Chapter 26:

Chapter 26

{Recap~We spend the rest of the day at the Styles' villa, having a magnificent dinner set for us and getting to know eachother. The parallels between Harry and Gemma were undeniable, also remarks from their father match as well. We leave after a long goodbye at around 9 and head to a club.}

"Harry, I haven't clubbed in a long time." I shout over the entry noise from the club, being dragged behind him inside. Not since the time with Ed had I truly gone dancing, drinking at that but I feel like letting to would be a good thing tonight... maybe.

"I know, I saw the last time you did. Burned the good will out of me when you danced." He laughs as he comes to a stop, pulling me into him by my hips. I snicker at him and push him back gently by his chest.

"Slow down there, cowboy. How about some drinks first?" I grin at him which Harry looks taken back. I shrug at him, "What? You don't like when I drink?"

"You've never asked to drink before, I'm pleasantly surprised. What will you take? Budweiser?"

"Two shots." I say simply which Harry looks on at me open mouthed and wide eyed. He rolls his eyes and chuckles, knowing I'm joking.

"How about some wine?" He laughs and I nod several times with a sardonic smile. In no right mind would I drink shots or beer, I was just trying to trick Harry and it seemed to work for a little bit.

I lean back against the side railing as I sit at a small table Harry had reserved in the back of the club. This part was pinned as the VIP zone and I didn't like it, though no paps were allowed, no celebrities back here danced at all. There were some drunken dances but it's mostly private time. I glance at the curtain momentarily, weighing my options. The music pounds through. It won't be long, just a quick dance to get my pulse up then I can go back to the boring VIP area. I brush my hand over the curtain, revealing a blood-pumping scene of exhilarated people jumping and dancing and just going nuts. The beat is pounding straight to my core and pounding me from the inside out. The wrongness of the situation causes a smirk to make its way on my face and I join the temptation, bouncing onto the rabid dance scene.

I let go, absolutely going hard to the song, screaming the lyrics louder than the speakers blaring, shouting them at the nearest dancer. I turn my head to shout a line at someone when I'm pulled into someone's body. It's too short to be Harrys and the body reaks of BO mixed with an excess of cologne. The lips of the man touch my ear, "How about we go some where private." Is his ploy. His voice sounds somewhat familiar. I try to scramble away but the figure has my waist in his arm. I yelp but that doesn't help over the music, sudden panic taking over as he pushes me out the back door. I claw at him, trying every power and method to get past him, kicking at him even, but it doesn't help. He finds a rope on the abandoned alley floor, binding my wrists together as I scream helplessly and blindly for Harry. This can't be happening.

"Might as well enjoy it and stop screaming." His voice comes raspy and clumsily. He inches closer, his fingers on his belt, fear washing through me. Tears propel down my face fast and without ceasing, I close my eyes and push against the brick wall but he makes no escape route. Nothing but boxers on his lower half now. I squeeze my eyes shut, not willing to look my nightmare in the eye. Suddenly the mans putrid lips hit the skin over my lips but I tuck mine away, turning my head from him. His hand squeezes into my jaw, his eyes burning. "You little-"

Before he can finish, he is pushed over to the ground, hard. Harry stands over him and bends down, repeatedly punching the man. Harry pummels the man, repeatingly kicking, punching, and slamming the guy to the ground. I've only heard tales of this Harry, none truly this bad. This is a very real, darker Harry. His screams erupt over and over again, blood trickling from the area.

Harry pins the man by the shirt to the wall, his voice dark and disgruntled, "Might as well enjoy it and stop screaming." He mocks through gritted teeth. This is the scene from the movie, this is the scene where Harry destroys the guy, he kills him with just his fists. He can't do that, it's my nightmares come to life. My words flash in my mind when I warned him against this.

I stand, off balanced, rushing over to one of his arms and hold one back. My arms weakly restraining his, "Harry! Harry, stop! You're killing him!" I cry. He glances at me, his usual green eyes are so dark they appear black, jealousy and plain unexplicable rage present. My eyes meet the mans form, his appearance almost causing me to double over. He is almost unrecognizable, but not to me, I know this man. I know this man way too well. John.

I almost collapse under the pressure, just gasp and stumble backwards until I hit the brick wall, my fingers piercing into the ridges. I swallow hard and slide down the wall unsteadily. My vision is impaired and blurry, everything's out of focus. I just bring my knees to my chest and sob. I don't see Harry approach, just the vision of his arms cradling me to his chest protectively and carrying me out of the place. It feels like a vivid dream, nothing real, I feel asleep but my eyes are open. This can't be real, I must just be imagining the movie scenes. That must be it. Yeah, that's it, I whisper to myself self conciously as I let my eyes fall closed.

••I awake in a strong set of arms. The thought jolts me up into a sitting position, looking down to find Harry there staring worriedly at my face. Just Harry, good. I sigh, running a hand through my hair.

"Hey, how are you?" He whispers lovingly, bringing his hand up to my face. Rememberance from last night come haunting back sending shivers down my spine, I push myself tightly against Harrys body.

"I'm just tired." I murmur, the words having more depth behind them.

"Are you okay?" He adds again, touching bruises around my body gently. I wince.

"Emotionally? Or physically? 'Cause I'm a mess both ways.." I whisper hoarsely.

He pauses, "I'm sorry for what I did last night, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to, it's just I saw him with you and your pain and something snapped I-" He chokes but I stop his rant with a soft kiss.

"It was John.." I whisper quietly. He closes his eyes and turns to face the ceiling, he looks sick.

"Oh god.." He winces with a sigh. "I didn't protect you and now this?"

"It's okay, Harry."

"No Tay. It's not. You almost got raped, for Pete's sake. On my watch. I swore to myself on my mothers death bed nothing would happen to you. And look, look what happened. I allowed this to happen. Its all my fault, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He sobs and I press his head down to my chest protectively. I shake my head, messing with his curls so I can think.

"It's not your fault. Look, I might not be the braun but at least I know not to blame myself for this. Its a choice situation that John had worked his way into. Neither of us could help it, Lord knows I tried." I whisper into his hair.

He brings his face up to look me in my eyes softly, gently touching my face. "How are you so strong?" I smile at him, probably weak in fragile in everyone elses' eyes though when in Harrys I am strong. I am strong. I think about the question for a while, leaving a warm silence to fill in as I think. There's only one true answer that I haven't had before, back when I was not strong, back when I was the one that got bullied. Back when I didn't have a purpose to be strong, until I met my strength. Until I met Harry.

"Because I have you."