Facade

II.

I walk down the street, passing familiar faces and smiling at them when they smile at me. "Hey, Zari!" Harry says jogging up to me. I look at him and smile, " I thought you would have been at the coffee shop by now.." He shrugs, "My sister came home for a visit and I talked to her for a little bit." I stop, "Harry .. you didn't have to meet with me!" 

He shrugs, "I grew up with her." I smirk, and look at him, "Can I ask you a question?" He nods, running a hand through his hair. 

Ask him, Z. Do it. 

"Uh, never- uh, never mind.." I shake my head and tighten my grip on my journal. "So, are you getting the same coffee as usual?" I smile at him. He chuckles, "I might switch it up today .. what's that frilly, girly drink you always get? The frakrinco?" I roll my eyes, "It's not a girly drink.. I see many men get it." We pause at the cross walk and we both reach to press the button. I bite my lip and lunge to push the button first. "Hey! It was my turn!" Harry wines. I smirk, "Just a bit slow, Styles.. and the drink you were referring to, is called a frappuccino. A caramel one with extra whipped cream and caramel drizzle to be exact." 

I hear him chuckle as i walk away from him. "Oh, and I might get your drink, you know, your boring, french vanilla macchiato." I turn around and look up at him. "It's iced .. thank you very much!" He walks past me, grabbing my arm playfully in the process. I wince, but I don't think he seemed to notice.

"So.." he says looking over at me. I bite my lip, trying to hide my smile, "Yes?" He smirks, "Are you getting your frilly drink or not?" I laugh and nod, "Of course. That's my safe drink. I haven't tried anything else." He laughs, "Alright, I'll get them you find us a nice table to sit at." He holds the door open for me, "Okay .. here.." I dig into my jeans pocket for my money. "No." He says shaking his head, "My treat.." I look at him with a soft expression, "Harry.. Are you sure?" He nods, "Yes, now go find us a table." I nod and walk to the corner table I always sit at. 

- / - / - / -

"So have you written anything good lately?" He asks leaning onto the table. I shrug, "I'm in the process of writing a poem.. but it's nothing special.." I bite my lip, pulling my journal closer to me. He frowns, "No way." He sits up, "I bet it's the best." I roll my eyes, "You're only saying that." He shrugs, "Maybe if you let me read a smidgen of it, I can tell you for sure." He smiles a cheeky smile. I sigh, "I mean, you are the only person I let read stuff from my journal.." He smiles, "Exactly.." I smile slightly and open up my journal to an unfinished poem. 

A few moments later, he looks up at me and puts a finger to his lips, "You have a way with words, Zari." I blush slightly, "It's nothing really.." I shake my head, pulling my journal back to me. "I'm being serious, Z." I smile and sip my drink. "Do you have any others?" He asks with a tinge of intriguement in his voice. I shrug, "I mean.." I pause and flip through my journal, "Here.." I turn my journal to him and watch him as his eyes scan over the word filled pages."

I sit there, looking out over the cafe. So many people, so many feelings, so many thoughts, so many different lives all in one place. I've always wondered how many people have a life like mine. You know, have to live an awful lie, every. single. day of their lives. So many people with great potential, who are forced to live like me. Trapped, scared, wanting to call for help but just can't find the strength to do it.  

My thoughts are broken as Harry says my name a few times. "Hey, yeah sorry." I shake my head slightly, "Day dreaming.." I smile slightly and look at him. "You are talented, Zari." He smiles, "I am literally amazed right now. I don't know what to say.." I bite my lip and look down at my phone in my lap. I gasp and put my hand on my forehead. "Everything okay?" Harry asks leaning forward. I look up and nod, "Yeah, just my Nana's fish died. That thing lived the longest life.. You know how I get attached to animals." He smiles slightly, "Awe, love. I'm sorry."

I look away from him. "Hey.. Zari.." He says reaching out for my hand, "You know that I'm here for you.. Right?" I look at his hand and bite my lip. I slowly move my hand towards his and gently lay my hand on his. He smiles and looks me dead in the eyes. No lie, I got chills. I smile, and slowly trace circles onto the back of his hand. "Harry.." I pull my hand away and look up to meet his stare. "Hmm?" I sigh quietly, "Have you ever been in a situation where, you.. uh." I bite my lip, looking around as if someone has a cue card for me.

He leans forward, arms folded across his chest, "Is everything alright?" I nod quickly, "Y-yes. I was just asking for something that I am writing.." I look down then back up. I honestly feel like he doesn't believe me. He smiles, "I'm in one of your writing?" I roll my eyes and smirk, "No.."

You're in them all.

"Oh.. Bummer.." He pouts playfully. I laugh, "You wish, Styles." He shrugs, "What can I say?" I sigh and look down at my phone. I gulp when I see Damion's message. What and the fuck is this? "I gotta go.." I stand up, grabbing my jacket and journal from the table. "I'll walk you h-" I cut Harry off, "No.." I look at him, "I'll be fine.." He nods, "Alright.. be careful.. text me when you get home." He smiles, which I can tell is totally fake. I force a smile, "I will." I turn towards the door and see Damion's car through the window. "Shit.." I mumble as I walk towards the door. "You're good, Z.." I whisper as I walk to his car. He unlocks the doors and I get in quickly.

I look through the window into the café where Harry is sitting all alone, looking down into his cup. "I'm sorry.." I whisper looking down. "What was that? I couldn't hear you over your pathetic cheating."

That sorry was for Harry, not you asshole.

I roll my eyes and look at him, "I said I'm sorry. And if I can explain myself, that would be nice.." I sit back against the leather seat, resting my head against my hand. "I got pictures, Zari."  I huff, "Yeah, pictures of a friend being there for me when I was getting upset about talking about my grandfather." I take a deep breathe, "Sometimes I feel like you don't care, Damion. So my friends are there for me to confide in. Yeah, I get it he's a guy. I get that you are prote-"

I'm shut up by his hand connecting hard with my face. "Fuck.." I scream covering my face. "God dammit.. Don't get blood on any part of my car." I slam my fit against the dash. "Stop the fucking car. I'll walk home." He laughs, "Why. So you can go whore around some more? Yeah, no I will take you home." I groan, "No. I'm fucking done. I am fucking  done! Damion I'm tired of you fucking bossing me around. I'm sick of all of this.. " I raise my hand with the blood from my nose on it. He rolls his eyes, "It's shaping you into a better woman, Zari. I'm helping you." I scoff, "What? Helping me? No fucking way. Oh my god." I slam my back against the seat.

"That's it." He pulls off to the side of the road. I'm shaking enough as it is, "No. Stop, keep driving." He turns the car off and unbuckles, "Back seat, now." I don't move. "Now!" I stay still, trying to figure out what to do. He growls, grabbing my hair. I scream, spinning my self around I try to kick him. I fail, miserably, and it ends up with my head getting smacked off the door. Yep, I'm unconscious.