Canon | (Harry Styles AU)

[thirteen]

[just to clarify because i keep getting a shit ton of messages in my inbox about this ... this story is about HARRY not jo. the people he's involved w/are minor. that's why it's all in harry's pov.ok bye.]

"You shouldn't feel much now that I've numbed the area, you'll feel a slight pressure, and lot of tugging and pulling. Alright?" Dr. Bengal says to me, pulling her tray of sterile needles and thread closer to me.

"Okay," I nod, gulping down the nervous lump at the back of my throat. I feel Annette reach over from the side of the hospital bed she's sitting on next to me, placing her warm, soft hand on top of mine, giving it a squeeze.

"I'm not scared," I tell her as the doctor unwraps the needle.

"Then why are you so pale all of a sudden?" She says with an amused smile.

"I'm not. It's the lighting," I lie. Inside I feel like I'm two seconds away from fainting. I know it doesn't really hurt, especially with it already being numb, but I just hate the way the skin feels when it's being tugged.

"Mhm sure," She smirks.

Thankfully Annette does a great job at distracting me while Dr. Bengal patches me up. I hardly feel a thing because all I can focus on is how soothing Annette's voice is. I've known her for mere hours and I already hope this leads to something else because I'm really starting to like her. Or am I?

I'm suddenly reminded of Jo and how much I like her and now I can't help but to think that maybe I'm just attracted to Annette because she's doing a hėll of a good job distracting me from how pissed off I am with Jo. A part of me is angry at Jo for playing these games with me, using me to her advantage but another part of me understands. I know she's going through hėll at home and this is probably the way she chooses to act out- manipulating others.

"And... you're all done," Dr. Bengal smiles, putting down her tool.

"Great," I say letting out a relieving breath since I had been holding it in without noticing.

"I'll be right back with your release papers, your mom should be in, she asked me to grab her so she could see how you were holding up," Dr. Bengal says before excusing herself into the busy halls.

"See that wasn't so bad, right?" Annette says, hopping off the bed to stand in front of me, looking at my freshly sown together flesh,"Nothing to be afraid of."

"I wasn't scared," I repeat, hoping this time it will come across as more convincing.

"Is that so?"

"Yes," I confirm.

"What if I told you I already knew exactly how to read you and that I can tell that you were scared," She says softly, running her finger gently above my cut.

"I'd say you were an inventive loon," I joke, making her laugh lightly.

"Well I'm not," She smiles.

"So you're telling me that you can read me even though you really don't know me?" I tease.

"I sorta do know you though," She says.

"You don't. You really..." I begin to say stopping mid-sentence when I see my mom walk in wearing her scrubs. Now I realize what Annette means, she knows me because my mom and all the things she's disclosed with her about me.

"Oh Harry, look at you! What happened?" My mother questions hugging me, then examining my face and all it's damage.

"I'm fine it was just a stupid fight," I tell her with annoyance.

I hadn't even bothered calling her when Annette drove me over because I already knew she was working late tonight. When I passed through the halls of the hospital I tried being as discrete as possible but it didn't work because the second Annette and I passed her she knew it was me even if I did have my head hiding behind a cloth.