The cheers of the crowd beamed through my ears along with the noise of Harry's name being yelled out repeatedly. However even though the sounds were too loud for my liking, it wasn't the sounds that were bothering me it was what we were watching and what everyone was cheering for. I didn't know why I was ever stupid enough to agree to go with Maya in the first place. You thought it'd be fun. A voice inside my head reminded me, but that didn't make me feel the slightest bit better. Instead I made a note in my head to stop thinking getting out and being social was ever a good idea.
Harry's opponent punched at him once again hitting his jaw, and I instantly looked away not wanting to watch. It must have been painful, and I couldn't help but think that this was the stupidest sport ever if you could even call it that. All it did was hurt you, and I didn't understand why anyone would want to put themselves through that. I looked back towards the ring and noticed Harry wasn't taking any punches at his opponent the only thing he did occasionally was block his opponents hands.
From the noise of the crowd cheering for him, I'd expect him to be good. Better than that actually, because I heard no one yell the other boy's name and that made me think Harry was doing it on purpose. Was he trying to lose? The others didn't seem to take notice of this, but there was something that wasn't right. And when the other boy threw a punch right in Harry's face and Harry did nothing to stop him or to fight back even when he threw another one, I knew he wanted it coming. He wanted the pain and that only grew to my confusion. Just as the other boy was about to throw his final punch Harry fought back without hesitation and knocked him to the floor and the noise of the crowd grew louder. He had won, and I seemed to be the only one who wasn't happy about it. I knew nothing about boxing, but I could tell that he for whatever reason wanted to be punched, he didn't defend himself like I'm sure would be normal in that situation and I was totally confused as everyone circled around the ring to congratulate him. Maybe he did want to win all along but was just putting on a bit of a fight instead of knocking him down to begin with. I didn't know what his exact reasons were or what his explanation would be, but I knew he wanted those punches coming, and I couldn't figure out on why.
"He won! He won!" Maya cheered next to me with a smile, and I smiled back trying to hide what was really going on inside my head.
"I need to go to the restroom," I explained as we both walked down the bleachers. I noticed Harry disappearing with his father through a door in the back. I headed to the back as well as I noticed the restroom sign and opened the door to a long hallway. The hallway seemed empty, and the only noises were from faint voices I couldn't hear what were saying. I wondered if I was in the right place, but decided just to follow the hallway and see where it led. However, I was taking completely by surprise as I passed the corner. Harry's father had him pinned against the wall, and I quickly hide hoping they hadn't seen me. Normally, I wouldn't eavesdrop but I couldn't help it.
"What the hell was that crap you were pulling out there!" A voice I knew very well wasn't Harry's yelled.
"Nothing! I won didn't I!" Harry complained.
"Don't pull that shit with me. If I didn't know better I'd say you were trying to lose!"
"Let it go, dad. I won. Now stop bugging me about it!"
None of them spoke right after that, and I heard something hard collide with the wall and Harry let out a growl. "What the hell, dad!" Harry complained, and I wasn't sure I wanted to know what his father had just done to him.
"If this is because of that girl that was at the house the other day, I'd say you start getting your priorities straight! She will only keep you unfocused from the game, and you are so out of her league, son! You can do so much better than her!"
"This isn't about, Trinity! And yes she has a name, dad. Don't try to make yourself so much better than everyone else when we both know you married mum for her money!" Harry exclaimed, and I was totally surprised that they were talking about me. Did Harry just defend me? I heard what sounded like bone colliding with bone and Harry let out a grunt. It made me feel uneasy and goose bumps arose on my skin. "Stop talking to me like that, you prick! You know, I really wish the roles had been reversed. Your mother and I would have been much better off like that. You can't even figure out to keep your head in the game anymore!"
I couldn't hear if Harry was affected by his words but what he said next surprised me. "You don't think I wish that as well! I feel so guilty all the time. If I could change things, I would!"
"Yet, here we are left with your sorry ass. Get yourself together and take a shower! You stink!" His dad yelled and with those words I heard loud footsteps walking away, heading in the opposite direction of me. I wasn't sure if I should go talk to Harry and confront him with what I'd just heard or if I should just leave pretending I didn't know anything. However, before I could think anything through, I heard footsteps coming towards me, and my heartbeat increase.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Harry asked in an attempt of sounding mad, but he failed and the redness in his eyes gave him away. His face was red and swollen, and I wouldn't be surprised if he'd have multiple bruises tomorrow.
"N- nothing," I stammered unsure of what to say. "I was looking for the restroom. You okay?"
"Do I fucking look okay," he snapped, and I regretted my words.
"Sorry. Congratulations by the way," I said trying to ease the tension.
"Whatever. It's just a stupid game!"
"If it's stupid then why do you do it?" I heard myself asking and hated myself for it afraid I was pushing all the wrong buttons.
"Because, I used to love it, but now it's so much more than just a game! It's become the only thing I have in common with him, and the only thing I know I'm good for!" He spoke referring to his dad, and he regretted it as soon as he did. He looked down and fiddled with his hands and part of me really wanted to hug him and tell him that that wasn't true.
"I don't believe that!" I spoke quietly, and he looked back up.
He huffed, "you don't know anything!" He said, but he didn't sound mad just frustrated.
"What if I wanted to? You know, the things I just heard tells me you could really use someone to rely on right now."
"You were eavesdropping! I don't need anyone! You don't know me, and you don't know what I need!" He defended himself.
"Everyone needs someone," I said though I seriously wanted to fight back the truth of my own words. I knew very well I needed someone as well, and I couldn't fight the thought of that someone being Harry.
He shook his head. "I'm done with this. Just- you can't tell anyone about what you heard, okay!" He exclaimed suddenly sounding angrier than before, and I wondered if it was me or his dad who had triggered that anger.
"And why's that?" I asked knowing I was probably pushing it too far, but I needed to get some answers out of him.
"Because I say so!" He yelled at me.
"Wow, you really think you can just control me like that?" I asked unaware of where my confidence came from, but for some reason no matter how loud he yelled or the words he used he wasn't scaring me. I knew that there was more to him than what met the eye, and I was desperate to know what. Now more than ever.
"Please!" He said his tone suddenly different and that took me completely aback.
"Wow is Harry Styles begging?" I asked surprised, and he punched his fist at the wall making my body flinch at the sound. When he did it a second time, I felt shivers run down my spine and I hated myself for saying what I just had. Another punch was aimed for the wall, and I felt tears form in my eyes and felt my heart break by the sound. "Stop it!" I begged and noticed he was about to take another punch when I grabbed his arm. "Stop hurting yourself!" I commanded and looked into his tearful eyes with my own.
"Why?" He asked confused by my words.
"Because, it's hurting me!" I told him honestly and saw tears fall from his eyes. It broke me even further. Seeing him like this was heartbreaking and any urge about having to pee had disappeared, all I could think of was how I could make him feel better.
"You shouldn't care about me," he spoke.
"What if I do?" I asked surprised by my own words. I shouldn't care about him. He was only going to hurt me even further than he already had, and I wasn't sure I'd be able to take that.
"Then I'd say you are stupid!" He told me, and I felt like I had just been punched in the stomach. I felt tears fall from my eyes, and I just wanted to disappear.
"Fine! I'll leave you alone in your own misery not caring about whether you hurt yourself further or not. Or if anyone else does for that matter," I yelled gathering the last bit of strength I had left in me. I walked pass him but was surprised when I felt his hand around my wrist. I wanted to remove his hand and yell at him to leave me alone, but honestly I couldn't deny the fact that his touch felt surprisingly good, and I felt tingles run through my veins.
"I didn't mean it like that," he spoke softly. "It's just- I don't know what we are, but I know how messed up I am, and I don't want you to become part of it."
I turned around and my eyes met his. "Fine!" I said somewhat hurt. "Your secret it safe with me!" I told him honestly and pulled away from him to walk back from where I had come. I wiped away my tears and searched for Maya only to realize the place was almost empty. How long had I been gone?
I found my phone and noticed she had texted me telling me that she left and once again I was left alone with my thoughts. I then knew there was even more to Harry than I ever expected. His dad seemed to be beating him which only broke my already breaking hard even further. Just the thought of Harry being beaten by a parent tore me apart. Yet I couldn't help but wonder what he and his dad had been talking about. Why was he feeling so guilty and what did his dad mean about things being reversed? Maybe it was a good thing Maya had left, it gave me time to think, and I knew one thing for sure: no matter how hard he tried to push me away, there was way I could stay away from Harry after what I had witnessed tonight.