The Art Student (Punk Harry Styles)

Chapter 8:

Harry's POV:

       I can't believe I am about to tell her this... I have never told anyone this. I sigh, preparing myself before I begin to speak. What if she tells everyone? What if someone finds out? The thought scares me but I push it away, I just think of her and how sweet she is. She wouldn't do that, right? I know she will leave once I tell her, everyone leaves, this will just be her excuse to go but, I just can't seem to think she will tell anyone even after that. She is just too good of a person. I take my final moment of silence before beginning my explanation to her as we walk the long walk to my home from the school.

        "Ok, well before I get into anything... I just want you to know that I have never told anyone any of this... so I'm sorry if I mess it up or you know, have trouble explaining." I say quietly to the pretty girl walking with me. She smiles sympathetically at me and nods at me to begin. I sigh and emotionally prepare myself for what I am about to do. Well... I have enjoyed the week I got with her.

        "Well... when I was ten, my mother died. It was really hard and I had a lot of trouble coping, and I still miss her a lot... but I don't really want to talk about that. Anyway, before my mother died, my-my dad h-he used to beat her. I mean... he would brutally beat her. I honestly don't know why, I suppose just because he has anger issues but that doesn't really seem like a good reason to me. Well... no reason is a good reason to beat the one you claim to love." I sigh and swallow my shaky voice before continuing.

          "So, when she died, he was really depressed. He started drinking... he became this horrible drunk. Worst than ever before. Before, my mother had passed she was given a large amount of money because her mother, my grandma, had passed away and she had left my mother all of her money. So, when my mother passed away, my father got all of that money... it's a lot of money. So, he quit his job and just started drinking. He is scared of running out of money so he sold our old house and we moved into this really small one bedroom home, and uh that's why I don't have a coat or food at lunch. He doesn’t spend money on me or give me any." I trail off feeling embarrassed.

          "I get bits of money here and there from people or I find it, and I usually save that to get a new tattoo, eye liner, or art supplies. Uh, my father likes to spend all of his money on alcohol. I guess months after my mother’s death the drinking wasn’t enough, the pain wouldn't go away or something because, he started... um h-he started to um beat m-me. I can't defend myself and some days are worst than others... but whatever, I survive. So, at one point when it got really bad... that's when I found that I could express myself through art and let off steam I didn't even realize I had." I smile a little at the thought of that first time I picked up a pencil and just started to draw.

          "Soon, I just started to do the same with the tattoos, and piercings, and eyeliner. I just expressed myself that way. My father hates me. He hated me before I looked like this and he hates me even more now. I have to be home on time every day. I'm not allowed to leave the house unless it's to go to school. If I want to go get a new tattoo or go to the park or the art supply store, I have to sneak out when he is passed out or at the bar." I laugh without humor at how ridiculous all of this is.

            "My room is the size of a closet... because it is a closet. I never want you to be near my house. It's small and I don't know what my father would do. I don't think he would hurt you... but I would never take that chance." I whisper to her. I hadn't noticed that we had stopped walking and we were also standing in the bad part of town, right in front of my house. I finally turn to her and look her in the eyes. Her face shows pure shock. "So, now you know everything. My life story." I whisper. She doesn't say anything. She just pulls me into a hug. Eventually I wrap my arms around her small body in return. I wasn't expecting her to do that.

             Her small, warm body feels nice against mine, it feels like home. She strokes my back, in an attempt to comfort me and she does. I smile into her hair and I try not to cry and be a baby in front of her. When we pull apart from one another, I am surprised to see that she is the one crying. "I support you, Harry. No matter what. I support you and I will help you through this and I-I just don't know what to say but... it's going to get better because I am going to help you and make sure that it does. You deserve so much better and I care about you." She says in between sniffles and sobs. I smile at her and with confidence that came out of nowhere I lean down and kiss her forehead and she doesn't pull away and she doesn't run she just smiles and laces our fingers together.

             I walk her to my front door. I told her that I didn't want her here, and I don't, but my dad’s car isn't here and I have to give her that picture of her at the park anyway. It's in my room. I don't want her to see my closet room either, but for some reason, I get the feeling that she won't laugh at it and maybe she might actually like what I have done with it. I open the front door and lead her through our cramped home with our fingers still intertwined.

          We make our way to my room and once I open the door, I let her in first. I can tell that she is scared to be here and I don't blame her, I will get her out of here once I get the picture. "I won't let anything happen to you." I whisper and she seems to relax like a weight has been lifted off of her shoulders. "Ok." She whispers back.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ok! All has been revealed! Did you expect it? Please let me know what you think of this chapter! I hope you liked it! Please vote and comment! :)

-Jena xoxo