Scarlett

Harry was right; the first few nights were absolutely horrendous. She hated even agreeing to rehab in the first place the more time she spent there.

That strange girl kept watching her and withdrawal was the fucking worst. The assholes wouldn't even let her keep her cigarettes!

On a brighter side, she had actually managed to make a friend, his name was Noah.

"I got you an extra candy bar; I know how much you value them over the rest of the food here." He spoke as he held the bar of chocolate out for her to take.

Scarlett looked up from her book and smiled, "You're the best! God I wish I had some fucking cigarettes."

"Don't we all."

She laughed, "Yeah, but there's something else I want more than a damn drag."

He turned his head on the couch cushion to face her, "And what would that be?"

Scarlett mirrored his actions and raised an eyebrow, "Sex, what else?"

Noah raised his eyebrows, to which she rolled her eyes and continued, "With Harry, not you Noah."

"Right. Forgot that he wasn't just your fuck buddy anymore. Worth a shot."

She pretended that he'd suggested that and resumed her previous position, only this time she closed her book, "Funny how things work out sometimes. I'd be dead if it weren't for him if I'm being honest."

Noah rested his feet on the coffee table and turned his head so that he was once more looking out the overly cleaned window, "So are you just with him because you enjoy the sex and he kept you alive?"

Scarlett opened her mouth to answer only to close it to consider the thought. No, she wasn't with him for those reasons at all.

She shook her head, now sure of her answer, "No, I'm not. The sex is brilliant yes, but it's much more than that."

"Then tell me why you love him."

Scarlett hesitated, panicking at the mention of he word love, "I-I never said that I loved him..."

"Do you not?"

It was a good question; one that she didn't have an answer to.

When she didn't answer, he spoke again, "So, tell me. Then maybe I'll stop trying to get in your pants."

Scarlett sighed and looked down to her hands that rested atop the hardcover of her book, "I like the way that he smiles and the way he laughs. I like how he is so nice to me even when I'm a bitch to him, which is like all the time. I like the way he treats me, like I'm a flower that he doesn't want to wither away into oblivion. I like the way that he talks about life and the way that he looks at me. But most of all, I really like the way that he makes me feel inside that I can't quite explain to anyone else, I just like him."

Noah laughed, "Like is the wrong word sweetheart, you definitely love him."

"So this is what love feels like?" She asked as she smiled to herself at the thought.

Noah continued laughing softly and shook his head, "You're something else Scarlett. Yes, that's definitely love."

Scarlett smiled to herself, happy that she had finally gotten to experience love for herself, "I rather enjoy it in that case."

Noah looked to the clock on the far wall and bit his lip for some reason, "You should. I'll see you later, group session time once again. Bye Scarlett."

She waved to him as he left and was about to get back to her book when a voice she didn't recognize spoke up, "You know he doesn't love you."

Her smile dimmed considerably, "I'm sorry but that doesn't concern you."

The girl moved into her field of vision and stood before the glass window facing Scarlett, "Why do you think that he loves you?"

Scarlett sighed heavily, she was already annoyed and the girl had barely even spoken yet. So much for the girl leaving her alone while she was here.

"Well for one, he told me and two, I know his story." She spoke calmly, curious as to what the girl was getting at.

"That's a lie, he loves me."

Scarlett scoffed as she stood up and collected her things, "You're delusional."

The strange girl, who was beginning to get on her nerves, only followed her as she left.

"He said he was going to leave you for me when he came to visit yesterday. You mean nothing to him."

Scarlett laughed and continued walking, she was obviously lying, "Okay then sweetheart, you keep thinking that."

Harry was at work yesterday and called her at six thirty when his shift was over.

"Apparently you're absolutely horrid in bed. Such a shame for a pretty girl like you."

Scarlett nearly doubled over with laughter, "Jesus Christ, that's golden! You should be a comedian."

She'd somehow managed to make the girl angry, "You're so rude, that's probably why he's leaving you."

They had reached her door and Scarlett stepped inside, blocking the door and turning to face the irritating girl, "Why don't you do me a favor and leave me alone. Tell him I said hello the next time you see him. Better yet, the next time you rape him."

She didn't bother waiting for an answer and slammed the door in the girl's face.

                          * * *

"She what?" Harry questioned in shock once Scarlett had finished retelling the story.

"She said that you didn't love me, that you loved her, and that you told her you were leaving me for her. She also told me that you said I was horrid in bed and you were probably leaving me because "I'm so rude."" She reiterated to fully clarify.

"Jesus...what the hell. At least you knew she was lying. Has she bothered you since?"

Scarlett nodded, "Yes, everyday to be honest. I want to drown her in the pool."

"Trust me, I did too. It's not a surprise that she's still there. How much longer did they think you need to stay for?"

Scarlett sighed, "Another month at the very least."

His hand found hers, "It's better than two at least. Who's that guy that keeps staring at us over across the room?"

Harry nodded toward the direction he was referring to and Scarlett turned her head to look at where he was currently looking, "Oh, that's Noah, he's my friend."

"He's looking at you like he wants to fuck you, I don't like it." Harry grimaced.

Scarlett shrugged, she didn't think it was too big of a deal, but then again, what did she know about friends other than Harry?

"He does, but he isn't going to and he is well aware."

Harry shook his head, his grimace still prominent, "I don't like it."

He was right, it was wrong of a friend to try so hard for that despite knowing that she was happily taken.

She cast her eyes down to stare at their hands as they spoke, hesitantly speaking the three words that had been on her mind lately, "I love you..."

His answer took a small moment before he spoke in a light tone, filled with mild disbelief, "You do?"

Scarlett nodded confidently now, "Yes, I do."

She had been about to continue when his hand tilted her chin up and he pressed his lips to hers gently.

"You know I love you too."

Scarlett smiled against his lips, "I know, so don't worry about him, okay?"

He squeezed her hand lightly, "You know I can't do that, but for you, I'll try."

"Thank you." Scarlett kissed him quickly before continuing, "Can we go for a walk? These walls are driving me nuts."

Harry laughed and pulled her up with him as he stood, kissing her deeply both because he wanted to, and because he wanted to send a message to that Noah guy to back off, "Of course."

                           * * *

"I must say, lover boy isn't quite what I expected of you." Noah caught up with her as she made her way back to her room from parting ways with Harry.

Scarlett smiled happily to herself, "I know."

"He's got some weird ass tattoos."

She nodded, "Yes, I am well aware. But I like them and so does he."

His shoulder nudged hers, "I can see why you fuck him all the time, he should work on wearing some, ah what's the word....looser? jeans."

Scarlett couldn't contain her laugh, "You would be the one to notice that. Are you sure you're not gay?"

"Considering that I've been staring at your chest for the last five minutes, yes, I am very sure that I'm quite straight."

She smacked his arm rather forcefully, "Knock it off."

Noah laughed at the action, "Sorry, I can't help myself."

"You will or I'll stop talking to you."

"Ouch, harsh."

They had reached her door and she paused before opening it to turn and face him, "Yeah, and I meant it. I'm not available and don't appreciate it so stop it or go away. Goodnight Noah."

She disappeared into her room without another word, leaving him stunned and confused in the hallway.