Bad and Broken (H.S)

Chapter 8

"Harry?" I nearly gasped with surprise. "You live here?" My eyes were drawn from his toned body, to the inside of the house. It looked exquisite! The house did, I mean...

"Elli, what are you doing here?" He frowned and I felt slightly guilty about yelling and storming away from him after school.

"I- I- um..." Him standing there, looking like a god, made me shiver despite the humid atmosphere. "I needed to, um, use someone's phone, no other neighbour answered their door..." an awkward silence ensued and I averted my eyes to the floor. "Look, about before, I'm sorry I yelled at you."

"It's fine. Come in, you can use my phone." When I looked up, his bright eyes pierced mine and he looked at me quizzically. He was insanely intimidating, standing there with one arm over his head, leaning against the door frame. I couldn't help but notice the beauty of his tattoos. A butterfly under his toned chest and two birds under his collar bones. Are they swallows? I wonder what they mean. I thought.

He then stepped aside and I followed him inside his luxurious house. "You never replied to my offer you know." He acknowledges as we walk through the almost-mansion. He was referring to when he asked me out after I was confronted by those idiotic boys at school.

"Yeah, right, um... can we take a rain check?"

"How about this weekend then?" He stops and smiles kindly, holding a landline phone out to me.

"Sure, sounds great. Thanks." The cold plastic of the phone felt evil in my hand and I couldn't help but feel like it was going to deliver some bad news. As I dialed my mothers number the beep of the buttons sounded sinister.

"Elli are you okay? You're worried about something?" My brown eyes met his forrest green ones and I simply shook my head as the phone rang.

"Hello?" Someone answered, but it wasn't my mum.

+++++

When I opened my door to find Elli there I was shocked. I knew she lived close by but had no idea she would turn up at my house any time soon. She looked irresistible, her black shorts complimenting her tan legs. Yet that wasn't what got me, the most appealing things about her was her sweet smile and her silvery voice, her glittering hazelnut eyes and her wavy blonde hair. Yet, her physical appearance could not rival the beauty of her endearing habits. The cute way that she bit her lip when she was nervous or the way her cheeks turned the colour of rubies when she was embarrassed. She had changed since the first time I saw her. It hurt, that she didn't even remember the very first time we met, years ago.

As she picked up the phone I could see the panic in her eyes, something was bothering her.

"Hello?" a gravelly voice sounded through the phone.

"Who is this?" Elli replied, concern evident in her voice, whoever replied was clearly not who she was hoping for.

I couldn't make out the grumbling and scrambling noises on the other line but relief soon washed over Elli's face when another voice came through the phone. Even after so many years, I still recognised who it was; Kerri, Elli's mother.

+++++

"Mum who was that? Where are you?" I question, slightly weirded out that Mum was with a man that she hasn't told me about.

"Don't worry my sweet." There was the sound of a door being opened and closed then the unpleasant wail of traffic as she presumably walked outside. "I just went back down to the police station to..." She paused, "pick something up." I glanced at Harry, his brows were furrowed, unease clear on his face. Is he worried about me? "Did you not get my text?" Mum asked.

"No, my phone smashed. Why did that man answer your phone Mum?"

"He's just a colleague and I had my hand's full. Look, honey, I'll be home in half an hour. I've got to go, but I'll see you soon." A rude beep sounded as she hung up on me. I scowled. What the hell was she hiding?

"Are you alright?" Harry enquired as I handed him back the phone.

"Just peachy." I huffed. I sniffed the air and caught wind of a burning smell, accompanied by some thick grey smoke seeping through the doorway. "Er, what is that smell?"

"Huh?" His eyes widened, "Oh shit!" He sprinted away and I followed after him, laughing slightly but hoping he hadn't set this beautiful house on fire. We passed a large table made of dark wood and surrounded by elegant chairs, overhead was a large chandelier scattering shimmering light on the stylish furniture.

"Wow." I breathed, slightly jealous. Upon entering the kitchen Harry was frantically tipping some charred sludge into the bin while using a tea towel to wave away the smoke with his other hand. "Need some help?" I asked, smirking slightly.

"Uh, yes, but don't tell anyone I almost lit my house on fire trying to cook an egg." He ducked his head to hide an obvious blush and I laughed, getting to work wiping down the marble bench top that had been spattered with scorched egg remains.

A/N: Hey! Another update finally! Things are going to start getting interesting soon ;) I'm almost at 1000 reads! so thank you!