GREEN (RL Harry Styles fanfic)

79. Bleeding Love

I didn't have a plan as I hopped in the thankfully open elevator doors. Harry was bound to be behind me, but he wouldn't be able to catch up to me now until I was in the lobby. I didn't drive here and even if I called a cab I'd still end up going back to Harry's. I just couldn't stay in there. I wasn't going to cry in that office. I was humiliated enough already.

As the doors closed and I was left alone, the tears came. The salted hurt fell in hot streams down my cheeks, burning my red and blotchy skin. It wasn't until I heard a ding and saw the doors open on another floor that I realized I had gotten into an elevator that was headed up. The poor guy in a suit that was staring back at me looked stunned. I'm sure the last thing he expected to see was a tearful tattooed girl sobbing in an office elevator. He gave me a closed mouth smile and waved at me signaling he'd wait for the next one. I promptly pressed the close door button and the star for the lobby. Now I had an extra eight floors to descend in tears.

When I finally made it to the lobby I saw no sign of Harry. I was relieved, to be honest. Then my relief turned to anger that he hadn't even come after me. Sure, I didn't want to see his perfect face at the moment, but I wanted to know he cared. I exited the double doors and flagged down a cab.

"Where to miss?," the driver asked and I paused momentarily to think of anywhere else I could go.

When my mind failed to come up with another alternative, I spouted off Harry's address and he pulled from the curb outside the Modest offices.

On the drive my mind cycled through hurt, anger, humiliation, and some confusion. I caught the driver glancing at me in his mirror occasionally. I'm sure I wasn't hiding my sadness well. This trip back to England had not turned out like I had envisioned. It was supposed to be full of celebration and excitement. Sure, there was some of that, but it felt more like the happy tears were swapped for hurt tears and the Harry I knew had been swapped for an insensitive asshat.

When the cab pulled up to the house I could see through the gate that Harry's car was already in the driveway. That explained why he wasn't in the lobby. He had probably beat me there while I was taking a detour in the elevator. I thanked the driver and let out a heavy breath as I unbuckled my seatbelt but didn't make any effort to exit the car. For the first time I wasn't excited to see Harry when I walked in the door. I handed the driver my cash and he gave me a look I couldn't quite decipher.

"I know it's none of my business miss, but are you alright?," he asked.

"I'm fine." I lied.

"Well you don't seem fine and you don't seem like you want to go inside," he said with a tiny chuckle. I kept quiet at his keen observation and pulled my lips in tight. "Here's my card," he said handing me a business card, "if you need me to pick you up and take you anywhere else give me a call. I'll be grabbing a bite to eat down the street so I'll be nearby."

"Thank you," I said with a nod and a smile. I could tell he was sincere and coming from a good place. I glanced down at the card to read his name. "Thank you Don." It was my grandfather's name and the memory of him made me smile again.

I tucked the card in my pocket and finally headed towards the house. I traipsed through the front door and the hallway. Harry's boots tapped on the kitchen tile and his voice echoed throughout the downstairs.

"I don't know where she went. She just left," I heard him say. I listened for another voice to gather a clue as to who he was talking to, but instead I heard him again. "It makes me look bad," Harry huffed out a sigh. He was clearly on the phone. I continued around the corner to see him pacing along the kitchen island, phone in hand. "It was an important meeting that I scheduled and she goes and pulls this sh–." Harry stopped the moment his green gaze caught sight of me. "She just walked in. I'll call you later."