia!

I bolted to the front door and threw it open only for my face to screw up in irritation.

Just hear me out, okay?

How would you feel if you see the person who fancy straddling a motorcycle with the arms wrapped tightly around another person.

Okay okay maybe that was a bit much. She can't be safe if she doesn't hold on.

At least she was wearing a helmet.

I watching as the motorist hops off first, taking off his white and black monochromatic helmet off and resting on the empty space of the seat.

The first thing I notice is his shaggy brown hair and tan complexion. His face had the slightest stubble and his jaw could slice diamonds. His built was a bit broader and more muscular than mine and looked probably an inch or two taller than me.

I gotta hand it to this bloke. He was good looking.

Which did nothing to calm the raging jealousy starting to build back up inside of me.

"Heyyyy" the sound of her voice causes my eyes to tear away from my future enemy to her beaming smile that never fails to calm me down, "I'm back. You didn't miss me too much, did you?" she says while taking off the helmet identical to the other.

So much! You have no idea.

"The house was the quietest it's been since the last couple of days. What do you think?" I watch as she unhooks her legs from over the bike and walks towards me and he who shall not be named. For now, at least.

"I guess introductions are in order, " she points to Aaron who now faces me as Mia stands in the middle, "Harry this is Aaron, my friend from med school," Then she points to me, "Aaron this is Harry, my childhood friend"

Uh hello? 'Friend'?

She did not just demote me in front of this douchebag.

"I'll be right back, just going to get my stuff," then she slaps both of our shoulders, "Now, mingle!"

As she skips back towards the bike, I decide to at least be civil with the guy.

He's obviously important to her and was there when I wasn't so the least I could try to do is be polite.

So I stick my hand out with a friendly smile, "Nice to meet you eventhough I've heard almost nothing about you," I try to joke to break the ice.

I do an internal victory dance when his hand extends out the greet mine but contrasting to my smile, he wore a sarcastic one.

"Really?" his hand grasps mine in a firm grip, "That's funny. I've heard almost everything about you"

With every word he spoke, he would tighten his grip until my fingers began folding into themselves and started losing circulation.

I think I just shat my pants.

His jaw was now clenched and his light brown eyes contained a murderous look. My lips were parted in shock and the pain in my hand from close to broken bones increased by the second.

Come on, Mia...where are you??

This guy was a full on psychopath.

We stayed in this position for a couple more seconds until, "So? What'd I miss?"

He immediately drops my hand before Mia came back into view now sporting a bag over her shoulder and it hung lifeless beside me.

Owie.

"Nothing much. Just a little boy talk" he says nonchalantly and I swear my jaw hit the floor. "But anyways, I gotta run"

"What? So soon?" she asks sadly and he nods with a small smile and places a kiss on her forehead before getting back on his bike.

He did not just-

"Call me anytime okay. You have my number" he says keeping his eyes solely focused on her. Then his lips pull up in a smirk, "Oh and uh, shoot Lily a hello for me, will ya? Tell her to give me a call"

"Oh you know I will" she laughs beside me.

Right as he is about to put on his helmet, his eyes finally turn to meet me and with the straightest face, he gives me a single nod, "Harry"

And just like that, he rides away.

N/A
Currently half way through Chapter 50 but let me tell you guyssss...it's gonna be a big one!!

So be sure to stick around, you won't want to miss it.

Don't forget to comment on what stood out to you or even just your theories of where this story may be headed. Don't be shy, I love reading and responding to y'all.

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Until next time...