Stolen Kisses, Pretty Lies

~Chapter 17~

"Welcome to the wonderful world of The Prisoner of Azkaban, Midnights," I flopped down beside her on the couch, popcorn bouncing out the bowl in my hands.

"Right." Midnights' hand dug into the bowl and scooped popcorn into her mouth. "How many movies have we watched this week?"

"Mm... 4?"

Midnights chuckled and cuddled into me, my heart swelling. I would never get over how fond she was of physical touch when comfortable.

We rested our legs on the footrest part of the couch, Midnights' legs reaching far further than mine. Once situated, we began the movie.

Due to the events of today, I was more tired than usual. Grateful for Midnights' miracle kindness and care, I yawned, and allowed myself to sleepily zone into the film, which was a favourite of mine.

As I was beginning to drift off under the heaps of blankets and my girlfriend's warm grasp, the doorbell rang.

Sitting up groggily, I frowned.

"What's the time? Why would someone be here now?" I wondered aloud, Midnights equally as clueless. She shrugged, and I reluctantly hopped off the couch, heading to the front door.

I opened it, the sensor light already on and illuminating something I wasn't expecting.

Two vaguely familiar people were standing on the porch. The man with his arms crossed, and the woman standing further back and looking furious.

"Can I help you?" I asked, frowning.

The man exhaled huffily. "have you seen a girl recently, probably around your age, tall, blonde hair or something?"

The moving van. That day. Meaning...

I blinked, slightly shocked. "Uh- no, no I haven't."

"Are you sure? Because we asked some of the neighbours, and well, multiple said they'd seen her enter this house on multiple occasions."

My blood ran cold. "I'm sorry, sir, I'm not sure what you-"

"Get her out here, or I'm calling the police," his voice was low, and I didn't doubt his threat. It crossed my mind that getting the police involved could possibly improve Midnights' situation, but trouble with the law was the last thing my dad needed coming home from a work trip.

Plus, what evidence did we have against them?

Guilt brewed in my mind as I nodded shakily and closed the door. Eyes pricking with tears, I returned to the living room, Midnights' previously immersed on the tv gaze turned to me.

"Who was it?" she questioned curiously, her eyes wide and bright. My heart cracked a little in my chest.

"I- I think it was your... your parents," I whispered, my voice breaking.

Midnights crumbled in front of me. "Surely- surely not, right? How would- how would they know? Nine please tell me you aren't sure," her words were desperate pleas.

"I saw them when you were moving in, same two people," my heart hammered in my chest. "They said they'd call the police if you didn't come out."

"So let them, right? The police can-" her knee began to bounce on the floorboards, "they can in- investigate them, and, and find out stuff, and then they- right?"

"What if they took you away" I choked, "what if they found no evidence, or called my dad? What proof do we have?"

"No, this- this isn't happening, tell me this isn't happening," Midnights got up, tears now streaming silently down her face, glistening in the light of the movie playing behind us.

I shook my head and suddenly Midnights was against me, her arms tight around my body and shaking with sobs into me.

"I don't know what to do," she whispered. "I'm scared."

It was then that the crack in my heart spread, and I shattered. Squeezing her back equally as tight, I sniffed, tears spreading onto her hoodie, the one she'd entered my house in the first time in.

"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

A series of loud thuds banged on the front door, causing us to jump.

Midnights and I made eye contact, both our gazes wet and fearful.

"I'll get you back. I promise," I pressed her phone into her hand from where it had been on the coffee table. "Look after yourself, as best as you can. If things get bad, call the police, or scream, I don't care. They'll let you go to school, right? I'll see you there." I was rambling now, but I couldn't care less, and frankly, I needed to. Whether half of what I was saying was relevant or not, I wasn't entirely sure, but also, I wasn't exactly thinking straight either. "Don't get hurt, don't hurt yourself, don't cause trouble, do whatever it takes to get out if you get the chance, don't get caught, you know where the spare key is, I-".

Midnights nodded, now wiping her eyes with her sleeve. Taking a breath, I took her hands in mine and lifted one to my lips, kissing the back gently and inhaling her.

We hugged each other tighter than ever before, as though it would be the last. Another bang on the front door, and we hurried forward, taking a breath, then opening it.

"Midnights! Our favourite daughter, there you are, we were so worried!" the woman stepped forward, arms outstretched.

Midnights took a step backward.

"Don't be silly, darling, home is waiting for you." Midnights' mother turned to me, her smile sickly and fake. "Thank you for looking after her, neighbour."

I didn't reply. I was blank with horror, thoughts amplified by my fear building in my head.

"Midnights. Come here, now," her dad's voice was gruff and commanding.

One last glance, and my girlfriend of two weeks stepped outside, hands shaking by her sides.

Her parents grabbed her arms, and her dad slammed the door shut. I stood behind the front door, and then I cried. I dropped to my knees, and curled up, pulling them to my chest and crying. Crying out of fear, out of unfairness and an overwhelming feeling of helplessness. There was nothing I could do. I'd handed the girl I adored so much over to the people who'd hurt her, people who'd done things I hadn't even heard about, but seen the effects of.

I padded back to the couch and switched the movie off. The movie we'd been watching together only 15 minutes ago. No longer one of my favourites. I curled up in the blanket previously warmed by her, and fell asleep.

~~

The end.

I'm kidding, obviously.
Apologies for the delay!
(Completely unedited.)