One Plus One

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Harry's warm breath fanned over my head as he breathed deeply. Every time I wiggled, his arms subconsciously tightened around me. His hand occasionally stroked up and down my back as we lay there. I knew he wasn't asleep. I could tell. A part of me believed that he wanted me to think he was to prevent questions surrounding the events of the past couple of days. Those weren't the events that I was interested in. I wanted to know what happened before he knew me.

"Harry?" I questioned quietly.

"Hmm?"

"When you said your family couldn't see you hurt again, what did you mean?"

HARRY'S POV

I tightened my hold on Marlie as she finished her question. I should have expected her to ask but for some reason I didn't think she'd want to know. I loosened my arms around her to allow her to move herself up my body so she was parallel to me. Her silver gaze was wide with innocence, their sparkle made my heart pound. They fluttered closed as I brushed the back of my hand over the soft skin of her cheek. Marlie's small hand clutched mine as her eyes opened again.

"You don't want to know."

"I do. Please, Harry. Let me in, you can trust me." she pleaded.

Marlie entwined our fingers as I searched her gaze. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, figuring out the sentences in my head.

"I should have seen it coming."

FLASHBACK

Brody had dragged me out on a run with him around the park. A night out beforehand had left me with hangover, the last thing I wanted was to be running around. I would have much rather lay on the couch in my sisters feeling sorry for myself. He jogged off ahead whilst I caught my breath against a tree. As I looked over the lake, I spotted someone I hadn't seen in a very long time.

"Charlie!" I shouted.

His head spun in several directions looking for who the voice belonged to. When he turned in my direction, I waved. He stood confused for a second before finally recognising me. I jogged over and was pulled into a manly hug.

"Jesus, Haz. It's been a while."

"Yeah, and you still haven't changed."

In the time it took for Brody to complete his lap of the park and join us, Charlie and I had well and truly caught up with each other. Brody was pulled into a similar hug as I had previously had. As far as we knew, Charlie was away in the army, but things seemed to have changed drastically.

"I'm having a party tonight, fancy coming?" he asked.

"Yeah, we'll be there."

*****

The house was bursting with people. I could hardly move without sending someone's drink flying out of their hand and onto the floor. I squeezed past several sweaty bodies to find the toilet, causing a lot of annoyance. I knocked on the toilet door when I eventually found it. When no one answered I swung the door open, only to be faced with Brody sprawled out on the floor and covered in blood. Charlie was hovering over the sink, washing blood from something in his hands.

"What the fuck is going on?"

"Chill out. Everything's fine." Charlie replied gruffly.

"Yeah, looks it."

I glanced into the sink and saw what had caused Brody to be in the state he was in.

"A knife? Someone stabbed him?"

"Keep your voice down."

"We need to get him out of here and to a hospital."

"We take him to hospital and they start asking questions. No."

"He'll bleed to death if we don't."

"Fine. But do not mention that it happened here or that I was anywhere near him."

I grew suspicious as to what had actually happened. Deciding not to ask further, I helped Brody up, taking most of his weight, and helped him out and into a taxi. He was rushed straight into A&E when we arrived and I was kept close by. It was only natural that they were going to ask questions surrounding a stabbing. I wasn't going to be much help, I didn't actually know what had gone on.

"Was this a targeted attack?" a nurse asked me.

"I have no idea, I wasn't there. I just found him."

"Where?"

"In the bathroom of my mates house."

The sounds coming from Brody's cubicle were less than comforting. It sounded panicked and desperate, setting me on edge.

"Was it a party?"

"Yeah." I mumbled, distracted by what was happening in Brody's cubicle.

"Can I ask the address? We've had someone else in a similar situation."

Her question didn't register at first. I could only hear lots of trolleys being wheeled around in a rush and lots of machines beeping. Other doctors were shouting things to nurses outside the cubicle. Brody's condition was serious.

"Excuse me? Can I have the address please?" the nurse asked again.

"Yeah, yeah. Sorry."

I scrambled in my pockets for the piece of paper Charlie had handed me earlier in the day. The crumpled piece of paper was handed to the nurse and she left me standing on my own, only being able to observe what was going on, powerless to help.

The rush eventually died down. I assumed Brody had been stabilised. The crowd around him cleared. I saw him, just lying there motionless. An oxygen mask was upon his face and the heart monitor bleeped at a regular pace. I began to feel sick just watching him so I left. I escaped into the cool night air and inhaled deeply. The air felt thick as it flowed into my lungs.

I needed answers. I had to know who had almost killed my best friend. I flagged down the next taxi that went past and jumped inside. When I arrived at the house it was like there had never been a party to begin with. Not a soul occupied the place. The front door was open slightly, so before going in, I called inside. Silence.

I walked inside and looked around. I had just passed the stairs when something hit me heavily in the back of the head. I collapsed straight to the ground. I could only make out one voice.

"That's payback for telling them you little shit."

It wasn't Charlie's. Charlie's came next.

"Some fucking friend."

I received another heavy blow and the room fell into darkness.

END OF FLASHBACK

A tear slowly fell down Marlie's cheek. I caught it with my finger and wiped it away.

"I woke up, two days later in hospital. My mum and sister were with me but they wouldn't allow me to see myself. They were distraught. My mum soon moved down here." 

Marlie shuffled closer to me. She buried her head into the crook of my neck, gliding her hand over my chest, almost as if she was trying to sooth any internal pain. I felt her soft lips against my collar bone, peppering delicate kisses along it.

"I'm sorry, Harry." she whispered against my skin.

"Don't be."

I pulled her further into me. She fitted perfectly against my body. We shared warmth whilst we remained silent. For the first time, I felt like someone cared the same amount for me as I did for them.

MARLIES POV

He'd finally done it. He'd finally opened up to me. A warmth flowed through my entirety. Yes, his past seemed to have shady areas, but at least I was allowed some insight into the boy I was falling for. Instead of scaring me away like I think he expected it to, it drew me closer. I felt like we finally had a stronger bond. Trust.