Devils Star | h.s

Chapter 29

"He did this to me," Justin said and pointed in Harry's direction.

As soon as I turned around, my eyes fixed on his--Harry's. My heart dropped to my stomach. Is this true? Did he really do this?

"Why?" I ask powerlessly. When he didn't answer the first time, I repeated the question with a hint of anger.

"Just felt like it." he shrugged so casually as though I were asking about one of his instruments.

I was staggered. What could I say to a response such as his? How could he just beat Jackson up for the sake of his pleasure? I was saddened at the thought...I thought we were-

"You're sick!" my face scrunched in an act of disgust towards his violence. I had nothing else to say apart from walking out of his apartment.

Jackson soon followed behind me as we made our way out of the luxurious apartment building and onto the night streets of New York. I continued to apologise to Jackson. I was embarrassed.

"He's not usually like that, I don't know why he would-" I continued to apologise to Jackson. Embarrassed of not only Harry's actions but my own stupidity. I felt the need to excuse Harry's behaviour and I wasn't sure why.

Jackson shrugged, assuring me it was 'okay'. "I just wanted to see you." he continued.

"Jax, what happened? Why did you fight?"

"We didn't." he scoffs, "We met at a bar, and as soon as he saw me, he just.. pounced. Punching me with no reason. I tried to calm him down, but that seemed to only anger him more."

My eyes disappear from Jackson's face, looking down at the concrete below me in shame.

"Is he not usually like.. that?"

Images of Harry beaten, bruised and bloody altered my train of thought. The vivid memories of Harry coming back to the apartment in a somewhat state.

A part of me knew Harry has a habit of getting into fights. At least that's what I concluded each time he came home, all bruised. There were times I tried talking to him about it, but he had always shut me out, changing to topic of simply leaving.

The day he had threatened Liam scared me, but I never thought it was this bad. That he would just beat up Jax and not say a word about it. I even helped clean the wounds.

"You never really know someone, A."

"I guess." I was disappointed. I thought we were finally putting aside our differences and become friends.

"You don't need to stay with him much longer. My dad's assistant found us a few good options, we can discuss next time I see you."

"Sure." I agreed defeatedly.

Jackson seemed pleased with my answer. Stepping closer he leaned down and placed a simple kiss to my cheek. "I thought you should see what kind of person he really is." he mumbled into my hair, holding me loosely.

I pursed my lips when he stepped away, trying my best to persuade him with a smile, "I'm just tired."

"I understand. Dinner, tomorrow?"

"Yeah, sure."

After Jackson and I departed from one another, I made my way back to the apartment. Harry hadn't been in the living when I came back. I wasn't sure whether that made me feel relieved or disappointed.

I thought Harry and I were at this point where we actually talked to one another-- or at least came close to. But every time we got closer, something happened, and I felt like I didn't even know this person.