birds // hs

0.8

"The key is to get a really really bright flashlight and shine it into the water, right?" Liam grinned as we got to the end of the pier. It had yellow construction tape plastered all over it but Liam just kicked it aside and walked right through.

"Okay," I drawled slowly. "And the sharks are just there?"

"Yeah, well at least on most nights."

I leaned over the railing and flicked on the flashlight, but all I could see was dark water and a few fish.

"I don't think there are any," I frowned slightly.

He came up behind me and put his large hands on either side of me, his lips only inches from my ear as I tensed.

"You just have to be patient," he said slowly. "That's the key, the waiting."

I was suddenly feeling very uncomfortable but there was nothing I could do. I wanted to make friends, I needed to, and right now Liam was reaching out to me. It was exactly what I wanted, right?

"I should probably get home," I mumbled, staring down at the churning water. "I'm just really tired from today and-"

"Do you need someone to stay with you? I heard that your grandpa left town for a couple nights."

"No, no, I'll be fine," I shook my head quickly. "I don't mind staying alone."

"Alright, well let me know if you need anything. And you can walk yourself back, right?"

"Oh," I said, surprise apparent in my voice. "Uh, yeah."

"Cool."

He turned back around and I stood there for a second, not really sure on what I was supposed to do. I decided to walk down the beach a little ways to another pier, where I thought I might have more success in the shark department. Liam probably knew there weren't any sharks there and only took me so he could make a move. How annoying.

I wandered onto the pier and stood on my very tiptoes against the railing, a skill I learned in my ballet class back home. I didn't take dancing very seriously lately but I really loved it, it was my escape. So I stood there en pointe, waiting for a shark or even a jellyfish to show up. I would take anything right now, honestly.

"Excuse me, miss," a very deep voice shouted, startling me so I hit my heels on the wet wood of the pier. "I'm sorry, but you're not allowed to be here after sunset."

"Why not?" I yelled back. Of course I knew it was Harry but he couldn't tell it was me so I kept my back turned and my face towards the water.

"Because I said so? Please miss, just get off the pier. I'd like to go home before midnight."

"I'm pretty comfortable!"

"Miss-"

I spun around and smiled at him, watching as his face turned into a wide grin.

"Rachel, shit," he laughed as he sauntered over to me. "I thought I was going to have to call the fucking police or something."

"Please don't," I bit my lip as he stood in front of me, hands shoved into his pockets. He was shirtless, as always, and it really was not good for my health. How was I supposed to focus on anything besides his amazing abs and beautiful tattoos? It was quite unholy.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't," he chuckled. I shrugged and turned back to the water, my arms resting on the cool wood as sea water occasionally misted my face. It was a beautiful night, the air clean and crisp after all the rain and the stars shining brightly over the ocean.

"What are you doing out here anyway?"

"Liam asked me to hang out."

His mouth pulled into a slight frown. "What did you guys do?"

"He took me out to some pier and said we could see sharks-"

"Fucking idiot," Harry muttered under his breath. His huge hands tightened on the rail and he actually looked angry. I hadn't even thought that emotion was in anyone who lived in this town.

"Did I do something wrong?" I asked quietly. Harry's gaze turned to me and he shook his head, trying for a smile just to reassure me.

"He's just breaking all kinds of rules, as usual. Liam takes girls out there to see how far they'll go with him. Sometimes he gets a kiss, sometimes a lot more than that."

"And there's a rule against that?"

"We have a rule that we're not supposed to date coworkers. You can fuck around with whoever but as soon as romance gets involved, everything gets mixed up and no one can think straight."

I looked down at my bare feet. "Oh."

"You know he really shouldn't have been messing with you anyway."

I looked up at his face but he was staring out at the water, his expression smooth and placid.

"And why is that?"

"He's a grown up," Harry scoffed. "You're just a baby, he should know better."

"I am not a baby," I replied indignantly. "And I don't appreciate what you're trying to say."

"How old are you, Rachel?"

"Seventeen."

"He's twenty five," Harry scowled, shaking his head at me like some sort of child being scolded. "That's a fucking world away from seventeen. That's the real world, sweetheart."

"Don't call me that," I furrowed my eyebrows. "And why are you being so terrible? A few hours ago, we were eating together and talking and you didn't seem to mind that I was younger."

"Eating with someone is a little different than trying to fuck them, or are you too naïve to realize even that?"

I felt tears spring to my eyes but I quickly wiped them away and turned my back to him, my arms crossed over my chest as I walked briskly away from him.

"Wait," he called warily after me. "Rachel, stop."

Of course I didn't. I kept walking until I bumped into someone and looked up to be met with two very concerned-looking blue eyes.

"Rach," Niall grinned, holding me at arm's length. "What? What's wrong?"

"N-Nothing," I shook my head. "I just um-"

"Rachel, there you are," Harry sighed. Niall stepped in front of me and glared at Harry, his hands clenching into fists while I stared, wide-eyed. "Jesus, you're a fast walker."

"What did you do to her?"

"What- nothing!"

"She's crying, for god's sake," Niall hissed. "What the hell did you do to her, Harry?"

"Maybe you should be more concerned about what Liam did," Harry returned with an angry scowl. "He took her out to the pier, did you know that?"

Niall's shoulders slumped slightly and he let out a deep breath, his hands gradually loosening until they were open again.

"Did he try anything on her?"

"I don't know."

"You didn't ask? Retard."

Niall turned to face me. "Are you alright? He didn't try anything on you?"

"I'm fine," I mumbled, twisting my hands together. "I just want to go home."

"Take her home," Harry ordered flatly. "I'll take care of Liam."