Chapter 9









“So basically the merge deal was marriage?” Niall asked eating a forkful of sliced steak.

“Yea, basically. It’s that or my father loses the whole company.” I groaned pushing the vegetables from one side of the plate to the other.

“Well Harry’s not a bad kid. I’ve known him for quite a while. I’m sure he’d allow some sort of deal? Like one of them open relationships?” He shook his head in approval. My phone on the table vibrated again, and my hands flew to the silent button once more tonight. “Is that Harry calling you?”

“Yes,” I groaned. “Again.”

“You should answer that,” He laughs. “He only calls a few people that often.”

I groan loudly, causing Niall to chuckle while I answer the phone. “Yes?” I respond. “Where are you?” He practically growls from the other side of the phone.

“Lunch with Niall.” I replied.

“I’m outside.” He ends the phone call, and I simply plop the phone back into my bag.

“How did that go?” Niall laughed taking a bite of his buttered bread.

“He’s outside.” I shrugged.

“That’s Harry for you. Do you want to meet up again later on?”

“Uh, I guess-“

“She will, let’s go.” A raspy voice spoke from behind me, and I lightly jumped.

His hand clasped onto my right forearm, and I had to resist the urge to use my left, and swing at his groin. Considering the fact that Niall and I had made reservation at a nice restaurant, I had to bite my lip, and hold it all back. I knew I wasn’t as angry as I was this morning, but Harry was intolerable, and anybody who could tolerate him needed an award. Inhaling, I yanked my hand back, and flattened out my ends of my dress.

“Thank you for today.” I smiled at Niall, extending my arm out awkwardly for a handshake.

“Oh come on Mia, you can’t give me that.” He raised a brow before pulling my extended arm towards himself, and into a hug.

Involuntarily you could say, I wrapped my arms around his neck in a tight hug. His neck rested in the crook of my neck, and his arms wrapped tightly around my waist pulling me in so close that I could feel every inch of him. Squeaking at the quick act I giggled into his shoulder before kissing his cheek, and pulling back.

“Thank you, Niall.” I smiled at him before tucking a stray strand of my hair behind my ear.

“Let’s go,” Harry urged while I grabbed my clutch off the table.

Niall had already left, but I had an odd feeling that another set of eyes were on me. My head shot up to the table beside me, and I awkwardly smiled at them. Occupied by two elderly women, one nudged the other before both eyes peered up at me. They each whispered something inaudible before looking back over at Harry and I.

“I think her and the blonde one are together,” The one with burgundy tinted lipstick spoke.

“No, no. I think she’s with him. See how protective he is over her?” The opposite concluded, and the first hummed in response.

“I can see that.”

I awkwardly looked over to Harry who seemed to be a bit dazed himself. His brows furrowed together as he switched glances to and from both women. A bit brooding if you asked me, he tugged on my hand once more before pulling me towards the exit.

“We’re leaving. Your sister packed your stuff already,”

“If your expecting a thank you, you aren’t getting one.”

“I’ve learned over time that I won’t be getting much from you,” He stated in a matter-of-factly tone.

I huffed in annoyance before getting settled inside of his car. The vroom of the engine, and the tension in the air didn’t help the situation I was in but merely made it a bit easier to not think of the whole ordeal I was being forced into.

“Did you know them?” Harry broke the silence.

“Know who?”

“The two old women,” He glanced over at me, and I immediately blurted out no.

“If I knew them, they would know that we aren’t a thing,”

He hummed in response, but it was silent for the rest of the ride. Something abnormal for the both of us. Our ride was going to be a long one nonetheless, and I wasn’t referring to one now, rather the ride we would have to prepare for with this new agreement.

My fingers quickly tapped away at the keyboard, trying to type every important detail my professor uttered. Registering myself back into campus lifestyle was a bit harder than I had suspected. While away, although the paperwork was endless . . . getting up at eight in the morning, and trying to keep my eyes open at 9pm at night didn’t quite settle into my old schedule. College wasn’t as easy as everyone claimed it to be.

No wonder so many adults whine about wishing to go back and get a glimpse of high school again. Trying to reminisce of the good old days. I couldn’t agree more. College was tiring, and never ending. Classes were hours long, and homework was suffocating. But, it paid off if you really set your mind to it. My professors voice had droned out for awhile, but I attempted to copy all of it down in time before the class had ended.

While I packed my mac into my oversized bag, a clear of the throat had caught my attention. Peeking a glance an all to familiar tinted blonde hair had come into my sideview. Dropping my bag onto the floor, I embraced him in a tight hug before picking up my bag once more.

“As happy as I am to see you, why are you here?”

“I decided to pay a visit to the frat house. Plus I heard Harry was having a fight tonight. I think it’s at the neighboring campus.”

“Oooh,” I murmured turning my back so I could walk out the door.

“I can stay in, if you’d like. I know Cameron is going with Zayn,” He offered, but I shook my head.

“No, no. It’s okay,” I smiled, and he quickly followed behind me.

“Do you maybe, want to come with me?” He offered another option, and I stopped for a minute contemplating whether that was a good idea or not. “I’ll make sure nothing happens to you I promise.”

“Okay,” I agreed, adjusting the bag on my shoulder.


Yet again, I was greeted with the putrid smell of sweat and alcohol. An unfriendly smell, but a scent you have to become accustomed too. I held onto Niall’s forearm tightly as we weaved through the crowds to the front just in time for the fight. Niall began to let go of my arm, but I immediately clasped onto his hand.

“Don’t leave me here,” I begged, afraid that I’d be tossed around like a salad in this room full of gambling men.

“I’m just getting a beer for myself, do you want one?” He offered, and I shook my head in approval. “I’ll be right back I promise,” He smiled at me before the loud speaker blared, alerting us both.

“We’ve got both opponents in the ring!” My head shot over to the center of the room, where two green eyes seemed to burn into me. Fuck. I cursed to myself, knowing that Harry had, and is currently seeing Niall, and I’s hands entwined. Nervously dropping it, I smiled back at Niall. Agreeing to stay here while he went off for our drinks.

My eyes wandered back to Harry’s, and he seemed pissed. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the game or if it were the fact he saw me holding Niall’s hand. I mean, I had thought they were friends, but something about the way Harry was glaring at me said something totally different. The loud speaker had yelled out something, and the cheers began. I had become a bit worried, that I would be stuck near the ring without anyone but Niall’s hair had soon come into my view.

“Sorry, the crowd was terrible.” He chuckled handing me a red cup full of beer.

“I was starting to think you had left me here,” I teased, and he smiled brightly at me before draping an arm around my waist and pulling me into him.

His head rested in the crook of my neck, and although the act felt foreign it was comforting. As the first bell rang, Harry had glanced over at the two of us before bouncing around the ring. Oddly, his eyes never left us. From afar I could see his temper rising, as I’ve been through many of his outbursts. How he’d clench his fists, and turn his head sideways. Or, how his jaw clenched, and his breath became ragged. His eyes traveled back to the opponent, before he swung a few times, and the crowd roared. Harry had knocked out his opponent in the first few minutes of the game.

As per usual, the announcer had lifted his hand up declaring victory before handling the money over to Harry, and his bidders. I didn’t know why he participated in these tournaments as he had a wealthy family company behind him, but I never questioned his motives. No doubt Harry had some reasonable excuse for why he was so interested in fighting in illegal tournaments, like so.

“I’m heading out to get the car. Stay here, I’ll call you when I’m outside,” Niall warned, before jogging out of the building.

Simply nodding my head, I fidgeted with my feet trying to pass time. The sound of shouts in the distant had caught my attention, and curiosity had coursed through my veins. What was going on? My feet had tiptoed before my mind could debate whether the action was safe or not, and I found myself in the back room where normal fighters would gear up. Harry’s curly hair, and the opponent who seemed pretty pissed off were circling around each other. I assume the opponent’s friends were all cheering him on, and taunting Harry. I didn’t know if being here was the best decision but Harry’s glare had turned to me.

“Get the fuck out. Leave,” He demanded, and the opponent’s head snapped towards me. A cynical laugh had escaped his lips, and he motioned something with his hands. Before I knew it, three burly guys were coming after me, and I quickly bolted out the door before they could. My luck had unfortunately failed, as the burly one had grasped onto my waist, and hoisted me up.

“Let go of me you fucking gorilla,” I screeched. The opponent had signaled for the two behind me to hold back Harry, and my heart immediately began to race. What was happening?

“Is this the pretty little lady who’s had your attention throughout the ring?” He questioned Harry.

“Fuck you, she’s nothing.” He spat, and I couldn’t help but feel a tiny bit hurt at the statement.

“Ah, but I think you’re lying to me. Isn’t that right, baby.” The bruised man cooed, and I heaved at the sound of his nickname. His hand gently caressed my cheek, and I jerked my head away.

“Don’t touch me,” I warned, but he had grabbed a fistful of my hair before I could finish the sentence. His face was a few inches away, but the odd feeling that I somehow knew him made me cringe. My eyes quickly scanned his face, and when I saw faded scratch lines on his face I immediately screeched.

“You better shut the fuck up,” He shouted, and my free leg had swung up and kicked him in his groin.

The burly man who had held me chuckled slightly as the man I had kicked groaned in pain. “You little bitch,” He screeched before swinging his fist at my cheek. I yelped in pain, and the burly man behind me let me go. My legs immediately gave out, as I fell to the ground, but the burly man that once held me had cradled me in his arms.

“Are you fucking kidding me Chad. Are you fucking kidding me!” He shouted at my now unmasked nightmare. “She’s a fucking girl,” He concluded before nuzzling me close into his quite burly chest. Although I felt safe, my cheek had stung, and the realization that my attempted rapist was in the same room as me made me cry out in fear.
“My names Theodore, and I’m sorry. I didn’t think he would do that, I’m sorry,” He apologized, caressing my bruised cheek lightly.

“It’s okay,” I attempted to smile, but my cheek ached when I tried.

My eyes shot over to Harry to see if he was okay, but he was barely recognizable. His hair draped over bits of his face, and his eyes looked dark; Black even. A sense of some sort of emotion flickered in his features while he looked back at me, but before I even knew it, he was roaring. The other two had vanished along with the unmasked escapist, but the last one stayed.

“Go, I’ll take care of her. I promise,” He reassured Harry before his figure too diminished into the distant. “Come on, hold onto me. I’m gonna drive you back to my momma’s. When Harry’s house is clear, I’ll drop you off there. God knows what’ll happen if I leave you back at BSU campus,” Theodore explained before leading me out into the parking lot.

“Woah Mia!” A thick accent woke me up a bit.

“Shh, she’s resting her eyes. Chad seemed to rile her up a bit. She seemed awfully scared of him. He got all defensive, and punched her. Harry’s after him and the other two. I still can’t believe he hit her like that. She’s a girl, and she looks so fragile,” He added.

“You’re shitting me? Where’s Harry?” He spoke threw what sounded like gritted teeth.

“Probably by his house, call me on what’s happening. I’m bringing her to my mothers,” He, I assume nodded Niall off before he placed me gently in the front seat. My eyes had closed shut, and I briefly remember the ride. The only time I had bothered to open them was when a semi-loud concerned voice spoke near me.

“Theo, what the hell happened,”

“Chad hit her, and she needs to stay here until I get the clear that I can bring her back,” He reasoned with his mother.

“He what? Oh dear. My poor baby,” She cooed, gently caressing my cheek. The act caused me to wince, and my eyes shot open.

“Ma!” Theo warned.

“Oh, I’m sorry honey. I didn’t know that was the bruised cheek. Lay her down on the guest bed Theo, would you?”

I briefly remember Theo’s mother’s nurturing, before I was fast asleep. My cheek stung regardless, but the act of kindness made it seem a bit better. I was quite happy, sleeping peacefully until shouts had woken me up. I stayed nuzzled under the covers in fright with my eyes still shut tight, but the sounds still echoed through the house. The voice was familiar, and for a moment I was happy that he was here.

The door creaked open, and I could hear Harry at the door but my body just wasn’t able to move a limb. Drained was a better word for how I was feeling.

“She’s tired, Harry,” Theo reasoned at the door but from what it sounded like, he wasn’t accepting no, as an answer.

Arms had slid underneath me, and I groaned lightly. But Harry shushed me as he walked towards the door. “I am bringing her to my house, where she will stay. The dorms aren’t safe for her now,”

“She’s safer here Harry,” Theo warned, but considering Harry was, well Harry . . . He would never listen.

Finally gaining enough strength, I pried open my tired eyes, and peered up at Harry. His jaw was clenched and he had bits of stubble forming around his jawline and upper lip. Noticing my movements, his eyes wandered down to mine. Cold emerald eyes pierced into me before softening; I assume at the sight of me. He gazed back at Theo before walking out of his house, and near his car. I would assume that Harry works out often as he opened the door with one hand, and laid me down with the other as if I were a feather. Which in my case I knew was totally untrue.

The silence was deafening and I knew I had to break the silence. “Harry,” I croaked out.

His head snapped at the sound of my voice, and he stared at me for a few seconds before nodding his head. “What’s up,”

“Should I be worried?”

“No,” He responded. “We’re here,” He says before taking the key out of the ignition, and proceeding to walk over to my side. My hands shakily reach over to the belt buckle trying to deem myself capable of walking in his eyes but it didn’t do much. He picked me back up regardless, and walked over a wide lawn before placing me on my feet at the doorstep.

“Harry, I’m sorry. I heard noises, and was just curious and,”

“Curiosity killed the cat Bambi,” He muttered before walking into a nearby room.

“I’m sorry, okay.”

“Sorry doesn’t help anything. Here,” He hands over a pair of sweats, and a big tee before placing his keys on a counter.

“Thanks,” I paused for a second while he rummaged through his draws for something, and thought about why I was here in the first place. “When can I go back to campus?”

“Not anytime soon,” He paused looking back at me. “A week or so.” He added before heading off into his room, and shutting the door behind him.

Well then. I groaned to myself before making myself comfy on the couch. I hoped for a short week, with no problems, but I couldn’t rely on my hopes. Rather I prayed that this week wouldn’t have any problems

Notes