Broken || h.s. AU (Special Edition)

Chapter 9 - "Pips"

*content warning: anger management*
If you come across a trigger that wasn't listed, let me know. Stay safe.
Chapter 9 - "Pips

Julia's P.O.V.

Every part of my mind is struggling to force myself to pull back from his chest, but no part of my body listens. I know very well that I should let go of him and put at least a foot's distance between us. I know very well that I should continue this point on without any bond besides friendship, but I can't ignore how right it feels in this moment that's very wrong.

"Diana?" Harry finally speaks up, making the decision for me as he pulls back from the embrace that was too long to be a hug, but too short to be anything else.

I have to take a moment to mentally check my voice won't come out compromising towards the extensiveness of his effect over me. But after taking a short and steadying breath, I feel relatively comfortable that I'll be fine.

"Yes, Harry?"

He casts a glance over his shoulder towards the window where the sun is starting its way towards the horizon. And once he turns back towards me, nothing in his face or tone show any kind of indication towards the personal moment we'd shared not thirty seconds ago.

"Can I go home now?" He asks finally.

Yet another silence stretches between us and I'm shocked when I feel a physical ache in my heart. He doesn't seem to be drunk on my touch as I was on his. He doesn't appear to be frantically scrambling to form a coherent thought in time to speak, with the kiss the only thing that seems right on his lips. He doesn't seem to be foggy-minded and dazzled from the closeness we'd shared. He seems completely unaffected when I was so sure he felt what I had. And I'm surprised by how much it hurts.

His face is calm as he waits for his answer, green eyes expectant.

"Oh," is all I can manage to choke out, and I clearly do a very poor job of sounding casual. His eyebrow raises as I look down, playing with my hands in my lap so I don't have to meet his eyes.

His voice is curious, slightly amused at my simple statement and suddenly odd tone. "Oh?"

I sigh and shake my head, mumbling almost silently. "Nothing... It... It's stupid..."

He frowns a little, lowering his head to meet my eyes. "What's stupid? Why did you say 'oh'?"

I can't make myself look up into his too alert eyes, shaking my head as I force the best smile I can. "Don't worry about it, just forget it, Harry..."

His brows furrow even deeper, frustration in his voice "No, Diana, you can tell me what's bothering you, I want to know."

"Can we just drop it? I don't want to talk about it." I say tiredly, running my hands over my face.

"C'mon, what's the big deal? Just tell me." He pries, his brows knitting together deeply.

"I said I don't want to talk about it." I snap, and both of us are surprised at the sudden ice in my voice.

So immediately, he argues.

"I don't see why it matters so much! You're just keeping it from me to get on my nerves!"

I roll my eyes, sarcasm heavily tainting my voice and effectively covering up the pain that surely would've dominated my tone. "You've figured it out. I have been specifically put on this planet with the soul intention of irritating you. My mission's been exposed. Time to return to the mother ship."

He scoffs, standing up and picking up his thin white t-shirt and pulling it on before following suit with his beanie on the side table. He shakes his head in disbelief, body tense in anger as he paces to the other side of the room, yelling over his shoulder sarcastically.