step brother ≫ styles

14

*{MADISONS POV}*

"Get up Madison!" My dad pounded on the door.

What a lovely way to be woken up.

I pulled myself out of bed to head off to shower, bumping into someone in the hallway.

"Sorry-" I looked up to see Harry. "Actually, I'm not sorry. Watch where you're going."

He looked as though he was going to say something, but instead waved his hands. "Whatever," I heard him mumble as he walked away.

He ruined my relationship with Luke, I should hate him. He deserves this.

Thing is, I feel bad about treating him like this.

I stepped into the bathroom turning on the shower so it would heat up.

I groaned upon realizing I'd received my monthly friend and went into the cabinet to find some tampons.

I shrugged it off stepping into the shower letting the warm water wash away my stress.

What was I going to do about Luke?

I know dad's right and Luke has done some things in the past, but everyone deserves a second chance. Right?

I loved him regardless of what dad or anyone had to say about it.

Turning off the water, I stepped out drying myself and quickly getting dressed.

As usual, I'd spent far too much time in there.

I reached for the toothpaste accidentally knocking something off the counter, apparently metal as it hit the floor with a loud clang.

I bent down to pick up what looked like blades from a razor.

But.. I'd flushed mine months ago when I'd finally gotten myself to stop.

So who's were these?

Harry had been the last one to use the bathroom, and there was no way in hell Jackson had been in here earlier, let alone self-harming.

I dropped the blades in horror, the metal clang echoing through the bathroom.

They were Harry's?

****

I sat on the curb outside of school.

The final bell had rung, I told Luke and Shane my dad was coming to get me so they could go on ahead, there was no one left.

I brought out my phone dialing the one person who could help me figure out if my idea about Harry was true.

What could have made one of the biggest stars in the world cut?

Certainly not that argument last night...

I mean what did he care?

Taking a deep breath I hit the call button.

"Madison?" The slightly familiar Irish voice made my breath halt.

Why was I doing this?

"Hi, Niall.." I trailed.

How the hell was I supposed to put this.

I know we never talk and I hate Harry's guts, but I was wondering if Harry self-harmed?

"You okay?" He asked me.

"Yeah, I um.. Look I need to talk to you about something... About Harry." I told him closing my eyes.

I shouldn't be bothering him.

"Oh, well where are you? Home?"

"School," I answered.

"I'll be there in 10 minutes." He told me hanging up.

****

We sat on his couch opposite ends from each other.

"You didn't have to come to get me or anything.."

"It's fine," he shrugged giving me a smile, "So what's up with Harry?"

"Well.." I stammered, "Has Harry ever... You know... Has he ever self-harmed?"

His eyes went wide before he choked on the air.

"What?!" He gasped for air.

"Sorry!" I said moving close to him to try and help him.

"I just... I found some blades in the bathroom this morning and Harry had just walked out the minute before.."

Niall's eyes looked into mine before looking out the window.

"Look, Madison... It's not really my place to say anything. I mean this is Harry's past." He whispered.

I nodded, "I understand."

"You should ask him about it, not me." He told me resting his hand on top of mine.

"I would but um... We're not exactly on speaking terms." I told him watching as his bright eyes turned dark and menacing.

"No. No, no, no." He breathed running his hands through his hair.

"What? Niall?" I managed.

He sighed, "Okay, I'll have to tell you. But this goes to the grave, got it?"

I nodded so he'd continue, "I guess first you should know this. Harry doesn't fall deeply for girls easily, but when he does he falls hard. Like really hard."

"But what does this have to do-"

"Just, listen." He cut me off.

"Last time he fell for a girl was 3 years ago, Isabelle." he tore his eyes away from mine looking into a place I couldn't see.

"He loved her more than anything... But they fought. A lot. One night they got into a fight. He was drunk, she was drunk....... And he let her leave."

My breathing slowed.

"She didn't make it home Mads," he whispered. "She crashed and died. And Harry blamed himself. He went into depression, constantly cutting.. even attempted suicide once."

I instantly felt a rush of guilt. I'd been so awful to him..

"So, then his mum convinced him to pick himself up and try out for the X-Factor. Isabelle always wanted him to do that. Eventually, he became himself again. He told me the story the day of her death anniversary when I'd asked him why he'd been so down. No one else knows, Mads."

I swallowed before speaking, "So what does that have to do with last night?"

He laughed, but it was sad. "You just don't get it do you?"

Get what?

"What do you mean.." I questioned.

"Madison, Harry has feelings for you."