A Step Away From Falling ➸ h.s. [Needs Editing]

Chapter 22: "The sky is crying"

Harry's POV

How could I look Helen in the face and lie?

How could I break her heart this way?

She didn't know I was just trying to keep her and Zainab safe.

I was going to do the unthinkable just because her well being meant more to me than my own happiness!

There was a moment of silence in the room. It was so quiet you could've heard a needle drop. 

"What's going on?" the tall guy that Georgia had called Tom, asked. 

"I don't know, what is going on Harry?" Georgia urged, letting me know it was time for my performance. My heart was on my throat. I felt nauseous but I had to do this. I buried my trembling hands deep inside my pockets and started. 

"It's time to released them" I announced, forcing myself to sound bored.

"And you are?" Tom asked.

"Georgia's boyfriend" I stated in what I hoped was an annoyed tone.

I felt burning gazes on me, one surely was Helen's but I didn't dare look at her.

"What are you talking about?" Zainab spoke up first.

I hesitated, but only for a moment before turning to face her. The girl that helped my ex kidnap the love of my life. I should hate her, but instead I felt nothing for her. At all.

"It was all a joke Zai. Georgia and I planned this prank, we thought it would be funny to see how you and Helen would react" I almost choked on her name but I went on.

"What?" she asked, confused.

"It was all a prank on you guys" I said, forcing myself to laugh. It sounded all wrong but I didn't stop there.

"I just told Louis because he was freaking out about you guys being in danger, right mate?" 

Louis looked at me for a moment and then smiled.

"Yeah, this little bastard fooled even me! I was scared shit-less the whole time while he and Georgia were just making us look like idiots. I gotta say lad, you're good at this stuff!" Louis had always been better at acting than me. My little drama queen...

"So yeah... you should release them" I said again.

The man looked at Georgia, who nodded. He untied Helen, and let Zainab go as well. 

Louis enveloped Zainab in an embrace and she hid her face in his chest. My arms yearned to hold Helen. But I could feel her eyes on me, I knew how she must be feeling.

"So it was all a joke?" I heard her frail voice and I felt my heart shatter for her. 

"Yeah" I finally looked at her. Big mistake. 

She had tears in her eyes and her bottom lip was trembling with what I knew was her attempt at trying to stop the tears from falling. 

"Everything?" she pushed. 

She meant THAT special night. The night that I loved her, with everything that I had. The night that I made her mine and finally found true happiness. Our night.

My heart ached at my next words.

"Yes, everything. I'm sorry I led you on babe, but I had to make you believe that I had nothing to do with it or the prank wouldn't have worked".

"You're lying" she accused, her voice breaking at the last syllable. My hands in my pockets turned into fists.

"I'm not. C'mon Helen, we've been best friends for over a decade. I thought it would be fun to spice things up a little bit... you don't mind do you?" I asked, in a mock and fake innocent tone.