The Lost Girl

  What did I expect? I had told him to leave me alone. He was doing what I’d asked him to. I tried calling him a couple times, but he never picked up any of my calls. I tried calling him on the phone at home, but there was no answer there, either. Was he avoiding me now? Was he mad at me? I had been away and unreachable for a long time. Despite his note, he could still be feeling hurt by my silence and my running away … I couldn’t blame him if he was.

  But I was going to try to make things right with him, no matter what. We knew we loved each other; we could work through any problems.

  I was pondering this in my room when Robin knocked on the door. She had been waiting for me to get ready. We were going for a walk on the beach.

  “Yeah, Robin, sorry. I’m ready to leave,” I said, startled by her arrival.

  “Good, but … there’s a guy down there to see you,” she said, and only then did I notice how wide her eyes were. She was in awe. “And he’s, like, oh-my-God-that’s-a-mother-loving-good-looking-dude, if you know what I mean. He’s asking for you.”

  I turned abruptly towards the open door. “He’s down in the living room? Right now?”

  “Huh … yeah? Have I mentioned he’s drop-dead gorgeous, too? Who is he? Is he the mysterious boyfriend?” she asked with raised eyebrows.

  I ran past her and down the stairs as fast as I could, my heart beating hard in my chest.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  To Win Over a Princess

  I halted at the top of the stairs, my smile faltering for a second. Then I tugged it back upwards again as I took in the sight of Harry standing anxiously in the middle of the living room.

  He turned and gave me the most heartwarming smile. His shorts hung low on his hips and he wore a light-blue T-shirt that made his usual evergreen eyes take on a bluish hue. He opened his arms wide for me, his wristbands jiggling with the movement.

  “Harry Bear!” I shouted, and ran to him, jumping into his arms, my legs wrapped around his waist and my arms around his neck. “What are you doing here?” I asked, after giving him a peck on the lips.

  For a second I had been disappointed that it wasn’t Tristan standing there, but you just couldn’t stay sad around Harry Ledger for long. Harry could brighten up any day.

  He huffed and buckled a little, staggering backwards under my weight. He grabbed my butt for support so he wouldn’t drop me straight to the floor. “Hey, you know me. I bugged the hell outta Tiff until she caved and told me your whereabouts. But geez Louise, you’ve gained some weight there, eh, chubby cheeks,” he teased. I let go of him and punched him hard on the arm.

  “Shut up. I know. The ice cream here is insanely good. I can’t stop eating it.” I beamed, rubbing my belly. I had gained a few extra pounds and was showing a few more curves ever since I’d started being catered for by the lovely Maria, as well as discovering this amazing little ice cream shop near the beach.

  “No, please, keep at it! You were too skinny before and if it makes you this happy, I say gobble down as much of that magical ice cream as you can!” he encouraged, eyeing me approvingly. “So … you’re not mad that I came?” he asked, sprawling on the couch. Harry never sat anywhere; he always sprawled or slouched around.

  “Of course not,” I said, sitting happily by his side. “I just needed some time alone to get better, but I’m better now.”

  “You know, you got us all worried when you weren’t picking up your phone … If it wasn’t for Tiff, we’d be freaking out about your disappearance.”

  “I’m sorry, Harry. I didn’t mean to worry you—”

  “So, is this the mysterious boyfriend I haven’t heard so much about?” Robin interrupted, making herself known.

  “Oh yeah, Robin, this is Mr. Harry Ledger, my best friend in the whole wide world!” I said, presenting Harry with a flourish of my hands. Harry gave her a shy smile and a nod. “Harry, this is the awesome Robin, the best and craziest tour guide you’ll ever find.” I made her giggle at my goofiness.

  “Best friend? Really? Cos I could’ve sworn … You guys act like girlfriend and boyfriend,” she said, eyeing us curiously.

  “I’m not her boyfriend,” Harry said politely, and then turned to me. “Speaking of which, is he around? I thought he’d be here for sure …”

  “No, he’s not here. In fact, I’ve been trying to get hold of him, but he’s not taking any of my calls … Have you spoken to him lately?”

  “Now that you mention it, it’s been a while since we last spoke. Let’s see, here …” Harry said, pulling out his phone and pushing some buttons. “Hmm. He’s not answering for me, either.” He eyed the screen for some time.

  “How was he? I mean, last time you spoke with him?”

  “He was a bit grumpy and, you know, he wasn’t talking much. But then again, Tristan has never been the talkative type.”

  “Do you think something’s happened to him?” I asked, a little worried now. What if something bad had happened? What if he was hurt and needed me while I’d been unreachable all this time?

  Harry waved a hand to dismiss my worries. “Chill, Joey. I’m sure nothing bad’s happened. We’d be the first to know if it had. The media would be all over it; we’d be hearing it from TV, radio, phone messages, paparazzi, you name it. We’ll try calling him back again in a while, all right? I’m sure he’ll pick up later.”

  “Why would the paparazzi be all over it?” Robin asked, baffled. “Is he famous?”

  Harry gave Robin a curious look, trying to figure out why she’d ask such a weird question. I hadn’t told her yet that I was in a famous band.

  Robin was quite clueless about celebrities and wasn’t into music much, either. I’d been thankful for her obliviousness. It felt kind of refreshing to be around someone who didn’t know about my fame, or my band, or anything about me at all. I guess Harry’s arrival and his big mouth was going to put a stop to that.

  “Hum, yeah, about that, Robin … I’ve been meaning to tell you. I guess now is as good a time as any,” I said apologetically “You know when we’ve talked about Tiffany’s boyfriend who has a rock band and all?”

  “Yeah. Rocker blondie dude. What about him?”

  “I’m in his band too. So’s my boyfriend. And Harry here as well.”

  “Bass player,” he said, raising his hand.

  “Whaaat? Get outta here! You’re not … Are you serious?” she asked, surprised. “Why haven’t you told me this before?”

  “Well, it was kinda nice that you weren’t all flustered about it … Plus, you went on and on about how rocker dudes are all self-centered, spoiled brats. Which, by the way, is not true at all. Because, as you can obviously see, I’m awesome. Wait … that kinda sounded a bit conceited.” I laughed, scratching the back of my head.

  “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you are famous. And in a band!”

  “I’m really sorry. I just didn’t want you to freak out about it!”

  “Well, I’m freaking out about you not telling me, then,” she said, pouting.

  I sighed. “Fine. How long are you going to be like this? Because I want to take Harry to taste some of that ice cream down at the beach, and if you come with us, you can get anything you want there. I’m buying,” I said, thinking that bribing her with some ice cream deliciousness would help.

  “Ooh, I want the tangerine and lemon cup,” she said cheerfully, sulk completely forgotten. That was Robin. So easily distracted.

  “Okay, then. Let’s go, people! Ice cream heaven is waiting.” I chuckled, pulling Harry up as I stood.

  The best thing about Robin was that she couldn’t hold a grudge for more than five minutes.

  “Where did you find that one?” Harry asked, amused as Robin skipped happily in front of us as we walked to the beach.

  “Hey, she’s awesome,” I said.

  “Sure. Didn’t say she wasn’t. She’s a bit weird, though.”

  “You’re a bit weird. I’m a lot weird. Our whole band is frigging weird. She’ll f
it right in,” I said smartly. “Plus, give her one hour and you’ll fall in love with her. She has her enchantments. And I think she’s part-fairy somewhere down the family line,” I mumbled as an afterthought.

  “Really?” Harry asked, impressed.

  I chuckled and gave him a mysterious shrug. “Who knows? Anything is possible, right?” I almost believed it myself.

  Robin twirled around the corner, her wild hair flowing magically in the wind.

  “Your new hair looks great, by the way. You look so … different.” He gave me a sideways glance.

  Automatically I touched my newly short hair, cut in a pixie style. “It’s just a different hairstyle, Harry.” I laughed.

  “No, I mean … I know, but you look really different. It’s not just the hair. I was worried for a while after we left you in the house, but I can see now you’re better,” he said, smiling softly.

  “Oh, it’s the ice cream, Harry. The ice cream here makes you feel loads better! You’ll see!” I said, grabbing his face and giving him a hard kiss on the cheek.

  His laughter rang with happiness. “All right. Bring on the gelato!” he cheered, grabbing my arm and running past Robin, who gave us a surprised look before following us, laughing as loud as Harry.

  “Is he always like this?” Robin asked, watching Harry as he sat on his surf board in the middle of the sea, far away from us, “woohooing” all the while. For the past few days he had been accompanying me on my daily walks along the beach, but at the end he would always stop to surf a little. It was becoming his favorite hobby. Even though he had left Sam, Josh, and other friends to come look for me, I could see that he was having the time of his life surfing here every day.

  “He has his moments, but then he also has quiet moments. You just have to learn to cherish all of his moods as they come,” I explained, smiling softly in his direction.

  “You sound like you’re totally in love with him,” she pointed out.

  “Oh, but I am. I love Harry with all my heart. But he is my best friend. Our friendship is a bit different. Most people don’t understand. We don’t care what anyone else thinks, though. His ex-girlfriend could never understand,” I said.

  “I think I get it. You’re kindred spirits,” she said, smiling at me. “It’s lovely to watch your connection. Doesn’t your boyfriend mind, though? Most guys would freak over this.”

  “No, he understands. He loves Harry very much too; they’re best pals,” I said, averting my gaze from Harry in the distance.

  I still hadn’t told Tristan about our kiss. Would he be as understanding about Harry then? This doubt kept clutching at my heart, and since Harry had arrived on the island, it had intensified its grip.

  We still hadn’t heard from Tristan and he was still not taking my calls, which made me increasingly worried with each passing day, but Harry promised he would get hold of him somehow. He’d also got Seth, Josh and Sammy to help try to track him down.

  “He’s really weird, though,” Robin said, giving Harry a quick glance. “And that coming from me is something, because I’m well versed on weird.”

  “I thought you said he was ‘out-of-this-world-gorgeous’ when you first met him?” I teased her, splashing some water at her face.

  “He’s the weird, gorgeous type,” she mumbled, blushing a little.

  “Those are the best types.” I chuckled.

  Since Harry had arrived, I’d been watching the development of their interaction curiously. They were both such free spirits. I was intrigued by what would happen when all their wired energy and craziness clashed. It would either be a huge disaster or an epic combination of forces.

  At first, as was customary, Harry was overly polite and extremely quiet around Robin, as he always was around new people. He was like a skittish baby deer. But after he had grown used to her presence, Harry entered that bizarre stage which I liked to call his flirting stance, where he would stand shyly in a corner and stare silently at the girl he was interested in. Harry was truly awful at flirting. Girls didn’t care about his awkwardness, though. He had his good looks and now his rock star fame to rely on.

  Robin became skittish then. Apparently Harry’s silent stares were freaking her out. It was like trying to catch a bird. Any time he got too close, she would skitter quickly away. I swear, with those two it was like watching some peculiar mating show on the Animal Planet channel. And for Harry Ledger, it was the first time this had happened. He had never had to fight for a girl’s attention before. But now he had a weird, wild, fairy girl he couldn’t charm right away. He was baffled. He didn’t know what the hell he was supposed to do to get her attention. So, in the mysterious way a male brain works, he decided – God knew why – to go for a five-year-old’s tactic. Which meant bugging the hell out of her in the most annoying way possible.

  “Says you!”

  “Pfft. Please, tell me one famous musician who isn’t a conceited spoiled brat,” Robin said, countering another of Harry’s jibes yet again.

  They had been going at it for quite some time now. I mostly tried to stay out of it. If I remembered correctly, this was how Seth had got Tiffany as well: he never stopped fighting her back when they’d first started dating. I guess that still gave Harry hope.

  “I happen to know loads. Starting with moi as well as my entire band,” Harry scoffed, swinging his legs lazily off the beach chair.

  “I haven’t met your band yet, but if they are the tiniest bit like you, then my argument is still pretty damned valid. They must all be spoiled rotten!” she jeered, pulling her hat over her head to cover it from the bright sun.

  “Says the rich girl staying at her daddy’s mansion beach house in the Meditteranean …”

  “It’s not my fault my parents are rich,” she said, flustered.

  “It’s not my fault I play in a famous band,” he snapped back. “You just can’t admit you’re being prejudiced. You’re a musician-hater; that’s why you don’t like me.”

  “I don’t hate ALL musicians, just the conceited ones,” she cried indignantly. “And I never said I didn’t like you,” she let slip in the midst of her angry outburst.

  They both stopped talking and stared at each other, wondering what had just come out of her mouth. She had just admitted out loud that she liked him.

  Harry perked right up on his chair, his eyes flaring the brightest sea-green ever. “Why don’t you prove you don’t hate musicians, then?” he asked. “Go out with me.”

  Robin’s gold eyes flickered briefly to Harry’s naked rippling chest, sweeping quickly over his green and red tattoo before she lifted her gaze to his face, which was looking smug. Her face glowed red like a tomato then.

  “You’re impossible!” she cried out.

  I rolled my eyes at the both of them and turned to Robin. “He’s not going to stop bugging you until you agree to go out with him, Robin. Why don’t you just say yes?” I suggested in a hopeful voice.

  “Fine, you win. Come on, Joey. You’re helping me pick my clothes,” she said, and started dragging me back to her house.

  Harry’s face exploded with joy. He was finally going to have his chance with Robin. “See you in one hour, then, princess!” he yelled after us, smiling like he had never smiled before.

  I shook my head, amused, as Robin stomped along at my side, mumbling the word “impossible” quietly to herself.

  It took her an hour and a half to try on dresses for her date. For someone who wasn’t eager to go on this “forced” date, as she put it, she sure was trying hard to look her best.

  The sun was about to set and the air was warm, the clouds tinted with soft oranges and pinks.

  Harry was already waiting, leaning against the wall outside the Worthingtons’ house, which he’d made his home from home for the last few days. He was wearing his usual baggy olive shorts, his salmon-colored T-shirt that hung nicely over his body, and beads and wristbands twined loosely about his wrist. His emerald eyes twinkled with excitement and mischief as he waited f
or his date to arrive.

  “At last, the princess arrives!” he greeted her, smiling broadly, making Robin roll her eyes at him as we approached. “You look beautiful, by the way,” he added, and shyly looked her up and down. She blushed hard, caught off guard by his sudden chivalry.

  “Okay. You two kids have fun now. Go on, get out of here,” I said, shooing them away while trying hard not to giggle at their cuteness.

  “Okay, let’s go, then, princess. I don’t have a carriage waiting, so it’s going to be walking for us today,” he teased, bowing with a dramatic flourish.

  Robin rolled her eyes again, faking a snobbish sneer. “Oi, gods. Is this what I get for dating a plebeian? I mean, walking? The horror …” she mocked, flipping her hair theatrically, making Harry laugh.

  “Don’t wait up for me,” he called out, strolling to where Robin was waiting on the cobbled street.

  Then he stopped and turned to me, a mischievous glint flashing in his green eyes. “Ah, Joey. I left something for you on the balcony by the pool. Go have a look, will ya?”

  “What is it?” I asked, but he just raised a hand up in the air and walked away with Robin.

  I gave an exaggerated sigh and headed back to the house. I hoped Harry hadn’t brought a turtle back. He was always bringing weird animals back with him. He loved pets. I took my sandals off, leaving them next to the sliding doors, and walked distractedly to the balcony outside, my head too full of turtles and other odd animals.

  My breath caught in my throat as I lifted my head to see Tristan leaning against the iron railing, his back turned to me as he watched the deep-blue sea.

  I hesitated for a second. My pulse quickened. He hadn’t noticed my presence yet. I wanted him to turn and look at me; I wanted so badly to see his face and look at his beautiful eyes again, but I was afraid. The fact that he hadn’t taken any of my calls the past few days was indication enough that he was angry with me. It didn’t matter, though. I should walk on, head held high ready to face whatever, with courage and determination. I would make him forgive me. I would make him love me again. I would do whatever it took to have him again.