Dimples and Glasses

Chapter 7

*Harry's POV*

I sit on my bed thinking about what happened tonight. I told Noëlle everything. Well, almost everything.

It was kind of Noëlle to to what she did, giving me a make over and all, but what happened to me is still too much to think about. I grab the clothes, throw them in the back of my closet, and take out the contacts. I hear my mother open the door to our house and close it not even a second later.

"Harry! Can you come downstairs please?" She calls.

I've almost completely shut out everyone, even my parents, and I'm not going to begin to let them in now. I don't respond to her, and she doesn't call my name again

I'm actually surprised I said so much to her. What if Noëlle blabs to someone? What if I can't trust her? Will I have to shut her out too? I hope not, I really like her. She's like the only person I haven't shut out. I fall asleep shortly after coming to that conclusion.

~~~~

After school the next day, the captain of the football team, Zayn Malik approaches me behind the school along with his buddies Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson. They give me the usual beating, and because I was a 'good boy' according to Zayn, I got an extra punch to the gut.

I lay on the ground for a while clutching my stomach, before slowly getting up and walking home. I crawl up the stairs and to my room, plopping myself on the bed and examining the bruises and cuts and gashes. For a while, I consider calling Noëlle, but I just pop in some ear buds and drown out the world with some music.

She's dropping out of school 'cause she don't need the grade

The colors in her hair don't seem to fade

I get dressed up when I go out but she gets dressed down

She's 17 I've told her I'm 20

I couldn't take her out 'cause Mom's got no money

It's stuff like this that makes me wish that I could change somehow

Sitting here at home, it's obvious

She's so out of reach, and I'm finding it hard 'Cause she makes me feel, makes me feel

Like I try, like I try, like I'm trying too hard

'Cause I'm not being me, and it's getting me down

That she makes me think, makes me think

That I try, that I try, that I'm trying too hard again

'Cause I'm trying too hard again

She's got a rose tattoo but she keeps it covered

I play guitar but she's into drummers

She's seen my face around but she doesn't even know my name

I pierced my lip so she thinks I'm cool

I ripped my jeans and dropped out of school

I followed her 'round the town but she thinks that I'm a weirdo now

Sitting here at home, it's obvious

She's so out of reach, and I'm finding it hard 'Cause she makes me feel, makes me feel

Like I try, like I try, like I'm trying too hard

'Cause I'm not being me, and it's getting me down

That she makes me think, makes me think

That I try, that I try, that I'm trying too hard again

I don't even notice her walk into my room. I'm not wearing a shirt and I'm just in shorts and a beanie. She gasps at the sight of my bruises and starts to tear up.

"Marcel" she says trying to get my attention. But I'm still listening to the music.

But now, who knew?

She's in the crowd of my show

Nothing to lose,

She's standing right in the front row

The perfect view,

She came alone on her own

And there's something that you should know

You're so out of reach, and I'm finding it hard

'Cause you make me feel, you make me feel

Yeah she makes me feel, she makes me feel

It's obvious-

She rips the earbuds out of my ears.

"Hey Noëlle I was listening to that!" I whine.

"Nice to see you too. Marcel what happened?"

"It was Zayn again, him and his two buddies." I reply.

"Let me guess, Louis and..Niall." I spit out the last name in disgust.

"You know them?" I ask.

"One of them. Niall. He and I go way back. We were best friends for years, even in public school. Then he got into the world of football and drugs..we dated for a few months last year before I caught him with another girl."

"Oh. Sorry bout that."

"Don't be." She says sitting right beside me now, "He was always a jerk, I just realized it too late."

"Mhm." I say.

We are sitting with our faces inches apart, talking like girls gossiping about boys. And girls. Noëlle totally forgets about my beatings and Niall when she starts talking about how much she hates some girl in her last class. Her name is Sarah. I know her. I've never met her but I know who she's talking about. Tall, blonde, that same fake smile always plastered on her face.

"She's so rude!"

"I know right?" I reply, Noëlle laughs and I do too, until the pain from that extra punch I got kicks in. I grab my stomach and Noëlle stops laughing.

"Are you sure you are ok?"

"Yeah. it's just painful being punched everyday in the same spot you know?"

"No I dont but I get it. Um anything I can do?" she asked. I talk about anything and everything with Noëlle. She is my best friend. She's helped me come out of my shell a bit when it comes to talking to people.

I love her.

"Maybe one thing..." I say as we lean in closer to her.

"And what is that?"

"This..." I whisper before our lips connect.