You Know What They Do To Girls Like Us

Bright light coming from above woke me up slowly, but forcefully. I guess I hadn’t noticed the sky lights last night.

I shift my gaze to Harry who is lying facing me on his side. His right arm rests lightly on my waist keeping me close to him. Breathing gently, I try not to wake him. Looking at him in this way, right now, is something to relish while I can. To not see the burdens of his world embedded in the wrinkles on his forehead. To see him completely at peace and not having to answer to all the socialites and pretentious guests. To see him as just Harry.

He shifts. Panicking, I quickly shut my eyes.

“Morning, love,” his voice is surprisingly smooth for just waking up. “Enjoying the view?”

“Hmm?” I slowly open my eyes to see a smirk plastered onto his face. “I just woke up.”

“Suuure you did,” he chuckles and runs a hand through his messy curls. Giggling, I snuggle deeper into the sheets and closer to Harry.

We lay there staring at each other for a minute.

“I wish,” I begin, hesitant with my words. “That life would just be like this. I wish that our world was just in this room.”

“I know,” he sighs and strokes the side of my face. “But that’s not how it works.”

“I don’t want to go back outside,” forcing tears back, I bite my lip.

“Hey,” his thumb traces my lower lip. “It’s okay. I’ll be there and I won’t – I won’t let anyone ever hurt you. You’ll be safe; I promise.”

“I just don’t want anyone else to get hurt either, but it seems like people keep –” my voice breaks.

And I couldn’t fight back the tears anymore. I sit up, bring my knees up to rest my forehead on, and cry. A river seems to flow out of me as I struggle to breathe. Everything about this world is shit. Everything about this life is shit. Everything that has happened in the past few months starts flashing back: the pain of getting marked by the iron, being forced to spend the night with the boys, planning out our map of escape, Amelia struggling in the water. I feel warm, strong arms gently wrap around me as I slowly steady my breathing.

Sniffing, I wipe my eyes with my shirt.

“Shit, I’m getting makeup all over your shirt,” I suddenly realize that I’m still wearing Harry’s shirt.

“Don’t sweat it,” he lifts my chin to look at him. “I have enough money to buy as many of those shirts as I want. With all the money in the world, I could never buy anything that’s worth as much as you.”

I can’t comprehend what I feel, but it’s something that I never felt with Louis. Something that you read about in books and see in movies. Something that you only feel once in your life.

“Harry…” I start, but I can’t concentrate with his face only centimeters from mine. I can’t help staring at his lips and when I look up I see that the feeling is mutual.

“Mm,” he softly hums in response. His emeralds pierce through my aquamarines as he moves closer.

I almost pull back at first, but I know that there is now way I could possibly say no. Our lips meet and, as cliché as it sounds, I melt into his hold. I slowly fold my legs to sit on them to face him. His hands cup my face as we both pull apart. Resting his forehead on mine, we only briefly pause until he grabs my waist and I kiss him harder. My breathing gets heavier when his hands move to my waist. I forget all self-control as I straddle his lap. I run my hands across his bare chest and shiver at the feel of his muscles.

“Harry, it’s time to wake up!” a voice yells as it comes through the door.

Holy shit.

In a frantic fumble, we both tear apart from each other to face – Louis.

“Oh, mate, um,” Harry tries for words.

“I’ll leave you two to get back to… whatever,” Louis shoots me a glare before he leaves the room.

I turn to Harry to see that his jaw is locked tight in anger as he stares at the closed door. I don’t know what to say.

“Have you been seeing him recently?” Harry turns to me. I can’t read the expression on his face, but I can see hints of anger.

“No,” I reply quickly. “Not for days, I think.”

“Good,” he gets up and heads to the bathroom. “Go straight to your room, mkay?”

“Yes sir,” rolling my eyes, I grumble on the way to the door. A pair of hands is on my shoulders before I can walk out. I turn around.

“I’m just trying to keep you safe, love,” Harry’s worried eyes search mine.

“I know, but you can’t just order me around like that,” I sigh. “I’m not just an object of your possession.”

“I know you aren’t,” his hands drop to mine and intertwine. I raise my eyebrows. “Okay well legally you are, but you’re so much more than that. Just try to stay under the management’s radar, yeah?”

I nod and he pulls me in for a hug. Kissing the top of my head, he lets me go. As soon as I turn the corner of the hallway I am face to face with Louis who is “casually” leaning against the wall.

“Fancy meeting you here,” he scratches his slight stubble. His hair has been growing out and even I have to admit that it looks good.

“I’m not supposed to be talking to you,” I try pushing past him, but he catches my arm before I get far.

“Is that what Harry told you?” his voice is tense.

“Why is it that every time you talk to me it’s just Harry did this or Harry did that? He is my owner you know,” narrowing my eyes, I break loose from his grip.

“Because he’s not safe,” Louis growls.

“Really? Because it sure as hell doesn’t sound like it –”

“Do you have any idea who he is?” the shaking in his voice shows his anger. “You don’t know him. Even when you think he’s completely opened up, he will always have something lurking in the shadows.”

“No,” my hands ball into fists. “You’re lying. He trusts me.”

A sharp laugh escapes from Louis’ mouth.

“You think you know everything,” he leans against the wall and looks down at me. “You think you’re safe.”

“What are you talking about?” I’m almost afraid to ask.

“Since apparently you know everything about Harry I thought you would know what I mean,” he starts to walk away with a smirk on his face. “He killed his last girlfriend.”

Notes

Oh. My. God. What is even going on anymore.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Comment your thoughts - is Louis telling the truth? Is Harry really safe for Robin? Thank you for reading and make sure to subscribe if you want to read more!
~christi ellie