Don't Let Me Go

Chapter 2

{Ava's POV}

**beep beep beep**

I rolled over to find my alarm going off. I turned it off and stretched out my legs and arms. It was 7:00am and I better head out before Harry wakes up. I roll out of bed, clean myself up in the bathroom then make the bed. I grab the little that I have and sneak out of the house. As I walk past the couch Harry is sprawled out on it still passed out. I quietly open and close the door and head to the town plaza.

I walk to the little bagel shop and buy some breakfast. I eat at one of the tables in the cafe and pull out my book. As I read and eat I watch out the window as the sun slowly rises more and more. It's another beautiful summer day.

Once I finish eating I walk through the park taking in the fresh air. My mom usually doesn't come home for like a day or she goes out around noon and isn't seen for at least 12 hours. I need to go back to my house to get some stuff but I can't go when she's there. I take a seat on the grass and read while I wait to go to my house.

By now it's around 9:30 and people are starting to move about, going to church, having breakfast, or having morning picnics in the park. As I look back down at my book white converse appear in front of me. I look up at the owner. It's Harry.

"Thought you could get away that easily huh?" he jokingly said.

"Well I mean I didn't want to bother you any more than I already have," I replied.

"You haven't bothered me love. May I sit?" he asked.

"Sure," I said closing my book.

"So do you spend a lot of time in the park?" he asked.

"Um kind of, when I have nothing special to do," I said.

There was a short pause.

"Ah I see...So are you going to tell me why you were sleeping at the park last night?" he asked.

"Umm just..."

"Issues in the house?"

"Yeah basically."

"Nothing too bad though, right?"

"Um...no, no." I kind of lied.

I didn't want to tell him about the abuse because I was worried about what he would think.

"Just fighting with my parents, you know...The typical run away from home thing..." I finished with.

"Oh, well I'm sorry to hear that Ava," he said very genuinely.

"It's fine, don't worry about it," I said looking away from his breath taking eyes.

"How did you find me anyways?" I asked.

"Figured you would be out here," he replied.

"Oh," I said with a smile forming on my face.

Harry was really nice, but I didn't want him finding out the real issues I'm dealing with. He seemed caring and interested in my situation. I mean he let me stay in his bed last night!

"So...Can we grab lunch today or something?" he asked.

"Uh sure," I said feeling nervous.

Right now it was probably 11:00 and I really wanted to shower before I had lunch with this gorgeous boy that sat to the right of me.

"But I need to go home and shower first," I said.

"Do you want to shower at my place?" he asked.

"Oh um no thanks, I need to get some clean clothes from my room too," I said.

"Oh, okay," he said.

He stood up and brushed off his shorts. He reached out his hand for me and helped me stand up.

"So where should I meet you?" I asked.

"How bout, right here, whenever you're ready, I can wait as long as you need," he said smiling.

"Okay," I said shyly smiling, "I'll be back in an hour."

"Okay love," he said waving as I walked away.

{Harry's POV}

Ava is stunning. I can't stop thinking about how beautiful she is. I really want to get to know her. I want her to be comfortable with me, just stay the night at my place whenever she needs to, call me if she ever needs to talk, hang out, I just want her in my life. Theres something in me thats telling me I need to protect her, but from what? I never open up to girls, but when I look at Ava, everything is different.

{Ava's POV}

As I walk back to my house, my mind is spinning. Harry is so sweet and genuine. He seems like he cares. If he didn't care he would've left me in the park last night and he wouldn't of found me this morning. Guys never want to talk to me. They all find out that my mom is an alcoholic and apparently that means I'm messed up too. I want Harry to know me, and like me for me, not my story. He makes me nervous...but I feel like he's suppose to be in my life.

As I approach my house I notice my moms not home. Thank god. I walk in to find beer bottles all over the kitchen counters, broken glass on the floor, cigarettes thrown everywhere, it's just a complete mess. I go up to my bedroom to pick out a new outfit. I take off my sweater and examine my arms. They're still really bad. There's old scars, new cuts, and bruises up and down my arms. It's really warm out but I can't show my arms. I pick out a light long sleeve shirt and my white shorts. I quickly shower and get dressed, French braiding my hair and putting on a little mascara. I finish up and throw on my white vans. I grab my little purse and head back to the park.

As I reach the park, Harry spots me and stands up smiling.

"Hi babe," he said.

"Hey, you ready?" I asked.

"Yeah, want to go to Sally's (a little breakfast and lunch cafe)?" he asked.

"Sure!" I said.

We walked over to Sally's and sat at a little table in the back. We ordered some juice and sandwiches. As we waited for the food we began to really get to know each other. Harry told me about his family and how he moved into his own place. I told him about collage and how I wanted to work in the city. He told me about some of his friends, I told him about mine. We talked about everything pretty much all through lunch.

"So what do I have to do to get you to be mine?" he asked.

I was taken back a little bit but a little giggle escaped my mouth.

"Cause I mean it's the only way to keep me from losing you," he said.

I watched him as he continued to talk.

"I feel like there's a reason I'm the one that found you last night in the park. Talking to you is so different than when I talk to anyone else. I feel like I can't let you leave my sight. I'm worried that you'll leave, never talk to me again. I don't know if I'll ever see you again once we leave, but I want to see you...Again and again and again. There's something different about this whole situation," he said.

I think about every word that comes out of his mouth. Harry could be what I've been waiting for. The light at the end of the tunnel. My life has always sucked. My friends are never around, they're all busy off at different collages, getting jobs. My dad died in a car crash with my mom, which is why my mom became an alcoholic. My mom abuses me when shes drunk, she pushed me away and now I have no one to turn to. What if Harry is the change I've been waiting for?

"Can I give you an answer over dinner tonight?" I asked. I needed time to absorb what he just said. What it would mean to let him be in my life. The things I would have to tell him.

"I would love that," he said showing his dimples.