Taken {Harry Styles}

fourteen

Inside the room was a gym. Harry's back was to me and was hitting a punching bag. He repeatedly punched the sack hanging from the ceiling, with each hit getting stronger every time. I watched as his muscle rippled with every blow. His sweaty skin gleamed in the lighting. He was so... Stop it, Lena. He's Dahmer's son.

He wore athletic shorts that sat low on his hips. He was not wearing a shirt and it made me feel...weak. His hip bones were nicely defined; a drop of sweat rolled down his chest. He was panting hard.

I stood there with the door slightly open. I was completely frozen. I watched his back and arm muscles contract with each punch. Sweat was now pouring.

Harry suddenly stopped his movements. He pressed his head to the punching bag and took a deep breath. It sounded like he was...crying? He stayed like that for a few moments and then straightened out his back.

He then ran a hand through his sweaty hair and walked over to the bench across the gym. He sat down and placed his head in his hands. He panted and his shoulders shook up and down.

I didn't want to seem like a creep, so I slowly backed away from the door. I reached for the doorknob, but it was not as quiet as I was trying to be.

Harry's head snapped up and looked at me. His eyes gleamed beautifully, his sweaty face sparkled. His eyebrows arched up, as if asking a question.

"What are you doing here?" He asked through his heavy breaths.

"Uh, I- sorry, I'll leave," I stuttered and started to open the door again.

"No," he stopped me. "You can stay...if you want." He locked in with my gaze again. I slowly melted inside.

I slowly walked into the gym and it instantly smelled of sweat and plastic. My nose cringed in disgust a little. There was a stench of rotting gym socks. Typical.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to-" I started.

"I said it was fine." He snapped. But his face gentled and relaxed a little.

I looked down at my hands and tried not to look at his shirtless, sweaty body. Oh dear God.

"You can sit down, you know." He says, more calm.

"Sorry," I said as I sat down on the bench a good distance away from him. He must hate me for intruding.

"You don't have to apologize for everything," he lightly chuckled.

"Sor-" I stopped myself mid-word. "Nervous habit." I chuckled a bit a shrugged.

He gave me a weak smile. His eyes flickered to my eyes and down to my lips. "Are you okay?" he asked. He was starting to breath normally, sweat drying, hair matted to his forehead.

I didn't answer him at first; I just stared at the ground. Was I okay? All that I've been through the last few days?

"Yeah," I somewhat lied. "Are you okay?" I asked him in return. We didn't speak for a minute. I just watched his face.

He shrugged, "I dunno. Why?"

"You were uh... crying earlier."

"Oh," he mumbled and stared at his folded hands. "It was nothing." His cheeks reddened even more, and I smiled at the fact he was shy. But it quickly faded.

"Are you sure? You seem a little down." I respond more seriously.

Harry replied, "I'm sure. It's nothing." He glanced at the floor and I felt his eyes move his way back up to my body. It made me feel good, and my heart soar.

I gave a slow nod and changed the subject. "I feel like I haven't seen you in a while. You're always disappearing." It felt like he never wanted to talk to me at all.

I played with my hands and avoided eye contact with him. I picked at my dress. It was a cute floral sundress that went to my calf muscles. I had on light make up. My hair was the same as always. But it seemed no matter what I wore, he never noticed.

"I'm sorry I've just been dealing with...some stuff you wouldn't understand." My eyes widen and my chest tightens.

I could not help but feel a little hurt. I continued to stare at the ground for a few moments. Tears welled in my eyes. I felt like he wasn't paying attention at all. Like he didn't know I had been traded for misgiven information.

He finally spoke up, “I’ll be there tonight though.” My eyebrows fold in.

“What?” I asked.

“I’ll be at the room, we can hang out.”

I nodded and slightly smiled at the ground. “Sounds good,” I mumbled. The fact that Harry is coming to the room tonight made me oddly excited for some reason. I didn't know whether or not it was out of pleasure or guilt. Fear or happiness.

I stared at the ground but felt Harry’s hand come in contact with my chin. “Hey,” he whispered and lifted my chin so I looked at him. “I want to see your eyes when you speak.” His breath fanned my face and his eyes sparkled, holding mine.

Words couldn’t escape my mouth.

“They’re gorgeous.”

“Thank you,” I muttered as I stared back into Harry’s eyes. He had given me a compliment. A true genuine one.

He rubbed his thumb in a circle and finally let go. He stood up and said. “I'll meet you upstairs after I shower?” he suggested.

“Sure,” I said with assurance.

"I'll be up in fifteen minutes."

"Okay," I giggle.