Boys like you *Harry Styles*

Chapter 32

The moonlight shining through the window cast a dark shadow across a sleeping Harry's back. I stayed still, enjoying the feel of his arm draped across my stomach. The sides of my lips twitched as his lips parted and light, peaceful snores escaped. I reached my hand out and pushed back his curls with the tips of my trembling fingers. Vulnerable. That's what he was. No on understood it, but I did. He lashed out and got angry because he was scared and he was just...vulnerable.

The sound of hushed whispers coming from the hallway made my head snap up, curiosity running through my veins. I lifted Harry's hand and wiggled out from under his grip, wincing when he called out my name in his sleep, his fingers clutching around the bedsheets. I watched him for a moment, trying to imagine what my life would be like if I had never met him. It would be normal, I thought. Normal but so deeply empty. I don't regret meeting him for a single moment, no matter what the outcome. He's mine and I'm his and no amount of distance will ever change that.

I leaned over the bed and placed a sloppy kiss to his cheek before tiptoeing towards the door. When I pulled it open I immediately bumped into Amber, who was grinning widely, blushing when she saw me stare at her in amusement. I could hear Cooper talking, and when I looked to my side I could see him on the stairs, phone pressed to his ear, but he was too far away for me to hear what he was saying clearly.

"I thought Cooper was sleeping on the couch." I teased, unable to hide my smile.

"Erm, well - he was, but - I." She stuttered, rubbing the back of her neck nervously.

Dimples indented my cheeks with joy. "You like him, don't you?" I beamed, slightly nudging the both of us away from the bedroom door, careful not to wake Harry.

I liked having Amber around. She reminded me what it was like to be a carefree teenager who could laugh with her friends about boys. I just wish Harry felt the same way, but I understand why he can't bring himself to trust her. She is, after all, the enemies daughter. Nothing will ever change that in Harry's mind, which is sad. Really sad. That he is so unable to trust those who deserve it most.

She grabbed onto my arm and pulled me aside, wide eyed and red cheeked, hushing me into silence. "Yes. OK." She laughed, shaking her head, flowing chestnut hair cascading around her shoulders. "I like him." Her smiled soon faded, only to be replaced by a look of disappointment.

"Then why do you look like you're confused? You like him. That's a good thing." I nudged into her side playfully trying to lighten the mood, but it didn't.

She sighed heavily and rubbed her temples heavily with the tips of her long, skinny fingers. Her deep chocolate eyes bored into mine through the deep darkness and held a certain sadness I had seen once before in Harry's eyes. It was the sadness one had when they had given up hope.

"It's never going to happen, for many reasons. For one, he keeps dropping the word 'friend' into every conversation and constantly talks about how he prefers being alone." She whisper-screeched, flustered.

I rolled my eyes at the thought, knowing Cooper only did those things in defence, because he was scared. He was scared of the feelings he had for her, and trust me, he had them. "Amber. Boys don't look at girls the way he looks at you when they're just friends. He cares, ok? You just have to give him and his foolish pride time to admit it." I smiled reassuringly, but she didn't seem any calmer.

"Yeah. Well, what do you do when the boy you're falling for is trying you kill your dad? And sure, I hate my dad but could I really ever be with someone who was involved with his death? Could I really do that?" Her words hit me like knifes, I hadn't realized that fact before.

I was just about to reply and ask her if she was really of with us plotting against her dad - If she really hated him that much that she would be OK with loosing him - when Cooper jogged up the stairs and hurried towards us. His eyes watched her calmly for a few moments, dancing with delight and sparking with fire, before they turned to me with urgency.

"Scarlet, It's Tommy!" He huffed out, struggling to catch a breath. My heart pounded against my chest and ached uncontrollably at the mention of my fallen friends name. Tommy, I thought to myself. Poor Tommy. I hadn't had time to process that he was gone and I knew that when I did, I would fall apart.

I shivered and shook my head, pleading with him to stop talking, scared of what he might say next.

"Scarlet, he's alive." Cooper spoke clearly, his tone steady and clam now, the words replaying in my mind like a broken record. He's alive. He's alive.

"W-What?" I gasped, eyes wide with anticipation as my heart wrenched. If this was a cruel jokes, It wasn't funny.

"Clyde just heard it from Lana. I don't know how she found out but it's true. He was found at the side of the road, he was badly injured but apparently he discharged himself from hospital a few hours ago." The words he spoke forced air back into my lungs, clearing my clouded mind.

"Oh. Thank god." I mumbled to myself, smiling weakly, resting my back against the wall when I felt my legs turn to jelly.

I sucked in a breathed and then I thought of Harry and how in a few hours he would be leaving me. I jolted upright and started deeply into Coopers trust-worthy eyes. "So, he's OK? He's safe?" I asked, needing to hear it again.

"Yeah. He's OK." Cooper replied, breathing in a sharp breath when his hand lightly touched Ambers.

I shook my head and ignored it, determined. "Ok. Then if he's ok I don't need to hurry back. I can do what I need to do to fix this mess."

"Mess?" He questioned, shaking his head, confused. "What mess? We're here, you're safe."

"Harry is planing on going back to work for Charlie, Coop!" I yelled, feeling relived that I could finally share it with someone else."

All colour drained from Cooper's face, making him look like he had just seen a terrifying ghost. The dark circles under his eyes were prominent now and his lack of sleep showed. He looked at me as if I had just slapped him across the face, but I chose to continue anyway, against my better judgement.
"It's a deal they made in exchange for my life. He didn't bring us here to hide, Cooper. He brought us here to say goodbye." I held back my tears and spoke breathlessly with terror behind my eyes. "I need your help to stop him from leaving. I have a plan. It's stupid and it's idiotic, but it's a plan."

He looked at me in astonishment and pulled himself away from Amber, pacing back and forth. Running his fingers through his hair, he stopped and pulled on the ends as he turned to face me. "A plan?" He scoffed, throwing his hands in the air. "Fuck your plan. You don't think he'll know what you're up to? He'll know." He snapped, causing both myself and Amber to gasp.

I had seen him lash out at the boys once or twice, but I never imagined he'd snap at me.

I blinked at him, bewildered. He charged forward and before I could stop him he was bursting into the room where Harry was fast asleep. Amber grabbed onto my arm and we hurried in behind him. He pulled back the covers and shook Harry furiously, screaming profanity. He was in a trance that no one could snap him out of.

"GET UP!" He screamed, stepping back when he heard Harry groan.

He sprinted across the room and began shoving Harry's belongings into a bag. Harry shot up and adjusted his eyes, cursing under his breath when he saw what was going on.

"What did you tell him?" Harry asked, his sad eyes meeting mine.

"Everything." I mumbled, feeling foolish.

"Coop." Harry began, taking a step forward.

"You're a fucking idiot.!" Cooper scoffed. "A really big fucking idiot. Get your clothes on. Now."

Harry sighed and turned to me. He looked so exhausted and so defeated. He scratched his bare chest. "Wait outside, please." He pleaded, but I shook my head.

"No." I whispered. "He's right. You're an idiot."

Harry nodded in defeat and turned back to Cooper, who was now staring at Harry impatiently, tears in his eyes. He hid his face when he saw Amber and I stare, embarrassed that we had seem him so fragile.

"Are you going to put clothes on or do I have to drag you outside in your boxers?"

"I'm not going anywhere, Cooper." Harry demanded.

Cooper stepped forward and pressed his chest to Harry's, his nostrils flaring in anger. "You're not going back there. No fucking way, Harry." Cooper's eyes filled with terror, and it made me wonder just how brutal working for Charlie really was.

"I am, Cooper." Harry gritted his teeth, forcing Cooper away. "I have to go."

"You don't have to do anything. But you know what, go ahead. Be the person you used to be, see if she still loves you then." Cooper spat, forcing the bag he held in his hands into Harry's chest.

Cooper pushed past him with force, making Harry almost lose his balance. As Cooper walked towards the door Harry threw the bag down and clenched his fists into balls by his sides.

"What did you mean by that? See if I'll still love him then...What did you mean?"I choked, blocking a red-faced Cooper's path.

"You know what they say, Scarlet." He spoke with sympathy. "The Harry that worked for Charlie was exactly what they used to call him; The devil with no heart. He cared about no one and nothing."

Harry looked over his shoulder with heartbroken eyes. "I cared about you, didn't I? Like a brother."

A tear slid down Coopers lightly tanned cheek. "Leave all you want but I'm just going to find you. I'm going to find you and I'm going to kill that vile piece of scum."

"Don't. It's no use. He always wins." Harry insisted. "Just look after Scarlet for me." Harry whispered, like he were asking his brother to keep his girl safe from harm.

Cooper nodded in understanding and sniffled loudly, wiping away his tears on his arm, but the look in his eyes was one of determination and it gave me hope that he wouldn't give up so easily. That he would find him.

"Bye, Coop." Harry smiled weakly, his dimples showing ever so slightly.

"Yeah. Bye." Cooper mumbled angrily, furious that there was nothing he could do to stop his best friend from leaving.

He stormed out the door and Amber followed, leaving me to comfort a broken Harry even though I agreed with everything Cooper had said.

Third Person.


Cooper bit down on his lower lip to keep himself from screaming out in frustration. The taste of salty and cold blood now filling his mouth as he angrily wiped it clean with the back of his hand, streaking his tanned skin with blood.

He knew what would happen if Harry left. Charlie would turn him into a monster like he had done the first time. Like he had done with so many other young boys, Cooper included. Cooper was always the type of boy to look for trouble, to fight his anger away. But even he couldn't cope with the brutality and cruelty Charlie forced upon them. He saw what happened to Harry the first time and he feared that it would be worse the second. He remember the days when Harry was Charlie's right hand man clearly. Cooper couldn't believe how heartless Harry became when he stood beside Charlie. It was like looking at a younger version of the devil himself.

Amber rushed into the bedroom behind him and quietly closed the door over. She spun around and stopped in her tracks, admiring him from a short distance. He placed his palms against the wall and threw his head back, and she couldn't help but notice the way his muscles tensed and twitched beneath his skin. The only thought that was running through her mind was that she had never been so drawn to someone in her entire life.

He closed his eyes over and mumbled under his breath, sensing her overwhelming presence. He found it strange. How usually when you like someone they have the ability to make you calm, but Amber didn't make him calm, she mad him crazy and erratic. She made him even more worked up than he was before.

"You should go." He whispered harshly.

She shook her head and took a step closer, her heart beating faster when she saw him flinch.

"Are you all right?" She asked, gulping down heavily when she saw his eyes flicker open.

He dropped his hands and turned around to face her, shrugging. "Yeah. Why wouldn't I be? I'm used to it. It happens all the time."

"What does?" She questioned, curious.

His head tilted to the side, his starlight blue eyes glistening with held back tears. "People always leave. Only now I guess I really don't have anyone." He spoke breathlessly, like his throat was closing.

She felt a pang of sympathy and stepped closer once again, the distance between them fizzling away. He stepped back subconsciously, forcing her to come to an abrupt stop. "I won't leave."

"You will, because I will do everything I can to push you away, I can't help it. It's just the way I am." He demanded, eyes hard and jaw set. And then, almost like a scared child, he whispered, "I won't let you close enough to hurt me."

"See that's your problem." She yelled, stealing his full attention. "You think everybody is going to hurt you and that's why you can never be honest with anyone."

He step towards her and stood so close she could smell the smell of his clean, fresh aftershave. It was a smell she had become accustom to ever since he walked into the café where she worked. "So, that's what this is about, us?"

He breathed heavily. His warm and minty breath tingling her skin. She stayed silent, her eyes locking on his. Deep brown to clouded blue. "What do you want me to say, huh?" He croaked, strangling out his words. "Do you want me to tell you that I never stop thinking about you? That I want nothing more than to..." He paused.

"To what?" She asked, pleading. "To what, Cooper?" She screamed, gasping as he forced her backwards.

Her back slammed against the wall, his body pinning hers down. He restrained himself only just, forcing himself not to kiss her, but her delicious brown eyes were daring him to do it. She licked her dry lips, gasping for air as he placed his hands either side of her head, leaning down. He hesitated, struggling with his inner fears.

Reaching out she gripped the back of his neck with her hand, forcing him closer. She smiled at the feeling of his soft skin under her finger tips. He watched her every move, studying every last detail. He knew what was coming next, and his smirked matched the way he felt inside; excited and willing.

"You're impossible." She laughed, standing on her tip toes, kissing his jaw sloppily.

"Are you trying to torture me?" He mumbled, feeling her lips against his jaw, teeth against his skin.

She pulled back and smiled, raising her eyebrows playfully. "You're torturing yourself, Albano."

It all happened so fast. One minute his eyes were open and the next they were shut. He couldn't stop himself. His lips brushed against hers teasingly slow. His hands fell to her sides, fingers gripping at her waist while her arms wrapped around his neck, forcing their lips to connect. The feel of his soft, rough, full lips caused her to moan, spurring him on ever more.

Nothing could stop them now.

Clothes scattered around the room. Skin pressed against skin. Fingers wandering and hearts racing.

This was a night neither of them would ever forget.


Harry and Scarlet sat at the end of the bed on the floor, staring into nothingness as they stayed in silence. The sun was out now and Scarlet knew time was moving quickly. She leaned her head to the side and allowed it to rest on Harry's shoulder. He choked, pressing a kiss to her forehead. He couldn't believe that in one short hour he would be saying goodbye to her. He couldn't believe it had come to this.

They had been sitting like this for hours now, both of them too afraid to speak.

They both looked up when they heard footsteps and laughed when Zayn rushed past the door in nothing but his boxers, rushing to the bathroom as Alexus chuckles echoed around the house.

"At least someone is happy." Scarlet breathed, sliding her hand into Harry's.

Harry tightened his grip around her fingers and pulled her into his side. He sighed heavily and whispered in her ear. "You do know that if I could stay I would, right?

She looked up, her eyes clouded with confusion and hurt. "You can stay." She insisted.

Harry shushed her, wrapping his arms around her, resting his chin on top of her head. She snuggled into his chest, cherishing every last moment, touch and smell. "You'll still be mine, we'll just be apart."

"No." She cried, clinging to him tighter. "You don't get it. Once you go with him you wont be my loving boyfriend any more, you'll be one of his monster. I would rather die than watch him ruin you."

Harry's heart ached at her words. Monster, he thought. I'll be a monster again. He released her from his grip and scrambled onto his feet, shoving on clothes as he paced across the room. He looked up at the clock on the wall; he only had ten minutes left. He held back his tear and cries of devastation. The idea that he was leaving her and would never see her again was yet to kick in. He couldn't imagine it.

"Please don't go." Scarlet begged, staring up at him with tear filled eyes, droplets of water spilling down her pale cheeks. "Stay. We can fight him."

Harry made his way over to her and held out his hands. She took them and he pulled her onto her shaky feet, nudging her into his chest. He took her chin between her fingers and wiped away her tears. It broke his heart to see her like this. He just wanted her to be happy. With or without him.

"I don't have the strength to fight any more. When he hurt you, he killed me. I won't let that happen to you again. I just won't." He pressed his forehead to hers, closing his eyes over when he heard the sound of a car horn beep; it was time. Charlie had come for him, and he was waiting.

Sobs raked through Scarlet's body, cries escaping her cracked and sore lips. She shook her head and warped her arms around Harry's neck, once again kissing him like it was the last time she ever would.

They broke apart and Scarlet looked away, now aware that there were eyes on her. Zayn, Alexus and Amber stood in the doorway, all of them wearing sympathetic smiles. Harry smiled back at them weakly, but his eyes were searching for the one person who wasn't there.

"Where is Cooper?" He asked, his eyes instantly drifting to Amber's.

"He said he couldn't watch you do this. He went for a walk a while ago." She admitted, looking to the ground when she saw a painful sadness in Harry's eyes.

"Don't let him look for me." Harry demanded. "He'll get himself killed. You all just need to let me go."

He looked between Scarlet and Zayn. Zayn nodded, but Scarlet ignored his words knowing fine well she would look for him. How could she not? Harry pulled Scarlet close once more and placed a final kiss to her lips as tears poured out from behind his lids.

"I love you." He whispered, wincing with inner pain as she clung to him, trying to get him to stay.

It pained him to place his hands on her shoulders and push her away, but he had to do it. She kicked and screamed and reached out, trying to hold onto him for as long as she possibly could, but see was too weak to fight with him. Harry gently pushed her in Zayn's direction, forcing Zayn to hold her back.

"Please. Please don't go, I need you." She cried out, watching as he took hold of his bags.

He bit down on his lower lip and charged towards the bedroom door, unable to look anyone in the eye as he pushed past them and headed for the stairs. "Tell Cooper to keep her safe." He said to Zayn, looking over his shoulder one last time to see Zayn holding Scarlet back.

"I love you." Scarlet mouthed, too broken to speak.

He ran down the stairs as a tear rolled down his cheek and he never looked back. The black Rolls-Royce was parked by the entrance of the house, the window rolled down as Charlie stuck his head out of it, smirking, knowing he had won. The back door swung open and Harry slide inside, slamming the door shut behind him. He felt like he couldn't breathe. This was all too familiar.

There was a boy in the back. He couldn't have been much younger than Harry. Harry found the way the boy stared at him odd. His brown eyes watching Harry like Harry were some kind of god he had heard stories about. Harry looked to the front just as Charlie looked over his shoulder.

"I'm glad to see you didn't fight me on this, Harry. I assume you said goodbye to your friends and, of course, the beautiful Scarlet." Charlie chuckle sinisterly, as the did the boy in the back-seat who only smacked his lips shut when Harry glared at him angrily.

"I did as you asked. Now can we go. Please." Harry begged, wanting to be as far away from here as possible. It was taking every ounce of strength he had not to run back inside the house and into Scarlet's arms.

He had just broken her heart and it was killing him inside.

"Don't worry, Harry. You won't see Scarlet ever again but I can guarantee that you'll see that nuisance you call a best friend." Charlie tilted his head to the side, a sick and twisted grin now tugging onto his thin lips.

Harry sat forward, confused and nervous. "Cooper? What does he have to do with this?"

Charlie's smile faded and was soon replaced with a look of cold, hard, evil. His eyes looked almost black even with the sun burning into them. He reached his hands up and straightened out his black leather gloves that had traces of fresh blood on the finger pads.

"I hear things. Like how stupid little Cooper is pursuing my daughter, who, I assume is in that house tight now but I'll leave her be. I'm sure she feels guilty enough for plotting against me." His nostrils flared, but other than that he remained scarily calm. "See my daughter may think she hates me, but I love her. And if that boy puts his hands on my on her I will kill him." There was a look in Charlie's eyes as he spoke that chilled Harry to the bone. It was a look of death and despair; it was cruelty.

Charlie had already decided Cooper's fate.

Harry fell back into his seat, struggling to catch his breath. This can't be happening, he thought to himself.

"Now, lets go and introduce you to Al, shall we? It's time for you to prove your loyalty."

Harry nodded his head and in a split second - as the car pulled out of the drive - he left it all behind.

He was never coming back. He was never going to see her again, and he had to accept that.

He wasn't Harry any more. He was the devil with no heart.