Just a Fool

Harry felt like he was dragging his feet as he returned back to school. Now he knew there was no way out of this deal and he had to think of some way to explain it to Abigail and his friends. He knew which one would be more difficult to talk to. His friends had always attended his fights, they were always there to cheer him on. Stopping his car in his usual parking place he noticed Liam walking towards him. “Hey, where have you been?” He asked.

“Uh, had to take care of some stuff. You guys doing anything tonight?” Harry questioned.

“Not that I know of, why?”

“I got a fight and while we're there I need you guys to keep an eye out for Abigail. Its supposed to be a big crowd and I don't want anything to happen to her.”

“Harry, no offense or anything, but the last time she was at a fight she looked scared out of her mind. Why don't you just let her sit this one out?”

“I just...I need her there.” He sighed. “Knowing she's there gives me some kind of reassurance, I guess.”

“Well all right, if it means that much to you, I'll guard her with my life. Now come on the bell just rang.”

In Home Ec his nerves settled seeing his girlfriend smile at him. “Nice to see you remembered where the class is, Mr. Styles.” Miss Brooks said from the front of the room.

“Sorry, ma'am,” Harry smirked taking his seat.

When Miss Brooks continued her lecture on proper baking etiquette Harry felt a piece of paper hit his hand. On it he recognized Abigail's neat handwriting. 'So you're fighting tonight?'

'Yeah, Craig said my opponent is good.' He wrote before sliding the paper back to her.

'You'll be better, do you want me to come?'

'I was kind of hoping you would.' Looking at her he watched as she read the note. He noticed her smile before answering. 'Then I will.'

'I'm a selfish bastard,' Harry thought but knowing she was going to be there for him gave him a sense of relief and encouragement to go out and win.

After school Abigail met Harry at his locker. “Ben texted Kristin about the fight, is it ok if she comes?” She asked, her voice quiet.

“Yeah, just stick with her ok? Don't leave her until its over.” He told her, she could tell by the way he spoke he was tense, like he wasn't telling her something.

“Harry, you ok?”

Nodding his head he refused to meet her eyes. “Yeah, yeah I'm fine.”

Stepping towards him she lightly put her finger under his chin making him look up. “Please don't shut me out. I can see something is bothering you.”

“Just...just,” Placing his hands on her shoulders he sighed. “Just promise me you'll stay with Kristin and my friends tonight. Don't go off by yourself, ok?”

Abigail was shocked, she had never seen Harry so worried. Deciding not to push the subject further she agreed. “I promise.”

Sighing in relief he took her hand. “Come on, let's get out of here.”

The hours before a fight Harry tried his best to clear his head. He was grateful to Abigail who seemed to know exactly what he needed. She would lightly scratch his arm, calming him down and relaxing him. Even when they weren't saying anything it seemed like they were in sync. When they arrived at Harry's house he was dreading seeing Gemma. Inside he hoped she wouldn't bring up what had happened that morning but knowing his sister she was bound to give him a hard time. “Oh hello you two,” Gemma grinned. “So how was school? Was it as eventful as this morning?”

“Dammit Gem,” Harry grumbled, he noticed Abigail blush and hurry to his room. “Thanks sis, can you please not embarrass my girlfriend?”

Gemma's eyebrows raised in surprise. “I still can't get used to you calling someone your girlfriend. And I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. I do really like her though, you did good baby brother.”

“Thanks,” He muttered. “Hey can you cover for us tonight? I'm taking Abigail out and I just don't want mom to be worried when she gets back.”

“Where are you going?”

“Can't tell you.”

“Now that's not suspicious at all.” Gemma mumbled, crossing her arms. “You gotta tell something about this mystery date if you want me to cover for your ass.”

“Ok fine...we're going to a party in the old part of town.” At least he wasn't lying about where they were going.

“See, now was that so hard?” She chuckled. “Fine, but it'll cost you a weekend of babysitting.”

“Fine, thanks Gemma.” He smiled leaning down to kiss his sister's cheek.

In his bedroom he saw Abigail laying on his bed, her eyes closed. Slipping in beside her he wrapped an arm around her waist. The sudden shift in weight on the bed caused her to open
her eyes. “Hey, you asleep?”

“No, just resting my eyes.” She muttered cuddling into his chest. “Was she mad about this morning?”

“Nah,” He said, shaking his head. “She just likes to give her brother hell. She's gonna cover for us tonight.”

“That's good, when do we have to leave?”

“Maybe in two hours? I have to meet up with the guys at Zayn's place.”

“So I have time to take a little nap?” She questioned, resting her head on his arm.

“Sure Angel, I'll wake you up when its about time.” He smiled leaning over to kiss her forehead.

They sat in silence for a few minutes. Harry thought she had fallen asleep when he heard her soft voice speak up. “You still call me that.”

“What?”

“Angel, you still call me that? Why?”

“Well you sort of are an angel, to me at least. The person I was before you seems like someone else. I can't even believe that was me.”

“Harry, you're not, nor have you ever been a bad person.”

“You didn't know me before.”

“I heard plenty...I didn't believe any of it.” She muttered. “I'd rather hear your side of the story, that is if you want to tell me.”

Sighing he sat up, bringing her with him. “I've just, I've done some stuff I regret. If I could go back and change it I would.” Looking into her clear blue eyes he began. “When I started fighting the money it brought in was insane. I had never had that much money in my life. I was pretty selfish with it. Then I met this guy and he convinced me to take these pills one night. Everything from that night was a big blur but I remember feeling like I was on a cloud, I liked that feeling. It got to the point I would take some before I went to school, I felt like I needed it to go on. It fucked me up there for a while.”

Abigail thought back to sophomore year. She had seen Harry in the hallway tripping over his feet, he seemed to be in a daze but her friends just said he was hungover. Back then she wanted to talk to him but she was afraid, fear always stopped her. “How did you stop?”

“Well after a fight one night my friends took me to a party. I didn't care, as long as I got some pills I was up for anything. When we got there I snuck off to take some but this time it was different. It didn't give me the same feeling as it had before. I felt awful and next thing I know I'm laying in the hallway, my whole body hurt and I couldn't stop throwing up. Zayn and Liam had to carry me out of there while Louis told the guy who lived there I had food poisoning. The next few days were hell and the guys almost beat the shit out of me for being so stupid but we got through it and I haven't done anything like that since.”

“I wish I could have been there for you.” She whispered.

“Honestly Angel, I'm glad you weren't. I don't ever want you to see something like that. It was bad enough you seeing me after that fight at the bowling alley.”

“Harry, its ok to be vulnerable sometimes.”

“Not when I have to protect you.” He told her, grasping her hand in his.

Relaxing in his arms they fell into a comfortable silence. “You know you told me something last night.” He mumbled. “And I was kind of mad I didn't say it first.”

“What?”

Leaning down he gave her a lingering kiss. When he broke it he smirked. “You told me you loved me.” He said, his toothy grin making his face light up. “You kind of whispered it before you fell asleep.”

Abigail blushed, she didn't even recall saying it. “Well I...I...I'm sorry.”

“Why are you sorry?” He asked. “I wish you had stayed awake a little longer, you would have heard me say I love you too.”

Her eyes widened. “Do you mean that?”

“Every word of it, I love you Abigail.”

“I love you Harry.” She smiled hugging him tight.

Not being able to stop the smile on his face he kissed her hard, gently rolling her on her back. He decided to pick up where they left off that morning. Licking her bottom lip he asked for entrance. When she granted it his tongue lightly touched hers. Abigail's hands went from his shoulders to his hair, slightly tugging on his brown curls. Groaning in her mouth his hands rested on her stomach, hesitantly he reached under to rest on her warm skin. Not wanting to push her too far he stay there kissing her, rubbing her stomach with his big hands. Pulling away he kissed her chin down to her neck. After making sure her hair would cover it he left a small love bite on her delicate skin. “Just to show everyone tonight you're taken.” He whispered against her lips.

“Like I want to be with anyone else.” She told him.

Eventually they both separated, before they had another awkward encounter with Gemma. After they both changed into warmer clothes they headed to Zayn's house where everyone was waiting for them. “So do you know who you're fighting?” Niall asked.

“No, all I know is I have to be at the old Andrew hotel,” Harry explained glancing down at his phone.

“The haunted hotel?!” Kristin exclaimed.

“Kris, its not really haunted.” Abigail told her friend.

“You don't know that!”

Shaking his head in amusement Harry stepped outside to collect his thoughts. They had to leave in fifteen minutes and he was started to get nervous, a foreign feeling to him. He had never felt nervous going into a fight. Maybe it was because he didn't know he was fighting. Maybe it was because he had more riding on these fights. If he lost what if Ricky decided to punish him? “Babe?” He heard someone say from the front door.

Turning his head he saw his girlfriend stepping towards him. “Everything is gonna be fine. You're amazing, the other guy doesn't stand a chance.”

Smiling at her effort in making him feel better he took her hand. “Thanks Angel,” He whispered leaning down to kiss her. 'If you only knew the whole story.' He thought. “Come on guys, lets get out of here.” He was ready to get this over with.

The Andrew hotel was a four story brick building in the old part of town, long since closed down. When newer establishments were built almost everything around the hotel had been forgotten. A few people tried to remodel the buildings but after too much money wasted they had given up. Now it was a ghost town where stories were born to scare kids on Halloween.
Harry had been told the fight was taking place in the ballroom, the only room big enough to hold the crowd that the fights usually brought. Checking his phone he realized he had ten minutes until it started. Taking off his leather jacket he placed it on Abigail's shoulders. “Remember what I told you?” He muttered looking straight in her eyes.

Nodding her head she kissed his lips. “Good luck,” Biting her bottom lip she hugged him tight. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” He said into her hair.

When she stepped away he glanced at Liam. “Don't worry, we'll keep an eye on her.” He smiled, giving his nervous friend a slap on the shoulder.

“Thanks,” Harry mumbled as his friends walked to their spots.

Shaking his head he sent all negative thoughts out of his head. Stretching his neck and his arms he waited for Craig to call his name. 'Its just another fight,' He thought, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

He was so lost in his other world he almost didn't hear Craig yell his name. Snapping out of his trance he stalked into the circle of people. Their shouts and screams sounded muffled, he didn't hear them as he sized up his opponent. He was bigger than Harry, he was taller too. Harry would have to knock him down to get a good aim at his face. Hopefully he could take out his center of gravity. The other guy bounced on his feet while Harry stood there, his eyes hard, he was too focused on what needed to be done. Once Craig yelled go Harry squared up. He might be smaller than this guy but he knew he was faster.

Dodging one punch then another he swung his knee into the guy's gut causing him to double over. Once his head was down Harry's fist connected to his nose. With blood on his knuckles Harry went attack mode. Delivering punch after punch he knocked the guy backwards. Just as he was about to finish him the sound of sirens filled the air. The crowd stopped cheering, running in different directions. Two guys dragged Harry's opponent away as he tried to look for his friends. Running to where he last saw them. He spotted Ben dragged Kristin to one of the back exits, Louis and Zayn following behind them. Hearing police officers yelling from the front entrance he ran, scanning faces as he went.

Harry ran down one of the old hallways. Behind him he heard shouts from different crowd members and cops but he kept going. Opening the first door he saw he quietly shut it behind him, hoping no one heard. Scanning the room he went over to the window. He knew he was in the back of the hotel, he just didn't know if any cops were around. Taking the chance he kicked the glass out. Once there was a big enough opening for him to fit through he jumped out, landing on his feet he ran. He heard no one behind him, no footsteps or anything. When he felt he was safe enough distance he called Liam. Luckily he picked up after two rings.

“Harry, oh my God, did you make it?”

“Yeah,” He panted. “Where are you?”

“We're at the car down the block.” Harry heard a few worried voices come from the other line.

“Liam, what's going on?”

“Harry...”

'Oh no,' Harry thought. “What the hell is going on?” He yelled.

After a few seconds Liam answered. “We lost Abby in the crowd, we can't find her.”

Harry's blood ran cold. “How could you lose her?!” He exclaimed walking in the direction they had parked. Lucky for them they always planned ahead just in case something like this happened.

“One minute she was there the next she was gone!”

Hanging up Harry scrolled through his phone hitting send on her name. With every ring Harry felt his anxiety grow. When it went to voicemail he tried again. He needed to hear her voice, until then he could only worry.

Notes

Yes, I like fluffy chapters and sometimes a cliffhanger >:)