Speechless (Harry Styles AU)

Chapter Fourteen: Part One

Chapter Fourteen

The cold whipped around me as Harry and I walked. He was a step ahead of me and keeping a swift pace. I could feel my body growing colder and colder but I didn’t slow my pace. I had an odd sense of premonition as we walked. If something was going to happen. It would happen soon.

As the school faded in the background Harry’s ridged shoulders began to lower and his pace slowed to a reasonable stride.

Harry soon fell into stride beside me, his shoulder rubbing mine with every step.

As the cool wind whipped past us I couldn’t help but take in the changing scenery. The bare tree branches dark against the pale gray sky, leaves rushing to and from alley ways as if they were searching for a place to hide where the wind could not rush them away, cracked sidewalks with faded chalk drawings of children, fading grass holding on to what every life it could manage in front of each house. The occasional car passing by, cats stationed in window sills their eyes closed in contentment.

There was so much of this town that I had yet to take in. It was so different from my old home. It was quaint and peaceful here. The town seemed to breathe in each moment holding onto it like it was its last. It was vastly different from my old town, busy streets, constant noise and chatter. Time seemed to always be rushing forward not caring if it lasted.

Turning back towards Harry I was met with his strong green eyes directed fully on me.

“What?” I signed slowing my pace even more.

Harry spoke, his voice matter of fact, “Let’s go to the park.”

I nodded slowly taking a deep breath in. I always had an apprehension about going into parks, my life had changed permanently in one and there was always a part of me that wanted nothing to do with them.

Harry’s arm went around my back as he guided me into the grassy park. The playground equipment stood lifeless in the woodchip field, the swings swung roughly in the wind, rocking back and forth like an invisible child sat pumping their legs.

Harry’s arm remained stationed around my back as we walked, his face pointed directly forward. He was on a mission and he wasn’t going to let me sway from it.

Finally Harry’s persistent stride ceased and we both halted in front of a small red park bench. Harry quickly removed his arm and walked the short ways around the bench and placed himself on it leaving a large spot open next to him

Reluctantly I did the same, going around the opposite side of the bench and taking my place there as far away from him as I could.

We sat in silence for what seemed like ages, only listening to the rustling of leaves on the ground and tree branches hitting one another.

“So are you ever going to tell me what’s going on?” Harry asked finally his voice disheartened.

I bit at the inside of my cheek at Harry’s words. I was unenthusiastic about telling him that I knew he had been in juvie. He was placed there for being violent, even though I hoped he wouldn’t turn on me there was still a part of me, buried deep within, that feared the worst.

A part of me that feared what Harry kept hidden.

Harry took a deep breath in and spoke again, this time anger seemed to itch at the edge of his voice, “Genevieve, if you weren’t planning on talking to me, why did you agree to come all the way out here with me?”

I could feel his eyes burning into the side of my face. There was something about Harry that scared me but there was also something about him that made me feel safe, safer than I had ever felt with someone besides my mother before.

Harry’s question rang true, why had I come with him today? Why hadn’t I just ignored him and gone into the school like a normal person would have. This friendship, no, this interaction that Harry and I paraded through each day was incomprehensible, there was no benefit to either of us continuing this. Harry was getting beat up and creating more rumors about him and I was making myself even more of an odd man out from the rest of the school.

I could feel my cheeks flushing red as Harry continued to look at me, his eyes scrutinizing every inch of my face, like they were trying to read the thoughts that were racing through my mind.

“Genevieve,” Harry started taking a breath in, but nothing followed.

The sentence he planned for me seemed to have been carried away with the wind leaving him staring at me speechless.

Turning my face away I watched a large squirrel scurrying around a tree, his gray tail flicking with each bound. His black eyes constantly moving, making sure his surroundings were safe. His tan eyes twitched with every noise that echoed through the air.

“I’m getting tired of this,” Harry snapped causing the squirrel to race up a nearby tree and my head to turn to face him.

His jaw was locked and his arms crossed in front of his chest. He was angry, it was written as plain as day across his pale face. He was through bargaining with me and he was now demanding that I respond to him.

“What do you want from me?” I signed in return equally as angry.

Harry let out a cross laugh and he responded, “I want you to tell me why you are keeping so many secrets from me?! I’m sick and tired of being lied to.”

I took a deep breath in and with the air that entered so did my anger. He had the audacity to call me a liar, to say that I was the one keeping secrets from him.

Rising to me feet I let my anger spill out through sign, “excuse me?”

Harry’s eyes widened as I stepped in front of him, “Genevieve,” he started trying to calm me but I quickly cut him off.

“No,” I signed harshly, “it’s my turn to talk.”

Harry sank down on the bench his eyes sheepishly turning up towards me.

“I’m not the one keeping secrets here, it’s you.” My signs were swift but I knew he understood them, “you’re the one that has been lying.”

Harry opened his mouth to defend himself but I glared down at him stopping his words before they even began.

“I had to find out that you were sent to juvie when you were 14 from google last night,” I watched Harry’s face contort when I mentioned his jail time but that didn’t stop my rant. “You were sent there for violence and drug charges Harry, that’s kind of something a person should know before letting them into their house, and I got to see how violent you are first hand with Ryan and Logan.”

I could see the anger flashing through Harry but I still continued, there would consequences when it was Harry’s turn to speak but at this moment I could have cared less.

“And what’s with you knowing ASL so well? That’s not a normal thing you pick up on harry, that takes years and years of practice. Why do you refuse to tell me?” I continued on with my rant, “and why are you so protective of me?! There is no logical reason behind that either, I moved here a week ago. You don’t even know me, why are you willing to put yourself in harm’s way to help me?”

Lowing my arms slowly I watched Harry, his eyes had sank down and he was staring at the ground, his body seemed weak, like all strength had left him, his pale green eyes were filled with an unexplainable amount of sadness.

His entire demeanor changed like it had when he entered my kitchen after getting that phone call from his sister. Like a huge, unbearable weight was placed on his back and it was crushing every inch of joy, hope and life that he possessed.

“Harry?” I signed reluctantly not knowing he was even able to see me.

Harry’s head rose slowly and I realized that his eyes were brimming with tears, his bottom lip was shaking but he slowly opened his mouth to speak in response to me, “Amelia.”

_____

Tomorrow.