The Truth Kills

I woke up to the bright sun shining in my closed eyes. I squinted as I slowly opened my eyes and looked around the room. I glanced at the large furnished room that costed more than more than my entire house. And then I remembered last night.

The large clock on Scarlet’s bedroom wall said it was only eight in the morning. I glanced down to see Scarlet lying next to me, her hand on my bare chest.

She resembled an angel, her skin clear and white, no markings or bruises, aside from the few dark hickies that I had left on her last night. I felt a smile twinge at my lips as I glanced at the hickies, adorning her neck, chest, and collar bones.

Her light blonde hair flowed down her chest, covering her bare breasts almost as if she was a mermaid in a movie. Her hair went all the way down to the top of her bellybutton, against her flat stomach. I reached forward, wrapping a strand of her light, silk hair around my long finger.

Her eyes were still closed, her dark lashes contrasting immensely against her pale skin. She had a peaceful, content look on her face that made me want to let her sleep forever. The rest of her body was covered by the thin, white silk comforter, that came up to her waist.

She laid on her side, facing towards me. All she had was a hand on the middle of my chest, but my left arm was wrapped around her bare, thin waist, my thumb rubbing over her tattoo on her hipbone. 

The tattoo was small and dark, and slightly swollen against her skin that I could feel my initials easily. I enjoyed it. I thrived on it. I felt as if I had forever branded her as mine. Scarlet was mine, Harry Styles’. And anyone that knew me, would immediately know what the tattoo meant.

I closed my eyes in content. I had never had anything like this before, and yet I was getting so used to it. All my other hookups had been with girls I liked physically, but hardly knew emotionally. It was usually a quick, drunk fuck or a casual hookup. 

Every once in a while I did actually fall asleep with the girl I had fucked, but it was rare. I wasn’t a fan of staying over the girl’s house. Girls had a tendency to latch onto me. They would try to spoon me or hug me in their sleep, it made me feel suffocated and uncomfortable. 

But as fucking usual, Scarlet was different. 

And it killed me. Partly because I could feel myself getting more and more attached to Scarlet every fucking hour, and also because I didn’t fucking understand it.

“Why are you staring at me?” Scarlet questioned, her eyes hooded with sleepiness. My eyes snapped back to her face and I smiled coyly.

“Because you’re beautiful.” I replied, my voice low. It was always the lowest in the morning when I first spoke. 

Scarlet’s cheeks tinted a light pink and she shuffled underneath the covers slightly. Her eyes squeezed shut before they opened again and looked at me.

“It’s early, stop making me blush.” She said, smiling at me. Her hand left my bare chest and reached up to my cheek. She positioned herself so her head was right on my shoulder, her face level with mine. Her long hair trailed down her bare back and my tattooed chest.

“Mmm.” I mumbled against her touch. Her light pink painted fingernails traced down my cheek lightly. Even the light touch of her fingers could arouse me. She cupped my cheek lightly, grinning at me. 

“Haz,” She purred against my face. 

“Hm?” I asked, enjoying the feeling of her touch. She raised her hand even more, her hands running through my curls, tugging on them slightly.

“Close your eyes.”

“Why?” I asked raising my eyebrows. She glanced down and grinned.

“Just do it.”

“Is this because you don’t want me to see you naked?” I asked, tilting my head to the side.

Scarlet glanced down at the white bed comforter that currently hid me from seeing her naked body. She laughed quietly and let her hand leave my face.

“No fucking way.” I replied, smiling largely at her. 

“Harry,” Scarlet moaned. Even her voice aroused me.

“Scar are you fucking kidding me?” I laughed, looking down at her. “I’ve seen you naked multiple times and I’ve kissed pretty much every inch of your naked body. I think we’re past the point of shyness.”

Scarlet laughed, sighing loudly.

“Not to mention, we’ve had sex multiple times too. I’ve even-”

“Okay, okay,” Scarlet interrupted me, sitting up and holding the bed spread around her naked body. “I get it.”

I grinned as she stood up, pulling the bedspread with her as she stood up.

“I don’t think so,” I spoke as I grabbed the corner off the comforter and yanked it, exposing Scarlet’s body.

“Harry!” Scarlet shrieked, covering her naked body. I laughed throatily as she ran across the room to her bathroom. “I honestly hate you.”

“No you don’t,” I said, winking at her as she lifted her middle finger and closed the bathroom door.

Ten minutes later she came out showered and in a fluffy white towel. Her house had the softest towels, and they cost about fifty bucks a towel. The towels at my house cost about five.

She walked into her large closet, shutting the door again. I sat up, throwing on a pair of jeans I had left at her house a few weeks ago. I then threw on a white v-neck I had left as a spare.

Scarlet came out of her closet, jean shorts on her legs and a tight tank top.

“No,” I shook my head as she stepped out. “Go back and change.”

“What? Why?” She asked, looking down at her clothes.

“Number one, I don’t want other guys looking at you when you’re wearing that. And number two, I won’t be able to not fuck you in public when you’re wearing that.” I spoke, crossing my arms over my chest.

“But I like this shirt.” She replied, pouting by pushing out her bottom lip slightly.

“And I like not getting blood all over my shirt because of the ten fights I’ll get into tonight at the South Side party.” I replied. We all knew I had a bad temper, and it was always at its worst when it came to Scarlet and other guys.

“Fine.” She snapped, rolling her eyes and turning on her heel to go back to her closet. I smirked as I brought out my phone from my pocket. 

I had three texts from Jay. They were all about tonight. Tonight. Tonight was my very first drug deal. A heavy feeling went into the pit of my stomach.

Scarlet and I were going to a beach party tonight. But when it turned midnight, I had to leave to go to the drug deal location. I still wasn’t sure if I was going to tell Scarlet yet or not. 

I hated lying to her. First about the bet, and now this. But…I was too scared to lose her. I had a feeling that Scarlet finding out about my drug deal would make her run from me and never look back.

Scarlet came back out, this time wearing the same tiny jean shorts and tank top, but she had put a light sweater on over top, the sleeves only going down to her elbows.

“Good girl.” I said, reaching forward and kissing her lips. She remained emotionless, not kissing me back, but just standing there.

I kissed her over and over again, trying to get her to respond but she just stood there. Her stubbornness turned me on, and also brought out my underlying anger.

“Are you mad I made you change?” I mumbled against Scarlet’s lips, pulling her crotch against mine.

“I’m mad that you’re an asshole.” She retorted, her comment making me laugh throatily. 

“Baby,” I spoke, kissing her lips again. This time she responded, her mouth opening against mine, her slight anger making her kissing more aggressive than usual. I moaned against her mouth, my hands molding around her ass.

All of a sudden, her bedroom door flew open, the door slamming against the wall.

Scarlet and I pulled away to see Woods standing in the door, his eyes slightly widened. 

“What the fuck do you want?” I growled, taking a step toward him. I hated him. I hated everything about him.

“Harry,” Scarlet said, running in between Woods and I, her hand against my chest. “Back up.”

“Sorry, I didn’t realize you had company…” Woods trailed off, his eyes on Scarlet, completely ignoring me. Scarlet gave him a polite smile.

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it.” She said in a happy voice. “Did you need somethi-“

“You don’t just fucking walk into her room.” I cut off Scarlet, glaring at Woods. “She was just naked five fucking minutes ago!”

“Harry!” Scarlet gasped, turning to glare at me. 

“No, he’s right.” Woods spoke, glancing at me. “I shouldn’t have just walked in. I could see something I shouldn’t.”

Scarlet was still turned away from Woods, looking at me in shock. Woods eyes glanced down Scarlet’s body as he spoke about seeing something he shouldn’t. 

“Shut the fuck up,” I growled. He was just giving up some respectful act to Scarlet, making it seem as if he was a gentlemen. 

“Harry,” Scarlet gasped again for the third time in the last minute. “You need to leave.”

“You’re making me leave?” I asked unbelievingly. A slight smirk hit Woods’ mouth, making me want to knock it the hell off.

“Yes.” Scarlet said quickly, grabbing my hand. “We are both leaving.” 

I shouldered by Woods, my eyes glowering at him. His eyes were just as dark before they glanced at Scarlet, a smile coming onto his face.

“We’re going to a party. Can you tell my parents I won’t be home until later?” Scarlet asked, stopping before Woods. He nodded. “Oh and could you maybe not mention that Harry slept over last night?”

“Anything for you.” Woods replied, a joking smile on his lips, but then he glanced back up at me. I turned, yanking Scarlet with me. We walked down her long driveway to my car, immediately getting in.

“You can’t just go around threatening my family’s houseguest, Harry, whether you like him or not,” Scarlet said exasperatedly.

“Dammit, Scar!” I growled, slamming my hands down on the steering wheel, making her jump in her seat.

“Are you that damn blind to see that he’s trying to get with you? He looks at you like a piece of meat! I’m not fucking letting that go-“

Scarlet leaned over the middle of the car, her small hand grabbing my large one. She listened to my cursing rant as she rubbed her thumb over my scarred hand.

My rant stopped and all that was left was my heavy breathing. We sat in silence for a few minutes. Scarlet looked at me thoughtfully as I tried my best to control my anger.

“I love you,” She spoke, her eyes looking up at me from underneath her dark lashes. 

I stayed silent, my free hand running through my hair in frustration. I didn’t deserve her patience. Most girls would stay silent and run the minute they were given the chance to get away from my anger. But Scarlet just took it as a chance to get closer to me.

“Woods is from my past,” Scarlet spoke into the silence. 

“I know.” I spoke quietly, sounding like a child.

“And you’re my future.” She said in the same tone.

I smiled at her, my fingers intertwining with hers as I started the car and pulled out of her driveway.

~ ~ ~

“This is my favorite song!” Perrie squealed as I watched her grab Scarlet’s hand. “Let’s dance!”

“Okay, okay!” Scarlet giggled, handing me her drink and offering me a white smile as she followed Perrie farther down the beach where the music was blasting louder. 

I watched as she shook her hips to the beat, giggling and dancing as Perrie bumped against her. She looked so innocent and happy, like she was having the time of her life. 

I took a sip from my beer and checked the time on my phone. It was almost eleven thirty. I had less than twenty minutes before I had to leave to get to the drug deal destination. 

“Make it more fucking obvious, why don’t you?” Zayn said as he came up to me, a beer in his hand as well. His eyes were on where Perrie and Scarlet stood, a ghost of a smile on his face. Zayn rarely smiled. 

“What the hell are you talking about?” I questioned.

“You look anxious and I saw you check the time fifteen times in the past three minutes. Louis told me what’s going down tonight.”

“Sorry we aren’t all pros at drug deals.” I said through clenched teeth. 

“I’m not being a dick here, man.” Zayn sighed, running a hand through his hair. 

“Well that’s something new for you,” I snapped back. 

“Listen,” Zayn started, looking at me. “I know I haven’t exactly won best friend of the year. I fucked with your whole relationship and tried to get your girlfriend on drugs…” 

“What’s your fucking point?”

“My point is that I’m sorry. I was just bitter I guess. But having Perrie back, I remembered what it’s like. And…I want to help.”

“Help how?” I questioned.

“I want to do the drug deal for you.” Zayn spoke. I laughed and shook my head.

“I’m almost eighteen Zayn, I can do a drug deal on my own.”

“Haz, this isn’t you. You don’t do drug deals. I do. I’ve done them multiple times and I have nothing to lose. You, you have Scarlet. I know you haven’t told her about the drug deal tonight.”

“So?” I shrugged.

“Stop fucking around. You and I both know some serious shit will go down if she finds out. But Perrie knows I do drug deals. I have nothing to lose. And I want to make it up to you, for what a dick I’ve been with bothering you about Scarlet and the bet.”

“Zayn,” I hesitated. I wanted to tell him to take the drug deal, to just do it so that I could get this heavy weight off my chest. But I had a responsibility now. If I wanted a bright future with the new, bigger gang, I couldn’t pussy out of this. “I can’t.”

“Haz I won’t even tell Jay and Mark that I did it. You can take the credit, I swear.” I sighed.

“I have to do this. I appreciate it, but it’s time for me to grow the fuck up.” I spoke. Zayn opened his mouth as if he was about to say something, but thought better of it. He nodded, looking defeated.

“You better go then. You want to be early. It gives you the advantage.” Zayn spoke quietly. My eyes were back on Scarlet. She was still shaking her hips and moving her arms, one with the beat. 

A smile was on her bubblegum pink lips and she looked just as happy as before. I wanted nothing more to walk a few feet down the beach and to spend the rest of the night with her.

This time two months ago, I was helping her into my car after she had gotten drunk and run away from Alec. That was the first night she fell asleep in my bed with me. That was where it had all started.

And now, she was everything to me. And all I could think about was how disappointed she would be if she knew where I was going. But I couldn’t back down now. It was too late for me.

“I know.” I spoke. “I’m saying goodbye to Scar and leaving.”

“Good luck, Haz. If anything goes wrong, just call me.” Zayn said, grabbing my hand and patting my back. I gave him a small smile and nodded, walking away towards Scarlet.

I motioned for her to come over, away from the blaring music. Scarlet grinned and ran a few feet down the beach to where I stood, away from the crowd of people.

“Hey baby,” I spoke, my arms encircling her as I kissed her lips hard. She smiled and pulled back.

“Come dance with me,” She grinned, biting her lip. My heart tugged slightly as I gave her a sad smile.

“I actually have to go get my brother from a friends house because my mom is working. But I’ll only be gone for about an hour. And then I’ll dance with you.” I grinned. I hated lying to her, but it was to protect her.

“Oh.” Scarlet nodded. “I can come with you!” 

“No,” I said, possibly too quickly. “I mean, stay here with Perrie. I don’t want to just drag you around while I’m in the car. I’ll be back soon, baby. Don’t worry.”

“Oh,” Scarlet’s face fell slightly. “Well, okay. Are you sure?”

“Positive.” I replied. She smiled at me again, leaning up to kiss my lips.

“Come find me when you get back, okay?” She grinned. I nodded, a sad smile on my lips.

“Okay.” I agreed. I watched as she gave me a final smile and turned to leave. I reached forward, grabbing her arm and turning her back towards me.

“What is it?” She asked worriedly, searching my face. My mouth opened, ready to tell her everything, but I couldn’t.

“Just…” I breathed. “I love you.”

Scarlet’s face relaxed and she grinned.

“I love you more.” She spoke, turning and walking back down the beach, leaving me standing there alone.

~ ~ ~

Twenty minutes later I was stepping out of my car at the designated location. It was an old abandoned park that I had never been to before. I reached underneath my car seat, grabbing my gun and putting it in my back pocket.

I was a few minutes early, and it was pitch black. The only light was the few street lights around the park. The drugs were in the back of my car, locked up in boxes.

Jay’s instructions were to get the money and then lead him to the car. It gave me somewhat of an advantage.

I closed my car door and took a step forward and froze.

Mark stood in front of me. 

Mark, the first in command of the gang. Mark, the man that had been a father figure to me. Mark, the man that was supposed to be out of town.

“Hello Harry.” He stood there, a gun in his hand and a satisfied expression on his face.

I had been around Mark since I was a kid. As soon as I turned thirteen, he brought me into the business. He had been best friends with my father, so he knew my family needed the help.

But now I just had an uneasy feeling.

“What are you doing here?” I asked curiously, my hand traveling to my back pocket to feel my gun through my jeans. It gave me a bit of reassurance but not much.

Was he here to help me do the drug deal? Or to oversee it, possibly, since it was my first one? 

“Unfortunately, my boy, I’m here to kill you.” His words sent a chill to my bone and made my heart stop.

“What?” I choked out, hoping that Mark would laugh and tell me it was a joke. It was just me and him in an abandoned park. 

“Harry, Harry, Harry.” Mark flipped his gun around in his thick hands, his tattoos glaring in the moonlight. “So young, and so incredibly stupid.”

“I don’t understand.” I rasped out.

Mark chuckled to himself, his beady black eyes watching me.

“Tell me, Harry, do you remember the day your father died?” He asked, surprising me. What did my father have to do with the fact that Mark was going to kill me tonight?

“I was young.” I spoke quickly. “It was a drug deal gone bad.”

“You were there,” Mark laughed ironically. “And it wasn’t a drug deal. It was a set up. Just like tonight. And also like tonight, I was the one who killed someone.”

“You killed my dad?” I spoke, my eyes wide. “But why? You were friends. Why would you betray him like that?”

“Because just like you, he got in my fucking way.” Mark growled, glaring at me. “He started gaining more clients and people listened to him more than me. I could tell he liked gaining the power. He was getting greedy and I wasn’t going to allow him to take my spot.”

“So you made up a drug deal, gave him the location, and shot him? With me waiting in the car?” I asked, my mind spinning.

“Exactly,” Mark chuckled. “And then I went and pulled you out of the car, and told you he had been shot. And you cried in my arms. Isn’t it ironic? You were crying over your fathers death, in the arms of his murderer.”

“You bastard.” I growled, my mind finally realizing how fucking angry I was. “My dad trusted you. I trusted you.”

“Ah yes, I brought you up well, didn’t I Harry? But I made a mistake, just as I had the first time with your father. I raised a man just like me. You like power. You like money. And most of all, you yearn for more.”

“I’m nothing like you.” I spat.

“You’re wrong, Harry, so wrong.” Mark said stiffly, his fingers gliding over the trigger of the gun. 

“So you go around, killing off all of your second hand men, then? Once you become afraid that they’ll want more power?” I spat in disgust.

“Only the ones that become threats, like your father and you. Jay? He’s no threat. He likes control, but he is afraid of complete control. I have no fear of him ever trying to take over the gang. Unlike you.”

“Jay and the guys will know I was murdered.” I spoke shakily, eying the gun in Mark’s hands.

“True. They’ll find your body eventually. But I’ll take the drugs from the back of your car, that is where you put them right? And then I’ll dispose of them, making Jay and the rest of the gang think that the drug deal went wrong.”

I felt my heart beat quicken. He was right. This was perfect for him.

“You think I’m some amateur, Harry? The other gang that Jay has been in contact with about this drug deal was me the whole time. And meanwhile, Jay thinks I’ve been out of town on business this whole time. Really, I’ve been staying a few miles out of town. I have the perfect alibi. “

He was right, he did. 

“And then when Jay calls me to tell me that he stumbled upon your body when you never called to say that the drug deal went through, I’ll act surprised. I’ll even go to your funeral to pay my respects, just as I did your father. Because, like you said, he was my bestfriend. And you were like a son to me.”

Mark grinned sickly at me, making me want to throw up. How could I be so wrong about someone? How was this possible?

“Go to hell.” I spat.

“I will, eventually. But unfortunately for you, you’ll be there first.”

As Mark finished his sentence, he lifted his hand, gun ready to shoot. I jumped down rolling in the grass and underneath my car.

I heard Mark’s footsteps. My heart was beating faster every second. I reached into my pocket, dialing Zayn’s number. 

“Don’t be a fucking pussy, Styles! I want to watch the light leave your eyes!” Mark screamed into the park. It was dark and he must not have seen me roll underneath the car. 

If Zayn got my call and didn’t hear me talk, he would know immediately that I was in trouble. The trouble was that I was twenty minutes away. I needed to stall Mark for as long as possible.

I couldn’t hide here forever. I glanced out from underneath my car and saw that Mark’s back was towards me. Now was my chance. 

I climbed out from underneath the car, quickly, the leaves crinkling from underneath my feet. Mark spun around and pointed his gun up at me. I reached into my back pocket, pulling out my gun as well.

It was a gun that I had never shot. It was a gun that I never thought I would have had to use.

“It’s a shame that it’s come to this, Styles.” Mark sighed, shaking his head. “But let’s be honest, you were heading towards this direction anyway. You’re nothing but scum. You steal, deal, and hurt people to make a living.”

“I have more than you ever will.” I spoke, my breath ragged as I held the gun tightly in my hand

“What, your family? I had one of those too once, Harry. Nothing special.” Mark shrugged. “But that girl, what was her name, Scarlet? Now she was something special. But like I said, you’re fucking scum. She never would have stayed with you past this month.”

“You’re just the bad boy that the little rich girl got with to defy her parents. And to you she was just a whore that took a little more work to get into your bed, huh? You’re an idiot if you believed she could ever genuinely care for you. But hey, maybe she did care about you enough that she’ll make a showing at your funeral.”

“Don’t talk about her,” I yelled, my voice screaming and my veins throbbing. “I love her. She’s anything but a fucking whore to me.”

My pulse was going so fast I thought I might have a heart attack. I felt sweat dripping down my neck as I shook with adrenaline. 

“You care about her that much do you? Well, there’s your first mistake.” Mark grinned sickly at me once again. “Never care about something you can lose, because guess what? It’ll be used against you.”

“She’s worth it.” I spoke stiffly. Mark shook his head in disapproval, his eyes lighting up.

“She won’t be worth it when I kill her the same way I’m going to kill you, painfully and like a dog. Like trash, left in the woods to be found and walked over.” Mark grinned and I took a step forward, my nostrils flaring. Mark cocked his gun, eyeing the gun that was still in my hands.

“She’s never done a fucking thing to you,” I screamed. 

“Don’t you fucking get it? It doesn’t fucking matter!” Mark screamed, losing all his patience. “Do you think that I had a reason for killing every person I’ve ever killed? No. But the fact that she can be used against you is enough motive for me, even if you’re dead. I don’t need a reason. I can kill whoever the fuck I want.”

“I should have listened to her and gotten out of the gang when I had the chance.” I spoke evenly, more calmly. My emotions were wild. I didn’t know what to think.

“Well, think about her, and maybe it’ll make this a little less painful.” Mark said. 

Everything else went in slow motion.

I watched as Mark’s face went into hard concentration, his finger pressing on the trigger. My finger pressed on my trigger, shots ringing out like loud bells.

I felt a burning and all I knew I was shot. My vision blurred before I could tell if I had hit Mark. I fell to the ground, the pain numbing my whole body. 

Where was I hit? I felt pain everywhere. I heard voices. I saw lights. My head was spinning. I was numb.

I knew I was losing consciousness. The darkness was clouding in, so I thought about my light. I thought about the only light I had ever known.

Scarlet, Scarlet, Scarlet

~ ~ ~

“You’re up.” A voice said from next to me as my eyes squeezed open slowly. I heard the slow beeping of a monitor. My eyes fell onto the wires in my arm.

All of my thoughts ran through in my head. What had happened? How the fuck was I alive?

I glanced to my left to see Louis, Niall, Liam, and Zayn standing there.

“Haz, you’re up.” Louis repeated with a smile. I nodded, a small smile on my face as I shifted in my hospital bed. 

“What the fuck happened?” I asked, my voice raspy.

“You were shot last night.” Zayn spoke.

“By Mark.” I clarified, to which all the boys nodded. 

“We put it together once we got there.” Zayn spoke. “When I got your call and you weren’t talking, I knew something happened. Lou and I rushed over and found you bleeding out on the ground, a bullet in your arm. Mark was a few feet away, dead. We put it together.”

“He killed my dad too.” I spoke. “I was protecting myself.”

“I can’t believe he turned on you.” Niall spoke sadly. “We all looked up to him.”

The rest of the boys nodded in agreement, myself included. It was hard to grasp. 

“What did Jay say about it?” I questioned.

“We didn’t tell him.” Liam spoke. “We took the drugs out of your car and threw them in the river. We don’t know who to trust at this point, and we thought that if Jay found out you killed Mark, he might react badly. So, we made it look like a drug deal gone bad. Just as Mark was going to do.”

I nodded. That was smart. It was safest for me.

“So Jay has no idea that I killed Mark?” I clarified, squeezing my eyes open and closed. I had headache straight from the pits of hell.

“No,” Liam shook his head. “Jay is more serious about the gang than ever. Even if you explain what happened, Jay might take Mark’s side. He worshipped him.”

“And if Jay took Mark’s side, we all know what would happen…” Niall trailed off, looking at me with a sad expression.

“He’d kill me.” I agreed. I glanced down at my arm, wrapped in bandages. 

“You were shot through your muscles and cracked a bone. It’s nothing too serious, you’ll recover.” Louis spoke as he watched me. “The bullet could’ve done a lot worse. You’re lucky.”

“I don’t feel lucky.” I mumbled. I sat straight up quickly, my eyes wide. “Where the fuck is Scarlet?”

With all of the betrayal and shootings from last night, I forgot about Mark’s threats against Scarlet. My Scarlet. I wanted to see her, no, I needed to see her.

“Calm down, Haz, she’s downstairs getting coffee. She fucking slept in your bed with you for the past ten hours, holding your damn hand in a death grip.” Louis spoke, a humorous smile on his face.

“Your mom was here also, but went to go pick up your brothers about five minutes ago. They’ve all been worried sick and wanted to see you.” Niall said. 

“Can you guys go get Scarlet, please, I need to see her.” I spoke desperately. The boys nodded quickly and walked out of the room to go get her. Zayn trailed behind and closed the door, turning to talk to me alone.

“Haz, what’s going on?” He spoke quietly. “You should be relieved that you’re okay, but… you look like you’d rather be dead.”

“I,” I spoke slowly, not wanting to say what was about to come out of my mouth. “I have to break up with Scarlet.”

“Are you fucking crazy? Why?” Zayn exclaimed, looking at me as if I was crazy.

And I was, really. I had somehow, gotten a girl that was completely out of my league, to fall in love with me. I would never have a chance with a girl like Scarlet again, mostly because there was no one else like Scarlet.

She was beautiful, she put up with me, and my anger didn’t scare her and make her run in the other direction. She had stayed with me through my demons, my problems. 

“Scarlet is in danger if she’s dating me.” I sighed, rubbing my eyes. I couldn’t fucking take this. “Mark opened my eyes last night, Zayn. If I love her, people can use her against me. I don’t want her getting hurt because of my fucking decision to be a damn drug dealer.”

“Har-“

“No, I’ve been so fucking stupid!” I yelled, banging my hand down on the bed. “I actually believed I had a chance at a future with her. I thought we would graduate, move and go to college together, and share a fucking apartment. Me? A member of a gang? I’m never going anywhere. I’m stuck in this shitty town for the rest of my fucking life.”

“I know.” Zayn nodded.

“And I can’t just get out of it. That’ll just get me shot. Loyalty is the biggest thing with Jay. If I tell him I want out, he’ll shoot me without blinking.”

“Probably.” Zayn agreed. “And then he’d probably go after Scarlet since she’s the reason you wanted out.”

“I can’t put her in that position. If anything happens to her,” I sighed. “I’d never fucking forgive myself. I’d rather see her safe and without me, then in danger and with me.”

“Are you sure you want to do this though, Harry?” Zayn spoke after a moment. “After you send her out, there’s no going back. She’s not yours anymore.”

“I know. But I have too.” I spoke, my voice cracking at the thought. Why was this so fucking difficult? “I need you to help me.”

“What do you want me to do?” 

“You have to tell her about the bet.” 

“Harry,” Zayn hesitated, shaking his head. “I don’t kn-“

“Zayn,” I spoke over him. “It’s for fucking safety. Just do it. Please.”

“Why bring up the bet? You could just tell her the truth, that you’re doing it for her safety.” Zayn spoke. I glanced at the door. She should be here any minute.

“That won’t work.” I shook my head. “Scarlet is stubborn and independent. She’ll just say she doesn’t care and she’ll stay with me. I have to hurt her in order for her to leave me alone.”

I glanced out the window of the hospital room and saw the elevator door open, Scarlet and the boys coming out. I looked at Zayn urgently. 

“Please.” I urged. Zayn nodded, looking down.

“Alright. I’ll do it.”

~ ~ ~

~Scarlet’s Point of View~

“Don’t worry, Scarlet, he’s fine. He asked to see you.” Louis said as I ran down the hallway.

“So he is okay then, like the doctor said?” I questioned, looking at Niall. He nodded, smiling.

“He’s tired but he’s okay. He’ll probably need a few weeks to recover but he’s going to be back to normal soon.”

I sighed in relief as we all stepped into the elevator. It had been an awful night. I had gotten a call from Zayn at almost one in the morning as I stood on the beach with Perrie. 

The boys explained everything. They told me about the drug deal and Mark. I felt somewhat betrayed that Harry had lied to me, but it was overcome by my happiness that Harry survived the bullet wound in his arm.

I rushed to the hospital and stayed by Harry’s side all night. I had just left twenty minutes ago to get coffee, and he was finally up.

The elevator opened and I walked across the lobby towards Harry’s hospital room. I opened the door slightly and looked at the boys behind me.

“Are you coming?” I questioned. They shook their head.

“He probably wants to see you alone.” Liam gave me an encouraging smile and I nodded. I opened the door all the way and walked inside.

Harry was sitting half way up in his bed, a hospital gown on. Tattoos scattered up and down his arms and chest, with his hair wild and untamed.

His eyes were latched onto mine, his lips set in a thin line. I glanced to my side to see Zayn sitting there, the same expression.

“How are you?” I asked, smiling as I stood next to Harry’s bed. I leaned down, grabbing his hand in mine. It was so good to see him awake. I had been so scared last night.

Harry ripped his hand away from mine as if it was on fire. I looked at him confusedly. There was no happiness or light in his eyes. He wasn’t smiling either.

“Harry, what’s wrong?” I asked, furrowing my eyebrows. I crouched down so that Harry and I were face to face. His expression was cold and hard. It scared me.

“You need to leave.” He spoke in a monotone voice. It was so unlike how he had ever acted with me.

“What?” I asked dumbly.

“Go home, Scarlet. And don’t come back.” Harry’s words were blunt and clear. But it was as if he was speaking a different language. I just didn’t understand.

“What? What did I do?” I asked, my eyes widening. “If this is about you and the drug deal Harry, I don’t care! You can do drug deals if that’s what you want. I don’t care!”

I was frantic now. I couldn’t lose Harry over something as stupid as a drug deal. I couldn’t.

“It’s not about that.” Harry spoke, his eyes meeting mine. They were dark, almost black. 

“Then what is it?” I asked quietly. “What did I do?”

Harry swallowed thickly, his eyes staring into mine.

“I fucked you for a bet.”

Silence hit the room. My chest hit the floor. My mouth went dry.

“What?” I said in a voice so quiet that it was hardly considered a whisper.

“When you first came to South Side, Zayn and I made a bet that I could fuck you within two months. I never liked you, Scarlet. It was just for a bet.”

“No.” I whispered, shaking my head quickly. My eyes were watering uncontrollably. “You’re lying.”

“Zayn,” Harry yelled. “Tell her.”

I turned to look at Zayn. His eyes were on the ground as he slowly looked up at me. His face looked unsure and scared.

“It’s true.” He spoke shortly. I bit my lip, a whimper leaving my lips as I twirled around to look at Harry.

“What the fuck are you still doing here?” He yelled, looking at me in disgust. “I fucked you and now we’re done. Get out.”

I stood there frozen. My head was spinning. My eyes were blurring. My heart was pounding.

“How could you do this?” I asked in shock, tugging on my lip to stop my crying. “I loved you.”

“That’s your mistake. Not mine.” Harry said shortly, shrugging. His eyes darkened even more as he stared at me. “Now get the fuck out.”

I turned, obeying Harry’s request. I let my feet carry me to the door, my mind on overdrive, unable to process my thoughts. I opened the door, wanting nothing more than to get as far as way as possible form this place.

I felt numb as I turned around. Zayn refused to meet my eye, his face looking down at the ground as if there was something interesting. Harry was looking at me with the same cold expression.

I spoke the three words that I knew would hurt him the most, before walking out the door and leaving.

“I trusted you.”

I somehow managed to say it without making my voice shake and without crying. Then I turned, walking past the boys and into the elevator. I walked out of the hospital, tears streaming down my face. 

I walked away from the boy whose lips were scarred on my body, whose initials were scarred on my hip, and whose name was scarred on my heart.

--

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