* Present *
Everyone was sitting in silent shock.

Jasey.

She had been…

She was…

He had abused her and…

“That fucking bastard.”

All the friends started at Harry’s voice. As she was telling her story, she had been interrupted at random intervals by the girls’ gasps, Liam’s angry questions, and Zayn’s frequent restless movements. Louis had let out a few choice cuss words once in a while and Niall stayed by her, rubbing her back comfortingly from time to time.

Harry, however, had stayed in the back through it all, taking in the horrors in silence. Unconsciously during the retelling however, he had drifted closer to the group and now was standing behind the couch that Tilly and Nicole were seated at.

Too many thoughts were racing through his mind. Some loser thinks that he could come and just force himself onto Jasey? Like she was his property or something like that? What type of sick and twisted person is this guy? She was the sweetest, most pure person that he had ever met. Why would anyone want to do this?

“Where is he now?” Harry demanded.

Harry's sudden turn of mood had Jasey a bit frightened. “I don’t know,” Jasey said, her voice still trembling. She had started crying during the story and was still trying to recover. Harry's furious face wasn't exactly doing much to help with that. “He went to juvi since he didn’t actually…uhm…” she searched for a word, “enter me.” Everyone winced and Harry’s grip on the back of the sofa tightened.

She took a deep breath before continuing. “But he was expelled and yeah...“

“I’m going to kill him,” Harry stated, his voice deadly. Guys like that... He just didn't get how you could treat a girl like that. Or anyone like that, for that matter. “I’m going to fucking murder that little bitch that did that to you.”

Jasey didn’t know how to respond. It had been such a long time since she had opened up about it and just thinking back to how Lance treated her just brought all those feelings of fright and anxiety back. Her tears soon welled up again in her eyes, overflowing. “I’m so sorry,” she choked. “I’m just-“

Immediately, Liam wrapped his arms around her, holding her to his chest. At first, his touch made Jasey flinch, but then she began to settle in his hold, finding comfort in his warmth. If it had been anyone else, she probably would have retracted right away, but for some reason, Jasey had always been comfortable around so called "Daddy Direction".

“Sh, sh, Jasey,” he said, kissing her on the forehead as he pulled closer. She continued silently crying into his chest. “You're alright."

The rest of their friends were shocked, to say the least. None of them knew how to respond and were staring off into space, trying to get a grip of what had been presented. You hear these types of things everyday, but it never truly hits you until you realize that it could in fact, happen to anyone. Even Niall, the only person who had already heard this, was still trying to wrap his mind around it all.

Abuse.

Attempted rape.

What type of person would put someone through that sort of hell?

Out of all of them, Harry was feeling absolutely gutted, watching Jasey. He had been the one to trigger those memories. And yet, all that he could do was watch helplessly as his bandmate tried to hold together the girl that was falling apart.

All because of him.



Zayn and Jasey were alone talking when Harry came around. Except Niall, all of the boys had sisters and were really taking this to heart. All that he could think was, "What if it wasthem?" The thought of some sick, perverted guy trying to pull that type of stuff... It made Zayn furious. Once she seemed a bit more composed, he approached Jasey tentatively and offered her a hug. It was brief, but Zayn was glad to break down that barrier between them.

Harry coughed once before speaking. “Erm, Jasey?”

Her eyes traveled in the direction of his voice, coming to rest on his figure, standing in the doorway. His eyes were begging for a moment alone. Jasey looked to the boy who was sitting beside her. “Zayn, do you mind if you…”

He reached out, squeezing her shoulder softly. "You'll be alright?"

Jasey gave Harry once last glance. It hadn't been his fault, she kept reminding herself. He didn't know. Eventually, she nodded. "Yeah."

Zayn nodded and pushed off the couch. He stopped briefly in the doorway to talk to his bandmate. "Take your time," he whispered, knowing that this was important to his friend. Harry had been killing himself with guilt ever since Jasey that day. "I'll tell the other boys that you're here."

He gave his friend a grateful smile and walked into the room, hands stuffed into his pockets. There was moment of silence before he spoke.

“I’m sorry,” he sputtered. Jasey looked up with careful eyes. “It’s all my fault. I... I didn't know. I was a cunt for coming on to you like that and... I'm just... sorry.” Harry didn't know what else to say and looked down at the ground in shame.

All this time, he had thought that it was because of him. In all technicalities, it was in a way, but he hadn't considered that there had been something else behind it all. Selfish, that's what he was. Everything just had to be about Harry Styles, didn’t it? And to think that he was allowing himself to fall for her.

God, he was falling for her.

Who did he think he was? Letting himself develop feelings for someone like Jasey? She was so pure and innocent and sweet. And he was... not. Harry was so contradictory to her that it was almost humorous.

The conflict and angst was so clearly displayed on his face. Jasey saw it all. She could tell that he was really, truly feeling remorse over the huge domino effect that his simple kiss had caused. "Hey." Her voice was soft and coaxing, trying to get him to turn his head up, but Harry refused. Delicately, she picked herself up and moved to where he was standing, tilting her head to try and meet his eyes. "Harry Styles," she said firmly. "Don't blame yourself for Lance's actions."

He remained quiet, but out of the corner of Jasey's eye, she saw his hands tighten into fists.

"You just chose the wrong words, that's all. And I'm emotionally unstable." She let her lips form a small smile, trying to lighten up the mood, but all that it did was elicit a groan from Harry.

"Don't," he said. "Don't try and make a joke out of it unless you want me to lose it." His hands instinctively reached out to circle her slender wrists, and she flinched at his touch. Harry froze, waiting for a freak out to follow, but it never came. Jasey was trying to let him in too.

She sighed, her thoughts lingering on the feeling of Harry's touch for a moment. Some part of her mind was silently cheering at this development. Hadn't she admitted to herself that maybe the feelings towards Harry weren't completely ones of just friendship?

"It's just how I deal with things Harry," Jasey explained with a shrug. "That's how I make it all seem insignificant."

His hold on her tightened a bit, the corners of his eyes tightening. "Jasey, he tried to rape you." His voice was strangled, the word 'rape' hard to form in his mouth.

"I know."

"How is that insignificant?"

Jasey bit her lip, mulling over it. "It isn't," she finally admitted. Nothing "insignificant" would make her run away from a guy after a simple kiss. "But it's time that I moved on."

Harry nodded, understanding. There were a few dark things in his past that he had put aside as well.

Well, more than a few actually...

"There's just one thing that I need to ask though." Harry looked nervous and let go of her wrists, his hands dropping to his sides. "Do you... do you..."

His sudden bashfulness made a smile creep onto Jasey's face. "Do I like you?" she finished for him.

His breath caught in his throat. As a reply, he simply nodded.

"I... I do," she said, laughing a bit to herself as she said the words. Well, there it was, out in the open now.

Her confession caused a feeling of something in his gut. It had been a while since he'd really taken his time with a girl like this. But something told him that Jasey was worth it. Looking into her eyes though, Harry sensed something else. “But we'll have to wait.”

Jasey nodded, glad that he understood. “Yeah.” She hated herself for saying it, but she wanted to give herself time to heal again. It wasn't going to be as long as the last time, but it was still hard thinking back. And plus, she wanted to be fair to Harry. It was better to be just friends for the while.

Hesitantly, Harry reached out and took both of her hands in his. There was no reaction this time and he mentally cheered. "Well, you're something definitely worth waiting for, Jasey."

She found herself holding her breath as she felt Harry interlace their fingers. Tears were springing in the corners of her eyes, the sweetness of the whole situation gripping her heart.

"Don't cry," he said in surprise.

His hold on her loosened again, afraid that it was his fault. Jasey laughed through her tears. "It's not you, I promise."

He just didn't understand. After Lance, she had been so fixated on the idea that all guys eventually became that type of person. One that was just after sex and power and things of that sort. But with Harry, she saw that old-fashioned, chivalrous guy of her dreams and it just overwhelmed her.

"So, this," he squeezed her hands lightly, "this is okay?"

Jasey nodded. "This is fine, don't worry Hazza." She drew her hands away from his though, causing a slight frown on his face. It was soon smoothed out when Jasey pulled Harry into a tight hug, the top of her head just barely reaching the bottom of his chin. It had taken him by surprise at first, but not a second later, he relaxed and rest his cheek on her head. As cheesy as it sounds, it was like they fit. “Thanks Harry,” Jasey mumbled into his chest.

He closed his eyes, a content smile crossing his face. “Any time love,” he said. Calling her that created a warm fuzzy feeling in his chest, lingering there. How long had it been since he had felt this way?

Much too long, he decided.

Much, much, too long.

Notes

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~Sianna Sister