Chapter 12 – Harry’s P.O.V.

            “All right, Ms. Chloe. What movie would you like to watch first?” I smiled as I laid out four different comedies on the coffee table.

            Due to her lack of interest in curse words, I was forced to go with some Disney movies I had in my closet. I don’t mind Disney movies, however. Some of them happen to be some of my favorite movies. The four I laid out for Chloe were The Croods, How to Train Your Dragon, Up, and Wreck-It Ralph. All of them are decently new, but I have even more stored on the top shelf of my closet in case she wants to see them. The fact that Chloe hasn’t seen a movie since she was six is heartbreaking, so why not catch her up on the new ones first?

            “Which is your favorite?” Chloe asked, her eyes locking with mine as she turned to look at me.

            Merely shrugging, I pondered on her question. “I don’t really have a favorite. I love pretty much every Disney movie there is. Childish, I agree.” I chuckled slightly at my own stupidity, but Chloe simply smiled before scanning the movies.

            “I don’t know which one to choose,” she said quietly, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth in deep concentration.

            I smiled as I looked at her gorgeous face. “We could watch all four, if you’d like.”

            Chloe snapped her head to look at me, her eyebrows shooting up in utter surprise. “We… We could? You’d watch all four with me?”

            “Of course. I still laugh like an idiot to all of these movies, so I wouldn’t mind re-watching them with you.”

            Chloe had the largest grin on her face, making me grin in return. She was so easy to please, unlike her witch of a sister. Seeing how happy little things made Chloe, I just wanted to keep getting things for her. I’m tired of wasting money on Elizabeth when she isn’t grateful for a damn thing; but I’d waste my money on Chloe in a heartbeat just to see her face brighten like that. Just to see that beautiful smile and twinkling eyes.

            “Okay,” Chloe said softly, sitting cross-legged on the couch as she pulled the blanket off the back.

            “Are you cold?”

            Chloe slowly nodded as she bundled up in the material.

            Biting my lip, I contemplated against my temptations. A large part of me wanted to wrap my arm around Chloe’s shoulders, just so she would lean into me. I would warm her up, but she’d be warming me with the simplicity of her touch. Chloe cuddling with me was a weird feeling that sent my body into a tingling fit. She was perfect.

            But the other part of me thought of Elizabeth. Yes, I held Chloe when she was terrified to go to sleep, but that was more of a comforting gesture (even though I enjoyed it). If I were to snuggle with her now, it’d be just out of my enjoyment instead of something Chloe needed. I may not have the courage to break up with Elizabeth just yet, but I’m not a cheater. My luck, Elizabeth would barge through the door as soon as we got situated. That’d be a hell of a situation to explain to her.

            “We’ll go in order by date,” I told her, grabbing Up and placing it in the DVD player. I sat on the couch by Chloe, but forced myself to keep a generous distance.

            “What’s this one about?” she questioned as her beautiful brown eyes lit up with the screen.

            “This man’s wife died, but he promised her they’d live on the edge of this waterfall thing. So he gets a whole bunch of balloons and flies his house there,” I explained as I grabbed the remote.

            Chloe nodded with my words as I hit play, but I couldn’t keep my damn eyes off of her. I’ve seen a lot of beautiful females in my life, but I’ve never seen anyone as majestic as Chloe. Even with her false title of insanity, her looks have the power to make any guy stare. I hate that part about her, but I love it at the same time. I love the fact that only I can hold her. That only I can speak with her. She’s too skittish for any other guy, but I’ll be selfish enough to enjoy every minute I get to spend with her. Whether she’s Elizabeth’s sister or not; she’s captivated me under her many spells.

            Chloe has two major spells that have lured me in; mystery and beauty. As mentioned before, her looks could capture anyone and keep them under her power. But the mystery behind her fabricated insanity is what really got me so interested. Every day I get with Chloe, I see more of a normal girl behind those fearful eyes. Every time she speaks with me, she sounds more comfortable talking than the last time she spoke. With every second of every day, she’s converting back into an old, normal girl that once used to be her main personality—before whatever it is that happened to her. Chloe is normal; I just wish I wasn’t the only one that saw that.

            During the entire movie, I wasn’t even paying attention to it. I kept my eyes on Chloe’s face, studying her every reaction. Watching her nose crinkle at some parts that were slightly gross, watching her eyes brighten as she laughed with the cued scenes. She was the base definition of pure; of beautiful. I couldn’t get enough of her.

            “Did you like it?” I asked when the movie ended.

            Chloe smiled, nodding her head. “I did. It was better than I thought.”

            I smiled in return, then went to pop the DVD back out and exchange it for a newer one. I put in How to Train Your Dragon, then went to get my seat next to Chloe. Of course, before I even got the chance to hit play, the front door swung open.

            Elizabeth.

            “Well, nice to see I haven’t missed anything,” she snarled as she closed the door behind her.

            Instead of looking at Elizabeth, I kept my eyes on Chloe. She tensed, her body naturally going stiff with her sister’s presence. Her jaw clenched as she chewed her bottom lip, her chest rising and falling heavily. I’m dying to know why she’s so petrified of Elizabeth, but I don’t want to ask and freak her out even more.

            “Harry, I’m going to put my bag in your room.”

            I simply waved her off as I heard her footsteps trail up the stairs. Chloe turned to me, her eyes glossy as she inhaled sharply. “Is… Is she staying here?” she whispered, her lips barely moving with the words.

            Trying my best not to wrap my arms around her to comfort her, I nodded and heaved a hand through my hair. “Remember what I said about jealousy?”

            “How people are jealous of… me?” Chloe reminisced in disbelief.

            I nodded. “Your sister is nothing but jealous,” I muttered, then situated myself on the couch.

            Before Chloe had the chance to respond, Elizabeth was taking a seat beside me on the couch. Chloe surprised me by getting up and sitting in the recliner instead. I frowned at her absence beside me, but Elizabeth chuckled before leaning into my side. Doing my best to control the anger rising inside of me, I sighed and pressed play on the movie. Of course, things wouldn’t go that swiftly.

            “This movie is stupid,” Elizabeth announced as she sat up and snatched the remote from me, cutting off the movie. Chloe didn’t even move as she kept her terrified eyes on the screen.

            “Elizabeth,” I grumbled.

            Elizabeth smirked. “Let’s watch a horror movie.”

            Chloe’s eyes snapped shut as she pursed her lips together. That scared look of hers was enough to tell me she wanted nothing to do with a scary movie. Could you blame the poor girl? Her life is practically a horror movie.

            “I think Chloe and I were both okay with Disney movies,” I told her as I reached for the remote, but she tore it from my reach.

            “Well, maybe you should start doing what your girlfriend likes, and not what your girlfriend’s sister does,” Elizabeth spat deviously, her eyes showing nothing but pure jealousy and rudeness.

            “Do you have to make things so difficult all the time?” I muttered as I continued to reach for the remote.

            “I’m not making things difficult, Harry.” Elizabeth’s sarcastic tone was enough to set me over the edge as I shot up from the couch.

            “Why are you so mean to her, huh? What did Chloe ever do to you to get hatred in return?” I asked, trying my best to keep my voice down as I felt Chloe’s eyes locked on me, completely intrigued with my argument.

            Elizabeth stood. “I treat her the way she always treated me, Harry. Get your head out of your ass and realize that I’m your fucking girlfriend. Not that whore over there!”

            My nostrils flared as my hands tightened into fists down at my sides. “Don’t talk about Chloe that way, Elizabeth. If anyone is the whore, it’s you.”

            Elizabeth gasped as she narrowed her eyes at me. “Is that how you’re supposed to talk to your girlfriend, Harry?”

            Sucking in a sharp breath, I realized this was my moment to say what I really wanted to say. I didn’t want to do it in Chloe’s presence, but Elizabeth opened the door for me I’ve been waiting to get unlocked.

            “You’re not my girlfriend, Elizabeth,” I murmured out, both Chloe and Elizabeth’s gasps filling my ears. “Not anymore.”

            “What the fuck did you just say?” Elizabeth hissed through clenched teeth.

            Just like that, the ticking bomb inside me blew up. “I’m sick and tired of the way you treat me, Chloe, and how you treat everyone. I’ve done my best to keep you happy, but nothing ever seems to satisfy you. Where’s that two-hundred dollar ring I bought you for our two year anniversary, huh? Oh, right. You fucking sold it! And where are those designer boots I got you because you so desperately needed them? You traded them for a newer fucking pair. I’m sick of this, Elizabeth. I’m exhausted. I can’t keep doing this unhealthy relationship with you. All we do is fight, fight, fight. Where’s that girl I fell in love with two years ago? Where’s the girl that used to be the kindest person I ever met? What happened to that girl? Because that’s the girl I want to be with. Not this one.”

            After my little rant, my chest was heaving in large breaths as I paced the room mindlessly. Elizabeth stared at me in pure anger, but Chloe was looking at me in something I’ve started to see a lot in her; admiration. She hardly ever looks at me like that, but when she does, I swear I feel my entire body tingle. I’d do anything to keep her looking at me with such adoration. I’d do more for her than I would for Elizabeth. Why? Because Chloe deserves it; Elizabeth does not.

            To my surprise, Elizabeth let out a humorless laugh. “I get it now. You’re breaking up with me because you’ve got your fucking eyes set on my sister. Guess what, Harry? There’s no way you can date a psychopath. Have fun with insanity,” Elizabeth hissed before storming out of the house, slamming the door behind her.

            Leaving me pissed and Chloe silent.

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