Stuck » h.s. (UNDER EDITING)

twenty two

EMMA'S POV:

"You know, I really like holding you," Harry's voice whispered above me. I snuggled myself closer against him and sighed. This moment was perfect, but all good things come to an end, right? Eleanor was probably home, wondering where I am and Paige might be with her. We still have a lot to figure out.

"I really should get going. It's getting late and Eleanor's alone over there," I tell him, forcing myself to wiggle out of the comforting encirclement of his arms around me. He sighs deeply behind me as I bend over to pick up my coat from where it had fallen to the floor.

"You can't stay for a bit longer?" he asks, grabbing my arm softly.

"Harry, I need to get home. I feel like I haven't stayed over there in ages and I'm still angry wtih you," I say and gently take his fingers from my skin. His face falls and he backs away from me. "Don't do that," I warn him and close the distance he has just created.

"Do what?" he asks and steps back yet again.

"Start shutting me out and pushing me away. I can tell you're considering it in your head right now. I still want to be around you, Harry. Just because I'm angry with you doesn't mean I want you out of my life. It's human to get angry with the people you lo-, people you're around often. We just fought. People fight," I say and grip his fingers in my hand. His expression is unreadable, closed off and guarded. My whole body suddenly feels exhausted. He's not going to do this again. His eyes darken a shade and he forcefully crushes his lips against mine.

"Is that what someone who is shutting you out would do?" he questions with a slight raise of his eyebrows.

"Possibly, if you're insane," I shrug and give him a playful smirk before opening the door and stepping out into the hallway.

"Good thing I'm not insane," he says as his tall, muscular body leans against the wooden door frame.

"Wait, you aren't? Did I miss something?" I tease him and stop at my door, staring at him across the hallway.

"Ha-ha. Very funny," he rolls his eyes and starts to shut his door. He calls out a simple 'goodnight' and then I'm left alone in the hallway.

If Eleanor is home, she must be asleep because it's eerily quiet once I step in. The heels of my boots click on the hardwood floor, defeating my attempt to be quiet. This time, when my eyes meet the living room, there's glass shattered across the floor and blood stains on the rug under the coffee table.

The hammering of my heart is so extreme I feel that it might burst out of my chest at any given moment. My eyes trail around the room, looking for any more signs of struggle and where the person or people could have gone. I catch the deep red color of blood leading towards the hallway and take a deep breath before following it.

The rational part of my brain is telling me to go get Harry before going any further, but there's a part of me fearing for Eleanor that takes over. I press myself up against the wall as I slink down the hall carefully. I'm not taking the chance that something worse could happen in the time I would be gone to go get Harry. If Eleanor isn't already dead. I'm not going to be the idiot that calls out her name either.

Oddly enough, in the past five minutes, the mood of the room has changed drastically. First I was comfortable with Harry, then there was light banter, and now I feel like I've stepped into a horror movie. I clench my eyes together and slowly turn the door knob to Eleanor's room, my breathing stopping all together. In a swift motion, I kick the door open to find Shawn bent over Eleanor in the corner.

His head snaps toward me and I freeze in place. Eleanor is looking at me pleadingly, mouthing 'help me.' I nod towards her and gulp. She's completely naked, the towel she must have had wrapped around her body after stepping out of the shower lying by the door. I kick it away with my foot and take a slow step into the room.