Bad Intentions

Chapter 2

Harry's POV

I close the door just in time to see a disapointed Collin retreat around the corner. I sigh and walk after him.

"Collin!" I shout when he's nowhere to be found. Finally I spot him hiding under the desk, but I continue to pretend to look for him in hopes of brightening his mood and turning this into a game.

"Collllliiiiinnnn........" I draw out and move a few pillows around on the couch. "Where are you hiding?" I hear him stifle a giggle. Without warning I jump behind the desk and make a growling noise. Collin jumps out of fear but quickely starts laughing. I pull him closer to me by his pant legs and scoop him into the air.

"Again!" He shouts. I set him down and pat his head.

"Maybe later, okay? Uncle Harry has work to do." I watch in amusement as Collin gives me a well rehearsed puppy dog face. I tickle his side.

"Do you want more cookies? She left them on the porch" I taunt him and he looks at me as if I'm lying. It's true, though, she did leave them. I watched as she left the pathetic tray of ugly pastries on our new porch to rot.

"You don't like her" Collin points out. He's incredibly smart for a four year old.

"She was nosey" I say.

"She talks weird" he retorts. I laugh.

"That's because she's American." I can tell my words mean nothing to him, so I shoo him away and take the stairs two at a time to get to my room.

Boxes upon boxes sit unopened on the floor, remnants of my life before moving back. I don't know why my brother decided to buy our father's old home, given its history and all that happened when we were children....

But after mom's death he took it upon himself to move his family back here, dragging me with him.

I remember this room and all its haunted past. I can still hear the sound of my drunk father chasing me up the stairs with a belt in hand....

I refuse to turn down that path right now. Instead I turn up the music and hope that Collin will be alright on his own until his dad gets home from work.

Until then, I open up my leather bound black journal and start writing. I lose myself in shit words and music until they blur together to form the world's worst choir.

A tragic symphony all my own.
'~'~'

Julian's POV

Hours later while flipping through the TV stations, my encounter with the boy next door is still on my mind. I can barely focus on anything without remembering how rude he was. How could he act that way toward a stranger?

But I also can't get his face out of my head. His cold gaze was so opposite from the warm attitude he seemed to have toward Collin the night they got here.

I can picture him picking up the small child and spinning him around, the both of them laughing. It makes my heart ache for a person I don't even know, a person so rude.

I decide to call my dad and ask how work is going. Usually he's gone for a a week, then home for a week. Then gone for a week...etc. it's a cycle that never ends and is actually difficult to live by...

I get his voice mail and decide to leave a short message telling him that I'm just checking how things are going.

When I'm done, I shut down my phone and turn the lights off for the night. The house is cold, and the heater won't go on. I smack a hand to my face when I realize I forgot to pay the power bill. I'll have to pay it tomorrow, before they turn off the electricity.

I sigh as I turn on my bed room light to find a pair of old pajamas. I strip down to my underwear and bra before realizing I left the window curtains open. I step out of view and emerge fully clothed to close it.

My gaze flickers to the porch across the street. With a smug smile, I notice that the boy has taken my cookies into the house.
That alone brightens my mood and makes me forget about the impending lack of electricity.

I fall asleep dreaming of a boy with dark hair and an attitude like unforgiving weather. Then I become terrified at how easy it is to get caught in his storm.
'~'~'

Harry's POV

I invite my closest friend to stay the night in hopes of getting wasted and not sleeping at all. He tosses me the bottle of vodka and sits near the window as I fall back on my new, uncomfortable bed. Seconds later I hear him laughing.

"Dude, check this out" he motions for me to look out the window but I roll my eyes.

"What is it, Dominic?" I ask impatiently. He let's out a low whistle.

"Atleast your new neighbor is hot" his words pique my interest and I sit up.

"What do you mean?" I ask, coming to stand by him. Instantly I see what he's talking about.

Julian stands in the dim light of what must be her room, undressing obliviously before us.

"Holy shit" Dom grunts as she dissappears out of sight.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. We've both seen better." I sit back in my bed, the image of her almost naked body having no affect on me.

"Did you not just see the way her boobs were about to fall out of her bra?" Dom laughs. I want to punch him for mocking me. Instead I get an idea.

"Another round?" I take a swig of the vodka and toss the bottle back to him. He looks at me quizzically before taking a drink.

He knows I'm not talking about the alcohol.

"Yeah. Another round" he toasts.

Later, when Dominic is passed out drunk, I open my journal and scribble down words. It's like my handwriting is slurred....

I write about how girls with reddish brown hair and blue eyes should stay away from guys like me.