Don't Let Me Go

Chapter 12

I turned around so fast I thought I might fall over.

"What secret," I replied trying to play it off as best as I could. I heard my voice falter a bit, I hoped Zayn didn't hear.

He started to laugh. It wasn't a playful laugh either. It was the kind of laugh that made your skin crawl and was as dark as the sky on a starless night.

"Don't try to play it off because it won't work. I've known since day one you were as slimy as that brother of yours."

My eyes grew wide. I couldn't believe this was happening. I couldn't tell if I wanted Harry to leave me for good or if I wanted things to go back to normal. Movie dates on the couch and not worrying about when your dangerous brother would bring chaos to your life again.

"Don't worry sweetie Harry doesn't have to know if you cooperate."

"What do you mean cooperate?"

"Harry doesn't have to know about your little secret if you help me. I have a lot of work and I need someone to help me, keep me company too," he said with such a disgusting smirk I felt my stomach twist into knots.

I felt my face go pale and my stomach in my throat. My arms were limp at my sides and my legs were jelly, not letting me run. I wanted to run away. I wanted to run away from Zayn. I wanted to run away from my messed up family. I wanted to run away from these swarming thoughts of Harry constantly in my brain.

"Just give it some thought love. You may actually end up agreeing to this," he said sending a wink my way before leaving me standing alone in the hallway.

As I stood in the hallway bone-chilling shivers were sent down my spine and I felt exposed. I felt as if I was standing naked in a crowd and everyone was laughing at me. All I wanted to do at this point was curl up into a ball and cry.

I called Stephen letting him know Id be at his house in 10 minutes. I wouldn't take no for an answer. I walked as fast as my bony legs could carry me. When I reached Stephen's door I knocked as hard as I could not stopping till he opened the door. I flung myself into his arms and only managed to let a chocked out "sorry" slip from my Autumn chapped lips.

He tried several times asking me what happened and all I could do was choke out sorries. He eventually picked me up and brought me to his room, sitting me on the bed. I crawled out of his hold and told him everything, well almost everything. I decided to leave the part about Zayn out.

He racked his fingers through his soft, blonde hair, letting out a sigh.

"I think it would be best if I called some of uh my friends to keep an eye on you."

He didn't need to say it, we both know what friends meant. He was in a gang, just like my best friend, who I was slowly falling out of love with lie after lie. No matter how hard I could try to run away from things they wouldn't go away. All of this added up to the moron who thought forming the first gang was a good idea.

I felt arms wrap around me. I silently wished they were Harry's even though I knew they were Steven's.

"It'll be okay, I won't let anyone touch my baby sister."

"Stephen?"

"Yeah?"

"Does mom live with you?"

I watched his face fall a little and the glint in his eyes fade.

"She's always on business trips. She isn't around much, neither is Dad."

I felt that it was only fair that since I met my brother I should meet my parents. I said a simple goodbye before leaving the house I should have grown up in.

By the time I reached home Grace was frantic. Saying she was to call the cops to come find me, the usual parent freak out. I told her I was sorry and walked up to my room. Might as well do homework since I'm so far behind. I was about half way through the stressing stack of papers when a head of curls submerged in my room. He stood awkwardly at my door, looking as if he had a loss of words.

"Where were you?"

"Don't worry about it Harry."

"Just because things are different now doesn't mean I'm not your best friend."

"Best friends wouldn't lie about that kind of stuff."

I stared at Harry who's eyes were now almost black. He let out a frustrated scream before slamming my door shut. All I could do was stare at the door and blink away tears. Never would I imagine my life as this.

I decided to fix it. I grabbed my oversized utility jacket and put my phone in the pocket of it. I walked down stairs and straight through the door. Nobody would notice. Don't get me wrong I love Grace but she's not around enough. Harry was probably too busy with his own thoughts to worry about mine.

As I walked through the darkness I felt my stomach twisting in ways only silly-puddy could. The crisp air hit my face leaving my nose pink.

I finally stopped and looked at the big brick house sitting in front of me. It's now or never. I walked up into the porch and knocked on the jet-black door a couple of times before stepping back.

I felt my lungs go tight as he opened the door. It's now or never.

"I'll do it."

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