If I Could Fly

Chapter 3 - The Game

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Harry's POV

Friday morning I wake up to the noise of my phone buzzing on the nightstand, I reluctantly roll over and pick it up without looking at the caller ID. I am immediately filled with regret when I hear the deep, slurred, raspy, voice coming across from the other end of the call. A shiver shoots down my spine and my blood runs cold when I realize it's Alex, my (homophobic) stepbrother.

He hasn't called me in the middle of the night since the summer. I was hoping this time it was over for real. But of course I was wrong, again. Des-my dad, who I don't see, got remarried to Amber almost 5 years ago and she has a son 2 years older than me. Alex.

Alex: "Harrryyyyyy" he says in a slurred tone, taunting me.

Harry: "Yes Alex, what do you want" trying to keep my voice from shaking.

Alex: "I may – um – wansts a rude from you" speech slurring heavily.

Harry: now annoyed and stressed "You want a ride from me?"

Alex: "Goooood boyyyy"

I roll my eyes and sit up in bed not wanting to get blamed for Alex walking home alone while drunk.

Harry: "Do you know where you are? Are you at the bar again?"

Alex: "Right you areeee"

Harry: "Fine I'll be right there, drink some water please"

Alex: "no no no don't" he slurs as his words fade into the background talking to someone else at the bar before the line gets cut off.

I sit bent over on the edge of the bed, head hung in-between my arms as I grip a little too hard at my hair in frustration. I know how this is going to go, but I have to go, I have to go, I have to go. I repeat it over and over in my head to convince myself this is the right choice.

Finally I get up pulling on some joggers, a jumper, and some trainers (I sleep naked when I'm alone). I try to move as quietly as I can trying desperately not to wake up Zayn. He never would allow me to go pick up Alex, with good reason but that's not the point. But I can't just leave him there so I creep out of the flat as quietly as possible catching a glimpse of the kitchen clock on the way out. It is almost 4 in the morning. I have a lecture at 9 but I am obviously not making it to that, just wonderful. Can this night get any better?

I pull up to the bar Alex frequents at least 5 days a week, I take a deep breath before getting out of the car to go get him. I walk into the mostly empty bar scanning for Alex. He's hard to miss since he is 6'4 and built like a professional boxer. I finally spot him and walk over cautiously, my throat already alarmingly dry all of the sudden. I am just hoping that tonight will be different, maybe he won't... lash out tonight. Or at the very least it will just be a night of verbal abuse, that's better than the alternative I suppose.

Harry: "Come on Alex lets go" I say gently, resting my hand on Alex's shoulder to alert him I'm here.

Before I can register what is happening a sharp elbow crashes into the side of my ribs so hard it knocks the wind out of me. I buckle over clutching my side, trying to steady my breathing. Of course he is going to be his awful self, I just want to get him home so I don't have to be around him.

Alex: "Don't be a little bitch Harry" scowling down at me as I breathe in and out sharply.

I slowly stand up again and look Alex in the eye.

Harry: "Come on Alex lets go. You called me, remember?" I say flat and stern.

Alex rolls his eyes but compiles much to my shock. He stumbles to his feet, rejecting my help and hitting my hands away a bit too harshly when I try to stop him from falling. When we finally reach the car Alex elbows me in the chin causing my jaw to clash shut and head head to jerk backwards, all because I offered him a hand getting in the car. Ass.