New Life, New Love

I tried talking to Harry about what happened, but he would always avoid me. I decided to drop it for the time being.



Tonight was one of those randomly warm pre-summer days in England. I figured I should wear something to accommodate the beautiful weather.
I looked at an old, casual, light blue dress I had that had a ribbon tying around the middle. I never wore dresses but I decided, why not? I pulled it up by it's lasagna straps and hoisted it around my body. I grabbed my navy blue converse and took a look in the mirror. The dress fell to right above my knees. I smiled at myself. I think I looked... a little cute ?
I let my hair fall in its natural waves, and decided to put on a couple swipes of mascara, causing my wide brown eyes to look ever wider, the gold flecks in the irises were shining through. I pulled out my chapstick and softened my already soft lips with it. I spritzed on a bit of body spray and walked out of my bathroom. I sat on my bed and looked at the time, it was only 8:15. I sighed, trying to figure out what I would do to keep myself busy until Harry came.

I pulled out my cell phone and searched through my contacts.

Tia.

I decided to call her and catch up.

"Bella?" Her American accent caused me to smile. I missed her so much.

"Hey, Tia. It's been a while. How are you?"

"Ahh!" She squealed. "Bella, I miss you so much! I'm good though, really good. You need to come to Oregon again! I want to introduce you to someone."

"Oh?" I made my voice sound extra smug, knowing where this was aheaded.

"Yeah." She laughed lightly. "So, there's this guy...."

"Uh huh." I couldn't help but smile.

"He's super cute and super sweet. Oh, you would LOVE him!" I could practically hear her grin across the phone line.

"Yeah, maybe when I come to visit...I don't know when that will be, but I'll definitely have to meet him." I paused. I didn't want to go to visit in case I had a run in with my old bullies. It was just too much of a risk and Oregon already held enough bad memories as it is. I was about to ask her what his name was when she spoke up.

"So, anyone in your life? Any hot, British guys I need to know about?" She tried to make her voice seductive, but it came out weird, causing both of us to erupt into a fit of giggles.

"It's...complicated." I admitted with a sigh.

"Oh, do tell."

"His name is Harry, and he's....he's...different."

"Different?"

"He has loads of tattoos and most of his friends are completely punked out. He sleeps around with countless girls and is into partying, getting drunk, and weed. Though I think he's been laying back on the weed."

"Bella?" I could hear the worry in Tia's voice. "A bad boy, eh? I never thought you would go after one of those....you didn't, ya know, sleep with him, right?"

"No, no. We've kissed before, but it wasn't....it was kind of an act."

"An act?"

"Yeah..."

"Explain. Please." She let out a chuckle to lighten the mood but I knew she was considered. I found myself telling her everything, everything, except the STD scare and his fights with his friends. I simply just said I was there for him in difficult times.

"Wow, Bella. I don't know what to say. Harry...seems...complicated. I just hope you don't get your heart broken."

"I know, Tia. I hope the same thing, but I think he's already doing it. Slowly, he's breaking my heart more and more, tearing it a little every time he sleeps with another girl. And the girls he sleeps with, oh my god. They're all so skinny and so perfect looking. All done up with makeup and I would say they have good fashion sense if there clothes weren't so revealing."

"Bella, you are one of the most beautiful girls I know."

"Thanks, Tia. And hey, what's the guy's name?" I tried switching the conversation.

"The guy?"

"The guy you like, Tia." I laughed at her confusion, which she joined in on.

"Oh, right. His name is Andrew!" I dropped the phone. I heard Tia's faint voice through the phone. I picked it up.

"Sorry, um, I dropped the phone on accident. What's his last name?"

"Ringer."

I paled instantly. She was dating him? She was dating Andrew? My bully!?!

"Tia, I have to go..." I couldn't believe one of my best friends was dating my bully. It was too much for me and I needed a breather to sort out my thoughts.

"Oh..." She sounded disappointed.

"Bye, Tia. I miss you."

"Bye, Bella. I miss you t-

I cut her off by quickly hanging up. I sat on my bed and put my head in my hands. I got up and walked over to the closet. I slid open the door and stared at the package for what seemed like hours. It wasn't huge, it was a little box. I shuddered trying to figure out all the different things it could contain.

"You still haven't opened it?" His raspy voice caused me to jump.

"Harry...you..you scared me." I held my hand over my heart as I turned to face him with wide eyes.
He let out a chuckle.
"Sorry, love." Love, I loved it when he called me love. I loved the way his plump lips pushed out when he said that beautiful word. The way it rolled off his sweet, British tongue caused my heart to flutter every time.
"Let's just get going." I walked out of my room and noticed Harry didn't follow behind me immediately, but he soon appeared and we walked out to his black car.


I stared out into the lake, my thoughts flooded with confusing. How could Tia be dating Andrew?
I found myself getting mad at her, but then felt guilty. It's not like she knows. If she knew, she wouldn't be dating him.

He's so vile though, I always thought he was vile to everyone, especially me, but now I'm beginning to think he was only vile to me. There's no way Tia would be dating him if he was horrible around her.

"Bella?"

Oh my god, what if he is forcing her to date him!? But she didn't sound scared about it. She was genuinely happy.
He had to know Tia and I were friends. Maybe this is some weird way to hurt me more.

Who knows?

Now I kinda wish I had opened the package. I wanted to see what was inside, but at the same time I was too afraid. I got away from Oregon and got away from him. If I opened that package...

"BELLA!" Harry's voice startled me.

"What?"

"I've been talking to you for the past fifteen minutes, but you aren't listening." He said with a smirk.

"What? Ugh, sorry, Harry. Tell me again?"

He shook his head. "No, tell me what's on your mind."

"Nothing's on my mind."

"Bullshit." His face became serious, it was a little intimidating despite the fact that he was my best friend.

I remained silent, ignoring his demands to open up to him. Finally, Harry gave up and joined me in staring out to the lake.

After a few minutes, his hand went into his jacket pocket. He placed something in my hands. I look down and saw a little brown package.

Andrew's package.

"What?" I said completely confused.

"I got it from your closet. I...please don't be mad at me, but I know something big happened between you and the person who sent it. I know that you have some deep, dark secret. Bella, I'm not telling you should tell me about it, though I wish you would. I want to be there for you as much as you are always here for me. But I do want to be with you when you open it. Bella, let me help you."

A stray tear fell from my eye. I bit down on my lip and looked into his sympathetic eyes. His hand cupped my cheek as I told him everything.

Everything.

How I was always Miss ray of sunshine to everyone around me, but then freshman year I began to get bullied by a group of people. No one knew about. I told him that they would usually give me a punch or a kick and string of insults and mockings. I told him about the night I received a note written in blood about checking my closet. I told him how they found me on my way home and beat me incessantly and tried to rape me. I told him then they noticed I was coughing up blood and they didn't want to get caught so they left me on the side of the street. I passed out and had to walk home in the dark. I told him about the doll that had a red X on the crotch. By the time I was done, I was crying into Harry's chest as his warm arms encircled me.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" Harry's voice was so quiet, quieter than a whisper.

"Because, all I'm good at is being nice to people! I have nothing to give others and the world except my kindness. People expected me to be smiling all the time, they expected me to be happy. Because compared to my siblings, that's all I was good at. If I told anyone about the darkness in my life, I wouldn't have anything going for me." I began sobbing as Harry pulled me tighter.

"Bella, you are worth more than a smile."

Those words rattled me, they rattled me not in a bad way, but in a good way. Those were words I've wanted to hear, without even knowing it, since the day Andrew told me I was worthless.

Harry held me close to him as I calmed down.

"Thank you, Harry. For everything."

"No problem, Bella. Seriously, I'd do anything for you." Except love me like I love you.

I looked down at the package and reached for it.

It was hesitantly placed between my hands, I let out a sigh.

"It'll be alright, Bella. I'm here." Harry's warm hand found its way to my back and began rubbing comforting circles into the tight muscles.

Notes

GO SEAHAWKS!!
And happy belated birthday, Harry <3
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