The Outbreak || Harry Styles Fanfic

Chapter Twelve

Edwin and I turned our heads to the direction of which the sound came from, and then glanced at each other in question. Another knock on the door, but this time a bit louder. Who could it be at this hour of the night? I wondered. Edwin put down the papers in his hand to answer the door, while I continued to read up on his research.

"Oh," Edwin insinuated, "it's you."

That's the first time I've heard such an unpleasant tone in his voice.

"My apologies," Harry said, stood in the doorway, "I know it's late, but have you seen Tayrn?"

Having heard Harry ask for me, I picked my head up and looked at him from over Edwin's shoulder. My heart had skipped a beat. For what reason, I couldn't say.

Edwin gave him a nod and let him in. That infuriated me. After he decided to bail on me and not help me find my family, it was clear that I wanted to get away from him. Harry sat down on the sofa across the room. He was looking right at me.

I stood at the end of the desk, not joining him on the couch. "Why are you here?"

He looked down at his lap. "I was worried."

"You're more worried about getting out of here with the supplies you've stolen." My arms were folded tight.

"No, that's not..." He stammered, shifting uneasily.

"I don't need you to find my family."

He rose and almost stepped towards me, stopping in his tracks at the look on my face. "I promised to help you. I'm truly sorry."

It's hard to read Harry, and after our fallout in the hotel room I couldn't tell whether or not he meant what he said. Although, and now that I think about it, he saved my life and tended to my wounds, Harry's main goal was to use me. I was in denial when he first said it, but now I believe that he only wanted whatever I had. And he dared to act like he cared about me. I was reluctant to accept his apology.

Before I could explode with rage, Edwin had stepped in between us and gave Harry a very nasty glare.

"Stolen supplies?" Edwin sneered.

A sudden feeling of regret came over me. I had completely forgotten he was in the room with us, and I had just blurted out that Harry stole from the shelter. The outcome cannot be good. I had to step in. I pushed myself in between the two of them, my back to Harry.

"My supplies," I stuttered, defending Harry. "the food and medicine we took from my apartment."

To my surprise that was a convincing argument, whether it's because he trusted me or simply because I was his significant other. Edwin didn't continue to interrogate him. It was a huge relief. There was something about that approach. It was clear to me that Edwin wasn't a fan of thieves. I didn't want to imagine how he would've reacted. God only knows. Although I lost most of my memory of him, something about Edwin stood out. He wasn't very good at channeling his aggression. Edwin turned on his heels and made his way back to his desk, and his notes.

"Why did you do that?" Harry whispered. "I stole from these people, you could've sold me out."

"And I should've." I snapped, my arms folded against my chest.

The sudden conflict of emotions that stirred in my mind led me to question myself. The right thing to do would've been to tell Edwin about Harry's raid and let him suffer the consequences, but instead I didn't want that to happen, even though I was still mad at him. After having thought about our situation I had made a decision. My words were caught in my throat. I was reluctant to speak. "You can leave," I rebuked, my back still facing Harry. "No one's stopping you." I was once again on the verge of tears. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that this was all an act.

"You looked so sad," Harry said, "when I saw that look in your eyes... I didn't want to abandon you. I said I would help you find your family, and that's exactly what I'm going to do. I'm sorry..."

His apology and his speech was tempting. I could almost feel his guilt.