Chapter eighty-two

It feels nicer to be outside of that study interview room, residing in the familiar environment of the overly-decorated lobby. Barely anyone comes to the Front Desk, and passengers wander around calmly, gliding over the smooth floors in their fancy shoes or loudly clomping along, thongs (flip-flops) slapping obnoxiously against the tiles. Seeing people so cheerful and unaware of Harry feels wrong. I feel like leaping out of my chair and yelling at them for being so insensitive, but I know they'll have no idea what I'm talking about. And I'll look like a maniac.

I distract myself by pulling at my shirt, plucking at the loose strands.

Someone comes rushing quickly past the front desk, toting two large drinks on the verge of spilling. The young man sitting nearby, manning the Front Desk, flicks his head up and says, "Hey! Please don't run, you could injure yourself!"

The guy with the drink skids to a stop, turning and glancing up. It's Anik.

"Tasmin!"

"Anik!"

I'm surprised he can remember my name, but it puts a smile on my face nonetheless.

Anik bows his head a little at the man beside me, then rushes over to the desk to speak to me.

"What are you doing here?" he asks.

"Um, Harry –" I don't know if I should tell him, I don't want him to worry. Besides, "Nevermind that. Are you on your way to meet, um, Jamie?" I nod at the drinks he's holding.

"Y-yeah! Jamie felt a little unwell after we decided to go on the flying fox on Deck twelve, and I knew that a cold drink would cheer him up, so…" He holds up the full glasses. "But…" He edges closer to the desk. "Is there anything wrong?"

"Well…" I fidget in my seat. "Harry is kinda… missing."

"WHAT?!"

So much for not worrying him.

He almost drops the drinks. I jump up and lift the drinks from his hands and place them on the desktop. "What do you mean?!" His eyes are as wide as saucers.

"Anik," I say. "I really don't know where he is." When he doesn't say anything, but just gives me a concerned expression, I continue: "We were playing laser tag, and I saw him, but then after the game, he wasn't with us. Everyone's looking for him right now," I explain.

"Do you need us to –?"

"Oh, no! Anik, you go and have fun with Jamie. Tell Jamie we miss him, and I'm sure Harry will be back soon –" Before I can finish, Anik is rushing off, his drinks abandoned in front of me. "ANIK!"

"Miss, sorry, would you please…?" says the young man beside me.

I sit down. "Sorry."

"It's fine," he answers. "At least you have a drink now."

I sigh at the full glasses sadly.

Lilli comes by not long after, Emily tagging along behind her, who glances suspiciously long at the drinks Anik left behind.

"Tasmin, I'm sorry I didn't come by sooner, I had no idea they took you –"

"Hey! It's okay. All they did was ask me some questions. But what's more important is –"

"We haven't found Harry yet," Emily responds before I can finish. "We've looked almost everywhere, and nothing."

I grunt in frustration, but really, I'm holding back tears.

"Have you checked our cabins?" I ask.

"Of course we have! Those were the first places we went to, and we checked the wardrobes, the showers, under the desk. Honestly, we don't know where he could be," says Lilli. "Honestly if he's playing some sick prank on us –"

"Where the hell could he be?" I mutter.

I feel Lilli's gaze on my forehead. "Well, it's a big cruise. It isn't possible to look everywhere at once, especially if Harry's moving from place to place."

I choke back the sharp lump in my throat, swallowing back a wave of emotions.

"I'm not referring to that."

When I finally look up, Lilli's and Emily's wide eyes trigger it. I throw my head into my hands and let the tears run over my palms, pooling in the creases. I hear Lilli and Emily trying to get through the small gate to come behind the desk, and the young man beside me leaping up, asking them softly to wait and receiving yells in response. When the noise is ringing too hard in my ear, I leap up, yelling, "STOP IT."

I drop back into my seat, exhausted.

"Miss…"

"I'd like to go, please," I murmur. "I want to go find Harry with my friends."

"I'm sorry," he starts. "But I can't allow you to leave until Jae comes back. I'm sure she won't be long."

I sniffle loudly, my cheeks heating at the sound of snot in my nose. I stand up and approach the Front Desk. Lilli grabs my hand and I feel Emily's join ours.

"Could you come right back here and tell me when you find him, guys?" I ask quietly.

"Of course we will," Lilli promises.

"Straight away," Emily replies. "I mean, gay away."

We all laugh lamely at her play on words.

"For real, Em?" Lilli asks, genuinely curious.

Emily smirks. "Wrong timing, isn't it?"

I reach my other hand over the table and place it atop Emily's, squeezing. "It's never the wrong time, Emily." Both of them give me weary looks. "Okay, maybe there is."

"I'll see you guys later," I mutter.

"See you, Taz."

"Uh, Taz –"

"Yes, Em, you can take a drink."

"Thank you, I love you."

"I know you do. Now, scram."

"Yes, ma'am."

When they disappear down the hall, I slump back into my seat, staring blankly at the other drink. I'll save it for Harry. A small crystal of ice drops off of the side, and I shiver. I feel cold, alone. I may have scared away Anik, and now he's going to go and send the best photographer in the world into a frantic episode for no reason. I've left Lilli and Emily to find him despite having searched almost everywhere.

Where are you, Harry?

I close my eyes.