One Plus One

Chapter Twenty-Seven

"Go into the living room." I mouthed to Harry.

He was quick to comply, gently shutting the door behind him.

"Come on, Jaz, I'll take your stuff upstairs."

I helped her to lug her suitcases up the stairs, rolling them into her room and I left her to her own devices. I hastily ran back downstairs and flung open the living room door only to hear a loud bang and an exclamation of pain.

"Oh my god, Harry, I'm so sorry. What the fuck were you doing behind the door?!"

"I was just waiting to see when the coast was clear so I could go."

"You were going to go?" I asked, a little hurt.

"I can't stay, Marlie. What are you going to say to her?"

"Harry, that mark on your head is gonna bruise, let me put something on it."

"No it's fine, Marlie. Stop dodging the question. What are you gonna say to her?"

"I don't know, I haven't figured it out yet."

"You'll have to tell her."

"Yes, I know. Now come on."

I took hold of his wrist and dragged him into the kitchen. Harry leant against the work top whilst I searched in the freezer for something to put onto the no doubt bump on his head. I found a bag of frozen peas and wrapped them in a tea towel before raising them to where I'd hit him with the door. I moved one of his stray curls and pressed lightly. He flinched at the icy cold on his warm skin, backing away from the peas.

"Oh stop being such a girl." I teased, mimicking the way he'd said it to me on our first date.

"Oh is that how you're playing it?"

I bit my lip to stifle my growing smile.

"Hold this."

Harry's hand snaked around to my bum and he rested them there, pulling me close to him.

"I meant the peas."

"I'd rather hold this." he replied giving my bum a little squeeze.

"What the fuck is going on?!" came a third voice, angrier than both of ours.

Both our gazes quickly diverted to the angry female in the doorway. Jasmine was stood with her arms folded across her chest, sitting into one of her hips, staring at us expectantly. I felt Harry's hands drop away from their resting place and I removed myself from him. I placed the peas onto the work top before looking back to Harry who looked like I felt. Harry's eyes were wide with worry.

"Well?!"

"Jaz, just calm down."

"No, he needs to leave."

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Harry begin to move.

"Harry, you don't have to go."

"Yes he does. He's not welcome here."

"Says who? This isn't just your house, Jaz."

"Well for as long as I'm here, I don't want him here, do you know what he did to me?"

"Nothing. He did nothing but help you."

Jaz stared at me. She could see the tears forming in my eyes and I knew Harry could tell I was about to cry. He was fidgeting next to me, unsure as to what to do. Jasmine was breathing heavily, anger and anxiousness evident. She knew I knew the truth about what happened and that scared her.

"I am here, you know." Harry spoke.

"How could I forget?" Jaz spat. "Stay away from my sister. She doesn't need someone like you in her life."

"Someone like me? You've got it all wrong. I won't be staying away. Your sister is my girlfriend."

Jaz's mouthed dropped open, as if she was going to talk but no words came out. Her eyes flickered between Harry and I, probably waiting for me to confirm or deny.

"Is this some sort of fucking joke?!"

I'd had all the scolding I could take from her without crying. I pushed past Jasmine and fled upstairs to my room, throwing clothes into a bag. I hear a second pair of footsteps running up the stairs and took to packing quicker.

"Go away, Jaz."

The footsteps continued and I heard them padding across my carpet closer to where I was standing. Tears had begun to trickle down my cheeks as I tugged the zip across my bag.

"Leave me alone, Jaz. I don't want to know."

Two hands grabbed my upper arms, stopping them from moving. I recognised the warm touch. My head fell back into Harry's chest as I began to cry quietly. Harry spun me round in his hold, wrapping his arms around me tightly.

"Shh, angel. It's alright."

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry." I whispered repeatedly into his t-shirt.

I managed to regain my composure and pulled away from Harry. He was reluctant to let me go at first but when I broke him a small smile he released me.

"Harry, can I stay in yours tonight? Just while things cool down."

"Of course. Stay as long as you want."

"I'm really sorry."

"Stop apologising. You've got nothing to be sorry for."

"But the way she just spoke to you-"

"Whether I was with you or not she would have spoken to me like that. Stop crying now, gorgeous. Nothing she says matters."

"But-"

"Marlie, Marlie look at me."

Harry's hand cupped my chin forcing my gaze to meet his. His emeralds twinkled at me, a warm feeling rushing through my body. With his other hand, he wiped away the last remnants of my tears.

"You're my girl, nothing she says is going to change that."

I nodded as his words floated around in my head. I'd usually object to a claim of possession over me, but coming from Harry, it felt comforting, it told me he cared about me. I stood on my tip toes to press our lips together. Harry didn't object to the action, lovingly returning the kiss. A second kiss was then placed to my cheek before he trailed down, nipping at the skin on my neck. His warm hand began to feed under my shirt letting me know where this embrace was heading.

"Not here, Harry. Take me back to yours."