Life in the middle-Harry Styles Fanfic AU COMPLETED

Chapter 30

HARRY'S POV

"Let's go, hey? We can talk to Pete if we get there early" she looks away as the words leave my mouth. Fuck Harry, real smooth. I mentally tell myself I'm a complete idiot.
I grab her hand and she lets me and we lock the front door and leave, getting in to the car in the underground garage, she looks around as we get to the car and I ask her what the matter is? She just looks lost for words and climbs into the car, I follow suit.

She drives to the group meeting in silence.
As we enter the building I stop her and embrace her, her head resting on my chest, I can feel he heart beating faster and he breathing becoming shallow. I'm worried about how much this has affected her.
"Let's do this together" I tell her but she hesitates, telling me she'll be more comfortable speaking to Pete alone. I can't push her anymore, so I leave her and go make myself a cup of tea and wait for the others. It hasn't occurred to me that Michael would be joining us as well. Fuck, I'll kick his ass if he threatens her again.
Misty walks in covered from head to toe in Orange, I smile at her and she returns the favour telling me all about her day. I smile and talk to her and the conversation is mainly about her but that's ok for now. She gives me a few gestures as if to say "I'm free when you are?" And I have to tell her I'm not here for long and I'm otherwise spoken for but that doesn't seem to worry her.

I feel relived when a few others come in including Quin, who I think is a great man, here for himself and his family. We start chatting for a while and before I know what time it is, Pete and Echo walk in the room from one door and Michael walks through the other.
I see her pause and see her face pale. Pete, rubs her back and whispers something in her ear. She nods and walks towards me but then shocks me by sitting away from me, leaving the only empty chair to Michael.

I don't recall the theme of the meeting, just that I'm shocked and feel like kicking him in the head for the amount of times he's looked her way. Even though she hasn't looked at him, she hasn't looked at me neither and I can help but feel the déjà vu.

We go around the room to share a thought, Misty and a couple of others share but Quin, Echo and myself decline, leaving Michael. He starts telling everyone how well he is doing, never felt better, that he's working and has even found a new girlfriend.
I'm utterly shocked and I can tell by the look on Pete and Echo's faces they are too.
Pete asks the rest of us to congratulate Michael on his achievements and I look at him and raise my brows as if to say 'really?', he gives me a fake smile and turns to look at Echo waiting for her encouragement, she just gives him a weak smile, which leaves the asshole gloating.

I can't deal with this shit, so get up just as Pete finishes the meeting, I head straight for Echo and I ignore her look pleading for me not to approach her.
"Are you ok? What happening? Why didn't you sit with me?" I know I'm asking her too many questions but I'm hurt and I need answers. She looks up at me, eyes wide and answers me quietly,
"Pete said he'd take care of it" she sighs and continues "he can't ask him to leave and he is apparently taking his medication so there isn't much Pete could do. He did say that I'm better of separating myself from you as to not inflame the situation" she finishes and I notice her looking around while answering me.

"The situation? I exclaim, "We are a situation? Is that what he thinks?" I spit.
"No Harry, it's just not that easy to say I'm right and his wrong, Pete needs to stay mutual and support everyone"

I can tell she doesn't want to be talking to me when I follow her stare over to where Michael is talking to Pete. Michael has his chest puffed out like a wanker and is having a laugh and watching Echo. Can't Pete see this? Can't he understand, she's scared for herself and for me too?
I feel deflated by all of this. I have to remind myself, I came here for Gemma, to help her get on her feet and now I find myself attracted to Echo who has her owe issues.
I like her, I mean really like her and that's why I'm hurt by her statement.

She looks up at me, trying to make eye contact with me but my mind is on wanting to challenge Michael about his behaviour, not that it would help Echo's anxiety but he needs to be told straight up "Back off".
I finally look at Echo and she seems smaller then normal, like she's trying to disappear completely.
"I should speak to him" I say and her face turns white.
"No, no you can't do that, it will make things worse, you just can't" she answers so quickly if I wasn't paying attention I would have missed it.
I look at her face and turn and walk towards Pete and Michael.

As I approach I see Michael
smirk at me and I just want to punch that look off his face.
"Hi Harry, how can I help you, I was just finished with Michael" he answers with a smile.
"Lucky I caught you in time then, I know Echo has brought some issues up with you and you stated you would take care of the," I put my fingers up to quote "the situation, but I'm not happy with that answer Pete" as I'm talking I can see the look in Michael's face turning from a smile to a snarl.

"Michael here has apologised for what he said to Echo and is not here to make any trouble, and I'm assuming you aren't either?" He questions.

"No I'm not but Echo needs to feel safe here and I'm just making sure that it happens" I'm not going to intimidated by anyone and I'll protect her just as much as I will Gemma.

Pete looks at both Michael and I and states "It is important for me to make sure everyone is supported and made to feel safe equally, Michael here told me you spoke to him aggressively after yesterday's meeting and that won't be tolerated".
What the fuck? How the fuck did he come up with that? I look at Michael who does a good job at looking intimidated and I just want to kick the fuck out of him.
I don't need this shit, I was here because of Gemma and I don't really need to be here anymore, but then I think of Echo. She isn't going to get kept safe if Michael is fabricating stories. I need to be here for her.

I tell Pete that isn't the case, that I didn't even talk to him as I was chatting to Quin. But I also add that I'm here for the right reasons and won't allow Echo to feel scared.
With that I walk off as I'm fuming, and feel like I'm going to blow, so I look for Echo but can't find her, I walk outside looking for her car and it's gone. Mentally I blow up shaking my head in disbelief.