Speak |h.s. a.u.|

Chapter 70

Annabelle sat on a bench, watching as people walked by with their dogs on leashes, or their babies in strollers. Her mind tried to focus on the cold wind and how it moved the leaves in the trees, how it made her hair blow across her face, but she couldn't. The only thing she could think about was how scared she were for Harry to see any of her scars, and why he were lying to her about something as simple as her bracelets. She wanted to cry, but she didn't, because who would cry over something that little? She didn't want to feel like a crybaby, so she sat still with her eyes stinging and focusing on the people passing by.

"Hi." Annabelle looked up, seeing a girl with long red hair. She smiled at the girl, hoping she would leave her alone. "Can I sit here?" Annabelle nodded, scooting over slightly to give the girl more room.

Annabelle couldn't help but glance at the girl every now and then, jealousy filling her to the brim. This girl couldn't have been prettier, with her thick, ginger hair and perfect features.

"I'm Alice." She reach out to grab Annabelle's hand in a handshake. Annabelle felt like she had heard the name before, it seemed familiar to her, but she couldn't remember meeting anyone named Alice lately.

"You don't talk much, do you?" Alice's calm voice lightly spoke, a small laugh emitting from her lips. Annabelle gave her a shy grin, shaking her head and looking back down at her lap. She could feel her phone buzzing, but she ignored it, not wanting to speak to Harry right now.

Harry... Annabelle thought, and it clicked in her head who Alice was. Annabelle remembered reading her name on a paper, the first night Annabelle decided to stay at Harry's place. Annabelle felt even more jealous, if that were even possible, because she couldn't get over how pretty and sweet Alice was, and she had met Harry before. She had been in Harry's apartment, while he were drunk. She could have done anything to him, but she respected him enough to help him, instead of fucking him and leaving him.

Annabelle smiled at the girl, standing up and giving her a small wave, before walking back towards Harry's apartment. She definitely felt like crying now, knowing Harry had had the chance to get closer to this Alice girl, yet he didn't. He chose to rip up her number and spend the night with Annabelle, and it warmed her heart, but he had just lied to her and confused her completely. Annabelle couldn't decide how she was feeling when she leaned on the cold brick wall of Harry's apartment building. She pulled out her phone, opening Harry's messages. He had asked her to come home, and asked her if she was safe, and sent two more saying he were sorry and he missed her. She rolled her eyes as she locked her phone and put it back in her pocket, deciding to go inside instead of continue to be cold.

When Harry heard someone knock on the door, his stomach felt as if he just did ten cartwheels. He quickly opened the door, his breathing slowing down when he seen Annabelle's rosy cheeks and nose. She walked right past him, sitting her purse in the floor near the kitchen table, and walked into the bedroom. Harry followed her slowly, trying not to do something to make his situation worse.

"Do you want to borrow a hoodie?" Harry asked, going to his closet to grab the biggest hoodie he owned. He sat it on the bed beside her, seeing how her hands were slightly shaking from being so cold for so long. He grabbed her hands, bring them up to his mouth to blow hot air on them, and then held them close to his chest. His thumbs ran over the back of her numb fingers, stepping closer to her. She pulled her hands away a moment later, picking up his hoodie and walking into the bathroom.

Harry sat on the bed to wait on her, and he felt a bit sad when she left the bathroom in his hoodie and completely ignored his presence. She had sweatpants on as well, and went to sit on the couch with a blanket and her little teddy bear. She held the teddy bear under her blanket, secretly cuddling it in search of comfort and warmth as she wrapped the blanket around her body and watched the television in front of her.

Harry stood in front of her with his hands on his hips, licking his lips as he worked up the confidence to face Annabelle. He cleared his throat, and she kept her eyes ahead of her, until he cleared his throat again. She looked up at him, seeing he was being serious.

"You could have at least messaged me back, Annabelle. I was worried about you." Harry felt his heart sink slightly when her emotionless eyes moved back down to the television, completely brushing off his words. Did she not care that he was worried sick about her being out there by herself?

Harry left her alone the rest of the evening, only talking to her when he had fixed dinner for her. She ate alone on the couch, and Harry ate alone at the table. He accidentally ran into her when she was putting her plate in the sink, and immediately apologized, only for her to walk out of the kitchen and return to her spot on the couch. He sat on the other end of the couch and watched a movie with her, watching as she hardly grinned at the funny scenes. He imagined himself holding her and feeling the vibration of her giggles against his chest when a comedic scene would pass, and he had to restrain from leaning over and laying his head on her lap.

When they were brushing their teeth, Harry allowed Annabelle to have the mirror first as she wiped her face free of any makeup or dirt. He watched her with his lips in a tight line, trying to take in all of her beauty. When her face was bare and shiny, and she had just brushed her teeth, he kissed her. He told her that she looked so gorgeous, only earning her eye-contact for a few moments. He kissed her again, trying to get her to kiss back, but she hardly did for only a small second.

They both laid in bed, so much space between them as Harry stared at the dark ceiling. He could see the outline of Annabelle's body, she was facing away from him and had her knees close to her chest. He moved slowly closer to her every few minutes, until he could wrap his arms around her sleeping body. He pulled her so close, pressing his lips to the back of her head, and closing his eyes. He fell asleep quickly, and Annabelle woke up in the middle of the night, distancing her body from his again.