Part Fourteen
Harry.
"You are extremely stupid thinking you can try and get her after I told you she's mine!" I yell at Zayn, throwing him onto the ground. He groans, his nose bleeding already and small bruises form on his neck.
"And you need to learn to live with the thought of me fucking your girl," he smirks, aggravating me even more. He tries to get up, but I press his chest down with my foot, blocking his movements and laying him back down.
"You will never, and I repeat, never, fuck my girl because she is never going to see your sorry ass again. So get out of here before I attack you even more."
I let him up and he starts to stumble away but turns and faces me. "Oh, before I forget Styles, she's got the best breasts I have ever seen."
I run at him, dodging his punch, and pressing my fist to his cheek and punching him with everything I have in me. He hits me but I barely even react, my hand grabbing his neck.
"You didn't touch her!"
"But I did, and she liked it."
How dare he even tell me this? He clearly is only out to make me mad but I find myself punching him until his nose is gushing. I stop myself and climb off him, a smile still evident on his lips.
"I'll be seeing you Styles, and your little girl too."
I fight the urge to go after him again, letting my need to see Beth grow. I watch Zayn continuously brush under his nose and wipe his face with his shirt. I walk to Beth's door and knock, receiving no answer. I turn the doorknob and walk in, greeting a quiet house. I shut and lock her door and walk to her bedroom, seeing her hair brushing through the wind as she sits on her balcony in nothing but a tank top. I walk over to her and sit next to her, realizing her body is shaking and that her eyes are closed, still undetermined whether or not she's sleeping.
I stand and lift her up, holding her closely into my arms as I walk her back into her room. I place her on her bed and lift a blanket over her, admiring how beautiful she looks while asleep. She looks so innocent; glorified in all her beauty.
I kick my shoes off and walk to her bathroom, running my hands under cold water. I wash my hands, ridding any blood left on them from my previous actions. I can't believe how much I have fought since Beth came into my life, but I would much rather fight for her than leave her defenseless.
I take my coat off and walk to her bedroom again, seeing her body completely motionless in sleep. I walk to her shelf of books, the ones I am assuming she reads the most due to the tattered edges, and take Gone with the Wind off the shelf. I open it up and see highlighting and notes around the pages. I move back to lean against the wall but I hit something, causing a big thud to echo through the room.
I see Beth start to stir and she sits up, looking over at me. "Harry?" she whispers, causing my actions to cease and stare over at her.
"Are you okay?" she asks, sitting up on the bed. I place her book back down and walk to her, her hands running her hair back, causing her hair to fall effortlessly over her shoulders.
"Yes, I'm fine." I sit down next to her and she moves closer to me, her hand moving over my lap to grab my own. I entwine our fingers together and she lays her head on my shoulder.
"Can you tell me something?" she whispers, holding my hand tightly.
"Sure."
"Why do you always fight and why does it mostly seem to be about me?"
Her question surprises me slightly, knowing this was coming sooner or later. I bring her carefully onto my lap, feeling her cold skin on my warmth.
"I fight to protect you and it is mostly about you because I hate the idea of anyone touching you. I do it because I feel like I should protect you from those guys like Zayn and Jake."
She wraps her arms around my neck, burying her head in the crook, and I hold her close to me. She is so fragile, literally looking like she is tiny and as light as a feather. Which is true.
"I feel like I'm weighing you down Harry. Constantly fighting and causing you to be hurt."
"You aren't doing anything and I am with you because I like you. I feel like a different person with you and I want to tell you things I have never told anyone."
She lifts her head up and looks down at me. "Beth, it's my job to fight. You are the only girl I have even given thought to and are the first one I have fought for. Frankly, I don't give a fuck about other girls. It's you; I don't want to lose you to some lousy guy who doesn't know how amazing you are."
She slightly smiles and I bring a hand to her cheek, bringing her cold body closer to my own, letting her warm up in my arms.
"Now, why the hell were you on that balcony?" I ask her, her laugh ringing through my ears.
~~~
Beth.
"When I was 16, Gemma and I moved here because she was going to college and I got kicked out of my mum's house. I got enrolled in high school and closed myself off from everyone. I was that kid who was out there, not hanging out but remained mysterious."
His shirtless chest moves up and down every time he talks, my bare legs and his entwine under the covers of my double bed.
"I hated talking to people and when I got assigned to a counselor, I didn't say anything. She thought I was mental or closed off and personal, but the truth was that I didn't think people deserved to know shit about my life. I don't talk to my family, just Gemma, because my mum hates me and my father, God I don't even know where he is."
I grip his hand tightly and lay my head next to his, resting my chin on his shoulder and lying on my side, watching as he tells me things I asked him about.
"My father was horrible; constantly swearing and drinking, I hated it. He caused me to be in the hospital for a couple days, two separate accounts. I have this scar on my right shoulder from his drunk past. I was 15 and scared. I was weak and I started to fight soon after, deciding I can't go my life being defenseless."
He lets go of my hand and wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me closer to his side, his body turning to face mine.
"My mum kicked me out because I nearly beat the shit out of our neighbor kid Grant. He tried rubbing into my face that he got this new car that was rigged with the best shit in town and I got pissed at him, beating his snobby ass in his front yard. I went to my friend's house after getting kicked out, but he wasn't home, just his older sister Jen. She told me I could stay but only if I had sex with her. She was hot, you know, so me being the horny 16 year old I was, I had my first time with her. I hated it though, she constantly touched me and I didn't like it. After we finished, I regretted having sex in the first place."
I kiss his cheek and he smiles. "I wanted to take that moment back and save it for someone better, but I couldn't do that. It was gone. I stayed in their guest bedroom for the rest of the week, the whore of a girl brought new men home every single night I could hear them in the other room. I finally got out of there and left with Gemma to come here."
He throws his left leg over both of mine and pulls me close to him, my forehead on his and my eyes looking at him.
"I came here and didn't know anyone. So I went to school and went to my sister's dorm, where I stayed every night until I was 18 and bought my place with the money I made. I used to steal my sister's books and read them, thinking that I could lose myself and find an identity in a character, but I never did. I always, since reading those books, wanted to Atticus Finch."
I laugh and he smiles. "I read numerous books, lost in classic literature. I have never let anyone know my other side and you do. Only you because as much as I hope you do the same, I trust you Beth. I know you will understand and keep that safe. Keep me safe."
I smile and place a soft kiss to his lips, innocently pulling away and holding him close to me.
"I will Harry."
He flips us over, my body lying under his and his hair coming down from his forehead, leaning his head down to mine. His forearms rest under my back and he watches me carefully, bringing my hands to his cheeks and resting them on his rosy skin.
"I assure you baby, you'll be safe with me."
He leans down, pressing his lips to mine and holding me close, encasing my body in his warmth and holding me tightly under his body. Our lips mold together, letting me feel his soft lips press to mine, creating a simple bliss that I have never felt with anyone else before.
"Be my girlfriend," he pants, pulling away slightly then kissing me again. I nod my head, the small gesture causing a smile to place on his lips, kissing me again. I close my eyes and feel his body lay on mine, holding his weight up against his forearms. His kisses to my lips leave me weak and I have a strong sense of safety in his arms.
He pulls away and leans his head down, letting his parted lips trace my cheek, down to my ear. He kisses just below my ear and he stays in this position, allowing me to hold onto him. I breathe in his body, running my nose along his shoulder and running my hands along his back.
"Can you tell me something?" he asks, brushing his nose along my jaw, kissing my neck.
"Yes."
"I want you to tell me your life, just so I know about you."
I nod and he protectively wraps his arms around me, lying on his side and me soon following.
"My childhood was normal and I had my first boyfriend when I was 12, which was also the same year my father past away. He was there for me through everything and we were together until we were 16. He was nice to me until he started to be mean, insisting on getting more from me but I didn't want to. He pressurized me into doing things I never wanted to do, such as drugs and intimate things."
He kisses my forehead and around the side of my face, letting me know he's here and I am safe.
"After we broke up, I started dating a new boy but Greg, my ex, would taunt me and tell me that I'm missing out, but I never cared, soon breaking up with Ray and turned to books. My only friends were Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, telling me of a love I wish I had and making me feel lonely. After I graduated, I got a job at Ruth's bookstore because she opened it that same year, wanting me to be her employee because I shared the same interests as her."
He slightly laughs and I nudge his shoulder, telling him to stop but I just laugh along with him.
"My life hasn't changed much since, aside from the curly haired boy who seems to fight off everything and take severe over-protection in me."
"That I do, but I just want you safe."
I smile and kiss his cheek, his hand grabbing mine and bringing it to his chest.
"Do you work tomorrow?" he asks, kissing each of my fingers.
"Yes, and I have to go to the hardware store to figure out what paint I want in the living room."
"I can come with you," he perks. I smile up at him and he starts to blush, then bury his face in my hair.
"You can come, but only if you promise to set up more shelves with me."
"How many books can one girl have?" he whispers, sarcasm clear in his voice.
"A lot."
I pull the covers over our bodies and he kisses my cheek. He wraps an arm around my waist and I place my hands on his chest, resting my head upon them.
"When do you fight?" I whisper, closing my eyes.
"4 days."
"I still don't get why you have to."
"I am fighting because you need to be safe and will be. I need to get Keaton, Jake, and Zayn out of the picture."
I sigh and I feel him playing with the ends of my hair. His fingers brush my back, relaxing me farther.
"I just need you to trust me."
"And I do, I just don't know if I can trust that you won't get hurt. I don't wish to see you bloodied and bruised to an extent to which you get hospitalized."
"And I won't. Relax baby, I know what I'm doing."
He kisses my hairline and rests his head on top of mine. Harry's hand rests on my shoulders, his warm hands warming the bare skin, the tank top being the only thing on my torso, whereas shorts are on my legs.
"I want to make sure you will be there after, to make sure you know that I can take down any man in your way."
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