Invisible 2 (H.S. AU)

Chapter 37

Harry's P.O.V

After slamming my bedroom door in an effort to get away from both of the women in my house, I collapsed on my bed still raging with anger.

Weather that anger was directed at my mother, my girlfriend, myself or the universe -I wasn't sure.

I could hear Victoria breaking down in the middle of my living room and I almost wanted to go to her and ask her what was wrong just to be a smartass, but I decided against it. My mother could handle cleaning up the mess I made- she was good for doing that.

She did have lots of practice at it.

Both of them were probably out there consoling each other and blaming the easiest person to blame- me.

Neither of them would consider that all of this was their fault.

It was my mothers fault from years ago for dating the stupid asshole in the first place and for the specific events of today, it was Victoria's fault for convincing me that talking about my feelings was a good idea! She should have known how that was going to end! Me speaking about my feelings?!

I barely was able to confess my feelings towards Victoria herself! I didn't do well with that shit and she knew it.

I just didn't understand and the more I thought about it, the angrier I got. Fuck this and fuck them. Fuck the entire universe. I hate people.

Victoria's P.O.V

We got in his car and sat in silence at first, neither of us really knowing what to say. Personally, I was still processing what just happened while focusing on getting my breathing back to what it should be.

"What happened?" She whispered. "What made him snap?" She seemed shocked... still in disbelief of what just blew up in there.

"To be honest, I'm not exactly sure. We were getting ready to cook dinner after you fell asleep and I could tell something was off with him. So I asked him what was wrong and I practically had to pry it out of him, as you could imagine. But once I did, his feelings kinda just poured out of him." I said.

"Spilled out about what? What was he feeling?"

"He was upset... about you." I said hesitantly. 

"Me?" She asked, shocked again.

"Well, mostly about his step-dad..." I trailed off. I really didn't want to get involved in family drama. It wasn't my place.

She sighed. "I knew he had never exactly been fond of Allen... but I didn't know the hatred ran so deep. Truth is... I don't know how much he told you but he was a troubled kid. Very troubled. Started when he was quite young... around eight years old I'd say. Right around the time Allen came into my life actually. He started getting into trouble in school, his grades went down... began acting out at home. It got so bad that I... had to send him away." Tears welled up in her eyes. "It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make. But me and Allen were at our wits end with Harry, he always tried to tell me that Allen was cheating on me and he was abusive but I never believed him..." She trailed off.

"And now?" I asked.

I watched her hands rub her wrists. She tugged the sleeves down ever so slightly.

When she didn't answer, I pressed harder. "Do you believe him now?" My heart broke when tears welled in her eyes.

"He... he does have a temper." She began. "But it's not his fault! He's... he's just stressed. Lots going on at work, many people are getting laid off, we worry he'll be next. Bills and stuff are always an issue. Being an alcoholic doesn't help... you know how it goes." She sighed, knowing full well I didn't. She looked tired, so tired. Suddenly the bags under her eyes changed from looking like jet lag to something totally different. Something much... darker.

She sounded like she was making excuses for him and I wasn't sure if she was trying to convince me or her that her excuses were valid.

"Has he hurt you?" I whispered, already knowing the answer before I asked.

When she continued to rub her wrists, I reached out for her hands, with both of mine. She hesitated, but took them.

Slowly, in case she wanted me to stop, I took my hand and raised one of her sleeves. I could hear her holding her breath, and looked up to see tears streaming down her face.

I faltered, my heart breaking.

"Should I..." I asked, moving my hands away. I don't know what came over me, this wasn't my business anyway.

"No, it's okay. You can look." She lifted up her sleeves one by one and I gasped. 

On both of her wrists were very distinct, hand- like bruises.

"He came home one night, drunk and upset about something- I- I'm not exactly sure what but... he decided to take it out on me. As always." She sighed. "These aren't bad though, they're going away."

"Going away?!" I exclaimed. "These marks are still purple! I can see actual hand prints!"

"Yes. I know. He just has done a lot worse to me." She covered her arms back up and crossed them over her chest.

"Are there any more?" I asked.

"Lots... all over everywhere. He's not a good man." She said.

"Why don't you leave?" It seemed self-explanatory to me.

"It's not easy. Where would I go? He's in my house. I can't kick him out. Where is he going to go? And even if he finds a place... He'll come back. He won't stay away for long... and I worry when he does come back, it will be unannounced and might be the last thing I see on this Earth."

"But-" I began.

"You don't understand. I've tried. I've tried to leave... I get punished." She shivered. "That was the worst beating I've ever gotten. I was unconscious and woke up in the hospital. They assumed domestic abuse but I steered them away, assuring them I was fine and nothing was wrong. Not wanting to get involved, they turned a blind eye. Nothing else they could do if their only witness refused to testify. I never tried to escape again."

"Does he know you're here?" I asked.

"Yes, he does. He went away on a business trip and I told him I was lonely in the house by myself and Harry asked me to come here, which was true. There wasn't much he could do, so he allowed me to come."

"You need to tell Harry." I said. "He deserves to know."

"Tell Harry? Did you see him in there? He already knows. He might not know how bad it is... but that boy will not have any sympathy for me. I just have to deal with it."

"Deal with it til when? When he kills you? You need to speak up! Maybe Harry will let you stay here... You've gotten away from him... you don't plan on going back do you?"

She hesitated. "I... I don't know what I plan on doing. What else is there to do? All of my things are there... my job is there. My husband is there."

"Your husband beats you." I said flatly.

"Yes, and as I told you, he just has a bad temper. Times are rough for us, I can't blame him."

"But he-!" I began, then just stopped. Looking into her fearful yet determined eyes, I realized that nothing I could say to her was going to change her mind. No matter how fucked up the situation was, I couldn't change it.

"Maybe you should just take me home now." I said quietly, facing forward in my chair

"Maybe so." She said, pursing her lips.