In-between

chapter 17

“What happened then?” My question was breathless and Harry turned to look at me before he answered.
“He went into a coma, He’s been in a coma ever since and my mum and him went back to London and she’s staying with him there while my dad is still in New York.” He answered without hesitation, his grip on the steering wheel tightening.
I’m still confused why he thought bringing up his diagnosed brother into this but I let him take his time with the story.
His eyes were wandering over the busy traffic through the windows looking everywhere but me.
“You are just like him, you need help but you’re too stubborn to ask for it so instead you die a little every day.” he finally gets to his point but what he said has caught me completely off guard my mouth was hanging open in surprise and confusion.
“How is my situation even remotely the same with your brother? He’s in a coma somewhere in London because of drugs and I’m here in a car with you perfectly sober leading a drug-free life.” I ramble my question coming out in little spurts.
He looked over giving me a once over before the side of his mouth lifted in a cocky smirk. “Not literally silly, I meant that you both need someone to help you but you refuse because you’re ashamed.”
“Still lost.” I narrow my eyes at him realizing that maybe he thinks I’m mentally not stable.
“Do you think I’m suffering from something?” I ask instead trying desperately to understand what in the hell he’s talking about.
“Well yeah, everyone sees it.” He states like I should’ve known this piece of information a long time ago.
“Look, I’m sorry about your brother, what happened to him is terrible and I don’t want you to blame yourself for it but if  you think for one minute that this is your way of getting to talk to me; trying to make me pity you so you could have your way, you are mistaken because I’m not  Abby.” I breathe at the end of my sentence crossing my arms over my chest in defense.
Harry was quiet after that, his jaw clenched and his chest rising and falling as he took long hard breaths of air.
We finally arrived at the designated place and Harry parked the car in the parking lot.
“Here we are.” He speaks softly all the emotions he let loose moments ago evaporated in the tension I seem to create a lot replaced by his usual emotionless facade he puts on when I’m around.
“Yeah.” I exhale nervously all the nerves rushing back to me when I realize that I’m about to see my father after 9 years.
Harry saw how I was fidgeting with my fingers and how I was almost creating a hole in my lips and killed the engine.
He unbuckled his seat belt and sat sideways to look at me. “Are you nervous?” He whispers the sudden atmosphere in the car forcing him to keep his voice quiet.
I nodded confused why he would even ask that when he doesn’t even know the story and better yet after I have been a bitch to him right after he revealed a story he promised that no one knows about.
“Don’t be. Whatever you’re gonna be doing in there; you’re going to handle it so well.” He reassures his long slender fingers playing with his bottom lip that was jutted out in a pout.
“You don’t even know what I’m gonna do in there.” I state the obvious to stubborn to even take a compliment.
“That’s why I said whatever it is.” He softly reminds me his pink lips raised in an amused smile.
I looked back out the window at the sign written at the entrance and let out a shaky breath.
“I’m going to bail my father out.” I finally revealed my reason of coming here and Harry looks like he’s about to fall from his seat.
He knows well to understand that my father is a douche and he’s been around enough to know him personally.
“What?” He questions even though I know he heard me the first time from the face he made.
“Yeah, my father is in that station and he was arrested for public disturbance last night.” I fill him in taking his stunned expression.
“You know you don’t have to do this right? It’s okay; we could turn back around and leave.” Harry says his eyes flicking back and forth.
“It’s easier said than done, besides the police who just called me knows that I don’t want to do this but he has ordered me to because apparently when your parents are divorced doesn’t mean they lose complete touch with you.” I roll my eyes when I thought about the officer who called at 6 in the morning. Gale was his name. I think?
“What is he even doing here? Was he not supposed to be out of the country or something?” Harry tilts his head in confusion.
“Yeah, he was supposed to but you know my father, he’s full of surprises.” I shrug and look back out the window.
“Do you want to do this right now or do you want to grab breakfast first?” Harry asks as he shuffled to grab his jacket from the backseat.
I chuckled at his question shaking my head and fixing my top so little skin was revealed.
Harry eyes me confused when I don’t answer but laugh instead like I was crazy of some kind.
“Oh you’re serious?” I wonder out loud my laughter held in bay.
He gave me a ‘duh’ expression as he unlocked the doors for us.
“Do you not want to?” He genuinely asks and sometimes his kindness catches me off guard.
“My father is in there waiting for us, we’re late as it is. We could grab something on our way back.” I tell him opening the door to climb down his car.
Harry meets me half way in the middle of the front of his car, his hands running through his messy dark brown hair.
“Okay, I guess we should go in now right?” He asks for confirmation as he slides his shades on his face and I had to look away before I tell him how good he looks with them on.
He was wearing a black hoodie and black denim with a jeans jacket on top of his sweater.
It is a simple outfit but he manages to look good in it.
“Yeah, but I don’t know how to react when I see him.” I tell him honestly as my eyes blink multiple times to push back the emotions I know are there.
I know most people would’ve told him to fuck off when he asks for help but I don’t fall in that category and when people ask for my help I deliver because it doesn’t matter how much of an ass you are, I still think you deserve a helping hand.
So when the officer called me this morning the thought running through my mind was how I would react when I see him because it would be weird if my first instinct is to pounce on him after I just bailed him out.
“React however you want and I’ll help you with it.” Harry nods like he was reassuring me that I was not alone and I wish I could show him how much I appreciate him being here because he and Naomi are the only ones who know how much I hate my father.
I flash him a thankful smile and exhaled one more time before we headed inside.
The police station was… well crowded for one, bunch of criminals sitting on a bench just outside of the station who were all watching me like a hawk, some out of jealousy and some out of lust but either way all I wanted to do was run back to Harry’s car until I felt a pair of hands wrap around my waist from behind protectively. 
I adore how he does stuff like this out of instinct and he doesn’t even know how it makes people react. I turn around to gaze at him my eyes taking in his features of his face from a close up look.
He looks back down at me and smiled as he saw the adoration in my eyes. I swear to God this guy is the death of me because of the emotions he manages to stir inside me.
“You okay?” He mouths when he catches my gaze again. I nod to assure him but ‘okay’ was the farthest thing I am right now.
“How would you react if you see the guy who abandoned you for something God only knows without so much of a goodbye? And how would you react when after 9 years he still doesn’t give a damn and only calls you when you’re his next to best thing?” I ask Harry who has halted our steps and was looking at me thoughtfully.
“To be honest, if it was my father who did this then I won’t hesitate to punch him square in the face and then tell him to bugger off. After I bail him out that is.” He explains, his face morphing into a thoughtful expression and I can tell he was picturing of doing just that to my father.
“I wish I could think of it that way.” I simply state my eyes searching his for any sign of negative energy but it was filled with concern and protectiveness it fills my heart with joy.
“What would you do instead?” He asks considering my feelings above anything else and I think about Dylan doing this for me instead of Harry but beggars can’t be choosers so I guess I’ll take what I have for now.
“I don’t know, I’m feeling thousands of emotions at once and I’m confused.”
“Hello, Good morning I’m detective fields, is there anything you want?” A woman around her late 20’s interrupted Harry’s response as she smiled politely at me and Harry.
I stutter with my response my eyes taking in her gorgeous face and body, studying her as her eyes wanders around Harry’s figure behind me.
“Uh yeah, I was called in this morning to bail out my father I think detective Martin was the one I spoke to.”I tell the beautiful officer who was still shamelessly roaming her eyes at Harry who was oblivious to the whole thing.
“Right, I was informed you would be here around 7 although you were a little late.” She chuckles as Harry whips his face up from his phone.
“That would be my fault, I apologize.” His husky voice breaks through the heavy atmosphere and the lazy chatter in the background.
“Don’t worry yourself Hun, it’s nothing. I’m Laura. Laura fields.” The officer introduces herself again her hands playing with her long jet black hair.
I can feel Harry nod from behind me his hands fumbling over his phone screen I’m assuming he’s texting.
“Detective Martin is out for work but I can handle your business you just have to sign up some paper works and you’re good to go.” she smiles a fake smile and leads the way gesturing for us to follow her.
After a long hallway we arrived at a cramped space which I’m guessing is her office and she tells us to take a seat at the chairs facing each other in front of her desk.
“Okay, I’m going to have to run quick to detective Martin’s office to grab the paper works, feel free to order something.” She gave me a close lipped smile and took off.
My eyes follow her until she disappeared around the corner and turned around to see Harry who was already looking at me like I would break down any time soon.
“Does this take long?” He asks his fingers fiddling with his lip like he likes to do when he’s thinking or nervous.
“I don’t think so, why?” The question flies out of my mouth before I can catch it.
He gave me a small smile in return and sighs, “Abby is losing her shit; I was supposed to have breakfast with her folks.” He narrows his eyes when a text chimes in.
“Omg, I didn’t know you had plans Harry, I’m so sorry.” I exhale annoyed at myself and how I didn’t bother to ask him about it.
“Don’t sweat it, as far as I knew I wasn’t supposed to have plans this morning.” He shrugs and chuckles when he looks down at his screen.
“And now she’s calling.” he sighs rubbing at his temple in what I know is frustration.
“Hello?”
“Jesus Christ Abby, slow the fuck down.” He breaths rolling his eyes when he thought I can’t see him.
“I can’t hear a thing you’re saying. You’ve gotta slow down baby.”
“Yes I know how much it means to you and I’m not saying I won’t come but I honestly can’t. I’ll explain everything when I get back.”
“Don’t worry, I will come home for dinner and I might even cook, just tell your parents I couldn’t make it and I’ll be there at 7 instead.”
“Yes baby, yes I’ll call you when I finish okay?” he waited a few seconds before he nods and hangs up.
He finally looks up at me and gave me a sheepish smile, “Sorry, Abby could be a handful sometimes.” He smiles when he took in my facial expression.
But before I could answer the officer came back with the paper works and placed them in front of me.
“You sign up these while your boyfriend comes with me to fetch your dad.” she smiles at me happy with the idea of her and Harry alone.
“He’s just a friend.” I say when Harry said “Sure thing.” and the police gave me a weird look when my face contorts at the idea of me and Harry ever being in a relationship.
“Even better.” she whispers and extended her hands for Harry who eyed it weirdly before he took it reluctantly.
If only she knew he was just in the phone with his actual girlfriend.
After I made sure they were both gone I looked down and started to read before I signed the multiple papers she had placed in front of me.
“All done?” Laura asks when she got back alone with Harry nowhere in sight.
I nodded my eyes looking back and forth from her to the doorway nervously.
“Your father and your friend are just bonding outside I just came in to make sure you did everything right.” she explains when she saw the distraught on my face.
“Go on sweetie you did everything right now you just have to take your father.” She said cheerily and I wish I could shove her fake attitude down her throat. But I bet she has other ideas of shoving something else down her throat at the moment.
“Okay thanks.” I whisper and slowly rise to my full height.
“They’re just around the corner I’m sure you won’t get lost.”
I returned the same way I remember coming and that’s when I felt like all the air was sucked out of my body when I saw my father I remember only with dirty clothing and a much grown beard.
“Daddy?” My small voice makes both of them look up and my eyes started to water when I took in how much he has changed. For the worst.
“Pumpkin.” His slurred words finally made something snap inside me.

Hello everybody, I hope you’re enjoying the story, I just wanted to point out some things in this chapter,
1, I’ve never bailed someone out of jail or know someone who did so I wrote that in what I thought would happen. If you know what happens please do kindly tell me.
2, I’m not from America so the places used in this story are not entirely true and if it confuses you point that out as well.
Thank you for reading
_amen-