Black Temptation

Chapter 16

The room falls completely silent without the endless beating that just ensued. Harry lifts from his lifeless body, taking my hand along with it. Staring seeps through my clothing and I feel bare. Fi bows her head as if she's respecting the master's decision to beat the crap out of the dude.

Why? And yet, my hand, clasped so rough, couldn't move away from this thing that possessed him only a few seconds ago.

"You should leave." I turn my head to see Macklemore, holding a towel on wet hands. His face now a bit protective. "Before the cops come."

Harry grabs my purse and hands it to me.

"I'll pay for this."

With a head nod of Micky Mac Patty Whack, we run down the steel steps and out of building. Harry pulls me faster through the parking lot, only releasing me and catching his breath when we reach the Audi.

"Wait, wait. Stop," I scream in protest before he can reach for his keys. "What just happened?"

Harry grabs his head, looking in the other direction as his face scrunches in concentration.

"I'll explain it to you when we are in the car."

He tries to grab my hand and I pull away.

"No, I want to know now. I forbid myself entrance into that car without you telling me what's up." I fold my arms like a spoiled child. He shakes his head as he breathes in.

"I just have some unanswered questions that he can answer but he chose not to."

"So you beat him?"

Harry urgently looks behind himself.

"Can we finish this in the car?"

"No! I want an answer!"

He sticks his hand in his pockets, sucking in his lips.

"I casually approached him and he threw the first punch."

"What's the history?"

I can see he's irritated. I may have done that on purpose.

"Please, McKenzie, just get in the car."

I want to speak, but hold my tongue.

Stop being so belligerent!

I weakly nod and he retrieves his keys. Unlocking the door, we both eventually get in and I stop him from turning up the radio. His fierce eyes gaze upon mine.

"You know, you aren't the only one who has questions. Questions dying to be answered. I know the feeling, trust me."

He lets go of the knob and starts to car.

"It's very simple. He knows where this certain person of interest may be and until I know that, I can never rest peacefully."

His vagueness not lessening by the minute. I tire of the constant riddles and choose a different topic.

"Does this certain person know the therapist of that waitress?"

He deeply chuckles at this.

"Aw, yes. Fi. Isn't she delightful?"

I avoid mentioning her tattoo which would point back to Susan and I would not let my subconscious go down that road.

"I heard your little confrontation in the bathroom." Harry states. I dart my vision to his.

"And you didn't stop her?"

He looks at me.

"Now, how would you feel? You are standing up for yourself and I step in to come and save you?"

I think about this, biting my lip slightly.

"Smothered." I say frankly.

"Exactly. You can very much handle yourself. But don't knock the idea. I did save you from drowning, and getting into a car crash, and just dying in general. But you know, minor details." He smirks.

I hold back a smirk and look outside my window, we reach the sign saying, "The City Of Music Awaits You." It's lights shinning slightly at the darkening sky.

"So what about--"

"Ooh, question city." He interjects, snickering.

"Well Styles," I say with a minor playful attitude. "I know of you. Now, I want to know you."

"But you hate me."

A pause silence over us before I speak.

"I hate the over bearing Harry, yes... But you did save me , you know, those minor details."

I catch a falling chuckle from his throat as he looks down at his jeans for a moment. That impenetrable stare returns to the road with rasped words.

"I only care to protect you. I want to protect you. I will protect you and I will save you, whenever, whatever, wherever...or die trying."

My face rapidly shoots to his but he doesn't dare look at me or move an inch. I think to say something, but what?

"Why?"

"You know Mckenzie, you lack certain people skills-"

"You'd be the one to say that..."

"Let me finish...you lack certain people skills, but I don't need to know you to know that you're a good person. I don't need to know you to know that you care about your family more than anything else on this earth. I don't need to know you to know that you'd give your life for the ones you love most. See, I would never do that. And that's why. You are my silver lining. You are that lemonade I crave so desperately right now. You can teach me to be whole again, to love. I need you. I need you to survive."