vanished

CHAPTER FOUR

I was back at that place again, in that room where I’d found her lying In a pool of her own vomit. Her skin already blue, body cold and stiff. A syringe lay on the ground close to her and even my twelve year old mind knew what she’d done. What she had been doing.

I stepped closer, peering at her face, shaking her and wishing she would open her eyes. “Mom!” I was screaming, I kept on screaming when Rich pried me away from her. Kept on screaming when the ambulance came and her body was taken away. I still screamed when I woke up in the dark, panting and sweating. Rolling over on the bed -my bed I realized by the feel and smell of it- I saw a huge figure reclining on the chair beside the window.

Sitting up, I called out to the figure gently. My voice was hoarse. The figure still slept, I called out a little bit louder this time and the figure jumped awake.

“Kat?” it was Harry. In my room. At night.

In three strides he was at my bedside, hand on my forehead checking my temperature. “are you okay?”

I nodded. He took my hand and placed a glass of water. I downed it all one gulp, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

Harry settled back In his chair. We were silent for a while, only the sound of chirping crickets and the rustling of leaves breaking the silence.

“where’s Jeremy?” I asked.

“He left, immediately after we brought you here.”

“what time is it?”

“Should be a little past 1am.” Midnight, it was past midnight.

I swallowed, “and Casey?”

He said nothing. Then, “You were hyperventilating, back at Maggie’s.” he said.

“Panic attack.”

“Get those a lot?” he asked. I shook my head.

There was a dull throbbing in my head and I settled back into the bed. Rolling on my side, I shifted to one side of my bed. “you can’t sleep on that chair.”

“Its fine, I can man-.” I cut him off.

“Will you shut up, get into bed and don’t make this anymore embarrassing for me.” Then added, “please.”

He got up, shifted the covers and laid down. The mattress dipped when he climbed in, unused to the extra weight. He laid on his back and held his breath as I faced him. I studied every crook and contour of his face, the strong jaw and pointed nose. I had to admit, he was handsome.

The worst part was that it didn’t feel weird or awkward, not even when he turned to face me. When he brushed a strand of hair from my face and cupped my cheek or even when he kissed my forehead. It felt like home.

And I was scared because this was Harry 'potter’ Wilkins, asshole to the core. Scared because at that moment, my heart wasn’t so broken anymore

.

Early morning we were headed to Casey’s house. Mrs M had called to tell us that the police were at the house, starting their investigation. Harry had vacated the room as quickly as possible to give me privacy. I’d wondered how Rich would react seeing a guy coming out of my room in the morning or he probably wasn’t even conscious to notice.

My room looked like it had been arranged, dirty clothes in the hamper, trash gone and it had looked a bit brighter when the curtains had been drawn. Harry’s touch of course.

After making sure I looked presentable, I headed down to the living room to see Harry sitting on the couch, a nervous smile on his face. Rich was passed out on the couch, oblivious to the stranger who watched him.