~Marley~
Mornings were always Marley's favorite part of the day, she loved nothing more than waking up to her rug warm under her feet as the sun shined brightly through her window. She loved how the wind danced around her small room when she opened the window, the sound of birds chirping in the sky as the train that rode down the railroad tracks behind her house roared loudly. She loved the fact that just for a second - those first few moments when her eyes fluttered opened - everything was okay.
She wasn't thinking about how hot the room was, an effect of the air conditioned being broken for years now, or what she was going to try and find around the house to make Cole for breakfast. For those first few moments, nothing else mattered other then the simple fact that she had woken up.
That somehow, she managed to survive another day.
She was now officially one day closer to giving her brothers the life that they deserve. One where they wouldn't have to worry if they had scrounged up enough money to keep the water running that month. Where they won't have to worry if there will be enough food in the house to survive before they're able to afford more, or if the door stayed locked the night before.
She was sitting on her bed, her nose deep in the book in her hands when she heard the sound of Cole's footsteps running up the stairs. A smile fell onto her face at the sound of his feet hitting the hardwood floor with each step he took until they became louder, swinging her bedroom door open quickly. Her smile dropped from her face when she finally saw the state he was in.
His blue eyes were filled with tears as he ran towards her. A sob leaving his lips as he jumped onto the bed, hugging her tightly as she ran her hand up and down his back, trying her hardest to comfort him without even knowing what was wrong.
"Hey buddy," she said softly, holding him tightly as he cried. "What's wrong my love?"
"Marley," he mumbled out, holding onto her with such fear her heart broke at the sight. His body was shaking as he cried, something that he hadn't done often. The boy was the sunshine to her cloudy day, always laughing and smiling, it broke her heart seeing one of her favorite people in the world so heartbroken. "I'm sorry if I wasn't a good boy like you told me to be. I'll clean my room like you asked, I promise. I'll rinse my bowl off in the sink the first time you tell me to. I swear I'll be better, Marley, I promise, please."
"Cole, what are you-"
"I thought he was still asleep," Luke said slowly, walking into Marley's room with sadness written all over his face. "I swear Mar, I thought he was asleep."
"Please, don't let them take me away," the small boy begged as he held onto his sister with everything inside of him.
She looked back up at Luke, her eyes now matching both of theirs as they filled with tears. Shock ran through her body at the realization that Cole finally knew what was going to happen. She had tried so hard to make sure Cole was kept in the dark about the struggles in their life, her and Luke doing everything they could to put the pain aside and give Cole a small sense of normalcy. She had felt as though she failed, for now sitting in front of her was her baby brother, begging her not to leave him the same way almost everyone else had.
Luke held his pinky finger and his thumb up to the side of his face as he mouthed the word 'Lottie' to her, realizing that the boy had overheard their brother telling Lottie about social services taking Cole away.
"It's okay buddy," she soothed, trying to not only calm her brother, but herself in the process. "You're gonna be okay, we're gonna be okay."
"Promise me that they won't take me," he begged, looking up at Marley with wide eyes.
She looked back up at Luke, who was standing there with tears in his eyes that were threatening to fall, his lip quivering as he tried to hold it in. She was at a complete loss for words. Her baby brother, the person she and Luke had done everything to protect, was going to be taken away from them and there was nothing anyone could do about it.
She wasn't stupid, she knew that it was only a matter of time before everything she had worked so hard for to keep would be taking away in a matter of seconds. The house she had spent hours trying to save, getting job after job to keep all the necessities they needed, none of that mattered. She had done everything she could for the two people in her room with her, and now she couldn't help but feel as though she had failed them.
She failed at the one thing she had promised herself everyday she would do... to protect the two people she cared for most in the world.
"I'm so sorry Cole," she said, finally allowing the tears to fall as she whispered. "I can't promise you that."
"No, no, no -" he small boy sobbed, shaking his head as he leaned back into the arms of his sister that were tightly wrapped around him.
"But I can promise you this," she said as she shook her head lightly, letting go of the boy in her lap to wipe her tears quickly, holding his face in her hands as she used the pads of her thumbs to wipe his chubby cheeks. "No matter what happens, Luke and I will always be there for you."
Luke took a step forward, his words coming out with a crack due to fighting back the urge to cry, "Hell yes, we stick together little man, we're Becks."
Marley gave her brother a small smile as she grabbed Cole's smaller hand in her. "Really?" He asked, wiping the remainder of his tears as he sniffled a little.
"C'mon you've got to know that by now buddy," she said, nudging his shoulder as she tried to lighten the mood. "Do you honestly think Luke and I would let anything happen to you?"
"No," he said, his voice small as he looked down at his lap, mumbling words that either her or Luke could hear.
"What was that, bud?" Luke asked, his voice gentle as he sat on the bed next to his siblings.
Cole let out a shaky breath, looking between the two as he sighed, trying his hardest to put on a brave face as he spoke, "I'm scared."
"It's okay to be scared every now and again Cole," Marley said genuinely, following Cole's gaze as he looked over at Luke, who simply nodded to show the young boy it was true. "Do you want to know a secret?"
Cole quickly turned his head back to his sister, his tear filled eyes blinking as a tear slowly down his cheek. He nodded slowly, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand like she would always do for him when he was sad.
"We get scared too."
"Really?" Cole asked, his voice so small as he sniffled lightly, rubbing his pudgy hands over his cheeks.
She simply nodded, pulling her brother onto her lap as she cradled him. Usually Cole would groan and complain, telling Marley that he wasn't a baby anymore while fidgeting in her grip as he fought to get out of it. But today, he curled his body into hers as he played with her hair, sniffling as he did so. She smiled at the gesture, her motherly instincts copying his actions as she ran her fingers through his blonde hair.
"Yeah," she whispered, "I'm terrified at the thought of us not being together. But you know what you have to remember Cole?"
"What," he responded quickly, his eyes fluttering shut, exhausted from the crying.
"That you are so brave, darling," she said as she kissed the top of his head, starting to rock back and forth as he finally relaxed in her arms.
"Like you," he asked, her heart fluttering at words.
She had never seen herself as brave. She simply saw herself as a person doing what they needed to do for the people they loved. She never second guessed it or thought of herself as someone who deserved more than what she was given, if anything she believed with her entire heart and soul that her brothers deserved so much more than a sister playing house. She wished with everything that they had the mother they deserved, that their father could have gotten the help he needed instead of thinking the world was better off without him.
She truly believed that her brothers deserved more than just her.
"You are so much braver," she said softly, looking at Luke who finally let the tears that were pooling in his eyes fall. He shook his head quickly as he pinched the bridge of his nose, wiping the tears before they even got a chance to hit his cheek.
"Because being brave doesn't mean that you aren't scared of anything Cole," she announced as she pulled away from her brother slowly, holding his face in her hands once more as she smiled softly at him. "No, being brave means that even when you're scared you still fight and push forward. And that's what you're doing, love. That's what we do."
"Because we're Becks?" Cole asked, looking at Luke who had a smile on his face, nodding at his younger brother.
"Yeah buddy," Luke said, pulling Cole towards him as the smaller one started to giggle. Soon they were both laughing, causing Marley to smile at the sound of their laughters mixing through the air of her small room.
Because that was her favorite sound of all, the sound of her brothers laughing together, cherishing the moments when they were happy for as long as she could.
"You know what would make me feel a lot braver?" Cole asked, looking back towards Marley once Luke stopped tickling him.
"What's that," Marley hummed, ruffling the hair on his head as she rolled his eyes, shoving her hand away as he giggled.
"Ice cream," he said, a small smirk forming on his face at the words, knowing for a fact that his sister was a goner as soon as his blue eyes looked into hers.
"You heard him," she said to Luke, laughing lightly as she spoke. "Get the boy some ice cream."
The three laughed, the older two wiping the tears under their eyes as Luke stood up. He picked Cole up from his arms and placed the boy onto his shoulders. The room was filled with Cole's giggles, echoing through her ear as his laugh danced with the wind. She smiled widely at them, wanting nothing more than just to take that moment in. Reality hitting her that one day soon, there wouldn't be moments like that anymore.
"Do you want anything?" Luke asked as he headed towards her door.
She shook her head lightly, the smile still on her face as she spoke, "No it's okay, I'll be gone for my shift at the club when you guys get back anyway."
His face dropped at her words, she knew the lecture would be coming. Luke hated nothing more than Marley covering for Vicky at the club, something that he was never shy of reminding her of every chance he got, so it was no surprise to her when his face held one of disappointment as he held onto Cole's legs.
"I'll be fine Luke," she said dismissively, picking up her book she had moved to the side when Cole entered the room. "Besides, it's a short shift tonight and I'm just working the tables, that's all."
He sighed, looking back at Marley as he bit his lip, "Just be careful alright?"
"Always am," she smiled up at him, opening her book to try and finish the chapter she had been on.
"Bye," Cole said, waving his hand at her as she mirrored his actions. His eyes were dry of tears, but still looked puffy, red and tired as he rubbed them, a small yawn escaping his lips.
"Bye buddy, love you!" Marley called out to him, returning the wide smile he had on his face back to him.
"Love you too MJ," he said as he blew her a kiss, causing her to reach out and pretend to catch it, placing it in her back pocket like she had always done.
"Saving it for later," she said with a wink.
He laughed one more time, his sweet giggle sounding like music to her ears as they turned around and walked out the door of her room. The sound of Cole muttering to Luke about the ice cream flavor he was going to get was the last thing she heard before diving back into a world much different from her own, getting lost in the idea that maybe - just maybe - there could be a happy ending for her too.
~
She got ready shortly after the two had left. Throwing on simply a pair of grey sweats and a t-shirt, knowing that Vicky had left the uniform in her locker for Marley so that way she wouldn't have to stop at their house to pick it up.
She took a quick shower before changing into the etire for her walk to the club, grabbing her large tote bag that carried the small amount of makeup she had before making her way down the stairs. She grabbed a water bottle from the fridge before popping a few strawberries into her mouth, wishing for nothing more than to finish off the rest of the container of her favorite fruit, but put it back quickly when she remembered she wouldn't be able to go shopping for a while and needed to save some.
She threw on a pair of old shoes before grabbing the spare set of house keys, locking and unlocking the door multiple times to make sure it was locked, before heading down the wooden stairs and onto the sidewalk to embark on her journey to the dirty club she continuously volunteered to work at.
The walk from her house to the club wasn't a long one. It took about twenty minutes before the neon sign of the Open Tease illuminated the streets as she approached the building. Her walkman by her side as the headphones that were placed behind her head played the familiar tune of Just the Two of Us, a small smile playing on her lips at the memory.
She placed her fingers to lips without a second thought, her head feeling dizzy at the thought of Harry's lips on hers. It only took seconds for her mind to catch up with what her body had been feeling, causing her hand to immediately leave her lips, a panic filling her veins as wondered why she had thought that way in the first place.
She had known Harry almost all of her life, the boy had done nothing to her other than make her life a living hell. Granted they had both done some pretty horrible things to one another, but it didn't take away from the fact that the overwhelming feeling the two had for each other was mutual. They simply despised each other.
There wasn't a great, big betrayal that caused the feelings. There wasn't a friends to enemies battle somewhere along the way or a heartbreaking rejection from one to another... that was just simply the way it had always been, Marley and Harry hating each other.
She couldn't deny the fact that over the past few days, something between the two of them had changed. It wasn't just the sudden sexual attraction that seemed to appear overnight for one another - it was the way that for the first time in thirteen years, they seemed to have this sort of unspoken understanding for the other.
Somewhere between the car rides, hospital visits and the training, Marley had come to realize that there was much more to the infamous Harry Styles than the hateful words and daggering glaces. She had spoken more to him over the past two weeks than she had her entire life, feeling as though he wasn't as much as a horrible person as she thought he was.
Her thoughts were cut off by the figure standing a few steps away from her, her eyes focusing on the person before they widened. Her heartbeat quickened at the identity of the man. Her head telling her to breathe as her palms started to become sweaty, her hands starting to tremble at the sight of her worst nightmare coming to life.
He took a step towards her, his eyes roaming up and down her body, a smirk falling onto his face as he spoke, "I thought Charlie was lying when he said you worked here, just couldn't stay away from me could you doll."
She took a deep breath, remaining calm as she looked at him. Her words from earlier that day ringing through her ears as she stood still for a moment.
Being brave means that even when you're scared you still fight
She narrowed her eyes at him, finding the small amount of courage within herself as she spoke, "What are you doing here, Dean?"
He stepped closer to her as she took two back, biting her inner lip as her pointer finger and thumb tapped repeatedly together, trying to get her hands to stop trembling. He stayed silent for a moment, his eyes trained on hers as he licked his lips.
"C'mon Marley baby, don't be like that. After everything I did for you, for your family. You're still going to treat me like the dirt underneath your feet."
"Because that's all you are, Dean," she said, finding the strength somewhere inside of her to not run away. "The dirt underneath my fucking feet."
"You know you should really be thanking me," he said, taking another step closer to her. "If it weren't for me your life would be a hell of a lot worse right now."
"It's sick that you would even think that for a second," she spat, taking herself by surprise at her words. Days ago she was cowering at the sight of the man, but now she couldn't stop herself as she finally began to fight back.
"You're starting to push your luck Marley, I would shut the hell up if I were you," he said angrily, seeping forward to wrap his large hands around her arm, pulling her closer as he spoke. "Before I do something you regret."
~
She couldn't get her breathing under control as she ran. Her feet running faster than they ever had before, leading her to the house she never in a million years thought she would run to for help. Her thoughts were jumbled in her head as her feet pounded against the pavement, her body aching for her to stop.
She had been running for what felt like days, the tears that were in her eyes finally leaving as she saw his house, relief flooding through her body when she saw it was just a few more steps away.
Her knuckles were starting to bruise, the blood from the side of her head running down her face and onto her cheek due to the speed at which the wind was hitting her face. The heavy pants leaving her lips was the only thing heard for miles as she ran quicker onto his yard, praying with everything in her body that he had been home. There wasn't a single car in the driveway, her fear seeming to be coming to life as she knocked on her door with her hand that wasn't throbbing.
After what seemed like eternity, the door swung open to see a curly headed, green eyed boy standing on the other side of it.
"Louis' out of town," she said as soon as the door opened, trying her hardest to not completely fall apart before he even got a chance to speak. "I didn't know where else to go."
His face fell into one of confusion at the state of the girl, his eyes scanning her battered body until they formed from one of confusion, to anger, to shock as he looked at her. His lips parted slightly, before his jaw quickly clenched together, his hands balled into a fist at his sides as he looked at the girl on his front porch.
Her grey sweatpants were dirty, the black t-shirt on her body ripped at the collar as the scratches that lined her perfect skin became visible to him with each move she made. The cut on the right side of her forehead was opened showing that it was fresh, a smaller one only a few centimeters down on her eyebrow to match. There was a small string of blood flowing down the side of her face, his eyes guiding down her body to see that her knuckles were bruised, a few of them bloody before looking into her eyes.
They stared at one another for a moment, neither of them speaking as he shook his head slightly. It was as if he were trying to piece together what could have happened in the span of the past few hours to cause the girl in front of him to look like that.
"Marley," he said quietly, taking a step forward as she closed her eyes, her breath hitching at the back of her throat as the overwhelming smell of villania and cigarettes flooded her senses.
In a matter of seconds the girl leaped into his arms, all of her walls that she had tried her hardest to build up came falling down all at once as she cried. She held onto him tightly, feeling his entire body tense up at the contact. Insead of seeing it as a sign to let go, she just simply tightened her grip as if letting go of him meant she would float away.
"I did everything you taught me," she whimpered, crying silently as she spoke.
It was as if her words shocked him out of the trance he was in because moments later his arms slowly wrapped around her body. He held onto her loosely, his hands laying still on her back as he asked, "What do you mean?"
"Dean," was all she was able to say.
He went stiff for a moment, the words seeming to catch him off guard as they stood quietly. She sobbed into his neck, standing on her tiptoes as she held onto him for dear life before he finally reacted. His arms tightened around her in one motion, his hand playing the ends of her hair as he shushed her softly.
"It's okay," he said quietly, surprising the girl entirely as her sobs started to quiet down. His grip tight around her, seeming as though he had planned on never letting her go. "You're okay, love."
She had always hated when he called her love, only doing it as a way of mocking her, the word always followed with a scoff and a rude comment at the end of it. But this time it was different. Her heart fluttered slightly at the words as she held him as tight as she could. She ignored the shock that ran through her body at his touch, simply needing nothing more than to feel safe and for the first time in a long time that's exactly what she felt.
For there, standing on his front porch - arms wrapped around one another as she cried - Marley Jeen Beck finally felt safe.
~
It's Harry's birthday. Happy 27th birthday my love. As a birthday gift to you all, here's a shorter but very important chapter. But just a heads up... the next one is my favorite ;)
But while you're waiting for the next chapter, check out my friend Olive's book Precipice by stillhurtingstyles and let her know if you're there from me. Send her the same love you guys give me on a daily basis.
Also I've realized the none of you know my name lol.
Hi. I'm lizzy :)
Anyway, hope you guys have a great day, I love you all endlessly.
Thoughts on the story so far??