Catching Red Eyes

I almost spit out my drink. I squinted my eyes to get a better look. Whoever I saw was gone.

“What are you looking at over there?” Pryce asked.

“Wha, oh, I thought I saw…never mind,” I said.

“Uh, ok, well anyways, back to the prin—“

All of a sudden a rush of people walked into the already crowded, small restaurant, and a sea of cameras flashing made me go blind. Guests standing at the bar were being pushed aside and other guests were being asked to move from their seats. I saw five or six big, uniformed men doing the pushing and moving. Disgruntled guests were yelling about the commotion but no one could figure out what it was from.

“It’s probably some celebrity wanting a table. It happens here a lot actually.”

I didn’t say a word because everything around me got fuzzy. The world was muted for the moment I was stuck in…he was here. He was standing behind the bodyguards in the familiar tight, black pants, black shirt and long, dark green overcoat. His hair was tucked under a dark beanie and he was talking to someone I couldn’t see. I couldn’t stop gazing at him. I didn’t even care if Pryce was talking to me because he probably was. Who was I kidding, if Harry were to see me here, he probably wouldn’t even remember me.

“Miss, I am going to have to ask you to move,” said one of the bodyguards from my right. I didn’t even notice he was there.

“Listen, we aren’t going to move for some celebrity. We have a rig—“

“Pryce, stop, its fine. It’s late anyways. Let just go.”

“Is everything ok here?”

There he was, standing next to the guard looking at Pryce then to me. He stops and looks
me right in the eyes. It got fuzzy again and there was no sound. I don’t say anything.

“Yea, look I know who you are and we’ve actually met before but this is ridiculous. We are trying to eat our dinner in peace just like you,” Pryce said standing up.

“Pryce--,” I start but am cut off.

“No, he is right, Rowan. Please, continue your meal. I’m sorry for all this,” Harry says right to me, without breaking away from my eyes. He…he said my name. He remembered my name.

He is still staring at me. Actually, everyone was looking at us. The guards, the guests, and Pryce’s jaw had dropped to the floor. Before I could say a word, Harry gave me a small smile, turned away, and walked out of the restaurant.

The air was thick and it was getting harder to breathe. People were still looking at me. I could feel my face getting a deeper shade of crimson with every second.

“Rowan? What the hell was that?” asked Pryce.

I had to find my words but my mouth was so dry. I took a sip of my drink and formed words.

“I have no idea.”

“Wait, when you interviewed him, did you two…hook up or something?”

“What?? First, I didn’t interview him, Marc did and no!! Why would you think that??”

“Did you not see the way he glared at me? Wait, of course not, you were too busy gazing at him like he was the answer to all your problems.”

“Pryce, he was not glaring and no I wasn’t. Look, it’s late. I’m going to head out, thanks for dinner.” With that, I grabbed my jacket, threw down a twenty, and left. The cold windy air was welcoming as I flagged down a cab as I heard someone call my name from behind me.

“Rowan—“

“Pryce, its fine. I’m sorry I’m just tired and probably won’t be able to sleep well because of this interview and I just really need to get back to my apartment”, I said turning to Pryce but it wasn’t Pryce.

“Ah, is that the boyfriend’s name? I am really sorry about that. I hope I didn’t ruin your evening.”

Holy shit. It wasn’t Pryce…it was Harry. The air hitched in my throat and I couldn’t think straight.

“Look, I was coming back to find you…to pay for your dinner,you and your boyfriend’s dinner but you seem to have paid and is he…?”

“Uh…he, wait, where are your bodyguards?”

“Across the street waiting but those paparazzi are coming towards us now so I’ve got to run. Ah, your boyfriend is here anyways. Till we meet again, Rowan.”

I turned to see Pryce coming towards me, along with a handful of men with cameras. I turned back to tell Harry that Pryce wasn’t my boyfriend but he was gone.

Notes