O.M.GOSH. Does anyone here like 5SOS? She Looks So Perfect is my jam, omg xD Sorry this chapter is a little shorter than the other, but enjoy<3

*VOTE. COMMENT. SHARE.* ;)

---------------------------------------------- 

Chapter 5 – Harry's P.O.V.

            Elizabeth stood in the doorway expectantly, much like yesterday when she walked in on my pancake incident. I noticed right away the way Chloe tensed beside me, her skin paling as she stared at her sister. There has to be a reason why Chloe always looks petrified to be around Elizabeth. I mean, it's her sister...

            "Hope you two had fun last night," Elizabeth sneered, giving us both an uptight smile. "Looks like I walked in on yet another moment of yours."

            I rolled my eyes, but didn't say anything. I knew if I said something, she'd twist my words and turn it into a dramatic argument. That's just how Elizabeth does things. Arguments are a way to give her power, and since I always let her win to shut her up, she loves having arguments with me.

            "Well, I'll be letting you two get back to whatever you were doing, but I just wanted to let you know, Harry... Finn is cutting our pay in half, due to budget cuts." Elizabeth flashed me a devious smirk, knowing that information about budget cuts would piss me off.

            My jaw clenched. "I'll have to talk to him tomorrow," I grumbled under my breath, my hand tightening on the edge of the bowl.

            Elizabeth nodded. "You will. And I hope you don't mind, but Chloe will be coming home with me tonight."

            The taunting way Elizabeth said it made Chloe tense all over again. I noticed how tight her hands were wrapped around the spoon she was stirring with. I glanced over at Elizabeth, only to see she was flashing Chloe devil eyes and a haunting sneer. I pursed my lips, curiosity sparking through me, but I managed to give Elizabeth a nod.

            Without another word, Elizabeth—my so called "girlfriend"—was out the front door. Silence filled the kitchen as Chloe did nothing but breathe heavily and squeeze the spoon handle.

            "Are you all right?" I asked quietly, hoping to get the slightest head nod or something from her. I've realized she doesn't like to talk too much.

            Chloe hesitated, then shakily nodded her head at me.

            I gave her a faint smile, nodding in return. She gave me the spoon, but right when I was about to ask her if she wanted to help me still, she shook her head. I frowned as she slid into a barstool, her skin still pale as she twiddled nervously with her thumbs. Something is clearly wrong with her. Fear was evident in her brown eyes.

            "Are you afraid?" I questioned, my voice still low as if speaking too loud would frighten her. I had to be careful. I wanted this girl to trust me.

            Chloe didn't answer.

            "It's okay to be afraid, Chloe," I told her, even though I wasn't sure what she was scared of. "Are you afraid?"

            Chloe bit her lower lip furiously, then slowly nodded her head.

            I frowned. "What are you afraid of?"

            Chloe didn't answer for a long moment, but right when I was about to ask again, to assure her she can trust me, she choked out, "Her."

            "Her?" I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. "Elizabeth?"

            Chloe nodded, her eyes glued to the floor.

            "What has she done to make you afraid of her, Chloe?" I asked calmly, but I could feel anger bubbling inside me. Elizabeth has always been two-faced.

            Chloe opened her mouth to speak, but then abruptly pursed her lips together. Her eyes trailed up to meet mine, screaming she was worried for some odd reason. Again, she shook her head in refusal to tell me.

            I sighed, raking my fingers through my hair then set my palms on the counter. "You can tell me, Chloe. I promise you can trust me."

            Chloe stared at me a long moment, chewing her bottom lip anxiously. Finally, she whispered, "She's hurt me."

            "How?" I asked softly, still trying to keep ahold of my sanity, even though I wanted to run to Elizabeth and scream at her for being a shitty sister. Hell, even for being a shitty girlfriend.

            Chloe merely shrugged, still hesitating. "Different ways," she said quietly. "She never liked me too much. No one really does."

            I frowned. "I like you," I told her. Her head snapped up at this, her eyes welling with hope. I smiled. "I think you're a pretty nice person, so far."

            A smile slowly stretched on Chloe's lips. "I-I am?"

            I smiled, nodding. "Of course. You've done nothing heartless or inconsiderate since I've met you. People that don't like you, Chloe... Well, those people tend to just be jealous."

            "Jealous of what?" Chloe asked, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "I-I'm... I'm a freak."

            I frowned at her choice of words, shaking my head. "Chloe, you aren't a freak. You're just different and you see things in a different way. That doesn't make you a freak. And well, those people are jealous because they aren't as beautiful or sweet as you. Jealousy is the number one problem with society. It makes people rude and arrogant, but people should be more like you."

            Chloe's eyes widened. "Y-you mean that?"

            I smiled, nodding.

            Chloe bit her lower lip as she whispered, "Thank you."

            Silence filled the air once more as I placed the pancakes in the pan, listening to them sizzle. I don't know why I have such an interest in this girl I just met. Of course she's gorgeous. Anyone a mile away can see that. But there's something about her that just intrigues me. Maybe it's because I stopped her from committing suicide last night, or maybe it's the way her small body cuddled into my side. I smiled at the memory. Holding Chloe was different from holding Elizabeth. Chloe was warm, her skin soft and smooth against mine. Elizabeth was always cold; inside and out. She never hung onto me like Chloe did. Almost like she didn't want to be near me. But Chloe... even though she doesn't like touching, she hung onto me last night like she was scared to let go. Like I was the only thing keeping her alive. And maybe I was.

            An idiotic grin stretched on my lips at the thought of being an actual hero. I wouldn't mind being Chloe's hero.

            "Harry?" Chloe's soft voice broke the silence from behind me.

            "Hmm?" I hummed, not turning around as I starting moving the pancakes onto plates.

            "A-are you... Are you going to make me go back with her?" she whimpered out, sounding on the verge of tears.

            This caught my attention as my eyebrows furrowed. I turned to face her, slightly shocked when I saw tears brimming her eyes. "Is that what you're afraid of?" I asked softly, my eyes scanning over her flawless face.

            Chloe bit her lip, nodding.

            I pursed my lips in thought, then raked my fingers through my disheveled morning hair. "Chloe, if you are scared to go back there, maybe I can talk to Elizabeth about letting you stay here again."

            Chloe's face lit up. "Y-you'd let me stay again?"

            I managed a weak smile. "If you don't want to go, I won't make you. Just know that I do have work in the morning..."

            A smile stretched on Chloe's lips. Taking us both off guard, she leapt from the barstool and walked around the counter, swinging her arms around my neck. I was completely taken aback, but then my arms snaked around her waist. It almost felt natural to hold Chloe this tight, and I couldn't help but think that I wanted this to be a normal thing. I wanted to hold her... often.

            "Thank you, Harry," she whispered into my neck.

            "Of course," I told her, my mind wandering as to why she was so afraid to go home. I know their father is abusive, but she almost seemed frightened for something more than that. Like being abused wasn't her only fear.

         If it wasn't, what else was she afraid of? Why was she afraid of Elizabeth? How did Elizabeth hurt her? I don't want to overwhelm her with all these questions now, but I'll have to remember to ask them soon.

            Before it kills me.