Morning tea felt like it took forever to come. Harry was meeting me at my locker and judging by the female attention he was getting I wasn’t the only one glad about seeing him. The light shone on his brilliantly green eyes, and I could see his perfectly toned body under his plain white t-shirt. He leant on my locker and smiled at me as I approached. The girls around me had to double take when they saw him take my hand. They frowned in disappointment but continued on with their business. Tabby appeared behind me. I introduced the two but Harry became obviously quiet at the new company. It kind of confused me but also made me happy in some weird and twisted way- like I was the only one for him and the only one he could be completely comfortable around. We walked to the lunch table and Tabby and Harry got to know each other a little more which I was happy about because Tabby could finally get to know the boy who I was falling for.

Class time came all too quickly. I had history next which Tabby wasn’t taking so it looked like it was going to be a boring year of history for me. I sat down at the back corner in hope of being alone so I could doze off and remain unnoticed. The history teacher put on a movie and dimmed the lights. I was just settling into my wonderful daydream when a large figure sat next to me. I looked up to see Harry. At first I was shocked but I realised that I hadn’t even thought of asking about his next classes so I just smiled and pulled out the seat next to me. It wouldn’t be a boring year of history after all. I smiled at him as he sat.

“A second movie date for the day” he smirked.

He took my hand and began to play with my fingers.

“Sorry, I just don’t find this movie at all interesting. I hope you don’t mind” he said gesturing towards our hands.

“Not at all!” I grinned.

We spent the entire lesson talking, and weren’t even caught out due to the majority of the class doing the same and the teacher being less then controlling. The thunder cracked and the whole class went silent. I felt like spending the rest of the day with Harry watching movies and do what I knew a lot of girls would have felt like doing a couple of days ago. I wanted to just lay with him and listen to the storm around us while he ran his fingers through my hair. I had become one of those girls. Lovesick. The bell woke me from my daydream and I realised that Harry had his arm around me and I was leaning on his shoulder. The teacher flicked on the lights, which took me a while to adjust to. He looked over at us, frowned, before dismissing the rest of the class.

“Ms George and, you, who I assume is Mr Styles, stay after class, will you?” Mr Smith said.

The rest of the class cleared out and I giggled with Harry, knowing what we were being asked to stay behind for. I let go of him, to try and seem innocent to the less than impressed teacher.

“My class isn’t a time for you two to be lovey dovey. Can you save the lounging on each other for somewhere outside of school. This is totally inappropriate behaviour for this environment.” He lectured.

“Yes sir, it won’t happen again” Harry reassured him before walking out of the class and pulling me with him.

“Ooops, what a great first impression.” He laughed.

The car drive home was full of Harry’s hilarious impersonations of the teachers throughout the day. He surprised me when he stopped in front of his house and not mine.

“I should probably go home, Harry”

“Didn’t you say, your mum’s shift finishes at 9 tonight?” he replied.

“Yeah, but I’ll be fine. I am used to being home alone.”

“No, you’re staying with me.” He said protectively.

“Harry... I..” but something in his tone told me not to protest.

I followed him inside and dropped my bags. I explained that I was tired so Harry let me lay down. I was asleep for about an hour when I woke and felt his arms wrapped heavily around my body. I shifted under his weight, careful not to wake him. He moved but remained asleep. I wanted to get out for some fresh air and it was getting late so I should probably get home anyway.
I exited Harry’s house and walked towards the end of the street. It was dark already and the air was still. I looked around me and saw a hooded shadow following me. Could they get anymore obvious? I felt I was in a clichéd horror movie, only this was real life and this clichéd theme was getting way to familiar. I thought it may have been Harry trying to scare me, or catch me but a feeling in my gut told me I was in danger and my head was screaming at me to run. I began to quicken my pace just in case but the figure shadowed my movement and within moments it had caught up to me.

“Where are you going, Princess” his familiar voice made me feel sick.

I turned around and spat at his face.

“Fuck off, Ryan. Get away from me.” The curse felt wrong coming from my lips.

“I saw you with that boy today Lucy. The way he touched you... it didn’t feel right.” His creepy voice replayed in my head. He twisted his head to the side as he said the last line; he looked blood crazed.

He reached his hand to touch my face. I flinched. He rubbed his hand up and down my cheek, tracing the indents.

“There there baby, I won’t hurt you.” He said condescendingly.

“Piss off” I spat through my teeth.

He shoved me against a wall down a small slit between two houses. An alley way?! Could this get any more predictable! I turned my face away from him but he kissed by neck and pulled my jumper over my head. I tried to push him away but it was no luck, he was too strong.

“I crave you. I want you to touch me.” He said as he lifted my hips around his waist.

I didn’t wrap my legs around him which he responded to by pushing me to the ground and laying on top of me.

“You don’t want to be easy, fine, let’s do this the hard way.” He shouted.

He lifted up my skirt and pulled the buttons from my shirt, revealing my chest. He pulled himself closer to my face.

“Ready?” his whispered words replayed in my mind, as I looked away in fear towards the exit of the alley way.

He pulled down his pants and put his hands over my mouth. I shut my eyes, preparing myself for the unpleasant moment I was about to experience. I let the tears pour down my face. I did what I did best in this situation; I shut myself out, removing my mind from the situation like I had learnt to do many times in the past with Ryan. This wasn’t the first time he had assualted me, and I knew that the repercussions of his rough actions would burden me later. Maybe I was getting better at this mind blocking thing because I felt nothing and no longer felt his weight on top of me. I would be able to erase this from my memory which comforted me. My name pulled me out of my shielded state of mind.

“Lucy!” the voice was raspy and familiar.

Harry threw what seemed to by another punch at Ryan, who looked in terrible shape on the alley floor, before pulling me away from the dark street pocket.

“If you ever touch her again, you’re dead” harry threatened Ryan as we left.

He walked me back towards my place as he wrapped a towel around my shoulders and tucked my hair behind my ears.

“What were you thinking walking home in the dark Lucy? I mean I know you think we are in a safe neighbourhood, but freaks like that show you it’s not really safe at all. You scared me when I woke up and you weren’t in bed. And when I saw you lying under him, I felt sick. Lucy, I know, I know I have only known you for a few days, but I feel like I have known your forever. Don’t do this to me. Please.”

What was happening to me? I was officially on the dark side. Head over heels in love with a boy who I’d known not even a week and who I really knew nothing about.

“I’m sorry Harry. I didn’t think... I’m sorry” I sighed defeated.

He was totally right though. He had said everything I was thinking, and I was just glad I had finally been reassured that he felt it too.

Notes

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