Shadows

"What's going on at your house?" Harry breaks the silence.
"Someone broke in last night," I mumble and pick at the end of my scarf.
"Are you okay?" He asks cautiously.
I stare at him for a moment, his dark curls contained by a grey beanie, his focus on the road.
"No," I answer honestly and he glances at me in surprise. I shrug and look out the window at the passing houses.
"And whys that?" He asks uncomfortably, clearing his throat.
"My sister had been missing for three months and they found her body two days ago and last night someone broke into my house while I was supposed to be home alone," I say plainly.
"I see," he mutters. "I've been thinking about what you said, about Catherine."
The comment startles me and I motion for him to continue.
"You're right," he admits. "I barely knew her and yet I'm going around saying that she was a good person when as far as I could tell, she wasn't. Everyone is, even the people who hated her."
I give him a small smile as we pull into the school parking lot. "I'm sorry for freaking out around you all day yesterday," I say softly. "I guess it's like I already know you dislike me so I don't need to pretend."
I feel his eyes boring into me as I stare at my lap.
"Why do you think I dislike you?" He asks finally and I look up in surprise to see his green eyes looking at me with confusion.
"I'm not dumb Harry," I explain. "Actually that's the problem. I know that I'm made fun of by you and your friends," I shrug.
"Oh," Harry mutters. I give him a small smile and climb out of the car, walking up to school without even a glance back at Harry.

Harry's POV
I sit in the car, watching as Annalise walks up to school, not even looking back once. I had no idea that she knew I said stuff about her. I mean, I'm not exactly nice to her but hearing her say it out loud kind of makes me feel like an arse.
A tap on my window distracts me and i hop out to face Louis.
"Are you sure you and Annalise don't have a thing?" Louis asks curiously as I shut the door.
"Positive," I grumble and walk towards school with Lou.
"Good because I invited her to my party tonight," he says nonchalantly.
"Why the hell would you do that?" I ask, staring at him with wide eyes.
"I told you I was gonna make a move on her," he shrugs.
"I thought you were kidding!" I exclaim.
"I don't kid about pretty girls Haz," Louis says with a laugh.
I grumble a response and we walk up to the other guys.
"Hey Haz saw you with Little Grey," Zayn says with a smirk.
"Shut up Zayn," I sigh and sit down next to Liam.
"She's actually kinda cute," Zayn contemplates. "Not hot, cute."
"I think she's quite fit," Louis defends.
"Go for it Lou," Zayn chuckles and the bell rings.

Annalise's POV
I sigh as I sit at lunch with Maggie and our other friends. Simon looks at me with a small smile which I reciprocate.
"How you holding up Grey?" He asks as I take my usual seat between him and Maggie.
"I'm alright," I shrug and take a bite of my sandwich.
"I'm here if you need to talk," he says and places his hand over mine on the table, squeezing it gently. I look into his concerned blue eyes and offer up a small smile before I pull my hand away and set it in my lap.
"Oh hey what are you wearing tonight?" Maggie asks me, drawing my attention away from Simon.
"Uh I don't know, I haven't thought about it," I admit.
"You're impossible," she huffs. "I was thinking you should go with something red."
"Whys that?" I ask and sip my juice.
"Because you look hot in red," she points out. "Or pink."
"Why don't you wear red or pink?" I ask through bites of my sandwich.
"Because I can't," she points out like its obvious. "Red hair!"
"I see," I mumble and she sticks her tongue out at me.
"Hey Annalise!" I whip around when I hear my name being called from the other side of the crowded cafeteria.
One of my sisters "friends" Gracie sprints towards me, her heels clicking against the linoleum. Her entire outfit is black and I raise my eyebrows as she approaches me. My entire table goes silent when she gets here.
"Oh Annalise," she sobs and dabs at her watering eyes with a tissue. "Come here," she holds out her arms as though to hug me. I glance at Maggie before standing up to hug the girl who is using my sisters death to promote her popularity.
"Uh hi," I say as she releases me. In all honesty, I didn't even think she knew my name.
"Listen Anna," she says softly as though we were old friends. "I'm so so sorry about Catherine," her voice starts to shake and she bursts into tears once more.
"There there," I say uncomfortably and pat her shoulder. Last I checked my sister hated Gracie.
"It's just so awful," she wails.
"Yeah," I mumble. Can she go back to her friends now? This whole situation is way out of my comfort zone. I scan the cafeteria and to my humiliation, everyone's eyes are on us.
"When's the funeral?" She asks through her tears.
"Um my parents haven't decided yet," I mutter and remove my hand from her bony shoulder. "The body still has to be autopsied and stuff.."
"Oh god that's awful!" Gracie shouts and throws her arms around me again. All this physical contact is making me really uncomfortable. "Well listen," she says and drys her tears once more. "If you ever need anything, just let me know. You lost a big sister and Catherine always told me how you went to her for advice," I never went to Catherine for advice. "I don't think you should be without a big sister figure," Gracie sniffles.
"Um thanks?" I question. To my embarrassment, everyone is still staring at the scene Gracie caused.
"Any time," Gracie says with mock sincerity and kisses my cheek before walking back over to her friends who all embrace her and tell her what a good person she is.
I grab my bag and half eaten lunch and storm out of the cafeteria as people talk in hushed tones. I toss the leftover food and as soon as the door to the cafeteria closes I lean against the wall, closing my eyes.
The fact that Gracie hated my sister when she was alive and now she's acting like they were best friends is pissing me off. Does she really need the attention that much? I sigh and press my head into my hands when I hear the cafeteria door open.
"You okay?" I hear Maggie say softly. I shake my head no and her arms wrap around me. She pulls me close as tears spill out of my eyes.

"Gracie Lakes is being nice to me and pretending that her and Catherine were best friends," I sob into Maggie's shoulder. "I'm so fucking pissed."
Maggie rubs my back and even when the bell rings we don't move. We just stand in the middle of the hallway, hugging.
"Hey sweetie," Maggie whispers. "People are staring."
I squeeze her tightly before breaking away and drying my tears. Maggie gives me a small smile and I look around to see a large group of people staring and watching me.
"My sister was just found dead, give me a break," I say seriously before Maggie and I make our way to class. As we walk away my eyes meet stunning green ones. Harry gives me a small smile which I reciprocate as we walk down the hallway.

Notes

Kind of a sad chapter today :( obviously Annalise is struggling with the whole thing.. Let me know what you think :)