If You Would [h.s.] HOLD

Twenty-Three

Harry - after the party

"What. The fuck." Her voice rings in my ears and the memories of her reliving her times with Randy with me make me quiver with nerves.

I was sobering up quickly.

She opens her mouth but nothing comes out. Mortal shock covers her face. I didn't expect anything less. She reaches her hand over and gently shoved Mak awake.

I saw the first thing that pops into my head. My mother always told me that speaking calmly can calm any situation.

"Oh. I forgot you were here." Again, the lie wasn't all the way truthful, but I did forget for a few hours at least. Maks head pops up from the covers and looks around the room. At Evelyn and at me and Randy.

Her eyes narrow at me before settling in on Randy, her real target.

"What the fuck! Get out you psycho!" She throws the nearest pillow, hitting Randy straight in the face. To my surprise, he doesn't let go of me to catch it. Instead he lets it smash him.

"I'm just helping a friend home. That's all." His voice speaks for the first time since he's entered the top . I can't tell what exactly, but there is something in his voice. Hiding, lurking, waiting to spring out when least expected. It made me uneasy.

"I don't give a shit. She still has a restraining order against you. Leave or I'm calling the cops." Mak picks up her phone and I stare at Evelyn, who's staring at Randy. She has a mix of fear and anger in her eyes. The one thing I love about Evelyn more than anything, is how easy I can read her, when no one else seems to. It doesn't matter how drunk I am. I can still see she's been hurt. And I've caused It, which in turn hurts me.

It's like I'm watching a show unfold in front of me and I'm just sitting in the audience.

"Oh shit." I mumble without my own consent. I've fucked up royally.

"Evelyn. I told you I changed." Randy's voice appears from next to me, I've almost forgotten he has been supporting my slumped frame. I straighten myself slightly but he holds on tight, afraid to let me fall.

"Don't fucking speak to me. Leave. I'm serious. And no, you didn't tell me you changed. Your plastic blonde bimbo did. Is she falling for it? Your tricks?" She speaks for the first time and it catches me off guard. I have no idea where I stand in this. Do I intervene? Do I apologize? Do I deck Randy right in his face? I have no idea what's going on and I don't know how to deal with this loss of control. The more I think of it, the more blurry my vision gets.

"I'm not going to do anything. I'm just bringing your boyfriend home." Randy shifts his weight and sits me into the nearest cheap hotel chair, something I'm glad for, he must have noticed my wobbling. But I don't need him. He's an asshole.

"Well thanks but I got it from here. Skat." Evelyn scatters off of the bed, moving to help me move, making me feel even more guilty. And it doesn't help when she gives me this disappointed look. I could see that I hurt her deep down. How could I fuck up so badly? How could I forget something that important? How can I fix this?

Randy stands his ground. Which catches me and Evelyn both off guard. He's pushing his limits now. I'm beginning to feel like my safety wasn't his first intention.

"Randy. I will tell you one more time. Leave. Now. I can handle Harry. I don't even know why you're in fucking California anyway." Yeah, why is he in California anyway? He lives in fucking Ohio.

"Okay..." he finally comes to his senses and turns the other direction go walk towards the door. But half way there he stops himself and slides back around and faces Evelyn.