Exception (Harry Styles)

Chapter 8

Harry's POV

            Fucking prick Luke. I completely hate him now.

 Who touches a girl like that? 

Who would use that language to a girls face like that?

 Especially a girl like Avery.

  Why is she running away?

 I must have scared her. 

Dammit Harry!

            I watch her run through the doors as Liam pulls me away from the scene. I am relieved when I realize that Luke is no where to be seen. I take deep breaths to try to calm my temper. I could tell by how Avery reacted that this wasn't the first time this has happened. I don't have a doubt in my mind that she is well aware of how Luke is, from experience. Knowing there is a possibility that he treats her like that makes me want to bash his face in. Why am I thinking this way over her? I don't normally care about other girls, well except my sister.

            People are staring at me, and it's taking all I have not to go off on them. I pull away from Liam, grab my binder, and head out the lunch room door. I go the direction Avery went . As I turn the corner I see her walk out the bathroom and head to the double doors that lead outside.

            I don't know what I am doing. I should just walk away. I shouldn't care. 

But I do.

            I quicken my pace, hoping she doesn't go far. These hallways are too damn long. As the double doors close behind her I break out into a jog. I probably look like an idiot running down the hallway after some girl who is probably scared of me now, but gladly the hallway is empty. I burst through the doors and look around. There is a little gasp to my right, and I immediately turn to it.

Avery's POV

            I had to get out, I needed air. I sit down against the wall of the school and sigh loudly. Harry Styles just took up for me. Nobody, not even Louis has ever taken up for me like that. Niall says to stay away. Niall says he's mean. I know this, I know this from the first time I saw him. But a bad person wouldn't have done that for me right? A bad person is who Luke is. A misunderstood, good person is who Harry is. No matter how hard I try, I can't stop the tears rolling down my face. My back hurts like hell now, everyone was staring at me, and Harry almost started a fight with Luke for me in front of the whole lunchroom.

            My thoughts are interrupted when the big door swings open. It startles me and a jump. I gasp when I see who it is, mostly from shock. I also have to admit that I am a little intimidated. Harry did look quite scary and his voice was furious back in the lunchroom. It was so different then the teasing voice he was using against Niall back in math class.

            His eyes snap to me, and soften when they meet mine. He looks relieved and I can see him let out a breath I guess he was holding. I watch as he cautiously walks over to me and sits down next to me. His legs a lot longer than my short ones.

            We don't talk for what seems like forever. He finally lifts his large hand up and wipes my tear stained cheek. His touch makes me jump and a shiver runs through me. His fingertips are rough, but at the same time soft and comforting. I watch him as his lips start to open as he begins to speak.

"Don't cry Avery. Why are you crying?" He says in a hushed raspy voice. I can't speak at first, my mind is going crazy and my insides feel funny.

"Why... why did you do that?" I ask in almost a whisper. His green eyes are burning into mine with kindness and sympathy. I don't understand how someone can go from so pissed to so caring.