Chapter 9
Sarah's POV
I felt serenity in the cool breeze of London September was near to end. The air was cool. I saw a notification on my phone this morning, about the money transfer. I couldn't remember when was the last time I had breakfast in my favourite cafe. It felt good. I was planning to do some grocery shopping after my classes. After all that happened, it was worth it. It is way better than worrying about getting starved to death. Clarke also sent some congratulatory texts and praised me.
What I did was nothing, actually. It didn't even require any special skill. Even, my face was covered.
This was for the first time in my life after my mother's death, I felt I was not alone. Not on my own.
The tranquillity of the air vanished as I entered my campus. Students were gossiping. Some faces were shocked and some were smirking. Showing something on the phone to each other. This was definitely something about some trending topic. I shrugged my shoulders. Last time, I worried myself with those looks and searched it down. It was about stupid celebrities being arrested for substance use or something. These people were mean, amusing themselves for the destruction of others. I witnessed a similar but more chaotic environment as I entered the auditorium. I was heading to the back ignoring the vacant front row that was vacant. I saw Tina. her face was not alright.
Is that what you say when someone doesn't look normal?
She was arguing with some other girl. Who was not from our class. But I knew her. Leena was the same as Tina. But they never got along. It was looking like a gang fight. Mean girls, talking with each other, moving their hands in weird ways. Swaying hips to look hot, while talking sh*t.
It was good. At least she was busy. And making me feel bad was not her priority right now.
"This dating scandal is definitely kicking her ass," I heard a male voice from the side. Who was talking to a girl. I knew them for like three years now. But I never talked to them. Well, I never interacted with the class properly.
Dating scandal.
The words electrified a nerve in my head. I was curious. Really curious. Was this the same thing I was thinking about? I stood up, impulsively. The boy and the girl, whose conversation I just heard, were looking at something on their phone. Without thinking, I hovered in the space between them to have a look at the phone. It was a picture. The picture. That picture?
I straightened myself. Both of them had disgusted expressions on their faces.
"I am sorry, can you tell me what this is about?" First I hopped into their personal space and now I was asking them questions. Nice.
"Are you dumb, this is Harry . The most successful music producer. He is caught dating someone. Don't act like you don't know him. You book worm." Her voice was mean and rude.
"You don't need to be rude. Of course I know him. I was just getting your opinion," I snapped back at her. Folding my arms against my chest. I delivered her the angry glare which she deserved.
"Opinion? What are we? Friends?" That was a valid question. Because I was not asking for her opinion, actually. I really didn't know him. Like that. The angry frown was still on my face. It was funny how I was processing words to answer her, with that mean look.
"Ladies, calm down. I am sorry about that." the boy stepped in the conversation. I was very thankful for it.
I rescued myself by saying, "It's okay," and sat back on my spot. The class started and I busied myself with it. Or I tried to. Because those pictures were all on my mind. The class ended. And I walked to the next. It was in the dissection hall. We were studying forensics.Professor was there discussing the cause of death of each.
"Tina, can you tell me the cause of the death? He asked.
"I don't know. Cancer?" she rolled her eyes. The dead body was lying with some major injuries on head. Everyone laughed. Like that was the funniest thing they ever heard.
"She is already rich, why does she even bothere to study," I murmured. No, I thought I murmured. But the guy facing me heard that,
"Because she wanted to do something different," he smiled. Which I did too. He was the same guy from the previous class. I knew him. Only his name. Sameul.
"Sarah, why don't you tell us," the professor's eyes were directed at me now. Tina was smiling at me.
"Uhh-" I stuttered,
"Yes?" Of course I was not rich. He was not going to let me go.
Sameul's eyes were sheepish. Maybe he was concerned.
"By looking at the injuries. They are severe. His head had been hit several times. But there are some signs of strangulation too. As you can see his eye, there are conjunctival haemorrhages. And neck abrasions. And edema." I signalled to each body part.
"I think he was strangled and he died because of this," It would be a lie If I say I didn't feel proud by the shocked look of everyone.
"That was impressive," Professor praised me. And Samuelstarted clapping and everyone did too
Sitting on the bench. I typed 'Harry dating scandal'. And the results were there. It was me and him. The picture was blurry. Still it caught that smirk of his. And the memories related to it sparked in my mind. When I was sitting on his lap. And we were so close. We looked like a couple.
"I knew you didn't know him," I turned to see the owner of the voice. It was Sameul. I put my phone back into my jeans pocket. He seated himself with me.
"I am sorry for that, I literally jumped in between both of you," I chuckled nervously.
"You were that curious?" he asked, not really expecting me to answer. I laughed in return.
"Sameul," he offered his hand.
" I know," I took his hand.
"Sarah."
"I know."
We both laughed.
"It's just- we never really interacted despite being in the same class." the awkwardness in the air was reduced. Thanks to him. He was a natural tan. Handsome, for sure. Long hair in a wolf cut. Honey coloured eyes. Tall and lean. He used to be seen with Tina. But it was a very long time ago.
"Yeah, I never interacted with anyone, actually," It was me not him. I had a social phobia or this was what everyone always thought. In reality, I was just trying to survive and had no time to make friends. And I had planned to continue this until I graduate.
"And yeah I didn't know him," I confessed.
"It's okay."
"Everyone has just hyped this issue. Because you know Tina had-"
"Hey!! Ben!!" a male voice interrupted his words. A boy standing in basketball shorts and T-shirts was the owner of the voice.
"You wanna go for a match?" he asked as he eyed me.
"Yeah, just give me a minute," Samuel Said as he stood up.
"I have to go. Nice to meet you. And see you- again?" this sounded funny..
"Yes…. and thankyou Sameul." I said shyly.
"Sam My friends call me Sam." he said as he started walking backwards. He waved to me before he wrapped his arm around that boy's neck and started walking.
"Friends," I murmured. It was his way to finally announce that we are friends.
Harry 's POV
The eyes I felt on me at the moment I entered, HW productions building, I was assured that it worked. Walking to the elevator, Clarke joined me. As the elevator closed. He turned to me "Internet is on fire," with an amused smirk.
"Not something I am surprised of," I answered and stepped out as the elevator door opened.
Entering my office, I slid the curtains open. Clarke brought a laptop to me. There it was, bloggers had started their jobs.
'DID Harry CALLOWAY ALREADY FIND THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE'
'Harry THE SOUL OF MUSIC INDUSTRY, SEEN WITH A MYSTERIOUS GIRL'
'WHO IS THE GIRL SITTING ON OUR MUSIC KING'S LAP?'
"They all are going nuts," I commented as I read it. Suddenly, this was the only thing everyone was talking about.
"Of course," Clarke responded.
As I scroll it downward.
I saw the pictures.
Those pictures.
Our pictures.
Clarke had deliberately uploaded them blur, to make it look taken by paparazzi. Her hair was covering her face. The smile resting on my face, reminded me of the moment. When I held her delicate body in my mind. My finger traced her clothed curves. She was hot when I touched her.
Was she turned on just by my gaze? Her breath was hot, when she was sitting on my lap and I felt my blood rushing to somewhere it shouldn't, when I held her close. this was becoming confusing. Everything. Her, myself and most of all, us.
"You see that?" Clarke woke me up, as I was almost drowned in this chaotic feeling.
"Hmm?"
Leaning against the wall, he said in a very serious tone "To people, you are not just a music maker. You are an idea, Harry . They think of you as someone mysterious, someone they can never understand. Someone who is far far away, from their touch. And we are using it. Their obsession with you. They think you are hiding something from them. Someone who is so important to you. And the idea of you, is becoming more interesting to them. You see the influence?" He nudged my shoulder. He was right.
"They will go after her," I voiced out my thoughts.
"Yeah, I know. I'll take care-," he paused and nudged my shoulder again but with a bit more force.
"Hey? Are you worried about her?" He was smiling. So amused by the thought.
"I am just saying," rolling my eyes, I walked to the rolling chair.
"You know Harry , there is nothing gross about worrying about people." he declared his point of view.
"And I didn't ask for your advice," I announced.
I was not worrying about her. I just deduced it. I knew how crazy fans can go.. They can go to any length, just to harm anyone. Clarke was right, I was their obsession. The idea of her getting hurt just didn't feel right to me. Like, this was not something she agreed to.
The door knocked.
"Come in," I said.
The girl came in. She was my assistant.
"Sir, Mr. Baker just called. He is asking for scheduling a meeting. You seem to be on break. Should I-"
"No, schedule it, umm," I glanced at my watch. It was eleven. " After lunch."
"Today?" she asked.
"Yes today," I confirmed it to her.
"You can go." I ordered her and she obeyed.
"You said you were on break," Clarke asked. His eyes were down at the file he was holding. He was reading something.
I stretched myself on the chair.
"He told me that he was working on something, at the party at William's. It was a movie, about gambling or something. "
"So?" Clarke lifted his head, looking at me he asked.
"So, at that time he said he was giving a chance to Simon for the whole soundtrack . But- you know, he woke up and saw me everywhere, he decided to give me the charge." I smirked. His eyes blinked mischievously.
"So are you going to do this or -"
"I am going to this," I cut him off, and announced my decision.
"That's good," he commented before shifting his gaze back to the file.
I liked it. The attention. Although, I was never ignored. But the disturbance it caused, all over. I was enjoying it.
And
It was just the beginning.