Boys like you *Harry Styles*

Chapter 27

Scarlet's P.O.V

The water in the shower was cold. And as it fell against my skin it felt like ice covered knifes, piercing into my tender skin before the tip scraped across my fragile bones. I felt light. Like a feather floating through the sky, effortlessly. The water seemed to wash away all of my sins, and all of the secrets i had been keeping inside - secrets that didn't belong to me. I woke up this morning feeling like someone else and it scared me. I looked into the mirror and didn't recognize the person staring back at me. In fact, my reflection made me feel sick.

The sound of the front door opening gently and then slamming shut snapped me from my day dream, and suddenly i could hear a range of different voices. I stood still, concentrating on the sounds that now filled the once quiet house. I recognized Zayn's voice, and then Cooper's voice followed.

"So, what's up? Are you taking us to church?" I heard Cooper tease Harry, his loud voice echoing through the house before everything fell eerily silent.

I stepped out of the shower and left the water running as i slipped into a pair of Harry's joggers and a grey jumper, the material now sticking to my still wet body. The sound of the water hitting against the shower floor soothed me slightly, and for a few moments it blocked out my torturous thoughts.

I made my way towards the bathroom door and pulled it open, tiptoeing through Harry's room and into the hallway. I reached the top of the stairs and could now hear them more clearly, and i now heard Niall's voice, too.

"I'm worried about her." I heard Harry whisper.

I gulped heavily as he continued to talk, and i knew he was oblivious to the fact that i could hear him. Was he talking about me?

"Who, Scarlet? Why?" Zayn asked, his tone laced with confusion.

I hurried down the remainder of stairs and walked over to the living room door, pressing my ear against it, hoping to hear him a little more loudly. I could hear him pace back and forth on the other side of the rusted wood, and they were all trying to keep their voice as low as they possibly could, but they were failing miserably.

"She's acting like last night never happened. I tried to talk to her about Jennifer, but she just shrugged her shoulders and said there was nothing to talk about." Harry continued, his voice a little sadder now.

That's because i don't want to talk about it. My stomach turned at the thought. All this time i thought i knew the truth. I thought Harry had told be everything. And i couldn't help but wonder what other secrets he was keeping from me. He didn't tell me to protect me, i know that - but i doesn't make it hurt any less.

"Maybe she's just tired, mate. It must have been a lot for her to take in. You know, finding out that Jennifer killed someone - Jack's brother." Niall mumbled, trying to put Harry at ease.

"Nah, it's more than that. I think she's loosing her fucking mind. It's like she's trying to convince me that everything is alright, but it's not. None of this is alright." My breathing hitched in my throat, my heart pounding against my chest as his words haunted me. I think she's loosing her fucking mind.

Was i loosing my mind? And did it matter anyway, I would probably be dead by Christmas.

"Why the fuck would you think that?" Cooper laughed, unable to take Harry seriously. There was a silence, and a deathly one at that, before Harry's stern and husky voice spoke in a hushed whisper.

"She's - She's just been looking into the broken mirror all morning. And no, not in a vain way. In a 'Who am i?' kind of way." My eyes closed over, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts a minute. My heart welling at the sound of immense pain in his words as he spoke. Had i caused this? Had i brought him this much despair? I felt utterly hopeless and comfortably numb.

"I don't know what to do Cooper." He breathed out, struggling to hold back a broken sob.

"Who the hell are you?" A loud, slurred and aggressive voice roared from behind me, causing me to jump back in fright.

My hands began to tremble as i slowly turned around. I could feel his cold and harsh eyes on me before they even met mine. I knew who he was instantly. It was obvious. His breath wreaked of cheap alcohol and nicotine, mixed with a potent scent i didn't recognize. I was about to reply when i felt an arm snake around my waist, and i knew it was Harry's by the way his breath tickled the back my neck in a soothing and caressing way. I looked over my shoulder and his eyes burned right through me. He now glared at the man angrily, hatred burning in his once loving eyes.

"This is my girlfriend, Scarlet. Scarlet," He breathed in shakily, tightening his grip around me. "This is my dad." He added, his voice now dripping with hatred and poison and disgust.

His dad narrowed his eyes at me and stepped closer, just as Harry pulled me back - almost like he didn't want his dad anywhere near me. The man held out his hand, and i felt a wave of nausea run through me, making my stomach turn and my head spin. The sight of his hands repulsed me. I knew what those hands had done. They had damaged the person i loved more than anyone in this world. They had left bruises and scars across Harry's skin, and they had left demons that could never be killed indented into his mind.

I stared at him blankly, my eyes emotionless and hard. I wouldn't shake his hand, i wouldn't even speak a word to someone so vile. He shook his head and smirked, laughing hysterically as he looked menacingly at Harry.

"Have you been telling stories again, son?" He taunted, making Harry shiver in fright.

I could feel my hand twitch by my sides, and it took everything i had in me not to slap him across the face. How dare he treat Harry in such a vulgar and horrific way. How could he stand there, in front of his only son, and mock his pain and fear so openly. He made my skin crawl - he was a monster.

"You're disgusting." I seethed, and that's when Harry threw me back and into Cooper's tight grip.

"You better teach your little bitch how to keep her mouth shut son, speaking to someone like that could get her into a lot of trouble." He sniggered, and anger bubbled within Harry.

"Don't talk about her like that." Harry whispered, his eyes closing over tightly as blood trickled down the palms of his hands from where he had dug his fingernails into his skin.

I wiggled in Cooper's grip, but no matter how hard i tried, i couldn't break free.

"Or what, you little fucking cunt?" His dad screamed, slamming his hand into the side of Harry's head, ramming him down and into the ground with a skull cracking force.

I screamed out and lodged my elbow into Cooper ribs, stunning him enough to break myself free. I ran to Harry and knelt down beside him as he pushed his body into a seated position. I wrapped my arms around him and felt blood on my fingers. I stared up at his father and looked into his clouded green eyes with an intense feeling of loatheing.

"You know what?" He hissed, coldly. "I've had enough of your shit, Harry. I'm going away for the weekend, and when i get back you better be gone. You hear me? I want you out. I can't fucking stand the sight of you. You're weak - pathetic - a worthless peice of shit."

"The feelings mutual, dad." Harry spat where his dad stood, and in that moment the fear had disappeared from his eyes. "You'll get whats coming to you one day, old man. That's a promise."

His dad laughed again and headed towards the front door, slamming it shut with a loud and unforgiving thud as he mad a quick and chilling exit. I ignored the eyes of the others in the room and cradled Harry's head in my lap, wiping away the blood from the side of his head with the end of my baggy jumper. I could barley breathe. Seeing him hurt felt like someone had forced a dagger through my hollow chest.

"Scarlet, I'm fine. It's ok." He insisted, but i ignored him and continued to choke, wiping away any and all traces of blood.

His fingers tugged on mine, forcing me to stop. He brought my hand to his mouth and kissed the tip of each finger with his swollen and soft mouth.

"I'm sorry. I - I provoked him." I gasped, feeling the guilt eat away at me.

"No." He shook his head, wincing as the small gash at the side of his head ached. "He would have done it anyway. He always does."

Cooper made his way towards us and lifted Harry to his feet in one swift movement, and i scurried to my feet after them. Harry had a look in his eyes, a look of revenge - seemingly forgetting all about his injuries.

"What?" I asked as he pulled me into his arms, looking down at me with a cheeky smile.

"Well, he is chucking me out - i say we leave him a goodbye present." He smirked, looking over his shoulder at the three boys staring back at us.

"What do you mean?" I asked, nuzzling into his chest as i inhaled his familiar and safe scent. He smelt like home.

"I say we throw an early Christmas party and wreck the bastards fucking house. Maybe I'll even burn it to the ground. It's nothing less than he deserves." He spoke harshly, and i could tell there was no talking him out of it, and truth be told, i didn't want to.

"Do it." I replied.



The word of Harry's party had spread quickly and the house was now filled with both familiar and unfamiliar faces. I was feeling anxious and deflated, i still hadn't told Harry that i had heard his conversation with the boys, and now didn't seem like the appropriate time to bring it up. I shook the thought from my mind and downed the remainders of alcohol in my red, plastic cup. Everywhere i looked people were destroying items that looked extremely valuable, and Cooper was handing out Harry's dads expensive and foreign alcohol to anyone who passed by. Harry really had planned to take everything away from his father.

The music was loud and overpowering, making it hard to focus on anything else. Harry was with his friend, while i stood with mine. Liam was drunk and Belle was telling him off, while Jennifer stood a good distance away from me. I didn't want to talk about any of it, not tonight. Tonight there was no charlie, or murders or gangs. Tonight i was a normal teenager getting drunk with her boyfriend and close friends. Tonight i was having fun and letting loose. Tonight - i was free.

"Another drink?" Niall beamed, slipping another cup into my hand as he passed by.

"Thank you!" I called out, laughing as i brought the cup up to my lips.

He smiled and made his way back over to Harry and the rest of the boys, and that's when i noticed that Zayn was missing, and that Alexus was, too. I downed the contents of the new cup quickly and dismissed myself from my friends when i saw Harry wave me over. I slipped through the crowd effortlessly, suddenly feeling like i could float. Harry met me at the bottom of the stairs and was pulling me up them before i could even speak. He led me into his familiar, bright and warm room and kicked the door shut with his foot, clutching a bottle of water in one of his hands.

"Aren't you drinking?" I asked, giggling slightly as he threw the bottle onto the floor.

He shook his head once. "No, i need to be alert at all times. If I'm drunk i can't keep you safe."

I threw myself down on his bed and sprawled my suddenly numb body out. I felt weak and tired and lifeless, but i forced a smile onto my face for Harry's sake. He fell down beside me and pulled me into his chest, his warm lips instantly pressing against mine. He kissed me roughly and with need, forcing energy through my veins - suddenly making me more awake. I wrapped my arm around his neck and pulled him closer, deepening the intense and magical kiss. His lips made mine tingle and swell, my body molding into his as i surrendered myself to him completely.

"Did you love her?" I mumbled out, inintentionally.

"What?" He screeched, pulling his lips away from mine as he looked down at me with a stunned expression.

"J - Jennifer, did you love her?" I stuttered.

"Why would you even ask me that, Scarlet?" He asked, hurt laced in his tone.

I shrugged. "You lied for her. You made everyone think you killed Dylan. I don't know, it just seems like something someone in love would do."

He laughed once and shook his head again, nudging my head to the side with his nose. "I fucked hated her." He whispered into the crook of my neck. "I still fucking hate her. We - we were just sex, Scarlet. But i was the one who dragged her into this life in the first place. And Jack wouldn't have gone after her if it weren't for me. I owed her protection, babe. That's all. No love, no nothing."

I smiled, feeling somewhat relived that i really was his first love, as he was mine.

"I love you so much." I breathed, feeling like i never got the chance to say it first - he always beat me to it.

He pulled back and leaned up on his elbows, his fingers now tracing the outline of my features.

"I'm going to beat him, you know, Charlie? We're going to be ok, I promise you that. I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, because i love you too."

His lips just about touched mine again when the room door swung open and Zayn came charging in. His eyes were puffy and red and sore, and i could tell that he had been crying. Harry sat up on the bed and pulled me up with him. Zayn screamed, kicking the door with his foot.

"Whoa, Zayn are you ok?" I asked, jumping onto my feet.

"I fucked it up, Scar. I told Alexus i didn't want her, but i do. I just - I just - i wouldn't." He struggled to find his words.

"Harry, are you ok to drive?" I asked, looking over my shoulder.

He smiled and nodded his head. "Yeah, why?"

"Come on, we're taking Zayn to Alexus' and he's going to man up and tell her the truth. You promised, remember? You would talk to her if i talked to Harry? And that was six months ago." I said sternly, remembering the night of Alice's birthday party - the night i had told Harry we could never be friends, because i would want more. The memory made me smile.

"I don't know, Scar. She fucking hates me right now." He replied, breathlessly, but he was already making his way out the door.

I looked to Harry who was now rolling his eyes, grabbing his car keys off of the bedside table as he lowly chuckled. "When she kicks him out for being a prick, he's crying on your shoulder, not mine."

Harry's P.O.V

"Zayn, please just go in, we're here now." Scalet yawned, her eyes heavy and tired.

"Fine." Zayn huffed, forcing the car door open as i turned the corner and pulled into Alexus' driveway.

Zayn instantly got out of the car and slammed the door shut behind him, forcing his hands deep into his pockets before he slowly approached her front door. Scarlet and i watched on in silence as he rung the doorbell once and waited for a reply. Scarlet weakly pushed herself up and into a seated position as a light flickered on and the front door pulled open. Alexus answered and instantly pushed the door open wide, allowing Zayn to walk inside. The door closed over and both of them disappeared into the night.

I looked over to Scarlet who now looked pale and sleepily, her eyes dropping as sweat began to gather on her forehead. I reached out a hand and placed it on top of her head, searching for a temperature.

"Baby, are you alright? You don't look very well." I spoke quietly, and she nodded in return.

"Yeah, yeah. I just - i think it's the drink, I'm not used to it. I'm just a little sleepy, that's all." She whispered, struggling to get her words out.

"Do you want to go to sleep in the back? We might be here a while." I asked, and all she managed was a light and lifeless nod.

I stepped out of the car and made my way around to her side, pulling the back door open before i opened hers. I reached in and scooped her into my arms, and lifting her out of the passenger seat. I placed her in the back, positioning her body comfortably as he eyes drifted shut. She didn't get much sleep last night, she must be exhausted. I stroked her hair and pushed it out of her face before placing a kiss to the side of her head.

My phone began to vibrate in my pocket, so i slammed the car door shut and fished it out, bringing it up to my ear.

"Coop, what's up?" I yelled down the phone, unable to hear him past the noise in the background. The party was still in full swing by the sounds of it.

"Mate, where are you?" He screamed, sounding panicked.

"At Alexus' with Zayn, why? What's the matter?" I asked, walking further away from the car.

"It's Archie and Jack. They're driving around town looking for you apparently, you better get Zayn and get back here so we can fight if we need to." He insisted, sounding like my boss instead of my friend.

"Yeah, yeah, ok. I'm on my -

The phone fell from my hand when i heard the sound of a loud and explosive bang. I could smell fire in the air and taste the smoke in my lungs. I turned around, ignoring the screams that came from my phone on the ground when i saw that my car had caught fire. I was running towards the car, unable to think of anything other than getting Scarlet out of the car.

I coughed heavily and struggled to breathe, forcing the car door open as i screamed out her name in agony. I couldn't see past the smoke that had swallowed up everything in it's path, creating a grey darkness all around. I screamed out her name again, but got no reply.

"Please! Please, Scarlet!! I sobbed uncontrollably, climbing over the seats until i was in the back. I could feel her beneath me, but her body was still and limp. I kicked the back door open and wrapped my arms around her small frame, panicking when i smelt the potent smell of petrol. I knew that i didn't have a lot of time left.

I gasped rapidly, struggling to take a single breath as i pulled her out of the car and along the driveway, trying to get her as far away from the smoke as i possibly could. I fell to the ground and pulled her into me, she wasn't moving and i couldn't hear her breathe - i couldn't hear anything.

"Please, god, please. NO! NOT LIKE THIS. Not without a goodbye, please, please! Take me instead." My tears dripped onto her ash covered face as i clung onto her for dear life, sobbing uncontrollably as i rocked back and forth.

"Please don't leave me, baby. I need you."

I panicked when i saw the rising of flames, and then i remember the smell of dripping petrol. I had to move and i had to move now, otherwise she would die and so would i. I had to get her away from the car, but my body was now weakened itself.

"SCARLET?" Someone's voice i didn't recognize yelled out. "DID YOU KNOW SHE WAS IN THE FUCKING CAR? IF SHE DIES, I'LL KILL YOU."

"I thought it was just him. TOMMY - TOMMY NO! YOU CAN'T GO OVER THERE. TOMMY!"

The ground shook and i could feel it coming. I wasn't going to make it on time.

"HARRY?" Zayn's voice echoed in my ears.

"Zayn?" I choked out. "Zayn, help me - i think she's dea-

Boom.