To Fall So Deep

It was all a dream.

At least that's what Nina thought when memories of last night whirled in her mind in an endearing anarchy. Harry's surprise visit at her window; his sweet and soft kisses; and falling asleep in his warmth clouded her thoughts. It was all too good to be true that Nina swore it was just all in her head. Until she felt familiar strong arms wrap around her body, and the warm smell of vanilla infiltrated her nose. It was Harry, sleeping in her bed, with his arms holding her protectively. Nina's eyes opened, expecting to see Harry as the first beautiful thing she'd witness in the morning, but that was not the case.

"Tay!" Nina gasped. Hovering above both her and Harry, cheeks red with fury, was her father. Nina was still shirtless, and immediately covered her body with the blanket as she sat up. Harry groggily woke up, unbeknown to him of the dire situation.

"What's going on?" Harry asked, rubbing his eyes.

"Out!" Leo yelled at the top of his lungs. He grasped Harry by the arm and threw him off the bed. Harry fell to the floor, scrambling to stand up.

"Tay! Nothing happened!" Nina shrieked, almost in tears.

Harry held out his hands in front of him in defense, "I'm sorry Mr. Dela Vera!"

"What the hell do you think you're doing with my daughter?" Leo's eyes became dark, and a vein began to protrude out of the side of his forehead. His fists were clenched, and he held every bit of him to control his anger. "Get out of my house!"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Harry repeated. He bent down to pick up his shirt off of the ground, never taking his eyes off of Leo. "I don't want to hurt Nina."

Leo breathed heavily, his chest and shoulders heaving in dramatic swings. His nostrils flared out, and he stepped closer to Harry, "I would suggest you shut your mouth, and leave before--"

"I only have good intentions with your daughter," Harry quickly interrupted. This was a major mistake on his part because in the second it took for Harry to stupidly keep talking, was his moment vulnerability. And it was that moment that Leo used to sucker punch Harry right in the face. Harry fell to the floor and groaned in pain, holding his swollen cheek.

"Tay! Please!" Nina cried. She jumped off of the bed, and dropped to her knees to aid Harry. Before Nina could even touch him, Leo grasped Harry's wrists tightly and pulled him away.

"You will never, ever see my daughter again! You are a Styles, and your intentions will never be sincere!" Leo punched Harry in the chest with every angry word. Harry fell into the fetus position, covering his head and face, wincing from each blow.

"Stop it! Tatay! Please, you're hurting him!" Nina was in tears, as she grabbed ahold of her father's arms, attempting to stop the beast before her.

"You will never be good enough for Nina," Leo's foot arched backward, aiming for Harry's ribs.

Nina's eyes widened with a gasp, and without a second thought, she threw herself on top of Harry's body. She buried her head on top of Harry's, protecting it with her arms. Nina took the blow, and she wailed out in pain. Nina's high-pitched cry became the trigger; the kryptonite to Leo's sudden transformation into a monster. His eyes were no longer dark and tainted with furry, but light and brimming with guilt. His heavy breathing slowed down, as he bent down to Nina,

"Anak."

Nina flinched from his father's touch, her body still acting as Harry's barricade. Leo stood up, and stared at his daughter's limp body protecting the even weaker one beneath her. Nina's head lifted, and through her messy hair that covered her face, her eyes glared intently at her father, "don't you dare touch him again."

Leo didn't respond right away. He didn't know what to say, and simply started for the door. However, before walking completely out, he turned his head around to face Nina's sullen stare, "get him out of here."

With that, Leo disappeared from the room. Nina slowly released her protective grasp, and sat down on the floor beside him. Her legs sprawled out, and carefully she lifted Harry's head and placed it onto her lap. He grimaced, and Nina immediately made her movements more gentle. He buried his face into her lap, hugging her hips.

"Baby, let me help you," Nina caressed Harry's head. He was so weak, and in so much pain that even Harry couldn't fake a toughness.

Harry exposed his face, and looked up at Nina. There was blood on her shirt from Harry's busted lip. His cheek began to bruise, swirls of purple hues invading the side of his face. Nina gulped, noticing a section of bare skin where Harry's shirt had lifted. She saw the same dark bruising, and with shaking hands, Nina pulled the hemline upwards.

"Oh Harry," Nina breathed, discovering Harry's assault wounds. His entire torso was covered in swelling bruises. She gently touched one of the bruises, and instantly he cowered. Nina jerked her hand back, a tear escaping her eye, as she realized that her touch caused him pain.

"Babe, why are you crying?" Harry's voice was raspy and barely audible. He weakly lifted his arm, to hold Nina's cheek.

"I can't stand seeing you like this. I'm sorry. I just want to hold you, and I can't," Nina softly expressed.

"What do you mean you can't? You are always allowed to hold me," Harry affirmed. Nina turned away, she couldn't bare to look at him. "Hey, look at me Nina."

Nina shook her head, "no, I can't."

"Please love. Just look at me," Harry begged.

"Harry I can't smile at a time like this," Nina finally faced him, tears still falling. Harry smiled with frailness,

"You looked at me. Now give me that million-dollar smile."

"There's nothing to smile about right now," Nina sniffled. Harry rubbed her cheek with his thumb, wiping away a tear.

"Then don't smile about now. Smile about last night, or the day before that. Or all those times you kept falling… babe, you're really clumsy," Harry stated with a smile, and furrowed brows. Nina rolled her eyes, letting out a small smirk.

"That's my girl. Now give me a kiss,"

"You're bossy,"

"Aaaand your lips still aren't on mine," Harry closed his eyes and pursed his lips. Nina sighed, unable to deny the cuteness lying on her lap. She leaned down and kissed him tenderly on the lips. "I love you."

"I love you too Harry,"

* * *

When Nina arrived at school that very morning, she was no longer worried about her classmates, and the possibility of them torturing her again. All she was concerned for was Harry-- whether he'd actually make it to school or not. Though the second she stepped into the main corridors, she was immediately surrounded by Leina and Elissia, who acted as her body guards.

"We got you girl," Elissia smiled, linking her arm with Nina's.

"You go down, we do too," Leina assured, and linked her arm with Nina's free one.

"Thanks," Nina forced a smile. "Have you guys seen Harry?"

"Boy, did we? He's here, alright. We'll bring you to him," Leina said. Side by side, the trio walked through the school.

Classmates yelled profanities and absurd comments as they passed, but Leina and Elissia's strong personalities were prepped with a plethora of colorful comebacks. They stood in front of Corrine's classroom door. It was closed shut, and the window was covered with sheets of paper.

"He's in there?" Nina questioned.

"Yea… he didn't want to be outside with everyone else," Elissia explained. She knocked on the door, "Harry it's us. We have Nina."

A few moments passed and the door knob turned. It opened slightly, enough for Elissia, Leina, and Nina to slip through. Harry stood there, his eyes sunken in and black; his bottom lip red and swollen; and with every movement, he grimaced in pain. Nina couldn't help but to let a tear slip from her eye, and ever so gently, she hugged Harry. She buried her head into his chest and cried, as Harry stroked the back of her head. Elissia and Leina stood watching with their arms linked together, witnessing the true love before them.

"Harry we can't do this anymore," Nina stated, looking up at Harry, her arms still wrapped around his waist.

"What do you mean we can't? I'm still fighting Nina. I will always fight for you," Harry assured, remembering his sister's request.

"It's too hard. I can't see you like this. You're in so much pain," Nina professed.

"Baby, this is nothing. All this physical pain will go away, but if you leave me… I won't ever recover," Harry promised.

"But if we stay together, who knows what will happen? World war three?"

"I'll protect you!"

"No," Nina pushed Harry away from his touch, "we have to keep this a secret. We have to act like there's nothing between us."

"Nina are you serious? Don't give them that satisfaction! That's what our parents want, right? What everyone wants? For us to stay away from each other. Well fuck that! You're my girl, and I love you. I want to hold your hand to show you off. I want to take you out on real dates. Can't you see that I just want you?" Harry tried so hard to explain his love and protection to Nina, but it was like she refused to understand.

"No," Nina shook her head, and turned away from Harry.

"What do you mean, no? Baby!" Harry grabbed Nina's arm and turned her around. She held her head down low, and Harry lifted it with his fingers. "I know you love me."

"I do," Nina admitted. "But I refuse to see you get hurt because of me. You're already losing your friends, and I can't stand that. Harry, we will keep this relationship a secret, or--"

"Or what?"

"Or there won't be a relationship at all,"

Notes

Happy Friday everyone!

Finally the weekend, and I can finally breathe!! I'm home for the weekend, as family is coming over for Easter Sunday. It feels good to relax, and eat home-cooked meals again!! I hope you gals liked chapter 29, and the story so far... I'll try to update again on Sunday but since I'll be home and there's tons of family stuff to do, I may not have the time. I hope you all understand. Thanks so much for taking the time to read my story, I really appreciate it!

Thanks,

-Erica Jaine <3