JUST ONE MORE DAY... (H.S)

33

Harry's POV

The weekend had started off quietly, just as I had hoped. Ellie was upstairs, probably working on something, and I was in the living room, strumming my guitar and letting the stress of the week melt away. It was nice to have some time to just breathe, without the pressure of assignments or performances.

Then the doorbell rang.

I wasn’t expecting anyone, so I figured it was probably Jennie or Ben. But when I opened the door, I was surprised to see Ruthien standing there. She was all smiles, but something about the way she looked at me made me feel uneasy.

“Hey, Harry!” she chirped, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.

“Uh, hey,” I replied, feeling my stomach tighten. I wasn’t sure why she was here, and I wasn’t comfortable with it. Still, I didn’t want to be rude, so I let her in.

She made herself comfortable on the couch, patting the spot next to her. “Come sit with me. We haven’t had a chance to talk since that performance.”

I hesitated but eventually sat down, leaving some space between us. I couldn’t help but feel on edge. Something about her energy was off.

“So, that song you and Ellie performed,” she began, leaning in a bit closer than I liked, “it was really something. I felt like you were singing it just for me.”

I forced a smile, trying to keep things light. “Thanks, but it was really a team effort. Ellie did most of the work.”

She didn’t seem to hear me. Instead, she moved closer, her hand resting on my arm. The touch sent a chill through me, and I instinctively pulled away.

“Ruthien,” I started, trying to keep my voice steady, “I think you should go.”

Her expression changed, and she leaned in even closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Why are you being so distant? We’re just having a little fun.”

I stood up, putting distance between us. “I’m serious, Ruthien. This isn’t okay. You need to leave.”

But she didn’t back off. Instead, she stood up too, closing the gap between us. I felt trapped, unsure of how to handle the situation. I didn’t want to be harsh, but I also knew I needed to make her understand that this wasn’t right.

“Ruthien, stop,” I said more firmly, trying to keep my voice calm. But inside, I was panicking.

Just then, Ellie came down the stairs. The moment she saw what was happening, her expression hardened.

“Ruthien, what do you think you’re doing?” Ellie’s voice was sharp, cutting through the tension.

Ruthien turned to face her, her smile faltering. “What’s your problem? We’re just talking.”

Ellie crossed her arms, stepping between us. “It doesn’t look like just talking to me. I think it’s time for you to leave.”

Ruthien’s eyes flashed with something dark, but she forced a laugh. “You’re such an uptight girlie, I was just having a bit of fun with Harry.”

Ellie didn’t budge. “Fun? You’re making him uncomfortable. If you don’t leave now, I’ll call the police.”

Ruthien’s expression soured, and she glared at Ellie. “You think you’re so much better than me, don’t you? Just because you’re living with him?”

Ellie didn’t waver. “This has nothing to do with me being better. It has everything to do with respecting boundaries. Now, leave.”

Ruthien rolled her eyes, but she finally stepped back, throwing one last spiteful look at both of us. “You’re going to regret this, Ellie. Mark my words.”

With that, she stormed out, slamming the door behind her. Ellie quickly locked it, making sure Ruthien couldn’t come back in.

The tension in the room was palpable, and I sank onto the couch, trying to process what had just happened. My mind was racing, and I felt a wave of emotions crashing over me—fear, confusion, shame. I didn’t know what to do with it all.

Ellie sat down beside me, her presence a comforting anchor in the storm of my thoughts. She didn’t say anything at first, just let me sit there in silence. After a few moments, she gently placed her hand on my shoulder.

“Harry, I’m so sorry you had to go through that,” she said softly. “But you did the right thing by standing up for yourself.”

I nodded, but the words felt hollow. I couldn’t shake the feeling of helplessness that had gripped me when Ruthien wouldn’t listen. I’d been in a situation like this before, and it left me feeling vulnerable in a way I hadn’t expected to feel again.

Ellie seemed to sense what I was feeling. “We’ll figure this out, okay? I’ll help you. Maybe we can look into a restraining order or something to make sure she doesn’t come near you again.”

“Yeah,” I muttered, still feeling numb. “Thanks, Ellie.”

She gave me a reassuring smile, but I could see the worry in her eyes. “You’re not alone in this, Harry. We’ll get through it together.”

I nodded again, grateful for her support, but inside, I was still reeling. I’d thought of myself as strong after that incident, capable of handling anything. But this... this had shaken me to my core again. And I wasn’t sure how to move forward.

For now, all I could do was sit there, trying to piece myself back together with Ellie by my side. I need to tell her why I came here. That's the least I can do.

AN: Hey, Thank you for reading. If you find any mistakes please do let me know. Comment your thoughts. TPWK 😇