Don't Let Me Go

Chapter 1

{Ava's POV}

As I walk out of my front door, with tears in my eyes, blood on my arm, and bruises forming on my body, I don't know where I'm planning on going. I start walking away from my house slowly, looking back at the mess I just left. My alcoholic mom, a mess, I've never wanted to leave her side, all I've ever done is tried to help. But after being burnt by her cigarettes, hit with beer bottles and punched all over my body for the 100th time, I had to leave, get away. Today is the day I turned my back on what was left of my family, my life. 

I started walking along the sidewalks of my small town. I kept my head down and covered up my cuts and bruises with my sweater. I was a mess, but I needed to collect my thoughts. I walked down to the town park which is about 6 blocks away from my house. I found myself a bench and sat with my head in my hands. It was about 4:00 pm so there was a lot of movement throughout the park. It was getting cooler as the sun moved behind the tree tops. Summer in New York isn't too overbearing. Once I calmed down a little bit, I pulled out my phone to call some friends to find a place to spend the night. I texted Maggie to ask if she was in town, but she was still collage hunting. I texted Zoey to see what she was doing but she was spending the night at her boyfriends house. I called Elizabeth but she didn't answer. Finally I just gave up and decided I would just stay at the park, set up under a tree or something. By now it was probably about 5:00 and I was getting hungry. I walked over to the local drug store and picked up a bag of chips and a water, then I headed back to the park to relax. As I sat up against a tree, I watched the sun set and people walk throughout the town plaza eating dinner or shopping. As the sun went down, the commotion began to settle. After the dramatic turn of events that occurred earlier in my house, I was over tired and ready to crash. I laid along the tree on the grass, curled up into a ball and fell asleep. 

{Harry's POV} 

"Alright lads, I'll talk to you later, we'll have to go to a bar tomorrow to watch the game," I said as me and the lads walked out of the town pub. 

"Does anyone need a ride?" Liam asked.

"Nah, I'm going to cut through the park. I'll see you guys later," I said as I walked toward the park. 

It was probably about 11:30 pm, a beautiful night. The lads and I had just gone out for dinner and a couple drinks to catch up. We all live around town, me living about 8 blocks away from the town plaza. I cut through the park whistling, checking out the town lights. As I approach the big tree in the center of the park I notice a person laying on the grass curled up in a ball. As I get closer to the body I notice its a girl about my age with long brown hair, sleeping. 

"Hello? Babe? You okay?" I ask as I stand over the girl. 

She doesn't reply.

I kneel down beside her and slightly shake her arm. 

"Hello?" I ask again.

She starts to move, waking up startled to see me by her side. 

"Are you okay?" I ask.

"Oh yeah, sorry just, oh umm. I must've fallen asleep," she replied shyly.

She looked tired and troubled, but she was definitely gorgeous. 

"Do you need anything?" I asked confused. 

"Oh, no. Just...I'm kind of just spending the night here," she said looking away from me. 

"Oh um. If you need a place to stay, you can come to my place," I said. 

"Oh no, no, no, it's okay I'll be fine," she said. 

"No really, come on, my apartment is right over there, I won't make you talk to me, but please just take my couch," I said. 

"No really, I can't, I don't want to invade your space. Trust me, I'll be fine out here," she replied. 

I stood up, reaching out a hand for her, "come on, please." 

She took my hand and I helped her up. She started walking with me, following me to my place. 

"What's your name?" I asked. 

"Ava, and you?" she said.

"I'm Harry, nice to meet you," I said.

Once we reached my apartment, I showed her around a little bit letting her use the bathroom to tidy up. 

"You can have my bed, I'll take the couch," I said once she came out of the bathroom. 

"No please, sleep in your bed, I'll be fine on the couch," she said. 

I couldn't help but stare at her, she's beautiful. I walked over to the couch and laid down. "I got the couch, so I guess you're going to have to take the bed," I said. 

She giggled and said, "fine." 

{Ava's POV} 

I walked into the bedroom to find the huge bed along the wall in the middle of the room. I set an alarm on my phone so I could get up early and leave before Harry woke up. I climbed up into the bed and curled up under the blankets and quickly fell asleep.