Stay

05

Harry's POV

I'm stood in the hallway of the gym where a crowd has since gathered. I was minding my own business, getting changed and having a chat with my mates. When all of a sudden the guy behind me pushes me forward. Hard.

For what bloody reason?

So I confronted him, "What the fuck mate?"

When I turned to look at him he looked pissed, beyond pissed. He wasn't a small guy but he was smaller than me. Buzzed off head, dark facial hair. He looked familiar but I couldn't exactly tell where I knew him from. Probably just seen him hanging around here a few times. It's not impossible considering I spent quite a lot of my time here; working, training others, and training myself that is.

"You're talking off about how much of a big shot you are, so let's put it to the test"

This guy was crazy. What kind of person starts a fight for no reason with a stranger? I was just going on about my recent triumph at a boxing match last night, but what's it to him?

"You're out of it" I said and turned back to my conversation. Not even a minute later he grabbed onto my shoulder and pulled me to face him. This guy is really starting to get on my nerves.

"what? can't hold your ground?"

"whatever" I walked past him and almost made it completely out the door when the man started yelling insults at me.

"Prissy Brit can't hold his own for shit!"

Normally this wouldn't have made me as mad as it did, but there was something about him. Something about the way he spoke with a slight slur, something about how he pushed his chest up and stuck his nose into others business. Where it truly did not belong. And before I knew it punches were being thrown. He shoved me, I shoved back harder. He hit me, I hit back harder. Never throw the first hit always get hit first. Makes it self defence that way.

Dan, a pal of mine who worked here at the gym with me, came and separated us. He grabbed the stranger by his shirt and forcefully walked him out of the room.  I followed suit shortly after.

When we made it onto the hall I saw Nellie rush towards the man and was immediately trying to calm him down. What was going on?

She look worried, a certain edge to her normally calm features I couldn't quite make out. Tight workout clothes adorned her body, just like every other time I saw her. Excluding our meeting at the pub. She truly was a beautiful girl. Dark brown hair, blue eyes, a fiery attitude to wrap it all up. I mentioned her to my friends a few times before and they all encouraged me to ask her for a drink, coffee or something else equally as casual. But I declined, remembering that her boyfriend was a man who was one off his wit.

"Nellie you know this guy?" I questioned. The man yelling back harshly at her asking how she knows me.

That's when it clicked in my head. He was her boyfriend. Images of him standing with her at the bar, arm around her waist, smashed beyond his brains flashed in my mind. It all makes a little more sense why he picked a fight with me; maybe he too recognized me but couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"I-I...." she was speechless, as I would be too in her situation.

The crowd around us had died down, leaving only a few lingering stares from people walking by. His hands latched onto her wrists, squeezing tightly. He was trying to be discreet about it but I had noticed. Nellies words flashing across my mind, saying she was taking lessons to protect herself.

I don't know if maybe I was looking too far into this, or if my guess was correct. But I suspected he often treated her this way. Watching the two interact with each other after seemingly understanding more of the situation than I should, I grew impossibly more mad.

From what I knew, Nellie was a sweet girl. She was calm at most times; she often held her tongue and tried to "be the bigger person". It was obvious she was smart but how she acted made her seem responsible. Trusty worthy, dependable, timid.

I knew I had to somehow get Nellie separated from him but looking at his grip on her wrists, it seemed near impossible.

"Alright mate back off yeah?" I tried to speak with a softer tone, hoping it would be more persuasive.

"This is my girlfriend don't tell me how to act with her!" Yelling. This man always seemed to be yelling.

I decided speaking to him was no use, like speaking to a wall. So instead I directed my attention towards Nellie.

"Are you are alright?" I asked gently, not really paying mind to the anger boiling over on her boyfriends face. Just as she opened her mouth, he cut in and answered for her.

"I know you're fucking each other......That's the guy from the bar you're fucking him Nellie" his voice lowered as he spoke. Wide eyes searching my face to see any hint of emotion that would suggest he was correct.

"Jackson!" Nellie said shocked, attempting to pull her wrists from him again.

"That's not true." Again, I spoke slowly and calmly "I've seen her here a few times that's all"

Hoping she would appreciate my not giving him every detail. His hold on her had finally let up. Nell immediately took a step back, her hands coming up to each other, taking turns rubbing the skin that was now sore. I tried to make it as undetectable as possible when I took a slight step to the right, trying to insert myself somehow between them.

Jackson, as I've learned, and I just stood there staring. His blue eyes were piercing through my own. The hall seemed to quiet around us, so much so that the only thing heard was breathing. Until finally he spoke,

"Let's go Nell"

His right hand reached out for hers as he interlocked their fingers. She quickly scuffled behind him, a worried look on her face, knowing better than to look back at me.

+++

this was so bad i'm so sorry