daily drop:
don't be shy, wave hello instead of looking away.
04 / Eyes
Harper /POV
The moment we drove away from the bar, both Alexander and I turned silent.
He had one hand on the steering wheel, the other hovered over his lips as he rested his elbows on the window.
I covered myself with the coat he lent me. The only sound echoing around the car was my sniffing.
My fingers were trembling, from the cold? The fear? It might be even both.
I let out a shaky breath.
"Alexander?" My voice barely audible.
"Hm?" He humms.
I closed my eyes. "I don't want to go home." I tell him, afraid to receive another beating from my father.
Alexander / POV
I slowed the car down and parked on the sidewalk. I turned to Harper and I felt a tug on my heart.
Her fingers were shaking.
"Where do you want to go?" I asked her softly. She hugs herself and looks out the window.
"Anywhere but that damn apartment." She says, and from the reflection of the window, I see her cry again.
I heaved a sigh and reached out to her.
She flinched at contact and she looks at me with fear. The emotion seen in her eyes sent me and my guts an uneasy feeling.
My hand immediately retreats. "I'm sorry." I apologized.
She closed her eyes and exhaled, "No, i'm sorry." She says.
"Sorry." She says again.
Sighing, I sent her a comforting smile and put my car on drive.
—
She was asleep when we got home. A while back, I called Bosco to tell him that Cassie doesn't need to brought back to the apartment.
I stopped the car in front of the main doors where Bosco was waiting to park my car in the garage.
I stepped out of the car, walked to Harper's side and opened the door.
"Harper." I said softly.
I brought my fingers to her chin. "Harperrrr."
She slowly opens her eyes, squinting as she adjusts to the light.
I grinned. "Hello."
"So, do you want to get down on your own feet or do I have to drag you?" I joked. She smiles and I immediately felt relieved.
I help her out of the car, draping the coat over her shoulders. I tossed the keys to Bosco who effortlessly caught it.
"Good evening, Miss Collins." Bosco respectfully smiles at her and I shook my head smiling.
"I uhm, hi." She says sleepily, walking by my side.
"What about Cassie?" She tiredly asks. "You're always worried about your little sister. She's either in Gavin's study room or they're in the game room." I tell her.
"Either way, you don't want Cassie seeing you in this state." I motioned her beer stained uniform.
"Plus—" I scrunched my nose, "—you reek of beer." I tilt my head and she looks down.
I was caught off guard for a moment, this is the first time I've seen her so vulnerable and quiet.
It was evident that she was embarrassed and scared.
I lead her to one of the guest rooms upstairs and opened the door.
I turned the lights on and the room came into full view.
"Stay the night, okay?" I turned to face her and she looks at me in the eyes.
She nods.
I eyed her for a moment before looking away.
"You're so quiet, I feel like the world is ending." I tried to joke but she only flinched a smile.
"Ooookay then. If you need anything, call me." I tell her.
I tilt my head towards the intercom on the bedside. "You can call my room. It's the number two."
She absentmindedly nods.
Harper / POV
When Alexander leaves the room, I heaved a sigh.
Why isn't he asking me questions? Why isn't he angry that I've kept secrets from him? I wondered to myself.
I'd feel better if he would tell me off for lying than him being kind to me like this.
I looked over to the end of the bed and saw a fresh set of clothes. By the size of it, it was obviously Alexander's sweater and sweatpants.
As I stripped off my uniform, I stared at my reflection.
My skin had hints of purple and yellow, bruises evidently showing themselves on my abdomen.
I feel tears begin to form and I breathe, blinking several times to stop myself from crying even more.
As I stepped into the shower, the hot wanter relaxes me, ridding me of the beer's scent on my skin.
After long minutes in the shower, I stepped out the bathroom.
Slipping into the sweatpants first, I huffed, it was too big and long for me.
I pulled the strings of the material to tighten the bands on the waist so it falls on my hips. Once it was tight enough, I tie it.
I sat on the bed and started folding the ends of the sweatpants so it doesn't cover my feet.
Once I was done, I stood up and grabbed the sweater.
I jump when the door swings open and Alexander walks in, "Are you hung—" His eyes widened and he quickly turns around.
"S-sorry." He shyly mutters. Frozen in my spot, I held the sweater tight against my chest to cover myself.
He was reaching for the door knob when he stopped in his tracks.
He slowly turns around, his eyebrows knitted together as he eyed me.
My heartbeat quickens as he began walking towards me. His eyes studying me.
Once he was a foot away from me, he grabs the sweater and drops it on the bed.
I balled my fists to my sides as I took a step back.
His hands were warm when he held my shoulders. His eyes continued to wander my body.
His jaw clenched as his eyes met with mine.
"Who did this to you?" He tries to ask calmly, but his expression says otherwise.
My heart races when it hit me that my bruises were exposed.
I broke eye contact and tried to grab the sweater.
He stops me, holding both my arms and I feel the tears brimming my eyes.
I closed my eyes when I felt his hand on my cheek. He whispers, "Did the guy from the bar do this to you?"
I shook my head.
"Harper." He says my voice softly and I open my eyes to see his.
His piercing blue eyes were yearning for an answer.
"Did Henry do this?" He asks again and slowly, I shook my head. My lips began to quiver.
He steps closer. His other hand lets go of my arm and he holds my cheeks with his palms.
His eyes were comforting, like it saw through me and hugged my soul.
His jaw clenched, like he was hesitant. He closes his eyes, taking a small breath and letting it go, like he was afraid.
"Is.." He opened his eyes and looked straight at me. My eyes never left his.
"Is this why you didn't want to go home?" He asks, his eyes telling me he was afraid to hear the truth.
And I knew I would fall apart.
With no words to say, I cried and crashed into his chest.
His arms hugged me tight as he quickly takes a few steps to balance us both.
I started crying into his black sweater as he hugs me protectively.
He rests his chin on the top of my head as his other hand caressed my hair.
We both stayed like that for a while, me crying my heart out, and him holding my fragile self.
When I managed to compose myself, I gently pushed away from his hold. With the back of my hands, I wiped my tears away.
"I'm s—" I start to say but he cuts me off. "Don't."
"You have nothing to be sorry for." He says and I look up to him.
He was looking at me but his eyes were distracted, like he was thinking.
The moment he blinks, the distraction in his mind must have gone as he sends me a comforting smile.
He takes me in and embraced me again, and I leaned onto his chest sighing.
"Get some rest, okay? I'll take care of Cassie." He softly says.
"Okay.." I whispered weakly.
He pulls away and looks at me, tilting his head.
"I hate seeing you cry." He gives my chin a soft squeeze before he grabs the sweater and hands it to me.
"I'll let Cassie know you're here. See you in the morning." He says, turning around and walks towards the door.
Before he leaves, he turns around. "Hey, Harper?"
"You know I'd never let anyone hurt you like that, right?" He smiles and I smile.
I nod.
"Good night Alexander, and thank you." I tell him.
He breathes a sigh of relief. "Good night." and he shuts the door.
--
I'm going to try and make 'daily drop' a thing, where i'd drop you guys a thought or a question.
just because i love you, and to let you know you're more than just readers to me.
what do you think of today's drop and chapter? vote and comment, dearest!
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johanna.
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