Color Me (H.S)

CHAPTER 40

Carli

The air around us was chilly, the only heat coming from the candle that sat in between Harry and I. I peered over at him as he took a drink of his tea, confessions were about to flow out and I had no idea how I should feel. I was antsy for one, but regretful another since I felt like I was pushing him to tell me. I took a bite of my food, chewing slowly.

"I had a girlfriend, her name was Sophia. We were together for awhile and I thought I loved her, I didn't know what love even was."

I nodded, speaking nothing.

"We came here one day to get away from Michael and work on our rocky relationship. I was making dinner in the kitchen and Sophia was swimming in the water." Harry nodded over to the eerie calm lake, the darkness making it look cold and weird.

As Harry talked on, my heart dropped. He was telling me something awful and I could tell that he was in pain emotionally. His hands were shaking as he talked, his voice shattering at moments. I was beyond guilty that I had ever gotten jealous over Sophia. She was someone that haunted Harry everyday and made him this way. Harry needed help, he really did. I knew he was too prideful for that and I wished that he would get over himself, ask someone that knows how to make him better. I didn't know what he went through, and sadly I don't think I could handle something so traumatic as that. 

"Any questions?" Harry whispered to me as he finished the horrifying story.

"Why were you in a gang?" I asked.

"Well, I don't really know. After Sophia died I craved something. I needed to fill the void in my heart and soul, when I met Samuel- the gang leader- he and I just clicked on a deeper level. He was exactly who I wanted to be as a person. It's sad but I actually looked up to him. He did his work extremely well and I learned much from him. Once he stepped down for unknown circumstances I took charge, taking his place and doing better than Samuel. Once I got into the files that Samuel had, that's when I read about your brother. He was on our hit list and I again, craved the power that Liam had. I sent my best men in the gang to get him and do whatever was possible to sabotage Liam. He somehow knew what I was doing and ruined everything I planned."

"Well then who is Michael?"

"He worked for your brother. He was in Louis' spot and was Liam's pet. Once Michael found about Sophia, he wanted to ruin me. Before she died, I think about a few weeks before, one night while I was in a business meeting he raped her, stealing something that she cherished." Harry stopped and took a deep breath, his jaw clenched. "Michael's a horrible person and didn't care about Sophia. Of course she told me after that. I got mad and went after him. Which only made my gang extremely upset. Some rumored that I wanted to work with Liam and once I came back without getting revenge against Michael, my gang kicked me out and stripped me from my power. My mates didn't believe a word I was saying and banned me from living anywhere near by. That's why I moved back to my dad's house. My dad was beyond livid with my choices and was not happy about me moving in with him once again. It was nice since Sophia lived just a few minutes away and I could finally protect her from the outside world. Liam found out where I was living and sent his men to hurt me. They didn't succeed very well, so they went back. I've never heard anything about them after that."

"What do you think he did?" I softly asked.

"Killed them for sure. He doesn't like it when his men come back empty handed. After that, I needed to find something to do. Art was one of my talents and it came natural to me. My dad was thrilled that I found something that wasn't against the law and funded my career. I stopped awhile after Sophia drowned, losing hope in everything that I had. In life, in love, in family, in trust. Everything."  Beyond the shell of Harry, I could tell that he was a crumbled down man that was hurt beyond words could comprehend. Harry was tough on his exterior, his interior of himself a different side. I knew that Harry trusted me with this information, but I was wondering why he did. I'm no superhero and nothing about me was different than anyone else. 

"Would you ever try and take your gang back? Or get rid of Liam and take his place?" I asked.

Harry paused for a moment, thinking. His tongue swept across his dry lips, his hand rubbing his chin. "Yes, to the second one you said at least. I would rather enjoy seeing Liam in pain."

How would I feel if Harry did take Liam's place? I didn't like it. At all.

"I'm sorry that I kind of dumped this information on you.." Harry mumbled. "If you want to leave me I-"

"Why would you ever think that I would break up with you? No, I love you the same. Do you want to know some stuff about me?"

Harry nodded and picked at his food. "Well," I began, taking a deep breath. I told him about my abusive father, my absent mother and Liam. I spilled my guts out and my mouth couldn't stop until I was finished. I was glad that Harry had dirt on him, it made me feel like I wasn't the only one that had a bad past. The sun slowly went down, grasshoppers making their annoying but soothing sound. We sat there in quiet for awhile, the scrapping of our forks against our plates filling the silence. 

A man cleared his throat, my head looking to the right of us. An older man dressed in an officer uniform stood there before us with a clipboard in hand. Harry instantly got up, walking over to him. Their hands connected into a shaking hand motion, Harry's lips forming into a smile. "Fredrick, nice to see you."

"I will say the same to you, Styles. Long time no see." The man said, his voice low and soothing. I slowly got up and made my way to the two of them. "You must be Carli."

I nodded and shook his hand, wondering how he knew my name. "Don't worry, Harry told the department that you were the one that found the burglar on your lawn. I don't mean to intrude but I must get a statement from you, ma'am."

"Of course, Fredrick. She would love to. Come inside and I will make a pot of coffee." Harry said, laying his arm around Fredrick's shoulders. Fredrick gave a quick nod, his long legs following Harry inside. Harry wasn't exactly telling the truth about me giving a statement, I didn't want to at all. My mouth would probably deceive me and spill all the things that I saw before me. Deep down I wanted to tell the police what Harry did, but after what Harry told me about Michael- I knew that Michael earned every hit. Probably he needed more for what he did. 

I carelessly followed the two inside, running the information I was going to tell Fredrick. I sat at the kitchen table and watched as Fredrick took sips of his coffee as he got a clean page of his notebook.  I crossed my legs underneath me, my hands clasped tightly in my lap. My eyelids drooped as Fredrick asked me questions, lies rolling out of my mouth as answers. It made me uneasy how good of a liar I was, was that good or bad?

HARRY'S P.O.V

My arms crossed against my chest, my eyes staring at the two before me. Carli was answering the grilling questions like a pro, and if I said I was surprised- that would be an understatement. An hour passed when Fredrick was finally satisfied with this information, leaving us alone in the kitchen. I was so afraid that after I had spilled out my darkness, she would go running and screaming for help to get her away from the monster that I was. But she didn't, and I was glad of that.

"Harry." Carli mumbled tiredly, a yawn falling from her lips.

"I think it's bedtime for you, princess. Don't you think?" I asked her, chuckling. Carli softly giggled and got up. Her soft hands grabbed a hold of my shirt, Carli gaining a slight difference in her height as she stood on her toes. Her lips gave mine several small kisses.

"Goodnight baby." I whispered as I kissed her back. Carli gave me one last kiss, her body disappearing into the blackness of the master bedroom. I stood there and looked out at the water. A flash of Sophia clouded my vision, her smile making a chill run down my spine. I sighed tiredly, my feet following Carli. I laid down next to her, my arm wrapping around her waist. I pulled her body close to mine, my face snuggled into her hair. 

In the back of my mind, I just wished that nothing would ever change.

Boy was I wrong.   

Not everything could stay the same.