Stranded

Chapter 17

I'm sat between Lou and Niall at the table, Harry sat across from me. I can tell everyone's surprised he's here. You should've seen the look on their faces when Harry stumbled down the stairs. 

There's an uncomfortable, eerie quiet at the table. All you can hear is the munching of pizza and the slurping of someone sipping on their drink. 

"So, Cass, how long have you and Harry known each other?" someone asks. I don't bother to try and decipher who it was. 

"Why the hell did you bring her here?" Harry growls, his eyes dark. 

"Harry-"

"What? Did you think she would change me? What we had back then was nothing!" he yells, getting up from the table. His words stab me like a thousand knifes. Everyone's looking at me to see how I will react to his words. 

I will not take his shit. I'm through with him.

I stand up from the table and stand in front of him, blocking his exit though I know I'm nowhere near as strong as he is. He could easily just push me aside.

"WHAT THE HELL'S YOUR PROBLEM?!" I yell the words at him. 

"They need to mind their own business."

"They're trying to fucking help you Harry! God dammit what is wrong with you?! I don't give shit if you're Harry Styles so help me I will use all my strength to inflict pain on you!" I yell. His eyes suddenly go soft.

"Maybe I can't be helped." he says softly.

"You've changed Harry. You have. I don't even know who you are anymore." I say, taking a step back from him. 

"I-I'm still me I just..." he says, taking a step towards me and I shake my head.

"No. No you're not. Where's the Harry that used to say loving words to me? The Harry that would laugh with me and cry with me and would hold me in his arms at night? Where's my Harry?" I ask, tears starting to obscure my vision.

"I'm still here." he says, hopelessness in his voice.

"My Harry may be in there somewhere, but he's being hidden by this...this beast. I'm serious Harry. Don't come near me, don't talk to me. I don't want to have anything to do with you!" I yell, my anger returning.

"Then what're you going to do while you're here?" he asks, annoyance evident in his voice.

"I won't stay. I'll spend my time with Lou, El and the rest of them. I don't need you Harry. And you obviously don't need me anymore." I say and then rush up the stairs, Harry calling out my name. 

I hear him rushing after me, but I rush into my room and close and lock the door.

"Cass! Open the fucking door!" he yells through the door, banging repeatedly on it. I don't say anything, I just back up onto my bed and cower there.The words he's yelling at me bring back horrible memories...

~Flashback~

I'm sat on the couch, watching television with my brother. Something doesn't feel right. I don't know what it is.

'Stop being so paranoid Cassie.'

I return to watching the telly when an ear-piercing scream comes from the kitchen. I hop up immediately and rush to see what's going on.

"Mum?!"  I yell, seeing her on the ground, blood dripping from her mouth is visible even from where I'm stood.

I look to my 'father'.

"What the hell did you do to her?!" I yell at him.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that!"