Misery Loves Company (H.Styles Fanfic)

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

It’s been five days that I was brought in this massive house, and tonight is our last night in it. I’ve grown quite attached to it since I spend most of my days wandering around, watching TV or exercising alone, but if I had the choice between this or going home, I’d still choose home. There was a note on the table yesterday morning saying that I could pack anything I wanted. That was the last time I’ve heard of him.

Time passes slowly around here and the days only seem to drag on and on. Only today I feel like I’ve been more productive than I have in my eighteen years of life. I’ve gone through all my belongings to see what I was taking to LA with me, I’ve done more reps than I ever could at the gym in college, and I’ve managed to cook myself an entire five course menu without recipes or internet, since there is no computer, no phone or no accessible Wi Fi in this place. I eat alone in the comfortableness of my pyjamas and the comforter I’ve brought from my bedroom to the living room.

After dinner I head back to my bedroom to pack with a stomach full. Both suitcases are filled with my clothes and shoes, and the duffle bag is the only thing left to pack with my toiletries and jewelry. I’m almost done packing when three knocks on the door catch my attention.

“May I come in?” Harry asks. I sigh, the overwhelming feeling of being kidnapped making its appearance all over again, but I get up to open the door. “I see you’ve read my message.”

I nod and he lets himself in while I sit on the bed with the bag. He still hasn’t taken off his leather coat and his shoes. “There’s some food left in the fridge, if you’re hungry. I made plenty.”

Harry gives me an approving grin and joins me on the bed. “Thank you. I’m starving. Why don’t you come to the kitchen with me?”

“I’m a little bit tired,” I admit, not wanting to be alone in a room with him for too long. “Do you want me to warm up the food before I go to bed? There’s a chocolate cake in the microwave, too. You didn’t have butter so I added vegetable oil, but it’s just as good.”

Rambling helps me calm my nerves, but Harry’s wide smile just makes me even more nervous. “I’d love that. I tend to burn leftovers.”

He takes my small hand in his large one and pulls me down the stairs to the kitchen area of the house. While I warm up the main dish of my five course dinner, which consists of chicken and rice, Harry takes his outerwear to the front closet and sits on a stool behind me. I place the dish in front of him and he takes one large bite.

“This is delicious, Elena.” I sit next to him and study his features while he eats. He has tattoos on his wrist and on his forearm, but the rest of his arms are hidden under the rolled up sleeves of his plaid button down shirt. A chest tattoo peaks out of the shirt, but I can’t make out the design. “I’ll show you the others, if you want,” he mumbles with a mouthful of food, my studying becoming quite obvious to him. “You like tattoos?”

“Yeah,” I whisper with an approving nod. Leaning slightly backwards on the stool, I pull up the hem of my pyjama t-shirt right below my chest to show off the writing on my right ribcage. ‘Life Begins Where Fear Ends’, it reads. Harry’s finger brushes the smooth skin of my stomach and he’s quickly aware of the goose bumps his touch has created. He gently pulls down my shirt but I see the smirk on his face as he does so.

He has stopped eating and is facing me. His eyes are darker than usual but his expression is curious, questioning. “What are you scared of?”

“You,” I reply without thinking. A side grin takes over his face and he cocks his head to the side. “I’m scared right now,” I rectify. “I don’t exactly know what I’m doing here.”