Two Faced

I woke up with an arm wrapped around me. I was tucked in the croak of someone’s neck.

“Harry.” I said gently trying to pry away from his strong grip. He moaned and held me closer. “Harry we have school.” I reminded him. He groaned but made no move of movement. I elbowed him in the stomach. “Harry get up!” I said irritated but I had said it in a hushed tone as my older brother who happened to be Harry’s best friend was sleeping in the other room. I shrugged out of his grip and shook his shoulders. “Get up.” I said firmly. His brown curls were ruffled from sleep. His face was peaceful and his mouth was, well shut. Which was better for me and in my opinion everyone else.

His eyes slowly fluttered opened. His eyes were green. “Morning Angel.” He said in a raspy tone that he always had after he woke up. “Don’t call me that.” I said harshly. “You took forever getting up.” I accused. He broke out into a smile. “I’m always going to call you Angel, Angel and couldn’t you of gotten up without me?” he said teasingly.

I frowned. “How could I have gotten up with your arm locked around me? Besides you need to get up and get out before Louis or your family discover you’re not in your own bed.”

He sat up, the duvet falling from his chest revealing abs and tattoos. He took my hand and I didn’t protest. “I’m profusely sorry madam but I just hate getting up.” He said in a posh sappy tone.

I shoved his hand back and got out of bed I went to my draws to get my outfit which was blue jeans and a grey tank top.

Two arms suddenly wrapped around me. “Can you stop being a bitch to me and say good morning to me Angel?” Harry asked gently propping his head on my shoulder.

“I’m sorry.” I said guilty. “Good morning.”

“Much better Angel.” The arms disappeared. I turned around and saw Harry scooping up his clothes from the floor. He was wearing these grey trackies that he always wears to bed. He walked to the window that looked directly in on his bedroom. He turned back to me his green eyes twinkling, “I’ll see you in an hour.” Then he was gone through the window.

I scooped up my clothing and went to my en-suite bathroom. I stepped into the shower the warm jets of water relaxed my muscles. I was 16 going on 17 in 2 months. My life was different from other girls. Each night I sleep next to a boy who is a git during the day but kind at night. Harry. My brothers best friend who thinks it’s his mission to annoy the hell out of me but at night protects me from my nightmares that leave me screaming and shaking.
6 years ago:
“Louis, Julia can you set the table? He’ll be home soon. Make sure you do it perfectly.” My mother asked me and Louis who were sitting at the table playing a card game.
We nodded and immediately set out the plates and cutlery. My mum was in the kitchen cooking dinner. A worried look was all over her face and her eyes kept anxiously looking at the clock and then at the window that faced the driveway. But this was normal. When Louis and I were done we both sat down at the table, both nervously fiddling our fingers. Worried to know what mood our father would come home in. Sometimes if he was in a bad mood he would hit all of us or yell. Sometimes it doesn’t matter what mood he has when he comes through the door as it can change in a second. 5 minutes later we heard a car pull up the drive way. Louis and I immediately sat up straight so he couldn’t yell at us for bad posture. I looked over at Louis who gave me and encouraging smile but I could see the fear in his eyes. The front door opened and my father walked in. He was a normal size for his middle age. My mum came through to the dining room as soon as Father sat down with a bowl of pasta bake in one hand. One of my fathers many requests was that as soon as he got home every evening dinner is to be on the table. One of his other requests or demand is that my mother is not allowed to work. He says he’d rather live in a poor suburb in a small house rather than in a nice suburb in a big house then let his wife work. I would trade the lot for a nice normal dad.

“Smells lovely Brenda.” He said sniffing the bowl.

My mum smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Thank you.” She said clearly.

“So do any of my children have voices? How was your day Louis?” Father said gruffly when we were half way through our meal. I stiffened and looked over at Louis. He tried looking calmly at our father. He looked pleased that he actually addressed him.

“It was great!” he said excitedly. “Harry and I tried out for the ice hockey team and we made it in and-“

“Isn’t ice hockey a girly sport where they all wear leotards?” Father interrupted rudely.

Louis deflated slightly. “No father.”

“What about you Julia?”

Panic rushed through me. “Speak evenly, don’t stutter.” I told myself. “It um well uh.” No words were appearing in my mind. I looked nervously at my Father who was looking angrily at me. I put my arm on the table.

“CAN ANY OF MY CHILDREN SPEAK?!” He roared standing up.

I bought my arm back in fright. But my arm caught on the glass of water and sent it spilling. I looked up. My fathers hand cracked over my cheek. I whimpered and clutched my stinging cheek.

“You stupid girl!” He yelled. “Can’t even speak a sentence or have a glass of water without spilling it!” He bought his hand back.

I flinched away, preparing for another slap. But then Louis dived in front of me taking the hit.

“Louis!” I shrieked worriedly.

Father picked him by the scruf of his neck and hit him over and over again. “How dare you!” Father yelled. “I decide who gets punished in this house!”

Tears were running down my face and I started crawling towards my brother who was lying in a heap on the floor. “Louis!” I said in bare whisper.

“Bennet lets go and finish our dinner in the living room.” My mum interrupted. Father paused for a moment then nodded, grabbed his plate and left the room.
My mum gave us on more worried glance and followed after him.

“Lou are you ok?” I said between my tears.

“Yes.” He grunted.

“I’m sorry.” I had said. “If only I didn’t stutter you wouldn’t be in pain.”

He gave me a half smile. “You stuttered because you were afraid of a man who continuously yells and hits us, you have nothing to be sorry about. We better go to our rooms.”

I nodded and helped him up us well as I could. When we got to the section where I go in my room while he goes down the hall Louis told me to lock the door and bids me good night. I enter my room and lock the door. Then I ran to my bed and wept into the covers. 30 minutes I felt warm hands on my back.
“Hey its ok, its ok Angel.”A familar voice soothed.

I turned around and saw Harry. “Why do you call me that?” I asked hiccupping through the sobs.

“I just do Angel. Why are you crying?”

“Father hit Louis and it was my fault.”

Harry flinched. He and Louis were best friends. “I doubt that it was your fault, your dads crazy.”
I sobbed.

“It’s ok.” The arms wrapped around me again.

That wasn't the night Harry slept over though. He didn't start until my twelfth birthday. The day I want so desperately to forget. Louis was out at hockey practice with Harry and mum was grocery shopping. My dad had pulled me on to his knee. He was being really nice. He wasn't getting angry at all but then she started pulling at my clothes and started undressing me. I tried to get away but his grip on me was too strong. He was un-buttoning my buttons when Louis and Harry bursted in and started to beat him to pulp. They beat him all the way down the street and warned him to never come back again and he never did. Our mum got a job over sea’s and puts money in the bank on a weekly basis. But that night I was crying softly into my pillow when a voice and arms reached out to comfort me. That was the night he stayed and I had no nightmares.

Since then every night after everyone had gone to their rooms Harry snuck over to mine through the window and protected me from the dreams. I had tried to sleep in Louis room when Harry went to his grandparents for the night a year after but I woke up sweating screaming after a nightmare that stared my father.

I once asked Harry if he would prefer to sleep in his own bed and he said that he was to use to my bed and that his bed was too uncomfortable for him to sleep in. Only Harry and I knew about the arrangement as Louis wouldn't approve. Every morning he would leave my room early to get ready so he could be back at the house by 8 as we catch a lift with him every morning and after school as him and Louis share a car. The problem was I hated day Harry, a retarded dick head who always embarrassed me or called me names. But at night he was this sweet guy, a completely different character.

I turned off the shower and stepped out. I quickly dried myself off and stepped into my blue jeans and grey tank top that had a left sided breast pocket. I then went back into my room and sat in front of mirror and I loosely curled my hair. I then put on a bit of mascara and raspberry lip balm. I grabbed my black lace up boots and tied a bow in the lace. The boot came up to the middle of my leg. I then grabbed my small black back pack and stuffed in my books for the day, I then grabbed my phone and stuffed it in my pocket. I then left my room and went down the stairs and into the kitchen where Louis sat at the table and Harry leant against the kitchen counter. Fully dressed and was holding a bowl of cereal. My cereal.

I walked over to Harry and snatched my bowl. “Can’t you eat breakfast at your house?” I complained.

He grinned at me “Sorry Angel I find that I never have enough time.”

I glowed at him, he is not blaming me for not having enough time in the mornings. “Then why don’t you get up earlier?” I snarled. “And stop calling me Angel!” He has always called me Angel. Its Julia.

He smirked at me but before he got a chance to reply Louis interrupted. “Lets go before you both kill each other.” He said putting his plate on the side, next to the sink. I held the bowl to my lips and drank the remaining milk then put it next to Louis’s plate. I wiped my lips with the back of my hand and grabbed my bag. “Classy.” Louis called as he walked out of the room. I shrugged him off and hurried after him. Louis got in the driver’s seat while I slid into the backseat. Harry after a while turned up carrying a bit of toast in his hand and slid into the passenger seat. Then we were off the hell hole, sorry I mean school.

Notes

First chapter! This story isn't originally mine. It is my writing but it is based on a fanfic that i read ages ago called Through My Window but I think the author took it down.The problem was it wasn't finished and I needed an ending! If the author has a problem with me doing this I promise I'll take it down.

I know i'm a sucky writer so any kind of feedback would be great as I don't want to butcher the story line