A Change of Mind

Chapter two

Harry's POV

I woke up to find my hands sore and a bruise under my eye. There was always something to come back to, and this time it also came with some mysterious glances from Louis Tomlinson.

What had Ed been doing?

Marcel was quiet too, occasionally drifting off and staring blindly at things; as if he wasn't really seeing them in front of him. I wish I could ask him what was wrong but since I was in the middle of Chemistry I couldn't exactly ask the empty chair beside me if it was okay.

Plus this brunette down the front kept looking at me and giggling with her friend. Girls.

At times, they drove me up the wall with their constant texting, incredibly quick speech and bitchy attitudes. I mean, I liked girls, most of them anyway, I wasn't sure. I didn't like to label myself as bisexual or gay or pansexual. I was just Harry. And I found interest in guys as well as girls.

I glanced along the desk to see Edward leaning against the wall, eyes fixed on Marcel. His eyes were filled with a longing that I'd never seen before, brow dipped slightly as if he was desperately trying to figure something out. But again, I couldn't ask him. They were both on edge, and come to think of it, both avoiding each other's gaze - although I could see Marcel stealing glances at him.

"He's so weird!" ... "What is he staring at?" ... "Strange kid!" ... "Such a cutie!" ...

I rolled my eyes at the mix of comments.

I coughed. The group of girls looked up, blushed and ducked back down to giggle once more.

"Mar? Could you help me with this?" I breathed, not catching any unwanted attention.

I kicked the chair beside me gently causing Marcel to finally turn to me, eyes glassy and skin pale. He gulped and leaned over my text book, mumbling the answers under his breath and returning to staring out the window. I mindlessly scribbled down what I thought was right and got up to place my paper on the teachers desk along with the others. Some idiot stuck his foot out as an attempt to trip me up but I just missed it and only stumbled slightly and receiving a sneer from some students.

The last bell of the day rang out and I slowly packed away my things to avoid the chaos in the corridors. Apart from the teacher, I was the only one in the classroom.

"Who are we avoiding today Styles?" Mr Lawlor asked.

Shrug. "The usual."

He nodded and continued marking the essays, I stayed put until I was sure there was no one left to bother me; Marcel hated crowds.

I had to admit, their patterns and habits had grown on me. Even when one of them disappeared for the day, I still carried out the little things they always did. For Marcel, running my fingers through the long grass in the field behind our house on the walk to school. Burning the toast and using a spoon to spread the jam (Ed's strange habit - don't ask). I had stopped wishing for things to be different, to be normal and not have them constantly around. The doctors tried all sorts to help them stop but now I refuse to try and make then go away, I needed them. I didn't want them to go away. I wasn't going to send either one of them away, no, not after Amelia.

~

Marcel's POV (While Harry is still in control)

Harry kicked the chair beside me. I looked at him before what he had whispered finally sunk in, the questions were simple and I gave the answers to him quietly even though no one else could hear me.

Well, no one else besides Edward.

I swear, that lad, he was gonna get Harry in big trouble one day. And I would be there to pick up the pieces and deal with the punishment. I just didn't like seeing Ed fighting, he worried me.

The two of them meant a lot to me, baring in mind what had happened, and I hated seeing them get hurt. Especially Ed, he always ends up in the worst situations whether he likes it or not and I think he's come to terms with it.

I loved Harry like a brother, looking out for us, and Edward, I honestly didn't know how I felt about him. Like I said he means the world to me but there was something about the constant thrill that shot through me - shot through all of us cos of this weird link - when he got defensive, protective or angry. It gave me goosebumps and I would find myself feeling proud of him a teeny bit just because I loved how he stood up for what he thought and believed in, not taking crap from anybody.

And I knew better than anyone that underneath that bad boy attitude he was a broken shell. He was the lost and distant side of Harry, his 'dark side' you could say. But deep down all he wanted was to be loved and to love.

But he couldn't have that.

Because he was just a fragment.

A broken piece of mind.

Not able to hold a loved ones hand, feel the wind in his hair, kiss in the rain or make love.

Just like me.