when we were eighteen - book one ✔️

Chapter Four

HARRY // OCTOBER 2016
Song of the Chapter: Ghost Town by Adam Lambert

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Harry was running. He couldn't breathe, fear owning his body. He tried to run from the bedroom to the exit of the flat, but he couldn't. He didn't make it in time. He was almost there, but didn't make it.

He grabbed him, his fist locking into Harry's curls. Yanking him back and pounding his face into the drywall next to the door. Gasping and feeling the warmth of blood trickle down the side of his face, he surrendered.

"You're mine now, HarBear," he growled, angrily into his ear.

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Gasping, Harry woke himself up so he didn't have to relive that night again. He drew in deep breaths, willing his heart rate back down. He noticed that the TV was off, and he clicked it back on. Cartoons, he needed them to ease his mind.

Harry was curled up on his bed, Winnie wrapped around his neck as she slept. He had napped for a good thirty minutes before waking from a nightmare. As usual.

He didn't sleep much these days, nightmares on top of a twirling little girl kept him up most nights. Luckily he had learned how to function on little sleep back when he was in University. Harry tried to calm his breathing as he stroked his sleeping kitten.

He decided to get up, carrying the clinging cat in his arms. He went into the kitchen to make some tea. He poured Winnie a bowl of milk and placed her on the counter, so he could use both of his hands.

Once it was done, he plopped down onto his couch and turning on the television. He tucked his legs underneath him and propped his belly on a pillow. He logged onto HBO and put on an episode of Game of Thrones.

Halfway through, he heard an unfamiliar shuffling. An icy fear pierced through Harry, making his stomach twist in an unpleasant knot, and he immediately sat up and reached for the can of mace in the side table drawer. Drawing a pillow to his stomach to somewhat protect his baby, he waited.

The shuffling stopped as the bathroom door closed and he heard the lock click into place. It was Louis, Harry thought as he sagged in relief. He tucked away the mace back into its place in the drawer.

A few minutes, the bathroom door unlocked and the shuffling footsteps came down the hallway. Louis appeared in front of Harry, his clothes pressed, his hair disheveled, and eyes heavy with sleep.

"Hi, did you nap as well?" Harry asked, a little laugh cutting off his question, as he paused the episode.

"Yeah," Louis answered with a yawn. "What are you watching?"

"Game of Thrones. Have you watched it?"

"No, always wanted too. Never had the money for cable back in college. Niall and I shared a Netflix account. They didn't have it on streaming," Louis answered, rocking on his heels.

"You can sit down, Louis. It can't be comfortable just standing there," Harry laughed. "Well, if you want, you can watch it here."

Louis fidgeted with his hands for a moment before he walked passed Harry and sunk down on the couch, sitting as far away as possible. He folded his legs up to his chest and murmured, "If you don't mind, I'd like that."

Harry smiled at him, "I don't mind at all, Lou. Let me make us some popcorn and we'll get started."

Standing in the privacy of the kitchen, Harry felt a rush giddiness. His hand came to his mouth as he muffled his girly screech. He hoped that Louis didn't hear that, he just couldn't help the feeling that overcame him, maybe it was pregnancy hormones. He knew he couldn't let his full guard down, because of his baby.