Sweet Creature h.s au

Five

"Choose your words 'cause there's no antidote
For this curse
Oh, what's it waiting for?"

- Ever Since New York, Harry Styles

Ella

"I-"

"Ella!" A muffled voice yells out before I hear another set of knocks on my door for the second time that morning.

"Are you fucking kidding-" Harry grunts frustratedly as I escape his tight hold to open the door, doing my best to wipe any evidence of the crying I had been doing only minutes before.

"What the fuck was Dom-the-Dick doing lurking in your hallway?" Judy's face comes into view as soon as the door's opened.

"Well, hello to you too," I croak out sarcasm dripping from my voice, as I close the door behind her.

"No seriously, Ella, what happened?," Judy turns around taking note of the dried tears stains and red, splotchy face, concern filling her features as she grabs my hand. 

Before I could get a word in though, Harry clears his throat as if to let Judy know of his presence. Judy immediately snapping her head in his direction, eyes wide.

"Oh hello," She exclaims excitedly, my very vivid descriptions of Harry putting two and two together for her.

 "You must be the green eyed mystery lad Ella here hasn't stopped talking about," She spews teasingly.

 I could see the immediate change in Harry's features, a smirk taking over the frown that had planted itself onto his face since Dominique's intrusion. A sense of relief that I wasn't aware I needed spreading through my bones, not liking the distressed state he was in before.

I groan pinching Judy's hip signaling her to shut the fuck up, but also thankful as some of the tension in the room had been diffused.

"I must be," Harry finally speaks equally teasingly before taking two long strides so that he was standing in front of us near the door, shaking Judy's hand.

"M' Harry, you must be Judy, the best friend," He introduces himself politely, his signature Cheshire grin on his face.

"That I am," Judy exclaims proudly, a small smile on my face at the interaction watching Harry make an attempt with one of the most important people in my life. Something I never got to experience with Dominique.

The thought of Dominique immediately put a damper on my mood. Realization that he was back in New York and keeping his promise of staying in touch sent chills down my spine,  knowing how far he would go to prove a point and get what he wanted. 

What scared me the most was the outcome of Harry's instinct to protect me, almost positive that despite Dom's lack of retaliation then has something to do with the fact that he would be retaliating later, Harry immediately having become a target the minute he touched a blonde hair on his head. Having become so familiar with his tactics over the years, my fear for Harry's safety has me digging my fingernails into my palms, wondering why I let myself get involved with him. 

"Ell,"  Harry's soft voice ushers me out of my head, his fingers gently gripping chin, planting a soft kiss on my forehead.  

"Talk to me," He coos.

 I look around realizing Judy had placed herself on one of the barstools, observing my interaction with Harry sipping on a bottle of beer. 

"Really, Judy? Beer? It's not even noon yet.." I roll my eyes playfully hoping to evade Harry's insistent eyes and questions, not ready to dive in to my fucked up relationship with Dominique.

I gently grab Harry's hand leading him back to the couch where we had so safely been cooped up only an hour ago. Harry leans back against the arm of the chair, beckoning for me to lie down between his legs. As he wraps his arms around me, his chin resting on my head, I feel that for a moment, even if it was just for a moment, I was safe here and I was so content. 

I play with the rings on Harry's fingers, slipping them on and off his fingers and putting them on mine while Harry and Judy carried on a conversation knowing I wasn't in the mood to join in which I was thankful for. 

To the sound of low chatter from comforting voices and some movie on playing on the TV, I find my eyelids droop, the emotional exhaustion lulling me to sleep.

-

Harry

I look down at the sleeping girl curled up in my arms, a small frown on her lips even in her sleep, unsettling me.

"Should I be worried?," I turn around and ask Judy who had moved herself to sit on the arm chair in the living room, now munching on one of the leftover pancakes we had been eating before we were so rudely interrupted.

"About?" Judy questions.

"That guy.. Dominique? He was here a while before you.. was saying all sorts of shit at Ell. Pissed me off, you know? Might've thrown a few punches round," I explain, running my free hand that wasn't clutched in Ella's through my hair frustratedly. I knew she was dodging my questions and while I didn't want to push her, I also needed to know what was going on. I needed to know if she was in any kind of danger.

"Fuck," Judy spits, mirroring my tone of concern and frustration, she continues.

"Really not my place to tell, you know? But um, Dom was Ella's boyfriend, yeah? Just— he's not a good guy, like at all and their relationship, it was messed up, so fucking messed up," 

"I won't go into details because it's up to Ella, you know? Whether she wants to let you in on that part of her life or not, but Harry, she has been through a lot these past two years. And I know you're not anything serious right now, but please, don't hurt her," I find myself nodding, still taking in what information she had given me, nervous for what I'd learn from Ella if she decided to ever tell me. Torn between wanting to know and wondering if I could handle what she would tell me.

"M' not trying to play the stereotypical intimidating best friend, trust me, I'm not. I know you're a good guy but she's-"

"Hey, I know," I interrupt her rambling, smiling softly at her concern for Ella, understanding where Judy was coming from.

"If it wasn't too obvious, I seem to quite like your friend, adore even," I teasingly add, getting a chuckle out of her.

"But um, m' not going to be the stereotypical guy and say that I won't hurt her because I mean, that's unrealistic you know? I'm not perfect, I'll fuck up sooner or later but, what I'll say is I'll do everything in my power not to, like-"

"Hey, I know," She playfully mimics my words at her from earlier, making me chuckle.

"Anyways, m' gonna have to head out now, Uni calls," She gets up off the small compact armchair, discarding the now empty beer bottle into the trash before turning around.

"Also, if Dom-the-Dick shows up again, do me a favor and throw in a particularly rough punch from me, will you?" She requests with a hint of playfullness and seriousness in her tone, more of the latter.

"You got it," I laugh, all the while knowing I really would.

-

Over 100 reads! Thank you so much.

Also, I'm thinking of dedicating new chapters for one reader that interacts with the previous the most. Would you guys like that? Let me know.

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