Bewilderment (A Harry Styles Fanfiction)

Chapter Two

The sun poors into the room through the small window above my head. My hair is sprawled out around me and I am tangled up in the sheets.

I lay with my eyes still closed and let my mind wander. Its strange to sit and wonder exactly how the world has evolved. It has gone from one discovery to another and one invention to the other. And there are so many discoveries, because with every discovery, one more is sure to follow; with every invention more is to come. And I have yet to discover or invent a simple plan of how to get my family out of the colonies. I think once I figure out how to get pass the soldiers the rest will simply fall into place. It seems like it will take a very complicated and well thought out process, but I think it will be one or two important steps to complete the task at hand.

It is quiet in the house this morning. Liam left for school a while ago, and father has gone to work as well. I haven't seen mother today, but then again I have yet to leave my bed. If I am to rip the covers away from my body and go down stairs, I will see one of the three people who have ruined everything or maybe ill see all three. I stare at the ceiling, tracing the marks in the wood with my eyes. I smile to myself when I see two large circles with a small one below it making a face.

I sigh and finally peel the blankets away from myself. My bare feet hit the floor and a shiver runs through me. With winter on the way, it is going to get cold fast. I look in my small, cracked mirror and put my hair into a braid that flows down my back. I then slip a white dress over my under clothes and carefully climb downstairs.

Mamma is asleep in her rocking chair. She looks so peaceful compared to the last few days of complete stress. I walk into the kitchen to find that Mamma hasn't left anyone hanging. A bowl of fruit sits in middle if the table with a stack of plates next to it. I pick a couple blueberries from the bowl and pop them into my mouth.

"Excuse me? Phoebe, is it?" I turn around to see Mr. Malik. He wears a tight gray tanktop that hugs his torso, and his hair is wet and matted to his forehead. I stand and blankly stare at him for awhile before I finally decide it wont hurt to talk to him.

"Uh, yea my name is..." I pause for a second, "Phoebe," I finish. I move my mouth to the side and bite my cheek as a nervous habit.

"Do you mind me making a couple plates for me and the boys?" I look him up and down and can't help but notice the ink that is spread across Mr. Malik's skin. I have never seen anything like it. So many different patterns and designs.

"No," I say, still memorized by the art that has been placed on his arms and from what I can tell his chest too.

"They're called tattoos," he explains, after noticing my staring. "In the military we earn them for good behavior. Well, if we want them that is," he tells me.

"Hey! What's taking so long? Im starving." A blonde head comes in view of my vision. He rubs his hands together and has a grin occupying his lips.

"Hey, Niall. Where is Harry? He wasn't in his cot when I woke up." He puts a few extra pieces of fruit on Mr. Horan's plate.

"No, I don't, but Harry is always running off, no need to worry." His voice is different from the others I notice.

"What about me?" Mr. Styles lets the screen door slam shut behind him making me flinch. Where was he?

I shift my weight on different feet. As the boys talk and eat, I stand there ignored and out of place.

"Hey.” I look up to meet Mr. Styles eyes. "There's a leak in the barn. We need it fixed." He takes a bite of a strawberry, sending juices down his chin, but he swiftly wipes it away. I am a taken off guard by him speaking to me. He never talks much, he's very quiet. At least, from what seen.