Sorry for the lack of updating! I've been sick >_< Enjoy<3

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Chapter 4 – Chloe's P.O.V.

            My eyes fluttered open to the sunlight seeping in through the blinds. My curiosity went wild as I realized I had no nightmares last night. I always have a nightmare. Every single night it's either something new, or the same haunting dreams as always. But my fear only picked up when I felt a large arm snaked around my waist, my head on a solid and bare surface. My eyes grew huge as my heart pounded erratically in fear against my ribcage. I shot up from the bed, my skin paling.

            Harry sat up in alert. "Are you all right, Chloe?" he asked, his British accent rougher from sleep as he squinted at me through the light.

            I stayed quiet, not being able to form words as my breath hitched in my throat. I looked down at the bed I was just lying in, then at Harry who I was just miraculously cuddling with. My eyes trailed over his bare torso, seeing his left arm was nearly filled with tattoos. Two birds swopped inwards on his chest while a butterfly sat in the middle of his abdomen. I tore my gaze away nervously, slowly backing up as I raked a shaking hand through my hair.

            "Chloe...?" Harry trailed off slowly, looking at me with concern as he rubbed sleep out his beautiful emeralds.

            My chest rose and fell rapidly at the realization of cuddling with a stranger hit me. It was never intended, but I have the faintest memory of asking for him to lay with me. Or had I dreamt it and he actually hurt me?

            Harry's eyes scanned over my pale face before he sighed slightly, standing from the bed. "I didn't hurt you, Chloe," he said quietly, as if reading my mind. My eyes trailed up to meet his sincere ones, my heart melting at how truly sympathetic he was towards me. Any other person would've sent me back to the institution by now. "Don't you remember what happened last night?" he asked softly, standing in his spot.

            I stared at him, swallowing the lump in my throat as I merely shook my head. I remembered bits and pieces, but I needed to make sure my memory was correct. The slightest trust bond was forming towards Harry deep inside me, but I didn't need to start trusting someone I hardly knew. I've learned my lesson.

            Harry nodded, running his fingers through his disheveled hair. "Last night you... well, you attempted to, erm, kill yourself, Chloe," he said gently. "After I got you down, you kind of broke into tears and asked me to stay with you. I did, but then you woke up saying you were scared, and you asked me to lay with you. Do you remember that?"

            My eyes fell to the floor as the previous night slowly came back to me. I was never fully asleep, but the taunting voices were rolling through my ears. I remember feeling alone, even with Harry's presence beside me. I was speaking half asleep when I asked him to lay with me, but as soon as the bed dipped beside me, I remember the voices had stopped. It was this true miracle of relief when Harry laid down beside me, and his presence made me feel oddly safe and comfortable. It's a weird feeling for me to feel, especially since I hardly know the boy.

            "Do you remember, Chloe?" Harry asked gingerly, his kind eyes still twinkling at me in concern.

            Slowly, I nodded my head, but then my eyes widened in fear. I jerked my head to look up at him, my throat going dry.

            "What's wrong?" he asked urgently, taking an inch towards me but I stepped back. "Chloe, please. You have to use words."

            I pursed my lips together, my mind wandered in all different directions as I managed to croak out, "Elizabeth."

            Harry scoffed at the name, folding his arms tightly across his bare chest. "Elizabeth left yesterday after you came in here." He sighed, turning to look at me with pure empathy. "She hasn't talked to me since, but don't worry. It's not like we did anything..."

            My heart skipped a beat at the thought, my eyes squeezing closed as I pushed the images away. I felt fingers brush against my cheek, glorious shivers running down my spine as I jerked my head up in alert. My eyes flew open to meet sparkling emeralds, a small smile painted on Harry's lips as he tucked the loose strand of hair behind my ear.

            "Are you feeling better?" he asked softly, his eyes never leaving mine as his hand fell to his side.

            I nodded my head slowly, but a sense of fear pinched my insides once more at the lack of touch. As weird as this was for me, I wanted to feel the safety again. I don't know why I felt it with Harry, but I did. Even in the short time I've known him, the simplicity of his presence just seemed to keep the voices away.

            Without even thinking, I grabbed his large hand, placing it on my cheek and closing my eyes as I soaked in the secure feeling. His hand was warm, making my skin tingle as he cupped my cheek. He seemed taken off guard by my actions, but his little sincere smile remained as he said, "Are you hungry?"

            I shook my head, my eyes still closed but then I felt his hand slowly slip away from my face. I opened my eyes to see Harry was still standing in front of me, but he was looking at me in concern. He pulled his lower lip between his teeth, his eyes racing back and forth between mine.

            "You need to eat," he said softly. "It's not good to skip meals."

            I bit my bottom lip, shaking my head. "I don't want anything."

            "Chloe—"

            "I don't want anything," I said firmly, my eyes hardening on his as the faint voices drifted through my mind. Even though they weren't as loud with Harry around, they were still there. Still haunting me.

            Harry closed his mouth, pursing his heart-shaped lips tightly before he gave out a sigh of defeat. Right when I thought he gave up, he quietly asked, "We could go out for breakfast, if you'd like."

            A small bubble of anger boiled inside me at his resistance to leave me alone, but I also felt the warm feeling of being cared for. Harry was truly trying to take care of me, and the fact that he doesn't know me only makes it all the more sweet. I almost felt guilty for getting stern with him, even though I didn't mean to. "I'm sorry," I said quietly. "Can we... Can we make pancakes?"

            To my utter relief, a grin stretched on Harry's lips. "Even with the mess from yesterday?"

            I bit my lip to hold back a smile, nodding slowly.

            Harry chuckled. "If thou wants pancakes, pancakes is what thou shall get."

            I pursed my lips together to keep from smiling, knowing the voices wouldn't approve of the small perk of happiness inside me. Harry nodded towards the door, motioning me to follow him and I did so. He led me down into the kitchen where he pulled the pancake batter out. He set the ingredients on the table as I observed carefully, watching his large hands make swift movements to open everything.

            "All right, love. The first thing to pancake making is to get the batter to perfection," he said.

            I looked up at him, my eyebrows etching together in confusion.

            Harry frowned. "Didn't you want to help me make them?"

            This time, I didn't care what the voices said. I let myself smile like an idiot as I nodded quickly, excitement gurgling inside me. No one ever let me help them with anything. This was a major step forward.

            Harry smiled. "All right, so you want to dump this in here," he explained, grabbing the large bowl and handing me the powder for the batter.

            I nodded, biting my lip in concentration as I took the bag of batter mix from him. I dumped it into the bowl, smiling to myself at the realization of doing something on my own. Even though it was as simple as pouring powder into a bowl, I felt like I just conquered the world.

            "What next?" I asked, my excitement getting the best of me.

            Harry grinned. "I like seeing you this enthusiastic," he noted, making my cheeks heat up. "Next you need to crack the eggs. Here, I'll help you with this because if you get shells in the bowl, they're pretty damn hard to get out."

            I cringed and Harry turned to look at me in concern. "Can you... Can you please not curse?" I asked quietly, looking down in embarrassment. It wasn't considered a swear word to most, but it was to me.

            Instead of embarrassing me for being nineteen and not cursing, Harry gave me a quick smile and nodded. I smiled back the best I could, then my lips parted in shock as Harry's hands cupped the outsides of mine. I was holding an egg in my right hand, Harry standing behind me as his arms wrapped around me. He held my hands firmly, explaining how to carefully crack the egg. Taking my right hand in his, he gently tapped the egg against the bowl and I watched as it split in half almost evenly.

            "See? Easy-peasy." Harry smirked. "You just have to be careful with how hard you hit it on the bowl."

            I nodded, but my eyes stayed glued to his hand cupping mine. As much as I hate to admit it, I like how his warm hands gently caressed mine in a soothing way. I know Harry is used to holding hands, but it's so different for me. No one has ever bothered to go out of their way to nurture me, so I'm definitely soaking in this time I'm getting with Harry. I might've asked him absent-mindedly to lay with me last night out of fear, but the sudden and strange urge to lay with him every night is slowly rising inside me. The way his arm wrapped protectively around my waist kept replaying in my mind. I could still feel his warmth; his protection. It was something I wanted to get used to.

            But like always, all fun has to come to an end. As Harry and I started getting into a flour fight, both of us laughing obnoxiously, someone interrupted by clearing their throat. And much like yesterday when the pancake flipping incident occurred, Elizabeth stood in the doorway.

            Fear shot all the way through me, completely overwhelming my senses at her stern glare.