One Plus One

Chapter Thirty-Nine

I stared at Lily blankly. Harry reached out for me but I pulled away before he could touch me.

"Jamie survived?"

The only response I got was a small nod from Lily. I could feel the frustration and anger building inside of me. It rose higher and higher until it spilled over my cheeks.

"He lived, whilst my sister, my only family, had her life taken away from her?! This whole thing is his fault!" I screamed.

Harry reached for me a second time.

"Don't touch me!"

"Marlie, calm down." Harry spoke gently.

"Calm down?! Calm down?! He killed my sister!"

Through my clouded eyes I could see Lily backing out. She was walking slowly backwards towards the door, trying to get as far away as possible from the erupting scene in front of her. I spun on my heels and stormed into the living room, hearing the front door slam shut. I paced the living room, tears dripping off my cheeks and to the floor.

"Marlie..." came Harry's voice from the doorway.

"Take me home."

"Marlie, just listen-"

"Take me home." I repeated, harsher this time. "If he is looking for me, let him fucking find me."

"You don't know what he could do to you."

"Let him do it. How much more can he hurt me, Harry? Thanks to him, my sister is dead."

Harry stood silent, staring at me with glittering green emeralds, except this time they were glittering for a different reason. As much as my vision was blurred from my own torrent of tears, I could still see them forming in the corners of his eyes.

"I'm not scared of him, Harry. He's put me and my sister through enough shit in the past. I can stand up to him."

My words didn't seem to be getting through. He shook his head and turned away, inhaling deeply.

"Do you think this is what Jaz would want?"

"Don't. Don't you dare play that card." I warned.

Harry turned before he continued to speak.

"Is it? Would she want you to put yourself in danger for her sake?"

"Stop."

"Don't you think she'd rather see you safe?"

"Stop!" I sobbed. "Please, stop."

I fell to my knees crying, holding my head in my hands. I felt a warmth enclose on me. Two strong arms pulled me into safety. I fell heavily into Harry's body, the sound of his thumping heartbeat comforting me.

"I don't want him to hurt you anymore than he has already. Let me protect you."

"I'm sorry, Harry. I can't. I need to face up to this."

I heard him sniffle. One of his hands left its resting place on my back for a second before being replaced there again. I raised my head from his chest and looked up into his eyes. A few of his tears had escaped.

"Then let me come with you." Harry whispered.

"No. I care about you too much."

I crashed my lips against his. He held me closely in a protective embrace, knowing that it was all the protection I was going to let him provide me with.

*****

"You will call me to let me know you're ok, won't you?" Harry asked worriedly as I hopped out of the car.

"Yes, Harry. I promise."

I was given a small nod. I slammed the passenger door shut and ran up the steps to my house. I heard Harry's car pull away as I dug in my bag for my keys. I turned them in the door and slowly slid it open. The atmosphere in the house was different. There was an eerie tension.

I dumped my bag at the bottom of the stairs and threw my keys onto the side. I couldn't help but feel something was wrong. Something was drawing me up the stairs, a niggling feeling at the back of my mind telling me I needed to go up there. I stood at the bottom, peering up at them, the feeling only intensifying. I decided to follow my instincts. I ascended the stairs slowly, taking time to look around with each step closer to the top. When I eventually did, I remained on the landing, inspecting the door handles from a distance. Although nothing struck me immediately as different, Jaz's room was calling out to me.

I took a deep breath before walking any further. When I reached my hand out it trembled violently, the fear of what could possibly happen suddenly sinking in. If I was about to face anyone, I was unarmed and scared. My fingers gripped the cold metal of the door handle. I pushed heavily but there was no movement. To be sure, I wiggled the handle several times but it still wouldn't budge. It was still locked.

A feeling of relief washed over me, a heavy breath being released. I backed away from Jaz's room and walked towards the bathroom, ready to swill my face with cold water. I was frozen to the spot upon hearing the click of a lock. My breath began to tremble as I heard the handle push down. The sound of the door sliding along the carpet as it opened was excruciatingly painful. I knew who it was. It could only be one person.

"Hi, Marlie. I've been looking for you."

Jamie.