Desolate - h.s. ✓

° fifty-seven °

     When I woke up, it was closer to ten, Harry still fast asleep beside me. I watched as he rested, his breathing steady. Harry didn't usually lay on his back, but he was now, one of his hands resting on his stomach while the other stayed by his side. Smiling, I traced my fingers over his skin gently, my boyfriend not stirring as I looked over him. After a little while, I got out of bed, fixing my hair in a mirror before heading downstairs. I was surprised to see Anne, my face flushed when she glanced up from making something in a skillet.

"Good morning, Nicole."

"Good morning. I hope you don't mind that I spent the night last night, but Ethan found out about Harry and I and —"

"Nicole, you're always welcomed in this home. Is everything okay with Ethan?"

I shrugged. "He hurt me. Not super bad, but I was pushed onto the ground and then against a building, and then Harry started hitting him a bunch."

"Ethan doesn't seem like the type to hurt someone, especially his sister."

When our eyes met, I quickly looked away. She was quiet as I went to get a drink, pouring myself some lemonade. As I started drinking it, Anne began talking again, my body stilling some.

"He used to hurt you, didn't he?"

"I... he, um —"

"Nicole, I'm sure Harry's told you, but I can understand. It wasn't until Harry's father hurt him on his fifth birthday that I had finally had enough. It's just so hard to accept someone you love so much is hurting you, and I'm sorry that was your brother. "It's fine. It wasn't that bad yesterday. He's a good person, I swear."

"I'm sure Ethan is. However, if you ever feel unsafe, you're more than welcome to come and stay here even if Harry isn't home, okay?"

I hugged Anne, her arms wrapping around me tightly. Thanking her for being so kind, she nodded, pulling back and smiling at me. She then asked if I liked bacon, and I nodded, about to head upstairs to check on Harry when he walked into the kitchen. After I drank from my glass, he took it, drinking after me.

"That's mine, you know."

"What's yours is mine."

Rolling my eyes, I smiled when he wrapped his arms around me. He wasn't wearing a shirt, Anne telling Harry to let go of me. I didn't understand what was wrong, but then seemed to realize when she traced over his shoulders, her brow pulling in.

"What is this?"

"Uh, shit, I ... I was going to tell you."

"You got my initial?"

"And Gemma's and Nicole's."

She seemed surprised, staring at the tattoos. Anne hugged Harry then, shaking her head and patting his cheek. I was pretty sure she was happy with him, but I also couldn't tell if she was maybe a tad bit angry. When she pulled back, she stared at him for a minute, grinning before brushing her fingers through his hair "You're too much."

"Eh. Also, Nicole wants to have dinner with Gemma and her family, so can we arrange that at some point?"

"Oh, sure!" she nodded. "I'll talk to her later. Is there a specific time frame?"

I shook my head. "Whenever. I just feel like I haven't seen them in a while."

"Alright, sure!"

Harry smiled at me, the boy letting go when I said I had to use the bathroom. He followed me up the stairs, my boyfriend heading to his bedroom. I shut the door behind me, hurrying to use the toilet but groaning when I realized that it was suddenly my time of the month.