Idiosyncrasy (Harry Styles AU)

33

Harry's POV

About twenty minutes later, Bethany and I are both awkwardly sat at her kitchen table across from each other. We had to take the stairs, because the power is out here as well. I think the heavens are trying to drown us. I know she deserves an explanation, and I think it's about time I tell her everything; the whole truth no more secrets. I shift uncomfortably in my seat, scratching the back of my neck and refusing to meet her eyes the light is dim, considering the only source is a flashlight in the middle of the table.

"Okay, so you know everything about my dad, Red, and Sandy, but you don't know why he wanted Sandy dead," I clear my throat. "Right?"

She nods, folding her hands on top of the table. "I think so."

"Sandy . . . had a brother a few years ago that was in the gang with Des. He was one of Des' favorite guys." I pause, rubbing my hands on my light wash skinny jeans. I had found all of this out when I was still ignoring Bethany. Des decided that since I was going to kill Sandy that I might as well know the story.

"One day," I continue with a heavy sigh. "Des found out that Sandy's brother was a spy from a rival gang and had been telling them Des' plans against them.

"Des didn't hesitate to shoot him right on the spot in cold blood, and thought it was over with. But, just a few months ago, he found out that Sandy knew some things that her brother had done, that even Des didn't know about. He wanted me to get that information from her, and then kill her."

Bethany's eyes are filled with tears by now, and I feel guilty for not telling her sooner.

"And, well you know the rest," I mumble.

It's quiet for a while, tears flowing down Bethany's cheeks. She hasn't said a word, and it's starting to worry me. I stand, walking around to her side of the table. Wrapping my arms around her shoulders, I let her sob into my chest for a while.

"But that's not the only story you should know," I whisper in her ear.

She pulls away from me slightly, wiping her eyes and looking curiously at me. "It's not?" I shake my head sadly, sitting down beside her this time. I take a deep breath and prepare myself to tell the story I have so carefully kept locked up inside until this moment. It's time I finally told her. It's time I told her my secret.

"My uh . . . mum and sister were murdered five years ago," I choke out, not looking up from my folded hands. Horrid memories flash before my eyes, and I have to close them to block them out. Their screams; they're still loud in my head.

"I was there when it happened . . . God; I still remember every fucking detail." My voice is low, and I laugh humorlessly.

Beth rests her hand on my clenched fist, and I instantly relax some. I don't look at her though; I can't. I know that if I do, I won't be able to tell the rest of the story.

"My mum . . . my beautiful sister; they-they were killed in our own home and I was forced to watch. They were shot right in front of me.

"Mum died instantly but . . .," I pause, swallowing audibly. Why is my throat so dry? "Gemma suffered. My lovely twenty-three-year-old sister suffered because the stupid fuck with the gun couldn't aim straight at her beautiful heart."

There was so much blood. It was all over mum's favorite rug.

Bethany squeezes my hand, and I flinch involuntarily. "You don't have to go on, Harry," she whispers. Her voice sounds so fragile, like she'll break like glass any minute.

I shake my head. "N-no, I have to let this go." I'm trembling by now, my mind overrun with the horror I experienced five years ago.

Bethany nods slowly for me to continue. God, her eyes. They look like the sky after a storm.

"He shot at me afterwards as I tried to get away, but I got out alive," my voice cracks. "I watched Gemma bleed out. I watched her fucking die, Beth." I wipe tears from my eyes that I hadn't even realized were there, hating how vulnerable and weak I am. I may have a tough shell on the outside, but on the inside I'm just about as strong as a fucking butterfly. Crumbled apart like an old building.

I lift up the hem of my shirt to reveal the fading scar on my ribcage from the bullet. Bethany traces it with her fingers, seeming lost in thought.

"Des told us he was in jail for the longest time . . . he made it believable, too. But if he would have been there that day, then my family would still be alive. And then he had the gall to try to get me to kill Sandy. Beth, I would never kill anyone after what happened to my mum and Gemma. I can't believe he would think I would."

Anger and frustration courses through me as I stand up, threading my fingers through my tangled hair.

"After that happened I moved here," I continue after I've calmed down somewhat. "I couldn't stay there anymore. Every night I drank myself mad. I had nightmares; I lived alone; I never spoke to anybody until I met you."

"Harry," Bethany whispered, standing as well. "Maybe it was for a reason. After all, through all of this you wouldn't have met me."

I whirl around, eyes blazing. "How dare you?!" That had to be the most inconsiderate thing she'd ever said to me. Tears continue to stream down my face, and I sob and hiccup like a child.

Bethany flinched. "I didn't mean it like that, Harry. What happened to your mum and sister was a completely obscene and horrid thing, and there's no excuse for it," she whispers, stepping forward bravely.

I cough and turn around, pulling at my hair. "You're wasting your time with me, Bethany," I mutter between sobs.

Bethany turns me to face her again, and I meet her electric blue eyes. "No, no I'm not. I see a lot in you, Harry. I'm not fucking leaving," she says. "And you can't make me either."

I look away, hiding my tears, but she gently places her hand on the nape of my neck, turning me to look at her. Then, she leans forward, and kisses me.

My initial reaction is to gasp, and I would have pulled away; ran, like so many other times. But the bizarre thing is, I don't. I just stand there and let her kiss me, and I kiss back.

Since I've not kissed anyone since I was probably twelve or thirteen, I let Beth take control of the kiss. I'm almost positive she's a better kisser than me. And as the next few seconds progress, that thought proves to be true.

But soon, I begin to respond to the kiss, hoping my seventh grade kissing skills won't fail me now.

I step closer to her, tucking a strand of blue hair behind her ear. I hesitantly slide my tongue over her lower lip and she smiles.

And in that moment, I know that there's no other place I would rather be.

Notes

OH MY GOD BETHARRY KISSED ALKSJDHFLKAJSDHFLAKJSHFD I HOPE IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT

i literally cried writing this lol i hope you love it like i do :)

SO MANY THINGS REVEALED IN THIS CHAPTER OMFG