Idiosyncrasy (Harry Styles AU)

16

Bethany's POV 

I know Harry has secrets. It's kind of hard not to miss. Just looking at him you can tell there's something mysterious about him.

And as I watch him concentrate on his next move in scrabble, I try to guess what his secret is.

He has the cutest little quirks about him, but also some idiosyncrasies that scare me to death.

Like the fact that he has those nightmares that make him scream. The way he screams like he's being tortured rips my heart out and cuts it into microscopic pieces. I never want to experience that again.

"Your turn," Harry interrupts my thoughts.

I chew my lip, and then spot a word I can make.

Harry groans, rubbing the back of his neck. "That messed me up," he pouts.

And then he's back to his concentrated demeanor. I get the impression that he's a very competitive person, but I don't mind. I like watching him when he's deep in thought.

Underneath his hard, dark exterior I see sweet, innocent boy who needs . . . something. I haven't figured it out yet.

Harry makes his move, and I spot another word, using up the rest of my letters.

Harry groans loudly, slumping in his chair, and I smirk.

"I'm a badass at this game," I announce, clearing up the game.

Harry huffs, crossing his arms. "I should have won."

"Yeah, but you didn't." I laugh evilly.

He gasps, standing up from the table to follow me. He grabs my waist, fingertips digging into my sides. I squeal, dropping the board game in my hands. Harry continues to tickle me unmercifully until I'm up against the wall.

He stops, staring intently into my eyes. His smile fades in concentration, the twinkle in his eye remaining as his gaze shifts down to my lips.

I stay stock still, not wanting to move a muscle in case he'll disappear. I barely know this boy, but what I've gotten to know over the past few weeks about him I like. I like his weird idiosyncrasies. I like how he can fade into deep thought in a matter of seconds. I like how his eyes are a storybook of how he's feeling. They change color with his mood; I haven't even begun to figure out what each color means, but I'm willing to find out.

I want to know Harry Styles better.

The doorbell suddenly rings, and suddenly it's like a switch inside Harry has been flipped. He backs away, playing awkwardly with his fingers, but never averting his gaze from mine. It's like he's pinning me there with his eyes, telling me not to move.

I don't want to, but I realize that maybe Harry doesn't want to learn more about me. Maybe he just wants to use me like all the other guys I've been with. I seem to attract that type.

Also, Harry's emotions, his moods are all over the place. It's hard to tell what he's really thinking.

How stupid I've been to think I can trust him when I barely know him.

I walk as if in a trance to the door, keeping back the waterfall of tears that threaten to spill out.

No. I remind myself. Not until tonight. You can cry at night like always.

I open the door to discover Sandy. I want to tell her that right now is not a good time to talk, but she walks right in, ranting about her day.

I tune her out, watching Harry silently pack his things from across the room. His dark cover has been put up again, shutting everything and everyone out.

I decide that no matter how much Harry interests me, that I won't let him in; just like he won't let me in. "So . . . Why was Harry here?" Sandy asks me later, after Harry has gone.

I shrug. "He told me he was having family issues and wanted to stay with me."

Sandy raises her eyebrows. "Hmm. sounds mysterious."

I roll my eyes. "He could be dangerous for all I know."

And it's true, I don't know him as well as I thought I did. He could be a serial killer looking for his next victim.

But I doubt it.

Sandy chews her lip, looking away as her bubbly demeanor turns edgy.

"What's wrong?"

"Speaking of dangerous . . . Someone's been following me. I haven't seen them or anything . . . I just get this weird feeling sometimes," she confesses in a hushed whisper like someone's watching us talk. "It sounds ridiculous, I know. Maybe I'm just I'm—" "I'll stay away from Harry if that's what you're saying," I interrupt, placing a hand on her arm.

"I don't know the guy either . . . but that's what worries me. He has this way about him that makes him seem dangerous. Especially after that day we met. He kept looking at me weird," Sandy says quietly.

I nod sadly. "I understand." But deep down inside, even though I know she's right that I should stay away from him, something tells me he's not who we think he is at all.

Notes

Okay so I'm already working on chapter 23......

A little bit curious about Bethany's past now ;)  Andrea Russett as Bethany