Just a Fool

The next morning Harry was awoken by the bright light streaming through his window. Rolling over to his side he reached over he felt around but he soon realized the spot next to him was empty. Sighing to himself he sat up to take a look around his room, no sign of Abigail. Sliding out of bed he slipped on a pair of gym shorts off the floor and headed into the kitchen. In his still half asleep state he was surprised to see his mom cooking with Abigail helping out.

“Good morning, honey.” Anne smiled.

“Hey...what are you doing doing?” He asked, taking a seat at the table.

“Oh Abby was just helping me make breakfast. I may have been teaching her a thing or two seeing as you sure can't fix a decent meal.” She laughed making Harry roll his eyes.

“I'm sure it could help us during Home Ec,” Abby said, walking over to sit two plates of bacon and eggs on the table.

Nodding his head Harry ate in silence. His eyes remained on the plate in front of him, he tried his best to avoid conversation. Once he was finished he excused himself to take a shower. “I wonder what's wrong with him,” Abigail muttered.

“I wouldn't pay much attention to it, love. He's usually like that this early. He's not much of a morning person.” Anne explained. “So did you talk to your father this morning?”

“Yeah, he said he's going to be home by lunch time. I guess I should be there waiting for him.”

“What about your mom?”

“She calls every day, she doesn't say much about Grandpa though.” She cringed. “I've been taking that as bad news.”

Anne frowned. “Try not to think of it that way.” She sighed, placing her hand over Abigail's. “I do want to thank you for being there for Harry. I have never seen him this happy, and its all thanks to you.”

Abigail blushed, “He's...he's made me happy too. I don't think I've ever felt this way.”

“Well if you ever need anything, a place to stay or anything, you're more than welcome here. Now you better get your things together if you want to be home before your father.”

“Thank you Anne,” Abigail said, giving the older woman a hug before she headed to Harry's room.

Among the band T-shirts and old pairs of jeans Abigail found her clothes. Stuffing them into her bag she sighed. She was sad to be leaving, Harry's family felt more like a family to her than her own. Going home meant she was going back to being alone, the silence was already starting to haunt her. Hearing Harry step into the room she smiled. “Hey, sorry I was just packing my stuff.” She noticed his hair was still wet from his shower and he was already wearing a pair of black sweat pants.

“Its ok,” He mumbled picking up a discarded shirt off the floor. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yeah, I guess,” She muttered, grabbing her bag she tried her best to ignore Harry's attitude.
After the night they had she figured he was just tired and stressed.

In the car Harry didn't grab her hand or look her way. Biting her bottom lip she tried her best not to say anything but she needed to know what was bothering him. When she tried to touch him it was like he was trying to keep his distance. Taking a deep breath she noticed they were already in her subdivision, neither had said a word the entire ride. Parking his car in his usual spot Harry shut the engine off. “Harry, what's wrong?” He heard her ask.

“Nothing.”

“Don't lie to me, please. You're just not acting like yourself.” She murmured trying once again to take his hand.

Pulling away he snapped. “Maybe I'm acting the exact way I've always been, you just never saw it.”

Abigail's mouth was open in shock. “W-what's gotten into you?” She stammered. “This isn't you, did something happen last night? Is that what this is about?”

“No, I'll tell you what its about,” He said, his voice menacing, a way he had never spoken to her before. “I think we're stupid to think this would work. We're too different.”

“Harry...don't say that.”

“Why? Because you know its the fucking truth, Abby. This was bound to happen sooner or later, just go now. Spare yourself some heartache.”

Trying to keep her tears at bay she shook her head. “Too late.” She whispered. “I love you, please don't say this.”

Starting the car he mumbled. “Yeah well...I don't love you. I didn't mean it when I said it, I just told you what you wanted to hear.”

She couldn't hold it back anymore but she refused to let him see her break down. Grabbing her bag she climbed out of the car, not looking back at Harry as she walked to her house. Once she reached the front door the car sped off leaving her sobbing on her front porch. Collapsing onto the concrete she held her chest, trying to steady her breathing. 'This can't be happening again,' She thought trying to keep the panic attack at bay. Struggling she stood up, unlocked the front door and headed inside. Dropping her bag by the stairs she sat down, tears still falling from her eyes. “I should be used to this by now,” She thought out loud. “Nothing ever works out the way I want it.”

Slamming his door Harry made his way into Liam's house. Liam had a punching bag in his garage and right now all Harry could think about was getting his frustration out. “Hey Harry,” Liam smiled stepping out onto his front porch but his smile faded when he saw Harry's expression. “Whoa what's wrong with you?”

“I need a quick work out, open your garage.” Harry demanded.

Liam had seen his friend pissed off before, but never like this. Not only was Harry angry but something else was there but he knew he wouldn't figure it out until Harry calmed down enough to talk about it. Listening to his command Liam opened the garage door. As soon as he could Harry stepped in front of the punching bag, hitting it with all his might. Liam stood back, just watching as the curly haired boy's fists connected with bag. He was hitting it so hard Liam was sure it would fly off the chain at some point. After a few minutes Liam grabbed Harry's shoulders. “Harry, Harry! Stop!” He yelled pulling him back.

Reluctantly Harry sat down, his knuckles bloody and his breath ragged. He felt a towel land on his shoulders. As he cleaned his cuts he heard the garage door close. When it was completely shut Liam sat in front of him. “Ok now talk, what the hell is wrong with you?”

Sighing Harry tossed the towel aside. “I broke up with Abigail.”

“What? Why?”

“I had to...for her safety.” He mumbled standing up to walk over to the mini fridge Liam's dad had set up in the corner of the garage.

“You're gonna have to explain this to me, is it because of what happened last night? Man, that wasn't your fault.”

“Yes it was, if it wasn't for me she wouldn't have even been there in the front place.”

“Maybe but Harry the cops showing up wasn't your fault. If I had kept a better eye on her we wouldn't have gotten separated.”

“No, its my fucking fault!” Harry exclaimed. “I'm supposed to keep her safe! And that's why I ended it, she'll be safe now.”

Liam's eyebrows furrowed. “Harry, I feel like you're not telling me something. This goes deeper than last night.”

“Just drop it.”

“No, I won't cause I know how much she means to you and you would never willingly end it like that. Now start talking or I'm locking you in this fucking garage.”

Cringing Harry sat back down. “Its Craig's boss.”

“The guy from Vegas?”

“Yeah, his name is Ricky.” He nodded. “I told Craig last week I was done fighting, I didn't
want to do it anymore. Well Ricky didn't like that too much. He forced me to fight last night.”

“By using Abby against you.” Liam knew where this was going. “Man...I knew I had a bad feeling about you fighting like this. I always thought this business was shady.”

“Yeah well I wish you would have told me that before I got in this deep.”

“You know you wouldn't have listened to me even if I did tell you.” Liam chuckled but soon died down. “Harry you can't do this to yourself. I can tell right now how miserable you are.”

Shaking his head Harry sighed. “I'll have to live with it, she's safer this way and that's all that matters. Even if I feel like shit it was for the best.”

“Are you sure about that?” Liam mumbled.

Harry was silent, his eyes focused on the dirty floor. Every part of him wanted to go back to Abigail's and apologize but he knew he couldn't. This was his decision even if it was killing him on the inside.

Notes