Protect Me (Harry Styles)

Chapter 19

Bailey's POV

My heavy eyelids droop as I sit comfortably on Harry's lap.

"Go to sleep baby," I hear Harry say softly.

"No, I'm not tired," I reply, rather groggy.

The truth is that I'm utterly exhausted, but I don't want to go to sleep. Seeing Claire again has put me on edge and I'm terrified to fall asleep. What if she comes after me during my weakest state?

"Sweetheart, I can tell you are tired. Your eyes are barely staying open. Go to bed," he says, rubbing my cheek with the pad of his thumb.

I shake my head no.

"Bailey, why don't you want to go to bed?" Harry asks me.

"I'm just not tired," I shrug.

"That is a terrible lie. Tell me the truth," he demands calmly.

"I'm scared," I admit, quietly.

"Scared of what?"

"I'm afraid Claire will attack me in my sleep or something. It can't be a coincidence that I've seen her again. I know she is following me, Harry," I say. 

"You know I wouldn't let anyone hurt you," he replies.

"But what if she is a Dark. She will surely have backup if she tries to come after me."

"No amount of backup can keep me from protecting you," he says, leaning down and pressing his soft lips to mine.

As we detach our lips, I wrap my arms around his neck. Instinctively, he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me closer to him.

The entire house is silent as we sit on the couch, holding each other.

"Harry?"

"Hmm?"

"Could I sleep with you tonight?" I ask.

"Of course angel, let's go to bed," he says, unwinding our arms and standing up from the couch.

I follow closely behind him as we walk up the stairs.

I turn my head and look out the window that is set in the kitchen. I continue walking up the stairs only getting a quick glance, but with that quick glance, I see two red eyes. I run back down the stairs to allow myself to see through the window again.

Nothing is there. No red eyes. Just the black night.

"Bailey?" Harry's voice sounds from farther up the stairs.

I don't reply. Instead, I stand there, frozen and dumbfounded. I know my eyes did not deceive me; I saw two red eyes staring into the window.

I then feel Harry's hand gently grab my upper arm.

Turning to look at him, I ask, "Did you see that?"

"See what?"

"The eyes."

"What eyes? Bailey what are you talking about?" he asks.

"When we were walking up the stairs, I looked out of that window," I say, pointing to the kitchen window. "I then saw two red eyes staring inside. But when I ran back down here to see them again, they were gone," I explain.

"Nothing is out there. If something or someone was, I would hear them," he replies.

"I know what I saw though, Harry."

"You're tired which means your eyes are more than likely playing tricks on you. Just forget about it babe, it was nothing," he says, kissing my forehead then continuing to walk up the stairs.