Keeping Hope

When the bell rang, detecting the class was over, Emma packed her things and slipped out as fast as she could without getting noticed. She followed the kids outside looking for any sign of Niall. After a few moments standing in the sun she decided to sit by the tree on the grass patch away from the other students.
She sat down leaning her back against the tree trunk, opening her sketchbook. She flipped a few pages stopping here and there to look at some of her older things until she reached a fresh page. With a pencil in hand she scanned her surrounding classmates until her eyes fell on a pretty girl sitting with her friends enjoying the sun. Then she started to doodle catching the girl's long her as it hang from her shoulders, as her face was tilted up to the sun.
Across from Emma a little further ahead, Harry was watching her.
There was something about this girl. He couldn't pin point what it was, maybe the way she didn't try to fit in so hard, not trying to fit in at all actually.. Or maybe the way she bit her lip when she was concentrating as she did now. Those bright blue eyes of hers, the way they gazed up at him, wide open, and the way she looked at everything, as if it was the first time she is seeing it. He also really liked that pink in her hair, seeing it from where he was sitting.
He watched as Zayn his arm draped across Perrie's shoulders and Liam walked past her, yelling out the stupid things they usually yell. But Emma, if she heard them and decided to ignore was busy with her drawing not giving them a second thought.
For a moment he had the urge to get up and see what she's scribbling, remembering the drawing of a woman he saw when he flipped the pages earlier today.


"Hey Em" I jumped up as Niall startled me with his greeting.
"Gosh Ni" I closed my sketchbook and put it aside as Niall, Louis and Eleanor sat down on the grass next to me.
"SO how was your first class?" Louis asked picking a hand full of grass and tossing it at Niall.
"It was fine, just like any other class I've been in" I shrugged
"What class was it?" Eleanor brushed of the green pieces, giving Louis a little shove
"History"
"Mr. D? anyone interesting in your class then?" Niall asked leaning back sharing the tree trunk with me.
"Well, there were these two clowns thinking they are the greatest thing- Those two" I stopped pointing to where I spotted Zayn and Liam pushing this kid knocking his bag out of his hand and scattering his belongings all around
"Payne and Malik the biggest dick heads you will ever meet" Louis turned back to us.
"Yeah Zayn thinks he is the football team's star" Niall added. I wasn't really listening I was too busy watching them.
"HE is the team's star" Eleanor told Niall. Niall and Louis were on the team too apparently, and hating the team captain- Zayn.
"We should stop them" I said suddenly. I hated seeing them bully that boy this way.
I get up to my feet, but before I manage to move any further Harry steps in front of the boy.
We all watch to see what will happen next.


"Styles, nice of you to join" Liam held up his hand for me to bump, but I ignored it. I was watching them with hard eyes, my arms crossed over my chest.
"Pick up his things" I ordered them. They looked at each other and started laughing.
"The hell, you think that because you did your time in juvie it makes you a saint? The hell arse wipe! I'm not picking up any of this shit" Zayn laughed.
"Pick it up now" I said again. I watch as Liam freezes from the tone of my voice.
"Come on man, we were only having some fun" He explained trying to calm me down.
"If I see you pick on this kid again I promise you" I didn't need to finish my sentence. I turn to Nick "Are you ok?"
Nick watched me with baffled eyes, I reckon he never thought that I would come to his rescue.
"Fuck you styles! You think you can come back and scare the shit out of people? Think again! I ain't scared of you" Zayn threw Nick's empty bag at me. That did it. The rage took over blinding me, and I launched. It was all bottled up from before, and now I was letting it all out pounding Zayn's face with my fist.
"Harry, let go of him" I hear Perrie scream. Zayn managed to punch me to, hitting me in the jaw. Liam got into the fight too trying to get me off Zayn. But I was strong enough to take both of them on. However it didn't last long. I was pulled back by Horan and Tomlinson, I guess they came to help their team captain.
"As much as it's always fun to see Zayn getting beat up, you need to stop Styles" Niall said quietly into my ear.
"Hey Styles!" I turn to see Dylan running up to us "Hey man I've got it" He told the Horan boy.
"I was looking all over for you" He punched my arm walking me away from the crowed. I look back to see Emma watching us walk away.
"How are you mate?" I asked him. Dylan was the only friend I had left. The only one who knew the truth and believed it. The only one who kept in touch.
"How am I? It's your first day back man, and already you are getting in trouble" Dylan shakes his head. We sit at an empty table. I feel people's eyes on us but decided not to care.
"You know- Sam is in my History class" I tell him
"Don't do anything stupid Harry.. He has nothing to do with what happened"
"I know" I mumble back
"Check her out" Dylan nods towards someone coming our way. I look up just as she reached us.


I leave Niall and his friends for a moment spotting Harry and his friend sitting at a table not far from us. As I walk up his friend spots me and says something that makes Harry look up at me. He whispers something to his friend that makes him smile.
"Hi" I say when I reach them
"Hi there! I'm Dylan" He extended a hand for me. I shake his hand and introduce myself.
"What do you want Emma?" Harry asked me rudely putting his sunglasses on.
I was taken aback with his tone.
"You know what? Never mind.. Nice meeting you Dylan" I tell his friend and walk away.
"Bye!- Why were you such a dick?" I hear Dylan ask Harry.
I go back to where I left Niall and the lot.
"Did you just go up to Styles?" Eleanor asked curious.
"Well, yeah, it was really nice what he did, and I wanted to tell him that" I shrug looking at the ground.
"Is she for real?" Louis laughed
"What? What's wrong with that?" I gaze up at him, not sure what was wrong with what I wanted to do.
"Emma, you don't know Harry.. He isn't nice, he looks for fights. That's what he did just know- look for fight, not to be nice" Niall explained to me
"To bad Dylan is back to hanging out with him, he's quite nice actually" Eleanor was watching them. As if Harry knew we were talking about them he looked up at us, his eyes piercing mine. Dylan's gaze followed, seeing us a smiled appeared on his face and he waves.
"Come on- it's time to get back to class- Hey Emma we share the same class now" Niall tapped my back. When I looked back at the table where Harry and Dylan were it was empty, they were gone.



I walk out through school gates spotting Emma walking by herself, heading the same way I was. I wondered were Niall was, and why he wasn't with her.
I start walking after her, but not making any contact. I wasn't sure she would want me to after I was such a douchebag to her. She walked with her head down, not looking ahead. She seemed- sad. What does this girl have to be sad about? I continue walking behind her, not too close, but not too far. The whole time she was looking down, glancing up just to cross the road. Then I watch her trip. She doesn't fall over, but her stuff falls to the earth the second time today. I jog up to help her pick up her things.
"You really must start looking where you're going" I say, kneeling down next to her
"Are you following me or something?" She asks. She didn't seem startled to see me.
"No, I'm walking home, where are you going?" We get back up to our feet. I notice her being at least a foot shorter than me, making her lift her face up to be able to look me in the eye.
"Home" She says simple.
"Well then, I'll walk with you" I smile.
"I thought I walk too slowly for you" She arches her brow at me.
"You do, but I'll slow down for now"
"So.. Sometimes you're nice to me, and sometimes- how did your friend put it? A dick"
"Someone was listening in" I grin.
"I didn't need to listen in to hear him shouting at you, why is a nice boy like Dylan hanging out with a twit like you?"
"So now you're insulting me?" I ask her, a smile still on my face. I liked her, I liked her answers. She was not afraid of me. Not yet at least.
"No.. Just wondering out loud" She shrugs
"So why did you walk up to us?" I wanted to know. The truth is I was thinking about it the rest of the day, regretting pushing her away with my rudeness.
"Why were you mean to me?" She answered me with a question of her own
"You win. I was an arse. I'm sorry" I apologized.
She walked by my side silently. I was sure she wasn't going to talk to me anymore but in the end she did.
"I just wanted to tell you it was really nice that you stood up for that boy" She whispered.
I was gobsmacked. I did not expect her to say that.
"You came up to me just to say that?"
"Yeah, it was a nice thing and it should be acknowledged" she said simply
I was deep in thought about what she just said when I heard her speak up again
"You don't get acknowledged for good things you do, do you?"
"I get sent to juvie instead" I muttered
"Sorry?" She glanced up not sure if she heard me correctly
"Nothing- so it seems we both live on the same street" I said as we turned into where I lived.
"Gosh, I thought only old people live on this street" She smiled up. Once again I was stunned by her smile.
"Well yeah, and me and my mum" I gave her a half smile "So where is your house?"
"It's the one on the end of the road right next to the clearing over there- where the forest starts"
"Well hello there neighbor" I touched her shoulder.


"Which one is your home?" I asked him with an excited smile. I was happy to find out I know one of my neighbors even if it's Harry.
"The one right next to yours" He pointed as we got closer
"Your mum is Anna?" I glance up at him amazed
"Yeah, why are you so surprised?"
"Umm just because.. How come I haven't seen you before? I live here for a whole week already"
"Well.. I only got back home three days ago and kept to my room" He said quietly.
"Oh.. Well, I'll see you around then" I smile.
"Yeah, see you" He turned into the path that leads up to the front door without looking at me. I stand watching him go in, and then continued to my own home.
I unlock the door and go in. The house was empty, my dad working late today. I wasn't hungry so I went straight up to my room. I put down my bag catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I took a few steps until I was right in front of it examining my face. The eyes staring back at me were sad big blue eyes. They never used to be this sad. I rubbed them with my fists and turned around, taking my sketchbook and pen heading out to the back garden. The last week that was the place to find me, sitting on the low beach chair sketching. I found it peaceful, with all the green and flowers. Anna had lovely flowers and since the back yards didn't have a fence dividing between both yards I could enjoy them too.
I opened my sketchbook and started doodling the big tree in Harry's yard. It was massive and had character.
I was well into my drawing when a big ball of fur knocked the sketchbook and pen out of my hand, taking their place in my lap.
"Hoover" I giggled as the fluffy dog licked my face. He gave a happy bark and licked me again. I screeched getting up on my feet giggling, as the big dog jumped up and down trying to lick my face.
The dog got a big stick offering it to me. When I move to take it from him, he runs off wanting me to follow. I laugh out and start jogging after the dog retrieving the stick and running with it raised above my head so the big dog will have a harder time to reach.
"Not used to hearing such laughter"
I turn to see Harry sitting on the balcony, legs dangling below. I wondered how long he was sitting there.
"I didn't see you" I say as I bend to pet Hoover's head.
"You were busy playing" He smiled. A true smile that reached his eyes. I understood by now that getting any real emotion from Harry is a rare thing. I stopped to remember it. The light in his eyes, those dimples that when showed make him seem much happier then what he truly is.
"What?" He asked
"Nothing" I looked down at Hoover who kept pushing my hand for me to pet him. I wasn't about to explain to Harry my obsession with remembering things and cherishing them, since I learned you never know how long you have with its presence.
I hear Harry jump down and coming over to where I stood, however when he got to me he didn't stop, but continued walking to where I left my open sketchbook and pen. He bent over to pick it up studying my drawing.
"You're good" He noted.
"I try my best" I was embarrassed by him going through my sketches as I spill into it my heart and soul.
"Who's this?" He got to a photo of a beautiful woman, with big blue eyes which crinkled in the ends, an affect of her smile.
"It's just a sketch" I try snatching the book out of his hands but he was much faster than me, holding it up out of my reach, just as I did to Hoover.
"Who is it? You have a few sketches of her there" He pressed
"Harry!" I looked up at him, hands by my side, not willing to play a game of fetch with my sketchbook.



That look in her eyes when I refused to give back her drawing book, almost broke my heart. She was attached to it so much that she rather me hold on to it, then try getting it and risk it damaging.
As I hand it back to her I hear the glass door to her house open.
"Yo Em- You out here?"
"Down here Ni" She called out for the Horan boy. Just great.
"Your dad wanted me to come hang out so you won't be alone- oh, hi" He stopped his babbling as he saw me.
"I brought pizza, you better come in" He glanced back at Emma.
"Um.. yeah Harry, do you want to join us?"
I looked at Niall, I see it in his eyes and the way he is standing he does not want me joining. That makes me almost join just so I can take the piss out of him, but then I look back at Emma. She looked sad again, and I wondered once more what is making her so unhappy.
"No, I'm good, I have a better place to be at anyway" I said, turning to leave.
"Well, have fun" I hear her say. That makes me stop and look back, feeling like such an arse for treating her like shit.
"Thanks, enjoy your pizza" I said and continued walking calling Hoover to follow me.
As I close the door I hear her and Niall still talking outside.
"Your dad will flip if he finds out you're hanging out with Styles"
"He paid his debt Ni, let him be, he's quite nice" She answered him. I feel my heart warm hearing her stand up for me, not remembering the last time someone ever did.
"Nice? Were you not present when he just shoved your offer to join in the rudest way ever??"
"Well did you see your face when I invited him? No wonder he was like that" I hear her storm off, Niall yelling after her "I am just looking out for you"
"I guess it's just you and me mate" I say to Hoover.



That night Emma found herself once again standing in front of the mirror, thinking of this past day, and all that happened. She hadn't noticed Harry, his room window facing her own, giving him a perfect view of her room, her little figure standing in front of the mirror in her little tank top and shorts, holding her locket in between her fingers.
He watched her carefully, trying to figure out if she would be strong enough to help him fight his battle. He knew it was only a matter of strength, her being willing was not the issue. He would make her willing. After all, he had his ways.

Notes

So...
This is the second chapter to my new story...
As I said it's only the beginning but i promise it will be really good..
Let me know what you think, rate and subscribe to find out how it will develop
Your ratings and comments truly mean a lot pushing me to write more!

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