Against All Odds

Chapter 9

Eve

My curtains are shut. They are always shut. I've stared at them for the past hour, wondering whether I should thank him. The boy who thankfully ended my uncomfortable public displays of affection.
Even though I really want to say thank you, I can't pluck up the courage to open my curtains. It's not because he scares me, it's simply because he is making my mind doubt my relationship. A relationship that, until now, I'd been perfectly happy with.
But Mike had pushed me too far that night. We haven't spoken about it. In fact I'd been avoiding his calls. Why am I doubting us? I groan, yanking back my curtains before I give myself the chance to think.
He's there.
Of course he's there.
My eyes flicker to his face where an angry bruise is present. Although he hasn't noticed me I feel my cheeks flush as I realise he's shirtless.
Shirtless and hot. Very hot. I mean, Mike has muscles but this dude...he's got it all.
The guy has a hand to his chest and I gasp involuntarily; his skin is black and purple, covered in many bruises. Some where clearly older than others.
My hand covers my mouth in shock as I watch the boy massage his bruised body, wincing as he does so.
He lifts his head suddenly and catches my eyes, surprise filling them. The boy frowns in annoyance and shoves his curtains shut, hiding his vulnerable state.
Even though the sad sight is no longer there, I can't get the images of his bruises out of my mind. Where does he get them from? Has he got himself checked out at the hospital? What if he's got a broken rib? Why do I care so much?
I stand there for a good few minutes, desperate to know the answer to my numerous questions.
When my phone rings I jump out of my skin in surprise, breaking my trance.
It's Charlotte.
"Hello?" I ask, my voice a little croaky.
"Harper my girl we're on our way to get you." Leo shouts down the phone and I hold it away from my ear, wincing at his loudness.
"Fuck off Leo I want to speak to Eve!" Charlotte complains and they begin to squabble.
"Uh guys?" I question in slight amusement, the image of my neighbours vulnerability slowly fading.
"Oh hey again Harper, be ready in ten we're going skinny dipping." Leo laughs into the phone and I roll my eyes. There's a sound of someone being slapped (I guess that'd be Char slapping her brother).
"Ignore him, apart from the be ready in ten bit." Charlotte informs me and I still feel clueless as to what's happening.
"What are we doing?" I try to get information from the twins, buts that's more impossible than it is for a fish to grow legs and start walking on land.
"Skinny dipping!" Leo yells and Char tells him to shut up.
"Just be ready." She states, hanging up on me.
"Idiots." I laugh.

Ten minutes later and I'm sat in the back of Leo's car, still trying to work out where we are going.
My best mate it sat beside me but he's as clueless as I am.
"Do you really think they're taking us skinny dipping?" I wonder and AJ gives me a frustrated look.
"I've no clue and it's pissing me off." He means forward and speaks to the twins who had been arguing about which of Ed Sheerans albums was the best. "You two trouble makers better tell us right now or..."
"Or what?" Charlotte glances over her shoulder and AJ who's looking pissed. "Look, I'm sorry we dragged you away from your PlayStation or whatever but this is important."
"So tell us where we're going!" He argues.
Charlotte pinches the bridge of her nose in frustration.
"You guys are idiots." She complains and Leo mutters agreement. "Okay fine, we're going to see Harvey."
"Remember Stan?" Leo joins in, finally explaining.
My blood runs cold at that name.
"What the fuck has he got to do with anything?" AJ grits his teeth in anger.
"Harvey's asked for out help. His new mates having a skate off against Stan and he's worried things will turn bad." Leo grips the steering wheel, knuckles turning white.
"Shit." AJ slumps back into the seat and I nudge his foot with mine, smiling sadly.
"When's it start?" My voice is strained but I try to hide my nerves. Stan scares me and I'm not even afraid to admit it. Let's just say there's some tense history between him and our group.
When Harvey challenged him he got beaten up seriously badly.
Stan's also AJ older sisters ex boyfriend. He treated her like she was shit on his shoe. Poor Lily had commit suicide not even a year ago and Stan played a big part in her unhappiness.
"About half an hour, anyone up for some skinny dipping?" Leo puts it out there and Charlotte takes the opportunity to give her brother a harsh punch on the arm. "Watch it! I'm driving you know."
"You call this driving?" Char snorts and I meet my best mates eyes, both of us knowing where this conversation is going.
"Don't you say a word about my driving." Leo warns.
"I'm pretty sure I saw an old lady over take us in a shitty little fiesta." Char smirks, enjoying winding her brother up about his driving.
"Fuck off!" He yells and the car speeds up.
"Seriously, I don't even get how you passed your test." Charlotte chuckles in amusement.
"I'll have you know I passed it with less minors than you!" Leo protests, revving the engine and increasing the speed.
"Leo you are a perfectly good driver." I attempt to sooth he's damaged ego so as not to get us all kill. "Let's ease off on the accelerator."
"She's just winding you up man." AJ is trying to keep a straight face. "You shouldn't take the bait."
Leo huffs and I feel the car slowing down, thank god.
Once we're back to a sensible speed, Char speaks up again.
"You missed the turning." She says, making the three of us glare at her when we realise she was right. Charlotte shrugs innocently. "What?"

~~~

Nervous. That's how I feel right now. I'm standing aside from a massive group of people who had come to watch the challenge. The competition was being held in the towns well known skatepark. Somewhere I rarely come anymore ever since Harvey won his own competition against Stan. There are simply too many memories here.
I knew little about skateboarding but even I could tell the atmosphere here is not like it normally is. The usually chilled environment is tense and full of potential danger.

"Man this is quite a sight." Leo whistles in amazement but I shook my head. "Don't worry, nothings going to happen we're just here for support."

"Why did Harvey let this mate of his get involved with Stan?" I stress, nervously wringing my hands. "He of all people knows how stupid it is to pick a fight against that guy."
Charlie (who had joined us not long ago) agrees with me and I know we're all remembering the horrible feeling of seeing our best mate, bloodied and bruised, barely conscious. Being the guy he is, he refused to go to hospital and ended up sleeping in my house for a week while I nursed him better. That was a horrible few days and I really don't want events to repeat themselves. I already have a worrying feeling of deja vu.

"It will be Ok Harps." Leo smiles encouragingly but I find that hard to believe.

I can't watch the competition.

Seeing Stan sets my teeth on edge. He'd left so much pain and heart ache in my friendship group and yet he's walking freely. He even dares to make regular visits to the cafe I work in just to agitate me. I probably hate him more than I hate...Dolores Umbridge from the Harry Potter books. And that's saying something.

It feels like the stupid competition lasts for hours but in reality it's only twenty minutes. The guy who had been stupid enough to challenge Stan beat him easily according to AJ who's commentating for me. Charlotte is enjoying it but I could tell Leo and Charlie are on edge.

When it ends, I see Harvey walking towards us, clearly stressed, with the guy who'd just beaten the proudest skater (and not to mention gang leader) in this town. To my shock I recognise him as my next door neighbour. The guy I still hadn't thanked for stopping Mike from going too far at that party. The pain I had witnessed him in earlier seems to have disappeared. He looks elated.

Charlotte greets him and it's clear they already know each other, so I take the opportunity to whisk Harvey away from the group. I'm not in the mood to face my neighbour.

"You ok?" I ask softly, hating how worked up he appears. He's trying to hide it but I can see straight through his forced smile.

"Course." He nods, making me roll my eyes.

"Cut the crap, I can tell when you're lying."

"I'm not-"

"Fine, if you're happy with Stan waltzing back into our lives then fine." I face him angrily, taking my frustration out on him. "But count me out. This time you can nurse yourself and your new friend better. I can't..."

My voice breaks and Harvey brings me into a tight hug.

"I can't see you that broken again." I choke out and his arms pull me closer.

"I get it. I do and I tried so hard to talk him out of it but...he wouldn't listen and went ahead anyway." Harvey's still holding me, my head buried in his shoulder. "You have ever right to be angry. Hell, I'm angry that we're back in this position. You'd think I'd learn from my mistakes right?"

I break the hug, a tear falling down my cheek which Harvey brushes away gently.

"My friends mean the world to me. You're my family. But I can't do this." I shake my head, feeling my legs turn me round, walking off. Harvey calls after me and I start to run.

By now, tears are falling down my face. Everything I'd been holding in flows freely as I run, leaving the man I fear above all others far behind me. I can't do this. Constantly looking over my shoulder to check he's not following me or my friends. Watching him laugh as his guys kicked and kicked Harvey until he was barely recognisable. I can't see my friends hurting.

I just can't.

Especially since it's practically my fault he met my friends in the first place.

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