Downfall (1D/5SOS Fanfiction)

Eight

"Abigail!" My eyes shot open and were met with green ones. My heart continued to race as I realized that I was still in the library.

Thank god, it was just a nightmare.

"Are you okay?" My attention averted back to Harry, who kneeled beside me. His hand reached out to hold mine but I instinctively jerked back. A frown set on his pink lips.

"Sorry. I'm fine by the way." I gulped nervously. I probably looked like a scared rabbit or something.

"Traumatic dream." I chuckled, trying to lighten up the mood. He gave a sympathetic smile and settled into the chair across from me.

Even at school, Edwin and Michael still haunt my subconscious.

Harry coughed awkwardly and I refocused on his face.

"So... about that thing we were gonna talk about." Harry's deep voice rumbled through the still air.

I bit my lip and sat up straight.

"What do you want to know?"

"What's your favorite color?"

I raised my eyebrows at his unexpected question. Harry stared at me seriously until a cheeky grin broke out and we erupted with laughter. We cackled, clutching our sides, and he banged his fist on the table.

"WHAT KIND OF STUPID QUESTION IS THAT?" I snorted loudly and his eyes crinkled in amusement.

"SHHHH!" The old librarian poked her gray-haired head through the rows of shelves and scowled. I noticed his deep dimples as we tried to stifle our giggles.

"Well don't get your granny knickers in a twist, Ms. Anders." Harry whispered under his breath and we burst out guffawing like lunatics.

"HAAHAH NGEYEEH HAHA!" Tears escaped my eyes as I tried to catch my breath. His brown curls bounced slightly as his body shook from laughter.

"WHAT DID I JUST SAY? QUIET! Kids nowadays.." Ms. Anders' bony fingers rubbed her temples and sighed.

"I need a drink..." She muttered to herself and stormed off.

Our eyes widened and we glanced at each other as our grins grew.

"Haha, but seriously, what is your favorite color?" His eyes shone as he eagerly waited for my response.

"Uh, yellow. Because, well, I don't know. I mean I guess it's such a happy color, ya know? And my life isn't really happy for the most part..." My voice drifted off.

"What I'm trying to say is that we all just need that bit of happiness to shine through the darkness in our lives? Sorry, I probably sound stupid."

"No! That's not stupid. It's pretty cool that you think that." Harry reassured me and leaned forward in his chair.

"But tell me why you think your life isn't happy. Tell me what you needed those drugs for yesterday." His face grew serious and suddenly his gaze was making me nervous.

My life isn't something I just share with everyone. God, where would I even start?

"When I was 13, my mom and I were in a really bad place. We had no home, no money for food. Her name was Marie, by the way. Anyways, a few months after that, she met Edwin, my stepdad. At the time, he was wealthy from his father's inheritance money and was very kind to us. They got married, and life was good for about 2 years."

I fiddled with my fingers and stole a glance at Harry. His eyebrows furrowed and his eyes paid close to attention to me.

"And then one day, I guess he lost his job and it went all downhill from there. Edwin wasted thousands of dollars on alcohol, drugs, and spent nearly every day down at the local bar. He started acting aggressive and hit my mom and me... it was horrible."