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Real

Chapter 11

The next two days fly by like a hazy dream. I don't remember much. Just getting on a plane, leaving Florida, landing in South Carolina, going to a hotel. None of it seems to register in my brain. It feels, unreal. I don't talk much and have been sleeping a lot. I haven't gotten any better. I still feel dizzy every time I stand, constantly have a headache, and shivering. I'm always cold. No matter where I am. It's freezing.

It's probably just a little bit of stress getting to me. It's not a big deal. It will be gone in a few days.

· · ·

"We have a day off, so you and I are going out on a lunch date for publicity." Harry is putting his dirty clothes back into his suitcase. It's our second day in South Carolina, and the concert is tomorrow.

"Ok." I mumble, still trying to sleep. It's 7:00 in the morning. I shouldn't be up this early.

"Meet me at the restaurant at 12:00. I'll text you the adress."

I nod my head in reply. I would rather stay here in the hotel all day and sleep. But I agree anyways. He leaves the room, to go shopping, or something. He told me, but I wasn't paying attention.

Since it's only seven and I don't have to meet him until noon, I decide to sleep some more. I'm exhausted.

~Harry's Pov~

I go shopping for the day. I didn't have anything else to do, other than the date later today. I keep my head down as I walk through the outlet mall. I try my hardest not to be recognized. To my surprise it works pretty well.

I want to get Ari a present of some sort. Maybe we'll be closer and like each other more. Because there is no way this will last much longer if we hate each other, like we do now.

I walk into the nearest jewelry store. The only people inside are a cashier, who is sitting at the counter reading a book, a customer who is looking at wedding rings, and another worker wandering the shop.

I start to look around for a necklace or earrings or something like that for Ari. I finally see a necklace that I think she'll like.

It's a large white butterfly, with gold, sparky flecks in the wings, a golden body, and the edges are traced with a Golden color. Is beautiful.

I take it to the cashier. She is still reading her book, so I clear my throat, to get her attention. She puts down the book and looks at me irritated. I hand her the necklace without a word and she rings it up for me.

I pay, thank her, and leave the shop. I pull out my phone and check the time. It's 11:00. I shoot Ari a text with the address of the restaurant. She doesn't respond, but I'm pretty sure she got it anyway.

I make my way to the restaurant, stopping at a few shops that look interesting on the way. When I get there, I order a table for two and wait a little while.

fifteen minutes have passed, and Ari isn't here. I check the time. 11:58. That's ok. She probably just barely left the hotel, knowing her.

A few more minutes pass and she still isn't here. I check the time again. 12:20. She's probably just having a hard time finding the right place. It is a little hard to get to.

Some more time passes. I check my phone for the third time.1:45 . Ok that's it. I've waited almost two hours. Where is she? I leave the restaurant. She is going to be in so much trouble. I told to meet me here at noon. Well, its 1:45, and she's still not here.

· · ·

I use the keycard and storm into the hotel room. "Ari! What the hell are you doing?" I shout when I close the door behind me. I am pissed. She blew me off.

She doesn't answer. I don't even see her anywhere. I turn on the lights, because they're off and its dark.

I look around the room. I finally see her. She's sleeping. Is she serious? She's freaking sleeping. I shake her awake. I don't even care if I'm not shaking her lightly."Ari. Get up now."

She slowly sits up in bed. She rubs her eyes and yawns. "Harry? What time is it? I thought you were shopping." She finally says, coming to her senses.

"I was shopping...until I was supposed to meet you for lunch" I pause. "TWO HOURS AGO!" I yell, finishing the sentence.

She looks at me surprised. "Harry, I'm sorry, I fell asleep and last track of time." She gets out of bed.

Really? She thinks she can just apologize, and I'll forive her? No. Sorry isn't going to cut it. Not after I waited two hours for her. "Sorry doesn't cut it Ari."

"Well what do you want me to do?!?" She shouts. She doesn't sound mad, just frustrated.

"I don't know, maybe stop being a bitch all the time. Ever since I met you, you've been nothing but a jerk!"

She starts to bite her lip, and tug at the ends of her hair. "Ok, you know what? I'm sorry Harry. Ok? I'll just leave. Would you like that? Because I would. I don't even want to be near you anymore." She looks like she's about to fall over, but grabs the table next to her to steady herself.

"You can't leave Ari! Simon, Paul, and El won't let you!!!" She thinks that she can do whatever she wants. I'm tired of it. The whole world doesn't revolve around her.

"Well then I don't know what you want me to do, Harry!" She's quiet, but her voice has force.

"Try harder!" I yell. "This whole thing could work if you just try harder." I say it, but I'm not so sure I believe it. Me and Ari, just don't seem like compatible people.

"Don't lie to yourself, Harry. You know this will never work." She can see right through me. Her lip starts to bleed, because she's constantly biting it.

I step closer to her and lower my voice. "You're right. But we could make people think it works."

She sighs. She doesn't say anything though. For the first time I notice the dark, prominent bags under her eyes, and how pale she has gotten over the past couple of days.

She leans a little to her left, like she's about to fall again. She steadies herself once more.

Suddenly I feel bad for yelling at her. She doesn't look like she feels well. I put my hand on her shoulder. "Are you ok Ari? You look pale."

She pulls away from me. "I'm fine." She turns away from me.

"I grab her hand and turn her back toward me. "No you're not. You're white as a ghost."

She looks at the ground. "I'm fine." I can tell she's lying.

"Ari-" I don't get to finish my sentence, because she collapses in my arms.