Run (A Finn Harries Bad Boy fanfiction)

PROLOGUE

It was daytime, though the sun was not able to shine through the thick clouds.

I held onto his hand, grasping onto it as if my life depended on it, and frankly, it did. He led us through alleys and streets, occasionally squeezing my fingers, reassuring me. Soon I heard the familiar rush of cars and as we turned the next corner, I saw a main road on the other side, about 20 metres in front of us.

Suddenly Finn stopped walking, causing me to bump into him from behind. I realised how close I had been walking to him. His sticky t-shirt, drenched in sweat, clung to his back.

He turned around letting go of my hand and pulling me to him, placing his hands on my waist. A few silent moments passed. I knew his eyes were staring down at me, and his breath fanning my face in an unsteady manner.

"Are you alright?" he asked me. I nodded, laying my hands on his chest, feeling his chest rise up and down. He took one hand from my waist and brought it up to my chin, using it to gently tilt my head up so that I had to look him straight in the eye. Those eyes. Those green eyes. They're the kind of eyes that you look into, and you know that everything is going to be alright.

Finn moved a loose strand of my dry hair behind my ear before bringing his hand down to cup my cheek. I leaned into his touch. He scanned my face, his eyes deep with concern, looking
for any kind of injury.

"Are you sure?" He asked again, running the pad his thumb over an open cut near my lip.

"Yes" I said, my voice barely a whisper. Finn smiled. And oh, that smile. It was one of those smiles that you had to reciprocate, and so I couldn't help but smile back at him.

It seemed like hours before he said what he had to say next, and somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew it was coming, because he would not have stopped us here for nothing. He just kept staring into my eyes, and I could not look away.

"You and I both know I have to go back there," his voice lowering as his hand caressed my cheek.

"No" I said, closing my eyes, although this time my voice was stronger.

He sighed and brought his hand down so that he could wrap his arms around my waist, our faces inches apart. "Fray, you don't understand how much I hate myself for bringing you into this," Finn started, his eyes becoming glossy with each word he spoke, "I knew from the moment I met you that this was coming, but I was too selfish to actually do something about it until a few days ago." Tears slipped out of his eyes down his dry cheeks, and I lifted my hands up from him chest to cup his face and brush them away.

"No, Finn, this isn't your fault, this is no ones fault, we choose our own path. You chose me, and in return, I chose you." I was close to tears now, choking back my own sobs. His arms tightened around my waist, bringing us even close so that out noses were touching.

The next few silent minutes passed, and after what just happened, I was dreading what Finn was going to say next.

"I love you, Fray," he said. The three words I really didn't want to hear at a time like this - he was saying goodbye.

And despite the fact that I hated him now, hated him for only telling me now, for putting me through so much shit, for making me feel the same way about him and now to do this, I still gave him the words I knew he wanted to hear.

"I love you too, Finn."

More silence. Sniffs every now and then. Sighs. But really, I didn't want it to end, knowing that because of what he was saying, these were probably my last moments with Finn.

And then, slowly, he started to pull my body closer to his, closing the distance between us. My arms wrapped around his neck as we kissed. But it wasn't a dominant kiss, Finn didn't push me hard up against the wall of the street and pin me against him. No, it was a passionate kiss, because we both knew it would be our last.

Finally we stopped, and broke away, out foreheads still touching. By now I was silently crying, the salty tears falling down my cheeks onto the street.

Finn kissed them away, his lips leaving fiery remains as they went.

"Will you do something for me?" he asked.

"Anything."

"I want to you run to the end of the street, and don't look back, and just run,
until you get as far away from here as possible-"

"Finn-"

"And don't come back for me, don't go looking for anyone, just run, get away
from here, away from this mess."

"Finn, I won't, I'm not leaving you." I refused.

"Fray," he was staring into my eyes again. "Please"

I looked at him. I saw the desperation in his eyes. I knew this is what he wanted me to do. "Only if you promise me something."

"And what is that." He whispered.

"Promise me that you will come back for me, that you will find me, wherever I may be."

Finn nodded "I'll always find you, Fray."

I realised that now that Finn had done his part, I would have to do mine. I brought my hands down from his neck, cupping his face with them. I leaned up on my toes and kissed him gently on the forehead, as my tears fell onto his face. As I came back down I felt his breathing waver, and saw Finn. Eyes red. Cheeks stained. Hair tousled and messy. Voice hoarse. This was broken Finn, not my Finn.

"Just let me see that smile one more time." I said, my voice cracking in between.

Finn gulped, and then for me, he smiled, and then I knew that was the time to go. And so I stepped backwards pulling my hands out of Finns outstretched grasp, and turned around, running to the main road. I heard Finn take a few steps behind me, before stopping, and letting me go.

I got to the end, and was about turn around to look one last time, when I remembered what he said.

'Don't look back.'

I took in a big breath and crossing the road and then, I wouldn't stop running. I ran and ran and ran, and the only thing I could think about was the cold metal ring around my finger that would remind me of him everyday.