Crys' POV

"Here you go, Harv." I say as I hand him a beer with a smile.

"Thanks Crys. I really don't know why I still come out with those brothers of yours." He chuckles while rolling his eyes.

"Well, that's because you just need an excuse to spend time with me. Duh!" I say with a straight face eyeing Harv in mock suspicion.

Only a moment passes before we both crack up at the same time, laughing so hard that tears form.

"Well you are good company. Plus I get to make song requests, having an inside woman is handy." He says like he has all the connections. I can't help but shake my head at him.

Harv and I have become close over the recent weeks. A month has passed since the first request to see my uncle and Harv stayed with me. Yes, first request. It's happening more often too, and every time, I relive one of my memories of him that night.

Harv hears my screams most times, since his room is next to mine, and comforts me like he did the first time. He hasn't asked what they're about and I haven't explained it, though he will always offer to talk. He seems to understand that it was traumatic and doesn't push me for details.

With his work at the gym and my brothers dragging him to the bar, we spend a lot of time together and have become good friends. There's just something about him that makes me feel safe and actually myself. Perhaps it's our lack of interest in a new partner, or that we have helped each other when we needed it.

"Crys! My darling, we're quiet tonight. Why don't you jump over to the other side of this bar and have a drink with Harv? My treat, sweety." Dave says with a wink, while pouring me a beer.

"You don't have to twist my arm. Thanks." I grab my things from the safe before taking the seat next to Harv.

"How is it he can find every good looking person in this place?" Harv laughs as we eye Jeremy.

"It's a gift. I'm just glad they don't come home. We'd never get sleep." I shudder at the thought.

"James doesn't do too bad by the looks of it either." He points to James with a good looking red haired woman under his arm.

"It must be a twin gift." Looking at Jeremy closer, I can't help shaking head with a chuckle."Unbelievable! Jeremy gets more hot guys than I do!"

Harv and I crack up laughing, causing the boys to glance at us curiously. We simply wave them off before they go back to their latest flings.

We get lost just having a laugh or complaining about the classes we have right now. It's not until an unfamiliar voice cuts into our conversation that I even notice how much time has actually passed by.

"Hey gorgeous. Want to come home with a real man tonight?" The slurry voice interrupts our good mood.

Turning to see a tall man with black hair and almost blue eyes, they're really closer to grey though. I've seen him at college before, he doesn't have classes with me but the same lunch time, I think.

"Move on, Parker. She's not interested." Harv cuts in before I could reply. I was about to say I can speak for myself but he looks annoyed by this guy's mere presence.

"I think this sexy thing, can speak for herself, Anderson." He spits out.

What is with these two?

"Okay, Parker. You're right, I can speak for myself. I'm not going home with you tonight." I say trying to at least be nice about it. Though given the quantity of drinks I've had, I'm sure some of my annoyance cuts though.

"I'm better than Anderson here, love. Satisfaction guaranteed." He leans in and winks as if he's so smooth.

Gawd, his breath is bad though.

Harv tensed his jaw and his fists are clenched. What is with these two? As I walk towards Parker, Harv seems almost hurt by the thought that I'm going off with him.

I get I'm a tad drunk but I'm not that bitchy!

"I highly doubt you could out do the satisfaction I get from the sex god that I'm drinking with tonight. Perhaps you should try hitting on available woman instead." I whisper in his ear, before patting his shoulder and walking back to a stunned Harv's side.

"Bullshit! He's too busy being hung up on that babe Chloe to even be able to even get it up." He scoffs.

What. A. Prick.

I don't know what came over me, maybe it was the alcohol or maybe wanting to prove this jackass wrong. Closing the distance between us, I stand between Harvs legs and grab the collar of his shirt in my fist. Pulling him towards me, I plant my lips onto his.

It takes Harv a moment to snap out of his shock, before his soft lips move with mine. I feel his tongue gently run along my lip for before I surprise both of us and allow him in. His hands grip my hips, while his thumb rubs the skin above my jeans. My hands slip into his luscious locks, I can't even pretend I haven't had the urge to do this. Honestly, I feel myself getting a bit turned on by it all.

Before I can overthink it, we pull back for much needed air. We stay like that a moment to slow our breathing down, before Harv whispers a quiet "Thank you."

Looking over to Parker, who has his mouth gaping at us, I pull Harv up by his hand gently. Making sure to entwine our fingers and stand close to him.

"I think we might just go take this somewhere private. Don't want to go unsatisfied, do I?" I smirk at Parker before walking out with Harv being dragged behind me.

The bouncer hails us a cab before we start heading back home. The ride there was silent and as I start sobering up, realisation of how much I have likely just overstepped my boundaries dawns on me. Though he doesn't seem angry or annoyed, which is a good sign... Right?

When we finally enter the apartment, I expect Harv to keep ignoring me and go to bed. Instead once we enter the lounge area, he pulls me to him and hugs me. I'm shocked for a second before returning the gesture cautiously. I'm not sure how long we are like that until he pulls away.

"Thank you for tonight. I can't stand Parker, he always tries to make me feel like shit." He whispers while cupping my cheek. I'm not really sure how he took the kiss we shared, so I decide on staying quiet.

I had originally kissed him to make Parker get the hint, but also because I saw how Harv was taking in his words. I wanted to make a point that Harv didn't need to be swapped out for another guy, but the kiss got way more heated than I expected.

"He seems like a jerk. Plus I'd much rather go home with you over him." I said while glancing over his face, trying to read his expression.

"Don't worry Crys. I know the kiss meant nothing. I can see the cogs turning in your beautiful head. I guess I just didn't realise how much I missed that feeling." He tells me with sadness in his eyes, before pulling me towards our rooms.

"Did you get a call today?" He asks as we're outside my room. I simply nod, knowing high the likelihood it'll be a shit night.

He tells me to go get ready for bed before walking to his own room. After a brief moment of confusion, I go change into my PJ shorts and a loose t-shirt. After using the toilet and brushing my teeth, I lay under my comfortable blankets staring at the ceiling. Nights like this, I try to put sleep off as long as I can, but I suffer the next day.

Moments later, my door opens quietly before Harv pulls my covers back. I'm confused for a moment as he holds the hand of mine that's closest to him in his own large one.

"What are you doing Harv?" I chuckle quietly, as I roll on my side to face him.

"I know your nightmares and those calls are connected. I'm just taking a precaution." He smiles back at me before becoming serious. "Plus I'm hoping you might actually sleep, if I'm already here. You never have them after I come in."

I just give him a small smile and nod before closing my eyes and enjoying the company of my friend. The scent of his deodorant familiar and soothing as I grip his hand gently and slowly drift off the sleep.

○●○●○●○●○●

"What on earth is going on in here?!" James' voice booms into my room, making me jump out of my skin.

I hear a *thud* and realise Harv fell out of the bed. Looking over the bed, he waves me off before sitting up. I chuckle at his confused face before I remember how we were woken.

Shit.

Slowly looking towards the doorway, I see an annoyed James and confused Jeremy eyeing Harv and I.

"Care to explain, Crystal?" James grumbles. I know he's pissed off when he says my full name. After our parents died, he took the role of mature adult and sadly the full name calling started too.

"Well, umm."

Shit. Shit. Shit.

"Harv, what the hell? She's our sister!" James almost yells.

"It's not his fault." I mumble knowing I have to explain it to them.

"Explain it, Crys." Jeremy says calmly, always being the more relaxed of the two.

"I keep getting called about Michael requesting a visit. I can turn them down easy enough, they don't push me. I'm thinking about even going, just to see what he wants and stop the calls." I tell them with my hands picking at the loose thread on the blanket.

"They've called us a couple of times too, but always request you come too." Jeremy informs me and I'm not really surprised.

"What does that have to do with Harv sleeping with you? I get you're closer now but isn't this a bit quick?" James whines with a grumble to his voice.

I scowl at him while feeling Harv sit next to me for support. We're fully dressed for goodness sake...

"When I get these calls, I also get nightmares." I whisper the end part. "Harv has been hearing me and helps calm me down. Last night he offered to keep me company to see if I'd be okay. Just for the record, I didn't wake up for once either!" I scowl at him for my lost sleep.

"Why didn't you tell us Crys?" Jeremy asks sadly before sitting next to me on the bed and pulling me into a hug.

"I didn't want to worry you. They're just dreams Jeremy." I say as I pull back.

Harv holds my hand with a gentle squeeze when I start to feel anxious and they shake in my lap. James watches and glares at Harv for the action, unaware of how much I'm over thinking or how it's actually calming me.

"Smettila, James." I warn. (Stop it, James.) Seeing his glare hold strong, I sigh, knowing I have to tell them more about this situation.

"Cosa non ci stai dicendo?" He says while looking between us both. ("What aren't you telling us?")

"Are you two dating?" Jeremy asks to try and ease Harvs clear confusion.

"What?!" Harv asks shocked by such a question.

"I sogni sono ricordi di Michael. Harv mi sente urlare e mi sveglia. Smettila di guardare James, mi stava aiutando." I can tell Harv can guess what was said by the shock on the twins face. ("The dreams are memories of Michael. Harv hears me screaming and he wakes me up. Stop glaring James, he was helping me.")

"I'm sorry Crys. I just wish you would talk to us." James kneels in front of me with a sad smile.

"Sono per lo più delle scale." I whisper. James and Jeremy tense instantly. Despite the bullshit excuses, I didn't actually fall down stairs frequently. ("They are mostly of the stairs.")

"Why didn't you tell us? You were in hospital after that!" James almost shouts before pacing my room. I feel tears fill my eyes, knowing exactly how bad I was.

"James, enough." Harv says sternly, while I near break his hand as I watch the anger radiating from James.

He turns to respond before he sees my silent tears. Walking over he pulls me into his arms as Jeremy wraps his arms around me from behind.

"I'm so sorry, Crys. It's just... we almost lost you that day. And it was Michael all along?" He asks painfully with watery eyes.

I simply nod before both of them tighten their hold on me. Feeling a weight lifted that they at least know, I start to sob into their embrace. I hated hiding things from them but I hated seeing the pain on their faces more.

Maybe I need to see him and close that chapter of my life.

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Edited 03/07/2018

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