Fall (Harry Styles Fanfic)

Chapter 3- By Your Side

Autumn

I looked up at the sky awed to see it adorned by twinkling stars. It was so rare to catch any stars in the city with all the light pollution. I admired the silver-dotted sky tracing constellations with my fingers. The concrete floor under me felt like a sheet of ice. I wore cutoff shorts, a holey cardigan over a tank top and boots...definitely not enough to shield me from the wind gusts on top of this roof. But, strangely I wasn't cold. I felt numb, just staring at the pretty lights...I was floating, drifting peacefully.

Footsteps nearby pulled me out my hypnosis. I stood up irritated because I was being disturbed, yet curious of whom it could be. I felt dizzy on my feet. My stomach crumpled in on itself when I realized just how dark it was. I was able to see the stars because there were no lights on. Everything was pitch black except for the stars and moon above me. Everything was silent. The city that never sleeps was sleeping. The silence was deafening...I could hear my short breaths and the blood rushing inside my ears. There was also another sound, another set of lungs was breathing in the dark. Another heart was beating fast. The breaths were ragged, uneven with soft contained sobs. Crying.

"Who's there?" I asked softly taking a step forward, closer to the sound.

As I neared the edge of the roof the dark silhouette became clear. I saw the broad shoulders of a tall man. He was looking down at the drop from the skyscraper unaware of my presence. I watched him quietly not wanting to intrude. He had obviously come here to be alone. I felt guilty for witnessing a stranger in such a vulnerable, intimate moment. I turned around to leave before he would notice me, but the sound of boots against metal made me look back. I gasped when I saw what he was doing. He had climbed on the railings. His hands gripped the metal bars turning his knuckles white...they were the only thing keeping him from falling down into the abyss. A cry escaped my lips, but he didn't seem to hear it or chose to ignore it. The moon shined down directly on him bathing him in silver. In the light his face was beautiful, high cheekbones with eyelashes girls kill for resting on his cheeks as perfect white teeth bit down on plump pink lips. He was dressed in black. A damned angel. I expected great wings to appear on his back. He leaned his body further into the emptiness. The feeling of falling on my feet made me react. He couldn't fly. He was going to kill himself if I didn't stop him!

"Don't do it!" I screamed, but the wind gusts had grown stronger and they drowned out my voice. I yelled again calling out to the beautiful broken boy. I commanded my feet to run but they were two slow dragged iron balls.

One of his hands let go.

"PLEASE DON'T!" I cried with no use. I couldn't hear myself or move my limbs. I was incapable of saving the angel. I wanted to be by his side and pull him back to safety. I couldn't though. I was useless. I felt tears roll down my cold cheeks. I was kneeling on ice desperately screaming.

His second hand let go.

I shut my eyes bracing myself for the fall as if it was me who'd just fallen in the dead of night.

"Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you....happy birthday dear Autumn happy birthday to you!" Will sang hoarsely yet sweetly waking me up from my nightmare.

I opened my eyes slowly as he sang. The pillow under my cheek was moist with tears. I wiped the sleep out of my eyes, and sat up. Will sat down next to me with a toothy grin, and a tray of fresh pancakes with whipped cream, maple syrup, strawberries and a single lit candle in the shape of a star in the middle.

"Are you crying Stargirl?" Will asked.

"You're only nineteen. It's not that old." He teased. He was barefoot in his pajamas, grey sweats and white t-shirt. His black hair pointed in all directions. I smiled at him lovingly. I had had the worst night yesterday followed by a terrifying dream...I was grateful to be pulled out of the darkness.