𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐍! | harry styles

𝐗𝐗𝐗𝐈

BELLA watched as the rain began to fall, hitting her patio door and blurring her vision to the outside world. She turned her head and rested her forehead against Matt's shoulder. Her tears had long since dried, and she sighed deeply. He squeezed her arm and rubbed her soothingly.

"He'll be okay." It wasn't the first time Matt had said that since arriving at her apartment an hour ago.

"I've never seen Isaac so mad," she said. "I didn't know what to do. Harry wouldn't even look at me."

Matt didn't know how to reply. "Are you hungry? Do you want to go get something to eat?"

"No," Bella answered quickly. "I want to be here when he gets back."

"I could bring something back for you."

Bella shook her head. "I'm really not hungry."

They sat in silence awhile longer. The sound of a key in the lock had them both on their feet. Bella made a beeline toward the door but came to an abrupt halt when it opened to reveal a disheveled Harry. The side of his face was red and swollen, and a bruise was forming under his left eye. There was dried blood on the lower half of his face and down the front of his shirt.

"Oh, my god! Harry, what happened?" Bella reached toward his face. Harry took a step back, jerking his head away.

"Don't," he warned.

She dropped her arms and looked at him in shock. "Did my dad do this?" she asked in disbelief.

"Can I use your cell phone?"

"Harry?"

"I need your phone, Bella," he said harshly.

Bella quickly retrieved her cell phone from the living room and offered it to him. Without another word, Harry took it and disappeared into the bathroom. She looked over her shoulder at Matt. His bewildered expression mirrored her own.

Harry locked the bathroom door behind him and pulled Evenson's business card from his wallet. He took a seat on the counter and dialed her number. It dropped into voicemail. He hung up and tried again. This time she answered.

"Evenson speaking."

"Officer Evenson, this is Harry Styles."

"Harry, hello. How can I help you?"

"You told me I was supposed to report any incidents I had with the law . . ."

It took her a moment to reply. "Hold on." There were muffled voices on the other end and what sounded like a door closing. "What happened?"

"Bella's father, he's . . ." He stopped, unsure of how to explain the situation.

"Isaac Montrose. I'm aware of who he is."

Her statement took Harry by surprise. "You are?"

"Of course I am," she said matter-of-factly. "Did you think I would approve of an address change for one of my parolees without knowing the full extent of their living situation?"

"Why did you?" he asked. "Why did you approve it?"

"Harry, fifty percent of all inmates released on parole return to prison within the first year. In my personal experience, those with the strongest support networks are the most successful. If I have a choice between sending someone to a halfway house, where half the people they live with could potentially be a bad influence, or putting them in a safe environment with someone they know and trust, I'm going to do the latter. I fully reviewed your case, and I didn't believe you posed any threat to Bella or anyone else for that matter. I know the situation is a bit . . . unconventional, but I didn't consider it means for denying you're request. Now, I highly doubt you called to ask me the basis for approving your residence. What do you need to tell me?"