Harry's POV

We slam the car doors shut simultaneously, heavy breathing being the only sound we could hear.

"You okay?" I ask,swallowing audibly, as I start the car.

"Yeah no,I'm alright.." she breathes,running her fingers through her ponytail. "What about you? Did you see him after we ran out?"

"I'm okay, yeah..And,erm..I dunno,I think he stopped at the door.." I stammer,making a sharp turn onto the streets, away from the empty parking lot.

She nods,a heavy sigh leaving her lips.

After a couple minutes of silence, I turn to Emily,who's gaze was fixed upon the trees,that swiftly went by,as we drove.

"M'sorry,you had to go through that..I..I didn't think I'd see him," I say softly,chewing on my bottom lip.

"No,no,of course not" she begins,turning around in her seat. "You don't have to apologize H,you had nothing to do with it,"

I nod slowly, the guilt still swimming about in my mind.

"I shouldn't have made you,run outta there..I.. there must have been a - "

"Harry. It's okay. Really,you have nothing to worry about.." she answers,cutting me off midway.

I nod once again,knowing that if I said something else,it would most probably be another apology.

She reaches over,placing her small hand over my forearm,making my body relax ever so slightly.

"I'm worried about you,though.." she sighs,making me frown. "What if ... If he's back home,when you get there? Are..You gonna stay,or?" She asks softly.

She was right.

Where am I gonna go?

I know for a fact,that there's no way I'm staying there anymore. I can't.  I just can't.

My mind wanders about,looking for an answer to her question,when something that's always been there,comes up.

Zayn offered me a place to stay,a while ago. And,I declined. But,for reasons that made sense. And,I guess I've gotten  enough answers, to keep me satisfied.

I'm not done..Oh,no..But,I can keep all of that on hold for a bit.

"I think,I'll...Maybe,I'll stay at Zayn's for a bit.. It's probably best I don't stay home,for a while.." I answer,finally admitting something,that I should've a long time ago.

She hums in agreement, playing with the ring that adorned her index finger.

The rest of the car ride is silent,the sound of the engine rumbling,vibrating through the vehicle, taking over the quiet air.

There's something I've noticed about...Erm..Us..I mean,me and Emily..

Whenever we talk about something serious..Or..Something to do with our personal lives..Or family.. Things like that...We push it away. Decide that it probably isn't important to talk about. As if,we didn't want to talk about it. I did that too. It was mainly me,to be honest.

It's happened quite a lot,and I'm pretty sure both of us are aware of it.
It feels odd,because I don't know why,but I do at the same time.

Why do I feel that way ?

Shit,I don't know myself.

No..

That's a lie.

I do know.

Of course,I know.

I just don't want to admit it.

But,why should we have conversations like that? We haven't..spoken about..Where we stand..As..a..I dunno,we haven't spoken about our Relationship. We haven't given it a label. And,that's okay with me. I'm young. She's young.

We've got time..

"This is me," she sighs softly,pointing to her house through the window,snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Right,yeah" I stutter,shaking my head.

"Your gonna be okay? Because, you can always come by for a - "

"I'll be fine.." I swallow, giving her a reassuring nod. "I'll..Call you..if anything..erm..happens.." I continue, looking down at my lap.

She hums softly,her hand reaching for the door handle.
Just as she was about to open the door,she retracts her hand away slowly.

She let's out a shaky breathe,her body turning to face me.
"You'll keep safe.. right?" She questions,barely above a whisper.
"Because..I..I can't see you get hurt anymore,Harry..I.." she stammers,my hand reaching over to hold hers.

"I'll be okay,Em...I promise.." I say,matching her tone.

She nods again,her small hand clutching onto mine,tight.

She looks up to meet me scared eyes,her dark brown irises,making me heart beat faster.

She leans over,placing a soft kiss to my lips,the faint taste of her mint chapstick,making my eyes flutter shut. The sweet,familiar taste of her lips,calms my nerves,the feeling of butterflies erupting in my abdomen.

The kiss was swift,but sweet. She rests her forehead against mine,once letting go. She traces my bottom lip with her cold fingertips, my eyes feathering shut once again. "You promise?" She whispers,her other hand,holding on tight to my forearm.

"I promise "

×

I watched as the sun went down behind the house,the shadows of the tall trees,painted against the empty driveway.

His car wasn't here. So,maybe he isn't?

He could be...Maybe he came home,after..The little run in,we had just an hour ago.

But,why would he come back,after disappearing for almost a week? Maybe he just got tired of my presence, and decided to run off some where.

That should be me,to be honest.

I take a deep breathe,and tell myself to stop procrastinating, because I knew,that was exactly what I was doing.

I step up to the dark brown, front door,my nerves getting to me,as my shaking hands place the key in the keyhole. I twist the jangling keys slowly,the obnoxiously loud click of the door, making me screw my eyes shut.

I swing the door open,the area looking the same. Exactly how I left it. So he wasn't here. Okay..he's not here..Now,all I've got to do,is pack up a bag,make sure I haven't forgotten anything, and then I'm off.

Not forever,of course. There are still a few unanswered questions I have,and I know that I'll be back soon.

But,for now..I think this is enough.

With that thought,I sprint up the carpeted staircase, the sound of my shoe clad feet,muffled against the material.

I barge into my room,grabbing the first duffle bag that comes into my vision.
I swing the closet door open,grabbing whatever came to hand,before,shoving them into the black bag. I grab my school books,and such,stuffing them in along with everything.

School..

Fuck,what about school? He pays for my tuition, where the hell am I going to find the money for that?

Shit,I'll have to think about that later,I don't have much time.

I throw in some toiletries, and shoes,before zipping the fairly large bag up.

I let out a huff,as I scan the small room,incase I was forgetting something.

I think that was -

Crap,the letters!

I frantically pick the envelopes,out of their hiding places,tucking them deep into my filled duffle bag. I make sure I've counted them all,making sure I haven't left a stray one,laying around.

I sling the heavy bag over my shoulder,looking around my room,one last time.

This was it,I guess.

Fuck,I wonder why I hadn't done this sooner.

With that,I speed walk out of my room,jogging down the staircase,before walking into the kitchen,to grab the house keys that were strewn across the counter.

I pick them up swiftly, turning around on my heel,only to drop them back onto the marble table.

"Harry?" He questions, walking toward the kitchen,his hands tucked into his pockets. His eyes wander to the bag slung across my shoulder. "Where'd you think your going?" He continues,a mocking tone laced in his voice.

It made me sick. So fucking sick.

"M'leaving," I state, staring back at him.

His eyes widen slightly at my confidence,as he chuckles darkly under his breathe.

"Leavin' are you? " he nods,walking closer and closer.

"Hm," I hum,confirming the answer to his question.

"And,where are you gonna go? Plannin' to live on the streets?" He spits,making me flinch.

"Where I go,after this. Is none. Of. Your. Business. " I state,my shaky voice coming through,ever so slightly.

Holy fuck,I don't know where this confidence came from,but boy am I glad for that.

"None of my business? You've been living under my roof,for as long as you can remember, so I think it is," he states,his anger coming through,his attempt at a steady voice.

"Your roof? Your not even home,for an entire week! Your runnin' off,getting drunk of your arse,and smoking god knows what,while I practically live here alone!" I say,raising my voice.

He shuts his eyes at my harsh words,pursing his lips together.
"Listen,Styles" he begins,his hand reaching over me,to grip the counter.

"I don't know who you think you are,but you do not,get to talk to me like that,you understand?" He grits,making me shake my head.

Without another word,a slip my way through from his side,taking a long stride away from him.

But, before I could move away,he grabs my forearm, making my blood run cold.

"Your not. Going. Anywhere," he seethes, from behind me,as I feel the blood circulation from my wrist,stop at his grip.

"Let,go" I state,my voice getting shakier by the moment.

"Did you not, fucking hear me?!" He yells grabbing onto my right arm harder,making me shake my head violently,as I try to pry away from his grip.

"I said,let go!!" I yell,the pain shooting through my arm,getting harder to tolerate by the second.

Before he could open his mouth, I manage to rip my arm away from his fingers,my skin now dark red,purple outlines of his fingers,making me screw my eyes shut.

"Don't you dare,walk out that bloody door,Harry" he growls,as I stumble backwards, my body gravitating toward the exit.

"I swear to god,I will fucking end -"

"You can go fuck yourself, " I spit,before turning around swiftly,exiting the hell hole,that I should've left years ago.

×

The moment I stepped out of that house,I ran.

I ran as fast as I could.

I ran,until my lungs couldn't take it anymore.

I had gotten so far,that I was only a minute away,from where I needed to be. With the pain from my arm,coursing through my body,and my tired lungs,I practically dragged the weight of my body,to the brick building.

I lift my arm up to examine the wound,to see the red,had now turned  into a shade of light purple,the indentations of his nails digging into my inked skin,being visible.

I lower my my arm slowly,as I look up at the house that stood in front of me.
I lift my fist up to knock,but stop midway.

C'mon Harry,you've got to do this.

You really,don't have a choice.

"For fucks sake,just do it," I mutter to myself,as I finally get myself to lay two firm knocks on the black door.

I shift from heel to heel,as I hear the sound of footsteps.
My fingers hold on tight to the bag slung across my shoulder.

Not long after,the door swings open,to reveal Zayn's mum,her body rested against the front door.

"Harry? Darling,what brings you here?" She questions, as it was dark outside,and the streets were practically empty.

"I erm..I was wonderin' if..I.." I stutter,my right arm still gripping onto the strap of my bag.

Trisha's smile drops,as her gaze falls on my bruised skin,a frown taking over her face. "Sweetheart, " she cooes softly,taking my arm in her hand.

"Did he hurt you?" She questions,her words coming out like venom,as she talks about him.

I shake my head slowly, "Only,this" I whisper,as she examines the fresh wound.

"Come on,in love,I'll fix you right up" she nods,making me mumble a soft,
"Thank you,"

"You'll be staying here,for as along as you need,yeah?" She adds,making me nod.

"I can't thank you enough for that," I say softly,making her shake her head.

"You don't have to,darling" she smiles softly,as she brings an ice pack out of the freezer.

"No,I.. " I begin,as she hands me the cold object. "You don't have to do this,but you are..And,I can't explain to you,how much that means..Really," I finish, as I swallow the groan that wanted to leave my lips,as the ice pack comes in contact with my skin.

"I didn't know your Mum for long,Harry.." she starts,as she brings out the first aid kit. "But,she was one of the sweetest, most kindest person,I've ever met...And,I remember the way she looked at you..How much,she loved you...And,I know..I know,that she would want me to take care of,her entire world.." she finishes, making my lips curl up into the smallest smile.

Trisha was about to say something, when she's interrupted by a very loud argument.

"For the last time Safaa,I didn't use your Hairspray!!" Zayn yells from the bottom of the stairs. "Geez.." he mumbles,as he walks into the kitchen.

"Mum,I -" he stops mid sentence, as he sees me.

"Haz? What's up? Why - Holy shit,what the hell happened?" He questions,as he takes in the state of my bruised arm.

"S'nothing,I just erm..I'll tell you about it later,I.. " I begin,pressing the cold ice pack against my skin.

"I'll leave you guys to it," Trisha nods,as she hands Zayn the kit. "Fix him up, Z ,I'll be right back" she states,before giving me a weak smile.

She walks out the room,as Zayn let's out  a sigh.

"What on earth,urged him to do this?" He questions,as he lifts the ice pack of my arm,making me hiss softly.

His eyes fill with the look of pain,as he takes in the appearance of the wound.

Fuck,who knew,it would look this bad?

"I said I was leaving..And,clearly he didn't want me to..Why? Fuck,I dunno myself" I huff,making his head shoot up.

"You said,you were..Wait,does that mean -"

I nod slowly,a nervous smile tugging at my lips.
"I'm hoping,your offer..Still stands?" I ask,softly,making him smile.

He nods vigorously,before engulfing me in a tight hug,being careful not to hurt me.

"You made the right decision, H " he whispers, making me nod into his shoulder.

"I know,"

×

A/n You guys have no idea,how much I want to kill off Harry's dad's character,in this book-