HOLY BEEJESUZ YOU GUYS. This is actually a decently long chapter :D I'm so proud of myself, but you will find out why Harry is so nice to Chloe soon! *hint hint wink wink* ;P Enjoy<3

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Chapter 6 – Chloe's P.O.V.

            Whispering swirled around my head as I clamped my hands over my ears, refusing to listen to the words they were shushing to me. They only come around when I'm alone, and right now... I'm all by myself.

            After miraculously spending the entire day with Harry, he was taking a shower. I don't know why that boy seems to make these voices disappear, but when he's around all I see is his dimpled smile and emerald eyes. I don't hear the taunting whispers or feel the uneasy feeling in my stomach. All of those things subside and somehow he just lights my world. I met him yesterday, yet he's been kinder to me than anyone in the rehab institution. He's been kinder than my own sister, for Christ's sake.

            I don't know why Elizabeth hates me. I don't know why father hates me. All I know is that my mother cared deeply for me. They both tell me countless times that she died giving birth, but then why do I see a fragile woman in my dreams occasionally? Why do I picture soft, sun-kissed skin and dark brown hair cascading down a pair of small shoulders? Why do I continuously feel gentle lips press against my forehead as she calms me, assuring me everything will be just fine? Do I picture these things? Are they a figment of my imagination? A wanting of a mother? Or are my own sister and father hiding something from me about the nurturing woman who birthed me?

            My screwed up mind wanders back to the curly haired boy. Does he have a mother? Where is she? Does he have siblings that look at him as if he where the Devil himself? Does he get the same kind of oblivious treatment I do? Or does he have a family to envy? A kind, gentle, and loving family that treasures him like the world? I pray he has the dream family, just because he deserves that kind of respect.

            He's given me so much in so little time.

            A hand is placed on my shoulder, making me jump ten feet in the air as a squeal escaped my lips. I'm more than relieved to see it was only Harry as he gives me a warm smile, his green eyes glittering with kindness.

            "I didn't mean to scare you, love," he said softly as my hands slowly lower from my ears and clasp in my lap. "Are you okay?"

            Once again, his concern makes my heart melt into a giant puddle. Never has anyone ever cared about me so much as to ask if I were "okay."

            I managed a small nod.

            Harry smiled. "Good, so are you ready to go get some clothes for tomorrow since you're staying again?"

            My face dropped to the floor as my eyes widened, staring at him in disbelief. We were going to that house?

            Harry noticed my sudden mood change. He always seems to know when something is wrong, and I've hardly known him two days. "Aren't you staying again, love?" he asked quietly.

            I nodded.

            "Then what's the matter?"

            I pursed my lips, trying to find my voice as the figments in my mind shoved it down my throat. They didn't like hearing me talk. They said it was a shame for me to even have such an obnoxious sound produced from my vocals.

            But this was Harry.

            The boy who somehow managed to save my life last night, literally. The boy who I miraculously snuggled next to and got the feeling of security washed over me. The boy who agreed to let a schizophrenic psychopath stay another night at his home. His sanctuary. He always gets me to talk somehow.

            "Do... Do we have to go?" I croaked, immediately getting shunned by the voices as they began their whispering.

            Just as I was about to cover my ears again, Harry's deep and British voice made them magically stop. "Are you scared to go back there, Chloe?"

            Hesitating, I slowly nodded.

            Harry sighed and I feared he'd send me back anyway. I feared he'd grow tired of having to work around all my fears, and soon he'd give up and throw me away. But instead, he raked his fingers through his hair before giving me a small smile. "All right. How about we just go to the store and buy you some things, yeah?"

            "I...I don't have any money," I practically whispered, shamefully staring down at my twiddling thumbs.

            "It's all right, Chloe. I'll buy you what you need," Harry said genuinely.

            I'm completely bewildered by all his acts of kindness, but at the same time I couldn't be more thankful. This boy... This boy was something sent down from God. He was clearly an angel, specifically given to me to help me with all the struggles in my messed up life. If God sent him to me, I couldn't be more grateful. If God sent him to me, I only want him for me. Elizabeth doesn't deserve such a gentle soul, and she knows it.

            "I'd let you wear Elizabeth's clothes, but I don't think you want to walk around half naked," Harry murmured.

            My head jerked up at this, my eyes wide.

            Harry chuckled at my reaction. "Your sister likes to show off her... erm... cleavage, I suppose. Stomach and bum as well."

            My lips parted in shock. "S-she does?"

            Harry sighed, pursing his lips before nodding shamefully. "Unfortunately, yes, yes she does. She doesn't listen to me when I ask her to change," he muttered, clearly upset by her ignoring him.

            I don't know what washed over me, but seeing his face so low and dull brought a pain in my chest. Before I knew it, I was standing and walking over to him. Mindlessly, I grabbed his hand and placed it to cup my cheek. Harry seemed unsure of what to do as my eyes fluttered closed, a small sigh leaving my lips. Even if I have to find this gesture myself, it always seems to comfort me.

            "Why do you like this so much?" Harry whispered, not harshly but in a low voice to show he didn't really mind.

            I felt my heart sink at the previous dream I had when I was younger. I decided not to tell him about it, so I partially lied instead. "I don't know," I said in the same low tone. "The doctors never comforted me."

            Harry smiled, his left dimple cratering. "All right, now what's the real reason?" he chuckled light-heartedly.

            My eyes widened. He could see through my small fib? Was I that readable or did he have some sort of special sensor to see right through me?

            "You can tell me, Chloe," he whispered, his hand still cupping my cheek.

            My lips parted in shock when he gently rubbed his thumb across my cheekbone, sending glorious shivers running down my spine. Without even thinking, I blurted, "I had a dream about my mother doing this to calm me down." My voice was so low, but so bold at the same time. With Harry's proximity, the voices didn't dare speak up. It's almost like they permanently vanished. For now.

            Harry's eyes softened as he stared at me. "I'm so sorry, Chloe."

            I merely shrugged, frowning when his hand slowly left my face. A vacant feeling flooded through me, one I decided I didn't like feeling. I've felt it my entire life, that large vacancy, but I hate it. I still don't know what it is about Harry, but he makes that vacancy go away. Two days with him and I already feel like I'm growing to be myself again.

            "Let's go get your clothes, yeah?" Harry smiled, grabbing his coat off the rack by the door. He grabbed a smaller hoodie, looking like it might be Elizabeth's, and tossed it to me. "You can wear your sister's jacket for now. We'll buy you one when we get there, but it is chilly outside."

            I smiled again at his concern, then pushed my arms through the sleeves and flipped my hair out the back. Harry smiled at me as we made our way out into the hallway, sauntering towards the elevator. I couldn't help how exposed I felt, my eyes frantically roaming over everything. My ears jolted every time a sudden noise sounded. I was absolutely petrified, but for no reason at all. It's like the open makes me this vulnerable person I hate being. But I can't control it.

            Harry pushed the elevator button down, my eyes still searching and inspecting everything carefully. I tugged my jacket further around me, hoping to feel a little more secure but it didn't work. I backed myself into the wall, feeling as if I cornered myself, it'd be easier to defend myself. Shadows formed from every corner, even in the bright hallways as my breathing picked up pace. I wanted to scream. I wanted to run back into Harry's apartment and stay there, curled up in the covers right beside him. I wanted him to hold me again while he gently twisted my hair and told me there was nothing to be afraid of. I wanted him to be my hero; my protector.

            Harry glanced over at me, his eyebrows furrowed as he saw how heavy I was breathing, my hands starting to shake. Right when he opened his mouth to speak, the elevator doors slid open, revealing the last person in the world I wanted to see at this moment in time.

            Elizabeth.

            A devious sneer stretched across her lips at the sight of us, her long legs carrying her into the elevator, the doors closing behind her. Harry tried to catch them, but he was too late as Elizabeth settled herself right in front of him. With my anxiety still pinching my insides, it only worsened when Elizabeth's tight smile turned to me.

            "I hope you're ready to come home, Chloe."

            Before I had the chance to even open my mouth, Harry said, "She's staying with me again."

            I was shocked at how bold and sure of himself he sounded, almost like he really wanted me there. I highly doubted that, though. There's no way a guy like Harry would want a freak like me. It's practically impossible.

            Elizabeth rolled her eyes, scoffing. "She isn't yours, Harry. She's my sister, and she's coming home with me."

            Elizabeth reached to grab my arm, my fear picking up as I instantly yanked away from her. I pressed myself into the wall in fear, hoping I would just float through it and get as far away from her as possible. I don't like confrontations, and I especially don't like it with Elizabeth. It always ends horribly.

            "You little slut, come on," Elizabeth snarled, her eyes narrowing in anger and frustration at me.

            "Don't talk to her like that, Elizabeth," Harry growled. "There's clearly a reason she's not going with you, and that's one of them."

            Elizabeth turned her death glare on Harry. "She's my fucking sister, Harry. I don't give a fuck if you want to fuck her twenty-four-seven, but I'll be damned if she stays."

            Harry's nostrils flared in anger as his hands balled into fists. He wouldn't hit Elizabeth, would he? "Elizabeth, quit talking like that. You're scaring her."

            Elizabeth let out a deep and harsh laugh. "Oh so now the little bitch is a five year old who's afraid of arguing?"

            "Please s-stop," I whimpered, tears welling in my eyes as I hopelessly watched the scene, my hands shaking.

            Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Shut the fuck up, Chloe, and come on before I have to drag you down the stairs."

            My eyes widened in terror, knowing for a fact that she isn't kidding. Harry may think she is, but I know when Elizabeth is threatening. That wasn't just a threat from her; it was a promise.

            "You aren't taking her anywhere, Elizabeth, because you're the meanest sister I've ever seen," Harry spat. "Chloe is on the road to recovery, not death."

            A tear rolled down my cheek, but I wasn't sure why. Either because of the arguing, the cursing, or the fact that Harry is standing up for me. Perhaps it's a combination of all three, but the last reason couldn't mean more to me. No one has ever stood up for me before, not even when I needed them most.

            "Harry, you better get your head out of your fucking ass, because that is my damn sister!" Elizabeth screamed, fury lacing her voice and tensed face.

            Harry didn't back down as he glared back at her. "Practice what you preach," he growled. His eyes flashed to me, instantly softening as he saw how truly petrified I was. "Come on, Chloe," he said softly, all the anger in his voice flooding away.

            I nodded slowly, my hands still shaking as another tear left my eyes. Harry outstretched his hand for me to take, my heart pounding loudly against my chest as I debated with the inner voices. My nervous eyes flickered to Elizabeth. She was standing with her arms tightly folded across her chest, a grimace of disgust clear on her lips as she stared at me. I looked back at Harry's hand, my heart taking control of the decision instead of my screwed up mind.

            Before I even processed it all, I was placing my small hand in Harry's, absorbing the secure feeling as his fingers laced with mine.

            Maybe he was going to be my protector after all.