One Plus One

Chapter Seventy-Five

"You know, you're the second girl that has come to talk to us about him." stated the police officer. "The first was a girl called Abbie, do you know anything about her?"

I shook my head. My mouth was too dry to speak.

"So what exactly has happened?"

My head dropped to stare at the floor as I tried to gain some courage to speak. I felt a hand on my jacket making me flinch. I looked up to see who it was who had hold of me. It was Harry. He could sense that I couldn't say anything and tugged at my jacket, hinting at me to take it off. He helped me to slide it off and I placed both of my arms on the table. The purple and green bruises contrasting to the paleness of my fair skin.

"He did this to you?"

I nodded once more. The police officer glanced up to the one who was standing in the corner of the room. They silently communicated before she nodded.

"Do you know where he is?"

"He's at a club not too far from here." Harry said for me.

"We're gonna need you to go back. We need to see him in action. Don't worry, we won't let you get hurt. We will remain close by and the minute he lays a hand on you my officers will have him in handcuffs faster than you can blink."

I nodded feeling somewhat reassured. Harry's warm hand in mine made me feel safer. He led me back to the club and then left me to go in on my own. He went back to the police car and climbed inside for his own safety.

I walked inside and saw Jamie standing at the bar with his hand fisting the bar tender's shirt. All of his muscles were tense and his jaw was tight as he was no doubt shouting in the innocent man's face. The bar tender then looked over in my direction, Jamie followed and spotted me, eyes narrowing as he released his grip on the man's shirt. He pounded over to me and I backed away. I got as close to the back door as possible.

"Outside. Now."

I complied without question. I walked into plain view of the police cars but not so far that Jamie could spot them.

"What the hell did you think you were doing? I thought I told you to stay put, or wasn't I clear enough?"

"I needed some fresh air, I had to step outside or-"

"Don't give me that bullshit! That bar tender told me everything. Your little rescuer made a second appearance and took you. Didn't he? Didn't he?!"

As well as raising his voice the second time he added in a heavy push on my shoulder. He then grabbed my jacket and pulled me so that my face was within centimetres of his. The scent of alcohol was strong in his hot breath. The twinkle I once saw in his eyes had completely disappeared.

"When I ask you a question I expect an answer, Marlie."

When I still said nothing he threw me to the floor before trying to pin me down. I squeezed my eyes tightly shut before I felt his grip release. When I opened my eyes again he'd been dragged away from me by an officer. I felt two arms feed underneath my armpits and tug me up as loud sobs began to leave me. As I turned I saw the curls flopping over Harry's beautiful face and I collapsed into him crying. His arms were wrapped tightly around me as he guided me back to another police car.

"It's alright." he kept repeating in a whisper. "Everything is gonna be alright."

*****

Lily had raced down our front steps and swept me up before I could even get out of the car.

"Oh, Marlie! I was so worried about you, I'm so sorry! I should have done something, I should have known it was him!"

I still couldn't speak. Fear and shock had silenced me. Lily took me up the stairs and sat me down in the living room before she was taken into the kitchen to be told the full extent of what had happened by an officer.

I sat and stared, not entirely sure what I was staring at. All I could hear was Jamie's voice repeatedly shouting at me and I winced as I remembered how his grip had felt around my wrists. A new wave of tears formed and spilled over my cheeks but I made no noise. I heard someone enter the room and the space beside me became occupied.

"How are you feeling?" said Harry's voice, soft and gentle so as not to startle me.

I continued to stare straight ahead.

"I'll let you get some rest. Night, gorgeous."

"Thank you, Harry."

Harry smiled at me before he made his exit. His cute dimples the last memory of that night.

The following morning I woke up in my room. I had never been so happy to see my own four walls. The events of the last week were still fresh in my mind. They were imprinted there and I feared I'd never be able to forget, even just a little. I walked downstairs and opened the kitchen door. Instead of being greeted by Lily I was greeted by a mop of curls that dangled over bright green eyes.

"Harry? What are you doing here?"

"Lily called me. She thought I might like to see if you were any better."

"I take it she's gone out."

"Yeah."

I then realised I was standing in front of him in just a long t-shirt. I noticed that his eye line kept wandering. I got nervous and began to feel a bit nauseous.

"Well, I'm much better." I said as I fiddled with the hem of my t-shirt. I turned and made my way towards the kitchen door.

"Marlie." he spoke, before I exited the kitchen completely.

I spun around in the doorframe to face him again.

"I think we need to talk about what happened."

"No, Harry. I saw enough proof. You can go now. Thank you for helping me."

"Marlie, please just listen to me."

I remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

"Marlie, what happened was nothing to do with me. She came on to me. The lads all told me I was trying to shove her off but she was having none of it."

"That might be true, but you still got into bed with her Harry. You could have said no."

"I did."

"Harry, please don't lie to me."

"Ask Danny, Marlie. I woke up in his flat, on his couch. I meant what I said. I'd never do that. Especially to you. I-"

"Don't."

"Don't what?"

"I know what you're going to say. That's not going to fix things."

"I know that. But I also know that you feel the same."

"You don't know that."

"Oh, but I do. It's not over, Marlie."