Until Arrow

Chapter 2

After the quiet five minute drive home Harry is clutching his lower stomach where the most pain was caused. Considering the situation the kicks that were swung had already left brutal marks. "I wasn't until you came along, I've always been just a punching bag for everyone. You're the first person to ever stop this." His words replay in my head like a broken record.

I send Liz a message saying I got held up and had to go home, family emergency. Only to get a small reply with "Okay hope everyone's well" if only she knew. "Harry let's go inside" I want to say but am stopped mid-sentence when my eyes lay upon the traumatized bruised boy.

He notices my shock and nods, stepping outside. I run over to Harrys side before he practically falls to the ground. He slumps against my shoulder, arm around my neck mine around his waist as we walk up the ever lasting driveway.

I pull out the nursing kit from the downstairs closet and some towels as I proceed to walk to a pale Harry sitting on my kitchen island. "I'm sorry if I'm causing you trouble Arrow, I can go back home if you'd like. I don't want you to spend the last day of school like this." I hear Harry faintly say behind me. My heart slowly breaks listening to his ragged breathing. "Harry please, I took you in, I'm not going to throw you out on the sidewalk like you're garbage." I try to give him reassurance and comfort, applying pressure to his wounded forearm, followed by his clearly toned stomach. He winces in pain, slowly gaining color back to his face.

After Harry looks mostly put together I'm curious as to what I should say next. "Arrow?" I'm broken out of my thoughts. "Oh, sorry Harry I was just in a haze, need something?" the look on his face seems urgent and nervous. "Well.. I.. uh." He stutters as if it were the most troubling thing to say. Except what was said next was something worse. "I have a secret, well a lot of people had thought this concept so it's not really a secret I guess. I get abused at home. My parents don't exactly care about me because I'm not the son they had always wanted. I'm not the high school jock, or into common sports, I am not popular. They know I'm weak since I've gotten bullied at school before and are ashamed. If I go home and they see me like this which is ten times worse than usual I don't want to know what they'd do to me for not being strong. Do you think that I could maybe stay here with you for the night?"

The look of shock on my face was clearly visible from when he started, my heart has now shattered. I answer him sincerely, not out of pity but something else, something I can't describe. It's the way I can look into his green eyes and feel okay, and how I want to run my fingers through his slightly curled hair. "I'm so sorry." is all I can mutter out at the moment but then manage to answer with "Sure you can stay with me, my mom won't mind neither will my dad, you'll be alright here."

I set up a blanket and pillows on the mini sofa in my room. Must not be the comfiest thing ever but I hope it'll do. My parents are okay with it only because I explained a part of the situation and said that he's a friend who's just in need of some help."I can't thank you enough, I'm sorry if I'm causing any trouble." he says once again and sighs, focusing down as if he were ashamed of himself too. "Harry you need to stop apologizing, you didn't do anything wrong."

I lay in my bed with thoughts bouncing back and forth like a never ending bouncy ball. I hit the switch and the only light entering my room is from the easy access window by my light blue dresser. It's a full moon, something I've always loved to watch late at night as the hours tick by.

"Watch the moon with me." I say before Harry is given time to blink an eye. "I can't see the window from my angle." Harrys voice echoes through across the room. "Come here." I move over so a half of my bed is waiting to be taken up. Harry slowly shuffles alongside the carpeted floor, reassuring himself so he does not trip over any items I've left behind. I open up the few covers so he can get in and bundle up since my room is cold with the air conditioning on high.

As he reaches me I think about all that he's been through and how someone could handle it all. I've decided that I will make an end to this, I will not let anyone hurt him anymore. It needs to stop and it will. No one, especially the boy with the bright eyes looking at me now should know how that feels.

Little conversations about ourselves rumor on around the room. Learning more about him and what he enjoys. Such as cooking, watching films, science, and how he manages to make it throughout his day. Harry describes it as a girl, she's the reason he still has a sliver of happiness to hold onto in his wounded open heart and why he hasn't given up. Whomever she may be, I must admit she's very lucky and would be an idiot to break his heart.

The night dawns on us, the moon stays for a long time, betraying the sun. We've been laying like this for what seems to be hours now. I've forgotten to acknowledge that I've slipped my hand under his and entwined our fingers. I look up to Harry and see a smiling playing on his face. He's one of a kind, someone different and what the world needs more of.

I feel my eyelids growing heavy, as does his as we look at the full moon together. I look into his eyes before I drift off, lurking, they're sparkling under the dim light, it's something I wouldn't mind spending the rest of my life looking at. "I promise you'll be okay, I'll stay by your side the whole time." I barely manage to get out but mean it. Harry looks down into me with such a look, as if it were the feeling of not being alone anymore. He gives me a light kiss on my forehead and I dive off into a deep sleep.