Unpredictable Love

Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Harry's POV

I'm awoken by my cell phone ringing loudly throughout the room.

"Turn that shit off!!!" Niall screams from down the hall. I grab my phone and put it up to my ear.

"What." I say, in a rude, tired, voice.

"Harry, Jocelyn called me this morning..." My Mom says from the other line.

"Okay?"

"Harry, Karleigh's hurt." She says. My blood turns cold and my thoughts run wild like a fire. What happened? How? When?

"Harry?" My Mom repeats.

"Where is she?" I ask, panic filling my voice.

"She's at home, she refuses to go to the doctor. Jocelyn said she's in decent condition." My mom's words are so vague and I'm going insane trying to piece together this puzzle.

"What happened?" I demand.

"Jocelyn said, she was attacked."

The air in my throat closes up and my heart begins to race. I climb out of my bed and grab some khaki shorts from my drawer, along with a white shirt. From the other end of the phone, I'm barely aware of my mom still talking. Once my feet are inside of my converse, I respond to my gossiping Mother.

"Mom. I have to go." I say, and before she can object I hang up.

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My feet pace the driveway as I debate on whether or not I want to do this, go inside and see her. Of course I do, how could I not. With my last ounce of bravery I march up to Jocelyn's front door and ring the door bell. The door swings open and Jocelyn gives me a sad smile and gestures for me to come in.

"Where is she?" I ask, looking over her shoulder towards the hallway that leads to her bedroom.

"She doesn't really want visitors." Jocelyn tells me, and I roll my eyes. I step around Jocelyn and walk towards Karleigh's bedroom where I can hear muffled voices. Nervousness floods through me and I push her bedroom door open slightly. Karleigh is curled up in a ball on her bed watching something on her television, that I can't make out from here. Her hair is in a messy bun and a few loose strands hang in her face, but she looks beautiful as always.

I clear my throat and walk into the room and her eyes widen when she sees me and she pulls her covers over her head.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Her voice is muffled from the covers, and her words sting.

"Well, uh, your aunt let me in." I explain.

"I look like I was trampled in a heard of elephants. You can't be here." She says, and I chuckled. I move to take a seat on her bed, and I pull the covers away from her face.

"You look fine." I reassure her. You look beautiful. Is what I mean to say, but I'm a coward. Karleigh stares up at me through her lashes, and my heart nearly melts.

"What are you watching?" I ask her, to distract from the tension that was beginning to brew.

"Um, the Twilight Zone." Her voice is unreadable and I'm not sure how she feels about my current presence.

"Classic," I say with a smirk. At this point, I shouldn't expect any less from her, considering her taste in music. I kick my shoes off, and slide closer to her on her bed. Neither of us say a word, we just continue watching the show.

The episode comes to a conclusion and the infamous Twilight Zone theme song begins playing. My attention is no longer focused on the television, my eyes are glued to Karleigh. She's intently staring at the t.v. even though the only thing that's showing are the credits.

It's seems as though, she has a list of thoughts running through her mind and I wish I could read them.

"What?" She whispers.

"What happened yesterday?" I ask, afraid to know the answer. From the beneath the hem of her shirt sleeve I can see what looks like a bruise.

"This guy, h-he grabbed me." Her voice is shaky, and so is my heart rate. She turns to look at me, her eyes full of sadness.

Karleigh's POV

I don't know why I'm about to show him. My hand grabs the edge of my shirt and I lift it so Harry can have a clear view of my bruise.

I watch as he looks at the hand shape bruise, and he traces it lightly with his fingers. Involuntarily I shiver at his touch. Harry doesn't say a word, but I can the anger building behind his expression. He notices the bruise on my arm and he lifts up my sleeve, to get a look at it. He looks up at me and for once, I'm afraid.

His hand reaches up towards my face and I flinch. "Don't be afraid," he whispers, and I nod.

He touches my cheek and I know what he's observing, the red splotches on my jaw from Todd's harsh fingers.

"What kind of asshole--" he starts to say, but I cut him off. "It's no big deal Harry, let it go." I insist. His eyebrows furrow and I can tell that he's upset. "Please." I plead, but his expression barely softens.

"I've been thinking..." He starts and my heart picks up speed. I should've known this was coming, I've done nothing but push him away, he probably wants to settle this now.

"about what you said, and I decided." Harry tells me.

"About what?"

"You said 'for my own sake, I should go' well the answer is no. You don't get to decide what's best for me, and quite frankly I'm not worried about my sake." He says.

"What are you saying?" I'm confused by his explanations.

"I'm saying that unless you don't want me around anymore, I'm not leaving."

I nod and allow my eyes to flutter closed for a moment. If he insists on sticking around, then who am I to stop him. I'm too selfish to reject him again, and right now I have a burning need for him.

When my eyes open I lean in towards Harry. He doesn't move, just stays very still. Without hesitation, I press my lips against his mouth and relief washes through me. His lips against mine, ignites something in me and I realize how much I've been missing. Harry rests his hand on my neck and I cling myself to him. Tears stream down my face and Harry pulls away an I open my eyes to look at him.

"It hurts." I whisper and Harry grimaces.

He leans in and presses his lips against my jaw lightly. After a moment he leans down and kisses the bruise on my arm. I understand what he's doing, his kissing away my pain. That's what it feels like at least, with every kiss the pain fades a little more. Harry lifts my shirt up and his lips find the bruises on my hips. He kisses each one lightly and my eyes close again.

When Harry's kissed all of the markings, he rests his head against my stomach, his arms wrapping around my waist. I began to drift off to sleep, and I know that Harry being here will help me to sleep better. For a moment I open my eyes and glance at him, and his eyes are already sealed shut.