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Chapter 10 – Harry’s P.O.V.

            I watch closely as Chloe’s trembling hands organize my desk, making sure every paper is in the perfect stack without a single corner out of place. After she calmed down, she had asked me if she could straighten it up a bit. I noticed how her hands were shaking, so I figured she had pretty bad OCD. Not that my desk was scattered, but I let Chloe do her thing anyway to keep her calm and happy.

            Zayn had went into the copy room not too long before Chloe ran out. I swear to God, if he did anything to her he legit just broke the bro code. Zayn and I are close friends, but I wouldn’t hesitate on giving him a piece of my mind if he tried anything with her. But even though Zayn has been staring at Chloe nonstop, I managed to notice that Elizabeth didn’t show up for work. Either it’s a coincidence, or she seriously just hates my guts now. At least I have the audacity to stand up for myself and for Chloe. Chloe doesn’t deserved to be yelled at.

            Smiling slightly, I continued watching Chloe as she organized everything, putting things straight and making sure things are evenly lined. She even tried to eye the measurement between each item, trying to make it as even as possible. I want to laugh at her cute antics, but I don’t want her to get upset with me or think I’m teasing her. I’m not; I just find her utterly adorable.

            Although I’m beyond curious as to what really happened in the copy room, I don’t mention it. She seemed very shook up about it, and I’d like to keep her at ease. I know bringing her hear was a risk, but so far she’s handling it better than I thought.

            “Done, Ms. Perfectionist?” I couldn’t help myself as the little tease left my lips.

            To my surprise, Chloe rolled her eyes at me with a smile playing on her lips. “I don’t know,” she murmured as she bit her bottom lip, studying my cubicle once more. “Wait…”

            My eyebrows furrowed as I watched her turn to look at me. Taking me off guard yet again, she reaches forward and straightens my tie. I smirk a little, watching her little fingers delicately tug at the material. Her cheeks flush as if she’s embarrassed with her action, but I give her an assuring smile. “Thanks.”

            “You’re welcome,” she muttered with a smile before taking her seat once more.

            Another reason why I can’t bring myself to believe Chloe is insane; how calm she is with me. I’ve held the girl, I’ve cuddled with the girl, and I’ve even made the girl laugh, talk, and smile. She seems comfortable around me and I want her to. But even when she is, I can see a normal girl peering out. One that’s deep inside but too afraid to be exposed. Whatever traumatized Chloe captured than normal girl and refuses to let her escape. I want that normal girl to come out. I like how Chloe is normal around me, because it lets me know that she really is just a normal person with some issues.

            Who the hell doesn’t have issues?

            I finished all my work before lunch, asking Finn if I can leave early so Chloe won’t be bored out of her mind. Since I managed to complete my tasks, Finn agreed and Chloe and I were out the door in minutes. I tried to ignore the pang of jealousy that hit me when Zayn waved goodbye to her, earning a small smile from Chloe in return.

            Opening the passenger door for her, I asked, “Would you like to go out for some lunch, Chloe?”

            After slipping into the driver’s seat, Chloe turned to me with a little grin that I’ve grown to adore. “You’d take me to lunch?”

            I smiled. “I don’t see why not. I’m quite hungry myself.”

            Chloe smiled before buckling herself in and leaning back in the seat. I love the progress we’re making, I really do. With every second I spend with her, it seems like a little more of that normal girl begins to show. No frantic room searches, no trembling appendages and shaking body. Just Chloe. A normal girl with a terrified conscious.

            The lunch is actually nice at the little café I chose. We talked more than I thought, and I even learned a few things about Chloe. Her favorite color is blue, she loves spaghetti and pancakes, and she even loves music. Chloe opening up to me, even that little bit, was probably one of the best things I’ve encountered with her. She usually doesn’t speak much, so this was a big change for her. A change I’m more than happy she witnessed with me.

            After settling back down at the house, Chloe went upstairs for a shower and my phone rang in my pocket. It was now nearing four p.m., and I’m surprised Chloe and I actually stayed out for three hours at lunch. Time really does fly when you’re having fun.

            “Hello?” I questioned into the speaker without looking at the caller I.D.

            “Hey, mate,” Zayn’s voice perches on the other end. “I was wondering if I could maybe ask you something.”

            I sucked in a sharp breath through my nose, expecting a question about him wanting to take Chloe out. It’d be a definite no right away, but I managed to purse my lips and listen. “Hit me.”

            “Okay, well… I was just wondering if you knew anything about those faint scratches over Chloe’s eyes.”

            A little surprised at his question, I furrowed my eyebrows. “Actually, I don’t know anything. She doesn’t really talk about stuff like that.” I definitely don’t make her, either, simply because I know people like her get uncomfortable with things like that.

            “Oh,” Zayn murmured on the other end before a sudden silence took over us. Is that seriously why he called? Just to ask why Chloe had scratches?

            “Erm, I gotta go,” I muttered as I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly. “See you tomorrow, lad.”

            “Right, um, but Harry… will… will Chloe be there tomorrow as well?” he asked and I felt my jaw clench.

            “Most likely,” I grumbled before hanging up right after. I didn’t want to hear him talk about Chloe, or even ask me something else about her.

            I almost want to call Elizabeth, just to ask where she was today. I didn’t get a chance to speak with Finn about the budget cuts, but I’ll be damn sure to do it tomorrow. I still just want to hear if Elizabeth really is mad at me. Maybe a breakup will be easier if we’re both pissed.

            I’ve never had intentions of breaking up with anyone, actually. I’ve done it once or twice before, but I always feel like the bad guy, so I try to avoid it and hope the girl does the dirty. Elizabeth doesn’t seem like she’ll cave and break up with me, so I’m trying to muster the strength to do it to her. It’s not even about Chloe, honestly. It’s just because of all of her selfish ways and heartless actions. I’m sick of it.

            When Chloe comes downstairs, she’s wearing an oversized t-shirt and some jogging pants we bought her. I smiled as I saw the messy bun on her head, her hair still slightly damp, but it gave her that “normal girl” look again. But then my eyes locked on hers and something about her brown eyes seemed off. She didn’t look happy, upset, or any emotion at all. She looked dull; like she was absent completely. Like just her body was present while her mind dawdled off.

            “Chloe? You all right, love?” I asked quietly, trying not to scare her if she were in some sort of trance or something.

            Chloe doesn’t answer as she stared at me, tilting her head slightly to the side as if trying to read my mind. I licked my lips before pursing them together, trying to decipher what this girl is thinking at the moment. However, before I get the chance to come up with many options, she’s strutting down the stairs towards the door.

            It’s nearing seven o’clock now and it’s starting to grow dark. I don’t know where the time went, but I was probably thinking more than I thought.

            “Chloe, what are you doing?” I asked again as she set her hand on the handle, pulling the door open.

            She turned to me, and that’s when I noticed the tears staining her cheeks. She wasn’t Chloe right now; she was the inner demon captivating her. The same one that tried to get her to jump off the balcony a couple nights ago. The same one she keeps referring to as “they.” The same one that’s hiding that normal girl.

            Without a word, Chloe turned and walked out the door, stalking down the stairs and towards the road.

            Subconsciously, I followed her with my eyebrows etched together in confusion. I trailed behind her as she walked down the sidewalk, gaining proximity to the stop sign at the end of my street. I don’t want to yell at her in case she really is stuck in some trance. I heard snapping them out of it like that only sends them into shock and paralyzes them or something.

            I stopped at the stop sign, but Chloe stopped in the middle of the road. My heart picked up pace as she stood still, looking both ways as if expecting something. Headlights soon light up her small figure in the middle of the road, and when she goes to lay down, I finally put the pieces together.

            “Chloe, stop!” I yelled as my eyes widened in terror, my legs running towards her as the car blared its horn. Right before she laid down, I smacked into her and we tumbled into the other side of the road in the grass. The car continued to screech off as my body now hovers over the girl that has tried to commit suicide once more.

            I stared at her, unsure of what to do as my heart pounds erratically in my chest. My eyes are still widened from the realization of what she just tried to do, but her tears are still flowing out of her eyes as she looked up at me. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, her lips barely moving as the words left them.

            Before either of us know what’s happening, she wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into a hug. I’m sitting on the ground now, Chloe straddling my lap as she cried into my chest. I need this girl to stop scaring me to fucking death.

            “Chloe, why would you try and get hit by a car?” I asked calmly, trying to keep from raising my voice in fear at her. What if I was too late and didn’t put the pieces together? What if she got hurt? I gulped. What if I lost her?

            “I-I didn’t w-want to!” she yelled as she pushed away from me and stood, heaving both hands through her now loose hair. “T-They make m-me t-think things I-I’ve never t-thought of b-before!”

            “Chloe, breathe, love. Calm down and talk to me,” I cooed as I stood as well, keeping eye contact with the flustered girl.

            Chloe closed her eyes, sucking in a sharp and shaky breath as her bottom lip quivered. Her eyes flew open to meet mine, water still streaking her cheeks as she stared at me. I waited patiently for her to speak until finally she whispered, “They want me dead.”