Fall

Chapter 6

"Are you okay?" His eyes immediately lowered to my level and started frantically scanning my body. "Did he hurt you?"

I wiped my nose with my hand and shook my head.

"No, no I'm okay..."

I noticed his eyes lowering to my neck and I knew he had seen the obvious mark that Jye had left from earlier. He chose to ignore it and his eyes came back up to mine.

"I can't- I can't go home-" I continued, my hands sliding into my hair and tugging lightly. 

I was so frustrated. I couldn't go home. He would find me and he would be even more pissed off about what just happened. I couldn't even begin to image what he would do to me.

"Do you have anywhere you could stay?" He considered.

No, I didn't. Jye was the only person I've had for a long time. Ever since him, I haven't had anyone. I wasn't allowed to talk to anyone, communicate with anyone. I didn't have my parents, friends, family. No one.

"No- He has a key- He, he can get in," I stuttered, my heart still racing.

"Well..." He paused, glancing around at the quiet suburb, his car still sitting on the road where he had almost collided with me.

"You could stay at mine, I guess? I don't want you to feel pressured, I just... I don't want you to get hurt..."

I really didn't want to see this boy be brought into this, but what else was I supposed to do? I didn't have enough money to stay at a hotel or rent an apartment and if I went back home he would take all of his anger out on me. After all, I was the one who ran from him and chose to take sides of the boy he already warned me to stay away from.

"No, that would be good," I said hesitantly.

I didn't even know this boy and here I was agreeing to stay the night at his house. He could be a cereal killer, or even worse, just like Jye.

"You can have my bed, I'll take the couch. I know I don't know the full story, but, I just want to make sure you're safe..."

"Yeah, I know... Thank you."

He smiled, not flashing his teeth, but big enough that his dimple showed.

"Okay, c'mon."

He offered his arm and I quickly tucked my arm around his and he pulled me close to him as we walked through the wind. The sky was quickly darkening and the wind was picking up, the temperature dropping. I tucked a strand behind my ear as the wind whipped my hair around my shoulders. 

When we finally arrived at his car that sat still on the road, he walked me to the passenger side and opened the door politely for me. When I was seated safely inside, he walked around to his side and climbed in. As he started the car, I stared out my window.

Through the tinted window I could see the dark apartment block and my white car that was parked out the front. I looked up at Jye's window and pictured him having a fit. Punching the walls, yelling, smashing objects.

And for once, I wasn't in the room experiencing it and I wasn't the one he would take his frustration out on afterwards.

My gaze was fixed out the window, silently watching as the world whipped past. Had I made a mistake letting this boy take me home? I didn't even know him that well, but I guess it was better than facing Jye again. I didn't even know his name. I didn't even know where he lived or if he was actually driving me to his house. He seemed nice, but what if it was all an act?

"I'm sorry, I don't know your name," he said awkwardly, glancing at me quickly before fixing his eyes in the road ahead.

"Brianna," I replied, staring out the window.

"I'm Harry."

I didn't know how to respond, so I nodded, knowing he probably didn't see it anyway. I didn't mean to make him feel uncomfortable or increase the awkwardness, I just wasn't in the mood to talk.

"So... Do you want to talk about it?" He asked, almost as if he'd read my mind and purposely asked me such an annoying question.

I sighed heavily. It was too long of a story and I was tired.

"Sorry, no," he interrupted before I could reply. "I shouldn't be intruding. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. It's a long story."

"He's your boyfriend yeah?"

I hesitated. "Yeah."

"How long have you two been together?"

"A while..." To be honest I didn't even know when we started dating. He just starting controlling everything I did and I went along with it. I didn't have a choice.

"We're almost there," he said.

I swallowed down the lump in my throat and hadn't realized my eyes had become glossy. Why was I so close to crying again? I guess I was scared. I shouldn't have run. I shouldn't have gotten Harry involved. I shouldn't have agreed to come home with him. I shouldn't be here. 

I should be living with a loving boyfriend in London, in our own apartment, watching stupid romantic movies and kissing a lot and cuddling on the lounge and being cheesy and being too stupidly in love. 

Not here, trying to escape from my psychotic "boyfriend" in a strangers car.

I flinched when I felt something heavy on my thigh and looked down at Harrys hand. We were stopped at a red light and his eyes were on mine while his hand squeezed my thigh.

"It's going to be alright," he said sincerely. 

I blinked a few times and nodded, silently confirming that I trusted him.

"Thank you."

I wanted him to keep his hand there, it was reassuring. But when the lights changed to green, it was gone almost as quickly as it come.