She Talks to Angels (H.S.)

Chapter 2

Harry sat by her bedside as he waited for her to wake up, holding her smaller hand in his. He hadn’t seen her in years and he was honestly surprised she even came back to town, but he was definitely glad she did. She looked pretty much the same, but her features were much more filled out now, which told him that she had gained weight that she desperately needed. Back in high school he often worried about her being too thin, especially since he knew what she was going through. He had been by her side ever since her father started drinking and he had calmed her tears more times than he could count.

His gaze shifted to her neck where a silver chain was wrapped around it. He carefully lifted it to reveal the ring he had given her years ago on the day she left. She had been at his house all day as she tried to avoid going back home to her mother, so Harry gave her his ring to ‘protect’ her. It was one he had carried with him his whole life so she knew how important it was to him. The fact that she still had it and kept it close like this made him smile. He was more at ease knowing that it still protected her from the dangers only he knew about.

“How is she?”

Harry lifted his head to find the woman who took him in and raised him as a child waiting in the doorway.

“Good. Just needs some rest.” He said softly as he turned his attention back to his love’s face.

“Poor thing… Maybe you should… talk to Laura. There has to be something you can do.”

“You know I can't, Mum. It's not safe.” He said.

Anne was the only one who knew his true identity, but only because of the incident. They both vowed not to speak of it again in order to keep them both safe from the dangers that lurked in the shadows.

“I know… I just wish we could do something to help her. This poor girl has been through enough.” Anne sighed.

“There isn't anything we can do besides be there for her.” Harry said softly.

His long slender fingers reached over to gently brush a few strands of hair from her face, immediately pulling them back when her face twitched and she stirred in her sleep. A minute later her eyes opened to reveal the bright blue irises that he had grown to love over the years.

“Harry… it really is you.” Charlie whispered as she stared up into his bright green eyes that she adored so much. “You're… a cop.”

“I am.” Harry chuckled softly, smiling as her gaze took him in.

“Here I thought you would have went to America and joined a band.” Charlie teased as she sat up carefully, still feeling a bit dizzy.

“You remember that…” Harry smirked, remembering how she would always be front row when he and his band mates in high school would perform. “Well I wanted to, but I decided to go to the academy in Manchester before coming back home. I like it here too much.”

“Well that makes one of us.” Charlie sighed, finally realizing Anne was in the room. “Will you let me know when she wakes up? I think I'm going to go home for a little while.”

“Of course, honey. I'll give you a call.” Anne nodded.

Charlie thanked her and stood up, nearly falling as the room spun slightly but Harry was quick to steady her.

“I'm driving you.” He said.

Charlie opened her mouth to argue but before she could Harry cut her off.

“You either come willingly or I put you in cuffs and force you.”

The cheeky smirk on his face irked her, but after a moment she finally gave in and allowed him to escort her to his police cruiser. She had to admit that it was odd seeing him as a police officer now, but it suited him well. He had always been a protector of sorts to everyone and now as a cop he could do so legally or without getting into trouble.

“I honestly didn't think you would come back…” Harry said after a moment of silence.

“I almost didn’t.” Charlie admitted as she stared out the window.

She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t realize that instead of driving her back to the house she grew up in he had parked outside of the diner she used to work at.

“What are we doing here?” She asked as she turned to look at him, finding him already staring at her.

“You need to eat something.” He said as he pulled the keys out and stepped out of the car before she could argue.

Charlie furrowed her brows and pouted as she watched him walk around the front of the car to get to her side. He opened up the door for her then stepped back and smiled.

“Either walk or I carry you.” He smirked.

Charlie rolled her eyes and reluctantly got out.

“Such a pain in the ass.” She mumbled as she walked inside and sat at their usual booth in the back corner.

Harry grinned when he saw her and slid in right next to her.

“What are you doing?” Charlie asked.

“This is how we always sit. Remember?”

“So what about old leather back over there?” Charlie asked Harry as the two sat on the same side of the booth, watching everyone who came into the diner.

They had been pointing out random people since they came in an hour ago and coming up with wild stories about their life.

“Well… he looks like a Timothy to me. Maybe a Walter.” Harry started, already getting Charlie into a fit of giggles. “He dresses up like a biker in order to seem like this tough badass when in reality he still lives at home with his mother and her ten cats. Probably collects unicorns as well.”

Charlie let out a loud cackle, but quickly hid her face behind Harry’s shoulder when she realized that many people had turned to look at her. Harry chuckled and smiled widely, watching her struggle to hold in her giggles as her cheeks turned pink with embarrassment.

To him her laughter was the most beautiful sound on Earth and he would do anything to hear more of it.

The corner of Charlie’s lips twitched up as a smile tried to break free, but she forced it back.

“That was a long time ago.” Charlie said quietly as she looked down at her hands.

Harry could feel the sadness coming from her heart and he let out a soft sigh before moving over to the other side as the waitress came over to take their order.

“Two specials please, only ketchup on hers, and a strawberry shake to split.” Harry ordered for them, knowing exactly what she wanted because she ordered the same thing every time they came here as kids.

“Coming right up.”

The waitress winked at Harry which made Charlie roll her eyes. She couldn't have been older than seventeen and there she was flirting with a twenty five year old man.

“Don't be jealous, Charls.” Harry teased her.

He could practically feel the jealousy oozing out of her as she glared at the back of the waitress as she walked away.

“I'm not jealous.” Charlie mumbled as she rested her chin in the palm of her hand while her elbow rested on the table.

“Mhm.”

Harry smirked which only made Charlie irritated.

“Don't Mhm me. I'm not jealous.” She just argued.

“Alright. If you say so.” Harry said as he held his hands up in defense.

“Oh fuck you.”

Harry laughed as she threw a packet of jam at him, smiling wider as she finally allowed herself to smile as well.

“There’s the smile I was looking for.” He said softly, which only caused her cheeks to turn the slightest shade darker of pink. “I missed it… almost as much as I missed you.”

Charlie’s smile faded and she sat back in her hair once more.

“Haz…”

Before she could finish someone just had to interrupt her.

“You have a lot of nerve showing your face around here.”