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[the-fangirl-way]

Hey!💘 I know this is probably gonna be very annoying but I wanted to ask you if you could help me out. I just started this account and posted one of my writings (I write fluff, angst, smut etc.). Could you maybe tell your Harries to check me out? I’m sorry for bothering you with this, I just really want it to work out. Thank!🥺💘 All the love, Jasmine x🦋❤️

[the-fangirl-way]

solo harry / magazine covers

[the-fangirl-way]

6: Snow

When my alarm clock sounded the next morning, a low grumble made its way up my throat. It was Monday, and worse, Harry was downstairs asleep on my couch.

I forced myself to get out of bed, if I had it my way I would have stayed there all day under the warm blankets pretending that none of this ever happened and that I was back to my normal life before Harry Styles entered it and caused havoc.

The hardwood was cold as ice beneath my feet, the entire apartment always stayed cooler than necessary even with the heat on. I prompted for a quick ten minute shower to warm me and waken me for the hellish day I knew was to come; although it wouldn't be until I got my first caffeine fix of the morning would I truly feel alive.

I quickly got dressed dismissing the idea of looking decent today, it was Monday after all, pulling my hair up into a tight bun on my head and pinching my pale lifeless cheeks to give myself some color, England really was turning me into a ghost with the constant overcast.

I stepped out into the hallway and instantaneously my nostrils filled with the delightful scent of coffee beans, which meant two things, there was fresh brewed coffee, and Harry was awake downstairs.

I retreated slowly down the stairs, with any luck he was already gone and had just made himself a cup before leaving. I noticed the blanket he had used the previous night before was folded neatly and the pillow placed on top on the coffee table, he had at least taken the liberty of cleaning after himself.

I entered the kitchen and unfortunately found him leaning against the countertop gripping a mug in his hand looking pensively at the ground, his face changing when he noticed me coming through the doorway.

"Avery, good morning, you look-"

"Thrown together, I know, it's Monday."

"I was going to say lovely, actually, although I do prefer your hair down if I'm being honest."

I felt a small blush creep on my cheeks but dismissed it as I brushed past him to grab a thermos out of the cabinet, one cup wasn't going to do today.

"So Harry about last night-" I started, pouring coffee into the thermos.

"Save it," he said and I turned to look at him. "It was nothing, I know, you were exhausted, no doubt still high on adrenaline from everything that happened; really no big deal."

Taken back from his cool demeanor and politeness I just nodded, happy that things weren't awkward.

"How's the uh, stitches?" I asked stirring in the cream and sugar.

"Fine, a little sore but nothing I can't bounce back from." Harry said taking his last swig of coffee before washing the cup out and sitting it in the sink.

"Thank you, by the way." He said running a hand through his tousled hair.

"For?"

"For letting me stay here last night, I know Devlin wasn't keen on it."

"Devlin is just, indifferent."

"She shot me a glare this morning before she left." He said chuckling and I frowned.

"She's normally very hospitable."

"Hey, for her to let me sleep under the same roof for the night was plenty hospitality for me."

"So, where are you going to go?" I asked taking the first sip of my coffee, the steamy liquid arousing a little bit of life within me.

"Not entirely sure yet, I figured I'd walk around for awhile until I figured it out."

There it was again, the pang of guilt that I should not be feeling for Harry but yet, there it was. He was being so nice this morning, a huge shift from his normal cocky attitude, I guess that was another reason I blurted out my next sentence.

"I'll give you a ride. I mean, is there somewhere I can drop you off at? I really would hate for you to have to walk in this freezing cold."

Harry shrugged and ran a hand through his hair again, a nervous habit I suspected.

"I guess you could maybe drop me at my fathers, as much as I'm sure he'll be thrilled to see me, there's a few things I need to discuss with him."

"Right okay, no problem where does he live?"

"In West Worth Manor, the gated community."

West Worth Manor, that was a big rich community, then again his father had to be wealthy with him being able to bond Harry out.

"Sure, not a problem." I said taking another sip of my coffee, heading towards the door.

"Just let me grab my things and we can go."

Harry followed me into the living room where I gathered my laptop, purse and jacket, checking my phone I still had an hour before I had to be at work, I liked to get there early and beat morning traffic.

I grabbed my keys off the hook beside the door allowing Harry to step out into the hallway before myself, locking the door behind me.

It was cold in the hallway, colder than usual. We boarded the elevator in silence.

When we got down to the lobby I noticed Harry smirking and I turned to see what he was looking at.

Fat white snowflakes were falling rapidly from the sky, and there was already a thick white blanket covering everything as far as the eye could see.

"Oh you have got to be kidding me." I said scrunching up my nose.

"What? It's just a little snow." Harry offered and I grumbled.

"I'm wearing heels, I'll break my neck!"

"Well why don't you go change?" He suggested and I shook my head.

"No, I don't have time, let's just go." I said and he nodded following me to the door.

Outside wind whipped around while the snowflakes peppered down fast and heavy, my nose burned with the familiar tingling sensation, it did this every time it snowed.

"Right so where are you parked?" Harry asked and I sighed.

"Normally I park in the car deck but it was full when I came home yesterday so I had to park...there." I said gesturing to my car, all the way across the parking lot, which at the moment was a frozen tundra of ice, a death trap waiting to happen.

"I can pull it around if you'd like?" Harry offered and I shook my head.

"No, no, I can do it." I insisted and he shrugged.

I hitched my bag up over my shoulder and started slowly but surely across the parking lot, if I didn't know any better I'd say I was ice skating all over again. The thin layer of ice hidden under the snow showed no mercy on me or my heels, and I almost ate the dust quite a few times, but; somehow successfully I had made it to my car.

"Okay, now I'll get in and-" I started to say when I lost my footing on a patch of particularly slicker ice.

"Avery!" I heard Harry's voice shout.

"Harry?" I said blinking up at him, the snow was falling rapidly against my face and it was bright, too bright, Harry's face looked concerned as he was peering down at me, his cheeks and nose rosy red from the chill biting at them, snow flakes peppering his hair, he looked adorable.

"Are you okay?" He asked and I nodded.

"I'm, I- ow!" I shouted suddenly, pain shooting up my elbow into my arm.

"I think, my arm-"

"You're laying on it weird, you landed on top of it, can you move it?" He asked and I very gingerly tugged at my arm beneath me and a whole new wave of pain skyrocketed through it.

"SHIT!" I yelled out and he raked a hand through his hair.

"I bet it's broken."

"Damn it, damn it, damn it."

"Here, we need to go to the hospital and get it looked at." Harry stated and I felt his arms under me again.

"I'm going to lift you, it's gonna hurt but I have to okay?" He asked and I sighed.

"Fine."

I felt him tug on my body and there was the shock of pain searing through my arm like white hot iron.

"Fuck!"

"Wow, someone's got a potty mouth." Harry joked and I shot him a glare.

"Sorry."

"Just hurry up." I whimpered and he opened the car door and with as much gentleness as he could, slid me into the passenger seat.

"Keys." He said holding out a hand and I reluctantly fished them out of my bag and handed them to him.

He stalked around to the other side and slid in smoothly, putting the key into the ignition my car roared to life.

"Nice car, what model is this?" He asked inquisitively.

"Harry." I grumbled.

"Right, sorry."

***

I broke my arm in two places, the doctor put me in a cast against my many attempts to talk him into just putting it into a brace, or a sling. He also took me out of work for a week to let it heal, all in all this Monday could have gone better.

"How do you feel?" Harry asked, the painkillers the doctor had prescribed me had started kicking in and at the moment I didn't feel any pain.

"Not bad, pretty good, kinda hungry."

He chuckled and turned on the radio, Crazy by Aerosmith was playing.

"Aerosmith huh? Classic rock fan?" He asked smirking and I nodded.

"Yeah, so? Problem?"

"No problem." He said shaking his head, it was at the end of the song and surprisingly enough he knew all the words.

The beginning chords of the next song made him turn and look at me.

"Wham? What kind of CD is this?" He asked as "Careless Whisper" began filling the car.

"A burnt CD, really old actually, Dev burnt this one for me on my eighteenth birthday, Eighteen And Life is on this one, and there's another one up there," I said gesturing to my CD case attached to my visor, "That has "Seventeen" By Winger on it, she kind of always made CD's for me for my birthday every year.

"Hmm, thoughtful, I like it. How long have you known Devlin?"

"Since we were kids. She lived down the street from me and we rode the bus together, we've always been inseparable, we've worked our entire lives around each other." I said and Harry nodded pursing his lips.

"Must be nice to have a friend like that."

"Yeah, have you never had a close friend?" I asked and he shrugged.

"Not really, I guess Doug would have been my best friend growing up.."

I felt a knot in my stomach.

"Aw Harry I'm sorry-"

"Don't, it's fine, it happens."

"It shouldn't happen though, no one should have to go that young."

"You're right." He agreed and then promptly began to sing along with the music to avoid any more sad conversation topics.

Surprisingly he had quite the singing voice, it took me by surprise but I pretended not to notice, afraid he might stop if I commented on it.

Soon enough we were pulling up at my apartment and Harry hopped out, coming over to my side where he opened the door and helped me out carefully.

"Here," he said looping my arm around his neck for support, "Don't want a repeat of that again."

I nodded and he helped me back across the parking lot, the snow still coming down in quarter sized flakes.

Once inside he shook the free snow from his hair and I took notice once again to his flushed complexion, matched with his wildly kept hair and bright colored eyes he was handsome without a doubt.

Get ahold of yourself Avery, you're gawking, it has to be the medicine.

We boarded the elevator and I leaned against the wall.

"I'm sorry your day didn't turn out quite like you'd have wanted it." Harry said and I shrugged.

"I'm honestly thankful you were there, if that had happened to me by myself, I'd of really been screwed."

He shrugged and I heard the ding of the elevator as we reached my floor, the doors opened up.

We stepped off and I immediately froze, there outside my apartment door, clad in his uniform stood Tristan.

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harries

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hs1/hs2

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El Firulais es inmortal

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Harry via twitter (22/10)

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Disney Villains by Sveta Shubina

[the-fangirl-way]

5: Stitches

It had been about a week since Tristan had decided to stay with Devlin and I. He hadn't been much trouble, he helped cook and clean, he did laundry, it was actually sort of..nice.

But even through all of it, by the following Sunday when he was due to go back to work, meaning he'd have to go back home; I was secretly glad and tremendously relieved that there had been no sign of Harry since the night at the skating rink.

I was helping Tristan load his car, he had a few overnight bags and some odd and end things, mostly I was just out there to see him off.

The temperature outside had dropped brutally, it was down to sixteen degrees outside, the weather channel had been calling for snow any day now and I had stocked up on the essentials for a snow day.

I had been back to work Monday morning, reporting to Callahan about Harry's bail out, he was disappointed to say the least, having to call the DA and tell them that the trial was off until further notice, he had hight hopes that Harry would screw up again and land himself back behind bars; I wasn't so sure that he wasn't right.

Tristan shut the hatch on his vehicle and turned to me, flashing me a grin that I couldn't help but return. "It's too bad really, I enjoyed living with you for the past week." He said pulling me into him, kissing me on the forehead, I wrapped my arms around him, leaning into his body to get warmth, I was freezing.

"I know, I'll miss having someone to sleep next to at night." I teased and he nodded in agreeance.

"It's a lot nicer than cuddling a pillow I will agree." He said chuckling and I giggled and then sighed.

"Well, I guess I should get going, I have to unpack and do some laundry at my own house." He said rolling his eyes and I laughed.

"How about lunch tomorrow?" He offered then and I agreed.

"Let me know when you get home." I said and kissed him goodbye before he got in the car, I waved as he drove off.

I headed inside and Devlin was sitting on the couch messing around on her phone.

"Damn this game!" She said exasperated and I laughed.

"What are you playing?"

"Some bejewled game, I got bored, Tristan gone?" She asked turning her attention to me and I nodded plopping down on the couch beside her.

"Will you miss him?"

"Yeah, I will, but I'm glad to have our apartment back to us, having to share my bathroom was torture." I joked and she rolled her eyes and laughed.

"Better hope it doesn't get too serious or you'll be permenantly sharing a bathroom."

"It's not that serious yet." I said smirking and she rolled her eyes.

"Yeah yeah I know, you just now got to the sex part of your relationship, by this time five years from now you'll be engaged."

I smacked her on the arm and she laughed harder.

"I like Tristan though." She said seriously and I smiled.

"He's a good guy."

"He's good for you. He's just what you need." She said matteroffactly.

"Oh yeah? And how's that?"

"Well, he's smart, he's nice, he's attractive, and he's crazy about you."

I felt my cheeks heat up and I averted my eyes to the floor.

"Plus, he must be good in the sack as many times as I've heard you two this week."

I blushed even harder and she laughed harder. Just then we heard a knock at the door.

"I bet that's Tristan, he probably forgot something." I said getting up and heading towards the door.

I opened the door and on the other side, clutching his side, his white tee shirt torn and blood seeping through his fingertips stood Harry.

His eyes were wild and frantic, his hair was tousled and I didn't notice right away but he had a bruise forming on his cheek and his lip was swollen.

"Harry!? What the hell-"

"I've been stabbed." He said, his voice a lot calmer than his expression.

"Oh my God, we've got to take you to a hospital!" I said frantically and he shook his head.

"No, I'll be fine."

"Fine!? You've been stabbed!"

Devlin by this point had emerged from the living room, her eyes were wide and she was staring open mouthed at Harry.

"Why the hell is he here?!" She asked and I looked over at her.

"He's been stabbed!"

Her face changed from annoyed to serious.

"We have to take him to a hospital-"

"I already tried he said he didn't want to go." I said and she threw her arms up in the air.

"Tough shit! You've been stabbed, you have to go to the hospital it'll probably need stitches."

"I don't need to go to a hospital, do you have thread and a needle? Some rubbing alcohol would be good too and maybe some towels." He said, his voice gravely.

I turned to Devlin, she started to argue but decided against it when Harry coughed and more blood splurted through his fingers.

She disappeared into the kitchen and I helped Harry on to the couch.

"How the hell did this happen?" I asked and he started to speak but Devlin was back with the supplies he'd requested, handing him the alcohol first.

He lifted his shirt and I sucked in a breath, I had never been particularly queasy around blood but the wound itsself looked really bad.

It was about six inches across and was pouring blood like a spicket.

Harry carefully poured the alcohol on to the wound, sucking in a breath as he did so, squeezing his eyes shut.

"Son of a bitch that hurts!" He said through gritted teeth.

He applied pressure to the wound and then held his hand out for the needle and thread.

"You've got to stop the bleeding first." Devlin said looking at the already soaking towel.

"Do you have any cotton balls?" He asked and Devlin was on her feet again in a flash returning with a bag of large cotton balls.

He removed the towel and carefully placed five cotton balls inside the wound, the bleeding slowed down a little.

"Okay, let it slow the bleeding down and then remove them and stitch-"

"I know what to do." Harry grumbled and Devlin rolled her eyes looking offended.

"Sorry, I was just trying to help."

Harry shot her a look but leaned his head back against the couch arm.

"Harry what happened?" I asked, his eyes were closed and for a split second I thought he'd fallen asleep due to the pause between my question and his answer.

"Some guys down at the pub jumped me."

"What do you mean they jumped you? How many were there? Two? Three?"

"Six." He said and I gasped, six men?

"You're lucky you're alive." I said and he opened his eyes to look at me, the all too familiar Harry smirk poking out on his lips.

"You should have seen them."

I gulped, the feeling was back in my stomach, the feeling that Harry was dangerous and I should stay far far away.

"Why did they jump you?" Devlin asked with a knowing tone, Harry looked at he for a minute before looking at me.

"You didn't tell her did you.."

"I did, but Harry she's my best friend and she won't tell anyone, will you Dev?" I asked and Devlin shook her head.

"No, I won't." She promised, her eyes sincere.

Harry relaxed a little, seemingly satisfied with her answer.

"Langston was involved, he wasn't actually there but they were friends of his." He said and instantly I knew that the gut suspicion that this involved Langston was confirmed.

"Harry you have to go to the police." I said and he shook his head.

"No, they'll probably find some way to turn this around and make it my fault because they're still pissed that I got bailed out." He said wincing as he began pulling the soaked cotton balls out of the wound, the bleeding had slowed down by this point.

Carefully he threaded the needle and penetrated his skin and I couldn't believe my eyes as I watched Harry stitch himself up but yet here he was doing just that.

I noticed then all the bruises on his body, he had really took a beaten. I noticed all the tatoos too, they covered his torso like inky artwork, there was a butterfly and swallows, some weed looking things, several other tattoos laced up his arms and his hands.

He caught me staring and he cleared his throat making me jump and look away.

"They all mean something." He said and I looked at him quizically.

"The tattoos I mean, they all have some sort of meaning."

I nodded and Devlin cleared her throat beside me, I looked at her and she was staring back at me with an odd look on her face.

"There. Finished." Harry said tying a knot in the end of the stitch and cutting the access off.

"Right, well, okay then." I said and he sat up carefully, the skin restricting but the stitch holding nicely.

"Can I just ask where the hell you learned to do sutures?" Devlin asked finally and Harry smirked.

"It's among my many talents."

She rolled her eyes but then stood up, looking at me.

"Avery, will you come with me to the kitchen?"

I shot a look at Harry but he shrugged and stood up himself.

"I'm going to go wash my hands."

Miraculously there was no blood on the carpet or the couch, considering.

I followed Devlin into the kitchen and she started pacing, something she rarely did except when she was really upset.

"Harry Styles is in our home, he just stitched himself up, and now he's in our bathroom freshening up." She said and I nodded.

"Yes, and.."

"AND!?" She said raising her voice and I flinched.

"Avery he's a criminal! For God's sake he got stabbed doing God knows what and he shows up here for help!"

"I know, I know, but I couldn't just turn him away." I said defensively and she sighed rubbing her face.

"I know that, I wouldn't have expected you to.. but he can't stay here." She said and I nodded in complete agreeance with her.

"Tristan would have a freaking cow if he knew Harry was here." She said and as if on cue I heard the door buzzer go off and I froze.

"Oh this can not be happening." Devlin said exchanging a panicked glance with me.

I walked over to the buzzer.

"Who is it?"

"It's me, I think I left my phone charger there, can I come up?"

I looked at Devlin who was as pale as a ghost.

"What do I do!?"

"I don't know!? Why are you asking me!? He's your boyfriend!"

I inhaled and pushed the button.

"Sure, come on up."

Devlin ran over to me grabbing me by the shoulders.

"What in the hell are we going to do!?"

"I don't know, this can't be happening oh God I think I'm going to be sick." I said feeling vomit rise into my windpipe.

"Okay, okay, I'll keep Harry distracted, you get Tristan's charger and give it to him and make him leave!" Devlin said sprinting off to the bathroom and I nodded, get the charger, get Tristan to leave, got it.

I heard a knock at the door and I sucked in a breath, be cool, I had to be cool.

I opened the door, Tristan smiled a dimpled smile at me.

"Hey there you." He said and I forced the best smile I could back.

"Hey, come on in, I'll get your charger." I said bounding up the stairs.

When I got to the top I found Harry and Devlin standing outside of the bathroom.

"What the hell is going on?" Harry asked and I held my finger up to my lips.

"Shhh, Tristan's here."

His expression changed to aggravated in a split second.

"Oh for the love of fuck, I'm so sick of hiding from your police officer boyfriend I'm going downstairs." He said heading for the stairs and I grabbed his arm.

"Harry no please." I begged and he looked down at my hand and then at Devlin and me.

"Fine, five fucking minutes and then I'm gone whether or not Officer Shit Head is or not." He threatened and I nodded bounding past him into my room where I ripped the phone charger from the wall and raced back out the door, down the hallway past the two and back down the stairs where Tristan had taken a seat on the couch.

"Here's your charger." I said handing it to him and he stood up taking it.

"Thanks. Hey have you had dinner?" He asked pulling me into him and I put my hands infront of me pushing back.

"Actually, Devlin and I were just going to order some takeout and call it a night, I've got work in the morning." I said and he nodded, I thanked the lucky stars he didn't look upset.

"Okay, well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then?" He asked and I all but pushed him to the door.

"Tomorrow." I agreed and he pulled me into him giving me a sweet kiss that lingered longer than I expected it to and then he smirked.

"See you baby."

I watched him head down the hallway and board the elevator before I shut the door quickly, exhaling a breath that I had been holding in for the longest time.

"He's gone!" I shouted up the stairs and down came Harry with Devlin on his heels.

"You're quite the host." He said sarcastically and I rolled my eyes.

"This is the second time I've had to all but push him out the door because you were here!" I said and Harry rolled his eyes.

"Oh come off it."

"No Harry, you can't be here, you've got to leave and quit coming here, I mean it. I can't have you showing up here eventually someone's going to get hurt."

"If your fucking prick head boyfriend lays a finger on me I'll end him." Harry warned and I inhaled slowly trying to keep my cool.

"That's what I'm trying to avoid, now, leave."

Harry started to argue but was cut off by a coughing fit, he winced and placed a hand on his now bandaged up wound.

"Shit that hurts." He grumbled.

"You've probably broken a rib with all that bruising." Devlin observed and Harry shrugged.

"Wouldn't be the first time."

I wanted to question how many times he'd gotten into a fight before but I decided against it.

"Look," Harry said running a hand through his hair, "the reason I came here tonight wasn't just to piss you off or to get you to help me. I came here because I need a place to stay, I was staying with a friend but that didn't work out and I've got nowhere else to go as of right now." He said his eyes looking everywhere but my face, I could see how wounded his pride was by asking.

Devlin shot me a look and then Harry.

"Kitchen." She said and I trailed behind her leaving Harry in the living room.

"He's got to be fucking crazy if he thinks he can stay here!" Devlin said and I nodded.

"I know, I know.. it's just.." I started and she narrowed her eyes.

"Oh no, you're not actually thinking about letting him stay here are you!? Avery he's a criminal! He got fucking stabbed! He's nothing but trouble and eventually his trouble will catch up with him and he'll be here!"

I knew she was right, I knew that Harry was bad, he was a force to be reckoned with. Yet something inside nagged at me to let him stay just for one night, he had just gotten out of prison and the chances of finding somewhere to go right off the bat were slim.

I sighed pinching the bridge of my nose and screwing my eyes shut.

"Just for one night. After that he leaves." I said and Devlin's eyes bulged out of her head.

"You're kidding right?"

"Come on Dev, the guys been stabbed for Christ's sake. He's got nowhere to go."

"And that's his own fault." She said crossing her arms and I sighed.

"I know, and I know it's a horrible idea but I can't help but feel like we have to."

"We ain't gotta do nothing." She said sarcastically and I rolled my eyes.

"Don't be like that.."

"No seriously Avery, I'm not taking any part in this."

"Dev.." I said putting on my best pouty face and she shook her head.

"Oh no, that shit doesn't work on me and you know it."

"I know, but it was worth a shot. Just for tonight. Tomorrow he leaves and doesn't come back, if he does, I'll call the police myself." I promised and Devlin looked at me with uncertainty for a moment before sighing.

"Fine, one night. But I swear to you Avery if shit hits the fan I willl not take the blame."

"Agreed." I said and she rolled her eyes and sighed again.

"Come on, let's go tell the inmate he can stay."

Harry didn't argue when we told him that he had one night and then he had to be gone, if anything he looked a little relieved that we didn't give him the boot; although I'm sure he'd never admit that.

Devlin went to bed not long after, saying an awkward goodnight to Harry and shooting me a warning glare.

I stayed up a little longer to make myself a sandwhich and make sure Harry was comfortable before going to bed.

I took a seat beside him on the couch, allowing enough space between the two of us and began watching tv munching on my sandwhich, he hadn't said much since we told him he could stay and the quiet was unnerving.

Finally he spoke and I jumped a little at his voice.

"Sorry." He mumbled and I shrugged.

"You just haven't spoken in a while."

"Right."

I turned my attention away from the tv and looked at him, he was now shirtless and I was having a hard time keeping my eyes above his shoulders, his body although battered and bruised was undoubtibly one of the best looking I'd seen in a long time. It was firm, you could tell he worked out a good bit by his physique which was nicer than Tristan's, the thought alone made me feel guilty.

But it was more than the etching of his skin, it was the black ink swirls that splotched his torso, arms, hands and even ankles I noticed when he brought his legs up to him on the couch, he was a giant canvas covered in intricate artwork.

"I wasn't looking for a fight." He said snapping me out of my thoughts and I cocked my head.

Harry shifted, wincing a little when the stitches pulled and rested in a comfortable position for himself before speaking again.

"I was going to see a friend, I hadn't seen him since I got arrested, but as it turns out he was killed a couple months ago." He said, I could hear the sorrow in his tone.

"Douglas." I said and his eyes narrowed.

"Yeah, how'd you know that?"

"I had to invistigate his father, Mr. Tracey, it was his gun you had that night after all."

Harry nodded, and for the first time I could see him zoning out, no doubt going back to that night.

"Doug had given me the gun, I told him I needed one, he didn't ask questions or try to talk me out of it.. he was always a good friend, hell maybe my best friend." He said and I swore I could see tears forming in the ducts of his eyes but he blinked them away quickly.

"I never wanted to get Mr. Tracey in trouble, he's not in trouble is he?" He asked eyes wide and I shook my head.

"No, he's not. He said he figured that was what happened and told me he didn't want the gun back."

Harry nodded and ran a hand over his face.

"Mr. Tracey had always been like a father to me, even when my own father wasn't. After I found out about Doug, I went to Brigg's Bar, the one right off the point."

I nodded, I had seen Brigg's Bar but I'd never been inside of it, it was more a roughend type place, a place not for someone like myself.

"I got a few drinks and caught up with a bunch of old friends, well, more like acquaintances that I knew. I guess I drank too much, I've always been a mean drunk." He said scratching the back of his neck.

"I was on my way out and two guys I'd never seen before came up to me asking all these questions about Wesley, and Gemma.." He stopped talking, recollecting the thoughts, the words said to him about his sister that I was sure weren't pretty.

"I just, lashed out. At first there were two and then four and by the time it was said and done there were six of them all together, I didn't even realize I'd been stabbed until I walked away. I didn't kill any of them, incase you're wondering." He said looking at me and the tightness in my stomach let up a little.

"But I did fuck them up pretty good. Anyway, I knew I would need stitches but I didn't want to go to the hospital because they'd of called the police and I'd probably get arrested again for fighting, so I came here."

He finished his spew and we sat in silence for a few minutes.

"Harry I'm sorry this happened to you, to your sister, to your family." I said and he shrugged.

He got quiet and I thought maybe he was getting tired so I went to get up but he spoke again.

"About the tattoos.."

I turned and looked at him, he was leaned back against the arm of the couch.

"I take back what I said, they don't all have a meaning, but some do."

"Oh yeah?" I said cocking an eyebrow.

"Which ones?"

He went on to explain all about his tattoos, what they meant.

"And this one, this one is special." He said pointing to the butterfly on his stomach.

"And why's that?" I asked and a smile played on his lips.

"I like butterflies."

I laughed.

"You'd be surprised, it's location really."

"I know, I've got two." I said and he lifted an eyebrow and his signature smirk appeared.

"Really? Where?"

"Well I've got this one." I said holding up my foot to show him the small anchor tattoo on my foot.

"Okay, explain." He said and I giggled.

"Devlin and I got matching tattoos in college." I said and he nodded.

"Simple enough."

"And then I've got this one." I said moving my hair out of the way and struggling to move my shirt out of the way so I could show him the tattoo on my left shoulder blade.

My breath hitched a little when I felt his hand replace mine in holding my shirt down so he could see.

"What is it?" He asked, his breath tickling the nape of my neck he was so close.

"It's uh.. it's a deer." I said, finding it harder to concentrate with him breathing down my neck, literally.

"A deer?" He asked, his voice husky, huskier than it usually was.

"Yes.. I- I'm a bit of a Harry Potter nerd, it's my patronous." I said knowing how lame it sounded but he didn't mock or make fun, he didn't say anything for a few seconds, we sat in silence my shoulder still bared, holding my hair I could feel his hand still on my back.

"I like it." He said finally, his breath tickling my neck and ear sending shivers down my spine.

This is dangerous, abort mission now. I warned myself but I continued to sit there, frozen in place.

"You've got goregous skin." He said and I felt his finger tips tracing the tatoo, my heart began beating wildly in my chest, my breath becoming more erratic. I couldn't breathe.

I turned my head just a tiny bit and he was right there his face inches from mine, eyes staring into my soul.

His breath tickled my nostrils, it smelled of alcohol and faintly of mint.

"Harry.." I said slowly and his hand snaked around under my chin bringing my face closer to his, any second and our lips would connect, that's when it hit me.

I jerked back looking at him wildly, my chest heaving up and down, his expression never faltered.

"I- I have to go bed." I said scrambling to my feet.

I saw a small smirk play on his lips but he detained it.

"Goodnight Avery." He said as I walked past him towards the stairs.

"Goodnight Harry." I responded scurrying up to my room where I closed the door and flung myself on the bed.

I almost kissed him. And I wasn't going to stop myself either.

I kicked myself in the ass mentally and settled between the sheets, he was messing with my mind and I was so incredibly thankful he'd be leaving tomorrow.

I closed my eyes and rested my head against my pillow, his smell still clouding my senses.

I couldn't ignore the warmth that had spread throughout my entire body but I sure as hell wasn't going to act on it.

Or so I hoped. 

A/N: so if you've gone over to Wattpad and read this story on there you have probably noticed there are some things that are different that I deleted/added in on here because the story was written a few years ago and I am changing it as I go along if I feel like it needs to be changed. Eventually I will change it up on Wattpad as well, but for now these are gonna be the revised chapters. I hope you've enjoyed reading them as much as I've enjoyed writing them. Love to you all!

[the-fangirl-way]

4: Water

Seven a.m. always comes entirely too early, and sometimes, I oversleep.

When I finally did wake up it was going on nine thirty, my alarm clock had went off but I must've hit snooze, falling back asleep.

I groaned, sitting up in bed and stretching out my limbs in front of me.

Devlin had already been gone since seven and so I had the apartment to myself for the day.

I took a shower to wake myself up, the hot water aroused me a small amount, but it was the liquid gold in the mug I held between my hands that I was sipping on that fully woke me up.

After my coffee I brushed my teeth, then did my hair and makeup, I wasn't planning on going anywhere until tonight but it was Saturday and I wanted to look nice for myself.

I was settled on the couch curled up in a throw blanket, my laptop in my lap, another cup of coffee sat next to me on the end table when I heard a knock on the door.

My heart lept at the thought of who might be behind that door, but I answered it anyway.

Tristan stood behind the door, still in his uniform, his face paled and looking anxious.

"Tristan? What are you doing he-"

I was cut off by him leaping on me wrapping me in a hug that all but crushed my lungs.

"Thank God." He whispered burying his face into my hair.

"What's wrong?" I asked and he pulled back to look at me in the face.

"Styles got bailed out."

I felt the flutter of my heart at the mention of Harry but I kept my face cool, I couldn't let him know about him being here last night.

"What?" Was all I could manage to choke past my lips.

"He got out yesterday and no one in my fucking squad had the sense to let me know anything." He said fuming, his face burning with anger.

"Tristan-"

"No this is serious! His father bailed him out. Where the hell did he get two hundred thousand-"

"Tristan!" I said reaching forward to grab his shoulders, looking him the eye.

"Calm down."

"I will not calm down! He's out! He could have.. he could have came here. He could have found you and.." He trailed off looking at the ground avoiding my gaze.

I felt the knot in my stomach so powerful it made me want to vomit, he was here and I made Tristan leave because of him being here.

I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him into me.

"It's okay, I'm here, I'm here and I'm okay." I whispered and I felt him relax a little under my touch.

"I took the day off, I told the squad I was taking watch over you for the next couple of days in case Styles does decide to show up here."

My eyes widened.

"What?! Tristan you can't do that! You have work, I have work! Plus, you can't just stay here and keep a watch on me all day long for the next few days, eventually your sergeant will want you back." I argued and he rolled his eyes.

"To hell with him, if he can't respect me staying to watch over my girlfriend from a psychopath then he can fuck himself."

I felt my ears and face getting hot, he noticed it too.

"What?"

"You called me you girlfriend.." I said smiling and he smirked.

"And?"

"I uh, I just didn't know we were putting a label on our thing yet."

His smirk fell a bit and he eyed me.

"Our thing? Just because we haven't slept together.."

I sucked in a breath, the tension building between us.

"I didn't mean-" He started and I shook my head.

"No, I know what you meant."

He placed his hands on either side of my face.

"I like you, a lot. And I enjoy our time together, and I'm not seeing anyone else or plan on seeing anyone else so therefore I consider you my girlfriend. And I'm not going to let anything happen to you." He said and I sighed, he was so charming and handsome and sweet it was almost unbearable to know that I lied to him.

"Do you.. I mean.. do you feel the same way?" He asked, his voice stronger than he looked.

I thought about it for a second, and then nodded slowly.

Tristan had, other than Devlin, been the only consistent for me since I moved here, of course, our relationship never took a flirty turn until the past year, nevertheless he was always there to help me with cases or help me with trials or just be there in general.

"Yes, I do." I said finally and the smile reappeared.

He pulled my face into his, his lips were warm and soft and familiar.

I hadn't heard the door open so when Devlin cleared her throat from the doorway we both jumped away from each other in what seemed like guilt.

"Sorry, didn't mean to ruin the moment." She said smirking and I rolled my eyes.

"Devlin, good to see you again." Tristan said shooting a friendly smile at her.

"Always a pleasure Lennon."

"So what are you doing here?" I asked looking at the clock on the wall, it was lunch time.

"I'm on lunch, I didn't feel like going somewhere so I figured why not come home and make myself something? But if I need to leave..." She started eyeing the two of us.

"Dev." I said simply, telling her without so many words to shut her trap.

"Right. I'll just be in the kitchen then."

She headed towards the kitchen and I turned to Tristan.

"I'm going to go talk to Devlin about all of this." I said and he nodded.

"Just, make yourself comfortable."

I headed into the kitchen and found Devlin rummaging through the fridge.

"Hey Ave, do we have any more of those mashed potatoes from the other night?"

"I'm not sure, check under the shelf." I said leaning up against the countertop.

"Bingo!" She said grabbing a bowl of loaded mashed potatoes from the refrigerator and shutting the door.

"We need to talk." I said eyeing her and she nodded.

"Yeah we do, what were you and Officer Sexy doing making out in the living room? That's what the bedroom is for."

"Devlin.."

"Alright, alright. I'll stop. So what's up?" She asked popping a bowl of the potatoes in the microwave.

"Tristan's.. staying for a few days." I said and she lifted her eyebrows.

"Why..."

I thought seriously about lying to her, pretending the news of Harry were new news to me too but I couldn't lie to her, she was my best friend, besides; I had lied enough today.

I checked to make sure Tristan was out of earshot before I spewed everything, telling her about Harry dropping by, what he told me about Langston, and now Tristan's decision to stay.

"Wow Avery." Was all she could say.

"I know, I know, and I'm really sorry for lying to you last night but you would have freaked out and called the cops anyway and I just, I don't think Harry's a threat.. not to us anyway."

"And you didn't tell Tristan any of this?" She asked taking a bite of her mashed potatoes.

"No. I couldn't, if you had seen his face last night when I told him I couldn't go out, if he had known Harry was here he would have lost his mind." I said pinching the bridge of my nose, the whole thing was a huge disaster.

"Well, I won't tell him anything, but you better hope Styles doesn't try to show up here again."

I paled, I hadn't thought of him actually showing up again.

"Oh God, I hope not, he definitely won't be able to keep his mouth shut."

"Mhmm." Devlin said agreeing with a mouth full of food.

Devlin left about fifteen till one o'clock, she was working until five today.

Tristan was sitting on the couch, still clad in his uniform he was watching tv. I sat down beside him and he hooked his arm around me, I rested my head against his shoulder, the thought of Harry showing up here any second made my stomach turn.

"I should probably go home and get some clothes if I'm going to be staying here a while." He commented after a minute and I nodded, there was no talking him out of it.

"We could get lunch while we're out?" He offered and I agreed, getting out of the house would be nice.

We went to a small cafe, I ordered a water, Tristan ordered a tea and we shared some pizza.

"So, you're looking particularly beautiful today, any reason why?" He asked smirking and I giggled.

"Well, I have a date with my boyfriend tonight so I wanted to look nice but," I started looking around to make sure no one was listening, "He can't know I'm on a date with a handsome guy like you or he'll freak."

Tristan laughed reaching across the table to grip my hand, rubbing circles into my skin with his thumb.

"It'll be our little secret."

After lunch we sat and talked for a little while about Harry and his case, I brought up Langston to Tristan.

"The police missed so much on him, domestic abuse charges, drug charges, other various things." I said taking a sip of my coffee.

"I'm not surprised, from what I heard they only asked a small amount of questions, I'm assuming they just figured that when he said he didn't know anything that he didn't know anything."

I shrugged, I hated withholding the information that Harry had given me but I knew that I couldn't tell him for the sheer fact of him finding out that Harry had been to see me last night and I had promised not to tell anyone.

"Well," Tristan said tossing his napkin on the table and thumbing a five dollar bill out of his wallet to leave as a tip, "I would offer to take you sightseeing today but I hear it's not going to get out of the teens all week."

It had been chilly this morning on the ride over to the cafe, I had worn a pair of leggings and boots, a fleece pull over and a teal sweater my parents had given me for Christmas that I adored.

"So how about a movie? Or we could go shopping?" He suggested grabbing ahold of my hand as we walked across the parking lot, the bone chilling wind whipped through my hair feeling like it was going straight to my bones.

He held up the squad car door, he insisted he drive so I didn't argue.

"What about getting your things?"

"We can do that last." He prompted and I giggled.

"I think I have an idea."

**

"If I fall you promise you won't laugh and will help me up?" I asked lacing up the ice skate on my left foot.

"I can't promise not to laugh, but I promise to help you up." He said and I held up my pinky to make him promise.

We locked pinky's and he helped me stand up on both of my feet.

"I can't believe you've never been ice skating before."

"I can't believe you have." I shot back and he laughed.

"Just adjust your weight to both feet, don't rely on one side or you'll fall for sure."

He guided me out on the ice, the thin skate making me feel vulnerable under my own weight.

"Tristan!" I said stumbling a little and he laughed.

"Just relax, one foot in front of the other."

I watched him as he sped away, gliding across the ice with grace, he was a natural.

I gripped the wall and tried putting one foot in front of the other, left, right, left, right. Eventually I felt a little more at ease and decided to let go.

Tristan skidded to a halt near me and watched as I, very slowly, made my way toward him with wobbly knees.

"That's my girl! You've got it!" He said smiling and I felt like I had really accomplished something.

We skated around the rink slowly, I worried I was bumming out his groove but he never said a word. We locked hands and made several laps, laughing and squealing all the way, the squealing on my part.

When we came to a stop at the side of the rink Tristan offered to get us drinks and I agreed, the cool air making my mouth dry.

He disappeared and I pulled my phone out of my pocket checking the time, it was going on six o'clock.

I heard the voice before I seen him, and my head snapped up so quickly I thought I had given myself a slight case of whiplash.

He was gliding toward me, more gracefully than Tristan had, like a natural born ice skater.

He came to a halt right in front of me and I couldn't avoid his gaze, his eyes were locked on me through the crowd of people passing by.

"Avery, good to see you." He said wearing the same smirk he always wore and I rolled my eyes.

"Harry."

"Who are you here with? Let me guess.. Officer Numb Nuts?"

"Harry!" I said louder than I intended to, catching glances from a few passersby.

"Sorry, sorry, forgive me?" He asked poking out his lip in a semi playful way.

"Hardly." I said and he chuckled.

"You're good at this."

"Good at what?" I questioned and he smirked again, this time there was a gleam in his eye.

"Playing hard to get."

"Hard to get? There's nothing to get! I'm dating Tris- Officer Lennon." I scoffed and he rolled his eyes.

"It's only a matter of time, Officer Shit Dick has the personality of a wet mop." He said raking a hand through his tousled hair.

"Harry I can't be seen talking to you." I said quickly, realizing that Tristan would be back any moment.

"And why's that?" He asked, a devilish grin poking out on his features.

"Because, you.. just because." I said hastily and he laughed again only this time it wasn't as humorous.

"Whatever you say babe, but you'll realize soon enough." He said and then flashed a toothy grin like he'd won something.

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" I asked but I heard Tristan's voice behind me.

"I got you a coke, they were out of bottled water."

I froze, whirling around to face him as he handed me the bottle, his face cool as a cucumber but fading as he looked at my features, I'm sure I looked shocked or like a deer caught in headlights.

"You okay?" He asked, his face changing to concerned.

I snuck a peek behind me to find Harry was gone. I scanned the entire arena but there was no trace of him.

I looked back at Tristan and forced a nod.

"I'm fine, I just thought I saw someone I know is all." I said and he bought it.

We left the skating rink not long after that, it was going on seven and I was starting to feel a little hungry.

"I'll be quick." Tristan said unlocking the door to his apartment, he lived in a nice complex, nicer than the one I lived in.

He pushed open the door and I stepped inside, this was the first time I had been to his place, he had always came to mine before.

It was modern but clean, he kept it up that was for sure.

"Make yourself comfortable." He said shrugging off his jacket and hanging it in the closet.

"Want anything to drink?"

I shook my head and he nodded.

"Well, I'll be out in just a few minutes, here," He said handing me the remote, "find something to watch."

He kissed me quickly before departing to take a shower, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Harry was there in the skating rink with us today and then he just vanished in thin air. How was that even possible? I was silently thanking God that Tristan hadn't returned and found him there, I had no idea how that would play out but in my head it wasn't pretty.

This whole thing had turned into one big disaster, and I was scared to see how it was going to end.

I hadn't heard the shower cut off so when Tristan spoke from the doorway I jumped. He was clad in just a towel, hanging low off his hips, dangerously low. He was fit, he had to be it was part of his job, but his body was physically fit, ab lines sculpted in his skin, the towel hugged his waist the v line etched in his skin was a path leading to somewhere unexplored for me.

I tried to put together coherent words but they wouldn't come, the water dripped from his hair down his shoulders and biceps giving him a soft glow.

"I was just wondering what kind of place you were wanting to eat at so I'd know how to dress." He said, but his words didn't penetrate my brain for a few seconds before my mouth caught up with me.

"Uh, anywhere is fine." I said finally, my voice steadier than I felt and I thanked God for that too.

"Okay so casual?" He asked and I nodded, then shrugged.

"I suppose. Where were you thinking?"

"Well," he said moving closer to me, I caught a whiff of his scent, some masculine body wash but it smelled really good, "I have a few things picked out, look at them and tell me what you think?" He offered and I nodded, the realization that I would be going with him to his bedroom while he was virtually naked thumped in my mind.

His room was nice, as modern as the rest of the house but nice nevertheless, and clean. I always admired a man with a sense of cleanliness.

"I have this." He said holding up a blue polo shirt.

"Or this." He offered holding up a black button up.

"Or this?" He asked finally holding up a maroon colored button up with grey accents.

"I like that one." I said pointing to the maroon shirt and he nodded.

"That one it is then."

I started to leave his room but his hand reached out and caught my arm pulling me back.

"I had fun today." He said, his face just inches from mine, that's when the realization really hit that I was standing in his bedroom with him while only a towel separated us from his nakedness.

"Me too." I mumbled and he eyed me with a look of lust or adoration, I couldn't tell, his smell, his body, everything was clouding up my mind.

His lips caught mine before I could stop him, soft but rough at the same time and the heat wave that traveled up my spine and stabbed me below my stomach didn't go unnoticed.

We kissed passionately for a few minutes before he pulled away, his eyes going soft and slightly panicky.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have-" He started but my ears blocked out his apology.

"No really, it's fine." I said and I guess my body language was enough to give him the green light.

This is it. I thought to myself between kisses.

I didn't second think it, knowing if I overanalyzed it I would back down, and truth be told I didn't want to back down.

"Stop me now if you don't want this to happen." He murmured against my lips and my mouth left his, leaving peppered kisses along his jawline and down his neck to his collar bone, tiny droplets of water caressing my lips.

He pushed my back end against the bed and I fell backwards bringing him with me.

**

When I awoke I was alone, I sat up adjusting my eyes to the darkness as night had fallen through the curtains. I was still in Tristan's room.

I pulled back the blanket and felt around the floor finding my discarded clothes pulling them on before retreating to the living room where the tv was on and smell of takeout wafted through the air. Tristan was filling a second wine glass when I caught his eye from the doorway.

"Oh hey you, I was just fixing to come wake you. I ordered takeout, I hope you don't mind." He said and I shook my head.

"No, takeout is fine." I assured him taking a seat on the couch beside him.

"Cheers," he said holding up his glass where I clinked mine to it.

"Cheers."

We took a sip in unison, an awkward silence in the air. Tristan spoke first.

"Well this is awkward."

"Sorry.. thanks for ordering food. It looks good." I said leaning forward to open the takeout carton.

"It was good for you, right?" He asked timidly.

"What?" I asked sitting back.

"I mean, you don't regret it or anything right?" He asked and I could see vulnerability in his eyes.

"Oh no, of course not. It was good. Truly." I said and he relaxed a little.

"I just haven't, you know, in quite some time so I'm not sure how to act, you know, after.." I said and a smile broke out on his face.

"You're doing just fine." He said reaching over and placing a hand on my leg.

We finished eating, talking about work and the weather and watching tv, before I knew it, it was going on midnight.

"We should get back to my place before Devlin sends a search party." I joked and he laughed.

"You're probably right."

He drove me home and Devlin was still up when we entered.

"Thank God you're home I was about to send the fire brigade. Officer Lennon, keeping my girl out late, what were you two doing?"

Tristans face turned a crimson red and he said a curt goodnight before retreating up the stairs, Devlin's eyebrows lifted.

"What was that all about?"

"Nothing." I said and but she didnt buy it.

"Avery DeLaney don't lie to me, spill."

"Fine. Fine. We, uh, we kinda had sex tonight."

"What!? No way! How was it??" She said and I smacked her arm.

"Quiet! He'll hear you!" I scolded.

"Sorry! Was it good though?"

"Goodnight Dev." I said heading for the stairs.

"I'm taking that as a yes."

"I love you." I said not looking back and I heard her giggle.

"Goodnight Avery, love you too."

I got to the top of the stairs when Devlin shouted.

"I better not hear any noises coming from your room tonight!"

And I knew it was gonna be a long week.

[the-fangirl-way]

3: Blush

I stood there in shock, my mind racing, my heart trying to beat its way out of my chest.

"H-Harry, what..what are you doing here?" I finally asked, my mouth catching up with my mind.

"I got bailed out." He said casually as if we were talking about the weather rather than how he had gotten out of prison.

"Bailed out? Your bail bond was set at two hundred thousand.." I said and he nodded.

"Who..what..."

"My father bailed me out, are you going to let me inside?"

"Wha- I don't think that's a good idea-" I started but he pushed past me inside the apartment.

"It's freezing out there." He said plopping down on the couch.

"Nice place."

"Harry you can't just be here, in my apartment, I could get in trouble.. Oh God." I said realizing at any minute Tristan would arrive and there was no telling how he'd react to finding Harry in my apartment.

"Relax, I'm just here to talk." He said crossing his ankle over his leg.

"Harry no really, you can't be here." I emphasized and at that moment the door buzz went off again.

"Are you expecting company?" He asked raising an eyebrow. "Who is it?"

I ignored him and pushed the button.

"Uh, hold on one second." I said into the speaker.

"Avery? Everything alright?" Tristans voice asked and Harry's expression changed from a smirk to an irritated glare.

"Officer Dick Head? You invited him here?" He asked, narrowing his eyes. "Oh my God, are you two fucking?" He asked then and I widened my eyes.

"Harry! That's none of your business! You've got to go!" I said grabbing his wrist to pull him up but he protested.

"No, I want to stay, thank you."

"Well you can't stay!" I said irritated.

"You've got to- oh you can't go down stairs he'll see you! Hide in my bedroom!" I said pushing him to the stairs.

"You've got to be fucking kidding." Harry protested irritably.

"No Harry I'm not, you hide and I'll get rid of him." I said and in a flash his expression changed from irritated to cocky again.

"Okay." He agreed before retreating up the stairs.

My heart was pounding wildly and I couldn't control my breathing.

What the hell was I going to do?

Thinking quickly I pulled my hair up into a messy bun, ruffled my clothes and grabbed a blanket, wrapping it around myself.

"Come up." I said weakly into the buzzer and within seconds I heard a knock on the door.

"Tristan." I said opening the door and instantly felt like the worst person on the entire planet.

He was dressed in a nice button up dress shirt, a pair of nice jeans and boots. His five o'clock shadow was shaved and he was holding a bottle of wine with a ribbon around it in one hand, and a bag of takeout in the other.

"Are you alright?" He asked, his eyes filling with concern.

I wanted to go upstairs and punch Harry in the jaw for doing this to me, ruining my night with Tristan.

"I- I think I'm coming down with something, I've been throwing up all evening." I lied, hoping it sounded convincing enough.

His face dropped and I instantly felt a million times worse.

"Oh."

"I'm so sorry, I was going to call you about five minutes before you showed up." I said trying to sound sincere.

"No, it's fine. I understand, you can't help being sick." He said dismissingly.

"I really am sorry. I'll call you tomorrow?" I offered and he smiled a small smile.

"Sure, yeah, okay."

I reached up and kissed him on the cheek lightly.

"Goodnight." I said before closing the door, looking at his sad expression made me feel like the worst person in the world.

"That was touching." I heard Harry's voice from behind me, causing me to jump, he was leaned up against the doorframe smirking at me.

"I should kick your ass for that." I said and he laughed.

"Or you could kiss my ass.." He said flirty and I rolled my eyes.

"Why the hell are you here Harry?"

"I told you, I got bailed out." He said reinstating what he had already told me.

"Yeah, I got that. But why are you here?" I asked and he was silent.

"Harry seriously we are not in an interrogation, and I can call the police for you just showing up and inviting yourself in my house." I said, my voice more steady than I felt.

"I got evicted from my apartment." He said averting his gaze from my face.

"Okay? So go to your Mother's or your sisters or-"

"No one knows I'm out except my dad and I'd like to keep it that way." He said sternly and I sighed exasperated.

"Well then go stay with him."

"I would like to, only he told me I can't stay with him because he doesn't want a felon in his house the prick." He mumbled and a pang of guilt settled in to me but there was no way in hell he could stay here.

"That sucks, but you can't stay here, I've got a roommate."

"Ah yes, the spunky raven haired nurse." He said and I raised an eyebrows.

"How do you know that?" I asked warily.

"Relax. I got out this morning and saw you two coming out of Wahaca. I wasn't going to approach you on the street." He said walking over to take a seat on the couch again.

"How did you know where to find me?" I asked then.

"The lady at the library desk told me. What was her name, Doris was it? She was quite hesitant to give up your information when she saw me."

"You were following me?" I asked and he shrugged.

"I wanted to talk to you, but I knew you'd probably make a scene like you are now." He said gesturing to me.

"How am I supposed to believe you?" I asked cocking an eyebrow.

"Believe me, don't believe me, I don't really care." He said annoyed, turning his attention to the tv.

"Harry.." I said agitated, taking a seat on the couch, making sure to keep a good distance between him and myself.

"Save it. I came to talk to you about Langston." He said and my that held my attention.

"Now you wanna talk?"

"I'm not being surveillanced and video taped now.. am I?" He asked looking around the apartment warily.

"What do you think I videotape all of my guests and watch it back?" I asked and he shrugged, I rolled my eyes.

"So tell me." I urged.

Harry shifted in his seat to look at me, his expression going from slightly annoyed and smirking to serious in a matter of seconds. His emerald eyes locked on mine.

"You have to swear you won't tell." He started and my heart sped up again.

"Harry I'm a detective I-"

"Swear to it or I won't tell you a thing and I'll leave."

I wanted to know so badly why he had done what he'd done, but sitting here now in this moment I didn't feel prepared at all to find out the truth. And on top of that I couldn't tell Callahan, or record it, or they would file it on Harry depending on the information and possibly arrest him again, and then I would be his target. Harry was a pretty easy going person most of the time, but the fact alone that he had tried to kill someone made my skin crawl with fear of what he would do to me if I told.

"I swear." I whispered and he stared at me a minute before looking satisfied enough to begin.

"Wesley Langston was my sister's boyfriend." He started and I felt myself gasp before I could stop it.

"But, in the interview-"

"She didn't tell anyone except me. Our Mother didn't even know, hell she probably wouldn't have told me if I hadn't found her-" He stopped, his eyes leaving focus, his mind wandering to something in his memory.

"Harry.." I mumbled bringing him back to reality.

"He was an English major at her college, he had graduated two years before her and he was there for the study abroad program." He said and I nodded, urging him to continue.

"They started dating for about two months, she didn't tell any of us I guess because she didn't know where things were going to go and she didn't want him to meet the family and all that jazz if things didn't work.."

"One night she didn't come home, she always came home around midnight or so, she'd say she was out with friends when she was really with him. So that night when she didn't come home I went looking for her. None of her friends had seen her, I panicked worrying if something had happened to her so I called her cell phone. She answered and lied and told me she was at a friend of her's house but I knew that was a lie because I had already been there so I made her tell me where she was, threatening to get the police involved." He stopped, looking down at his hands.

"She was at a hotel, he was already gone when I got there, and I swear if he had of been there I would have killed him." He said through his teeth, I could see him seething, trying to calm himself thinking of the memory.

"What happened Harry?" I asked quietly.

"She was laying on the bed wrapped up in the blanket, she was crying and begging me not to tell mom. She had scattered bruises all over her face, her lip was busted open and bleeding, there was a gash over her eye that was bleeding.."

Harry quit talking, I could see the small tears pricking up in the corners of his eyes, he quickly thumbed them away.

"I took her to the hospital and they sewed the wound above her eye, I told her I would call the police but she begged me not to, begged me not to tell anyone about it and to leave it alone but she knew I couldn't do that, but at the time I promised her. We were released and she stayed with me for a few days until her face healed, we told our Mother that she was staying with me to clean my apartment and spend time with me, and when she asked about the stitches we told her she fell and hit her head on an end table, Mom never questioned it, Gemma had always been clumsy.." He said, this was the first smile he displayed, it was small, but visible. His eyes were puffy from the tears.

"After that, I sought out to find the bastard and do what he had done to my sister, only I knew it wouldn't do me any good except land me in jail, so I decided if I was going to go to jail for something I would make sure he'd never bother her again.." He said finishing his spew and I sat quietly, it was a lot to take in. I couldn't quite place the feeling inside of me, it wasn't pity or disgust, it was something along the lines of compassion. I would never condole killing anyone else but I knew deep down inside my heart that if that had been my sister, or Devlin I would have done the same thing.

Harry sat motionless for a few minutes and the nurturing side of me came out before I could stop myself, I scooted closer and placed my hand on his arm.

"I wish you would have told me before." I said and his gaze transfigured from the floor to me.

"I couldn't, I made a promise to my sister I wouldn't tell anyone."

"Yeah but Harry-"

"No." He cut me off.

"I promised. If I had told you, you would have gotten Gemma and my mother involved and neither of them need to be involved in what I've done, or didn't do." He said, his jaw clenching and unclenching.

I didn't say anything, instead sat still looking at Harry.

He looked a million times better than he since yesterday, the color in his face was starting to come back. His hair had been trimmed and was clean, I wondered if he had taken me up on my suggestion to get a good shower, I assumed he had by the clean clothes he was wearing.

All in all he looked.. good, considering. And he smelled good.

He smelled like irish spring or something masculine mixed with a subtle hint of mint. It was quite the intoxicating smell, but I wheeled myself away from the thought immediately, dangerous territory.

Finally after what seemed like ages I spoke.

"Harry, you can't stay here, I'm sorry but you can't."

He didn't argue or even look upset he just shrugged.

"I didn't think so."

"I'm sorry, if it weren't for the circumstances."

"Save it again, I get it." He said standing up and stretching.

"I'll be fine."

He headed for the door and I followed to see him out.

I opened the door and he stepped out in the hallway turning back to look at me.

"See you soon, Avery." He said, the tone of his voice sent unfamiliar chills down my spine but I brushed them off.

"Harry." I mumbled and watched him walk away down the hallway and board the elevator before I could breathe evenly again.

I quickly shut the door and deadbolted it, my heart racing and my mind matching.

**

Devlin returned home sometime after midnight, she had changed out of her scrubs and was wearing a nice dress and heels.

"You're still up?" She asked when she stepped inside and noticed me curled up on the couch with my laptop.

"Yes?" I questioned and she sized me up.

"Your hair is up, you're not wearing makeup, and you're in your pajamas, I'm guessing Lennon didn't show up?"

I thought seriously about telling Devlin what had happened with Harry but decided against it, if she knew she would probably have a conniption and call the police.

"He got called into work." I lied and she nodded believing me.

"How was your night?" I asked shifting the conversation away from my night and its endeavors.

"It was...good actually. Dr. Stevens took me to this really nice Japanese restaurant and a movie." She said smiling.

"Oh yeah? What movie?"

"The one with Kate Beckinsale and Jonah Hill."

"Oh yeah, how was it?" I asked and a cheeky grin broke out on her face.

"I don't know."

"You dog!" I said laughing and she giggled.

"I know, making out in a movie theater how juvenile am I i?"

"As long as you're happy Dev, I'm happy."

"I am really happy, Eric is a great guy. Now we both have good men." She said and I nodded, my stomach feeling in knots knowing I had blown off Tristan for Harry tonight.

"Well I'm going to bed, see you in the morning?" Devlin offered and I nodded, she gave me a quick hug and headed up the stairs to bed.

I flipped off the tv and decided to head to bed myself, I'd had enough excitement for one night.

When I got upstairs I checked my phone before plugging it in.

From: Tristan

Hope you're feeling better, call you tomorrow?

I sighed knowing that I had blown him off for stupid Harry showing up. I quickly texted back.

Sounds good, goodnight.

I laid down in bed and before I knew it I was drifting off to sleep.

I dreamt of emerald eyes and inky tattoos.

[the-fangirl-way]

2: Ink

I looked up Harry's file, I had looked at it before on the FBI page, but it was the standard documents, medical history, school records, and his background.

I pulled out the access code Mr. Callahan had given me and typed it into the systems network, instantly at least thirty more documents on Harry came up, these were the very private documents that only officials such as Mr. Callahan and the higher ranked officers were allowed access to.

The newest up to date picture of Harry had been his mugshot from six months ago, back when his skin wasn't so pale it was almost gray, or when his cheeks weren't so sunken in from malnourishment. His hair was tamed, still long, but not as long as it was now.

Harry had been an attractive guy at one point, although I would never admit that to anyone.

Reports of Harry's recent run in with the law came up and I wasn't shocked to find out he had ties with several drug busts and had been caught using more than once. It was minor charges of marijuana, nothing heavier than THC.

The next few files were smaller accusations, a DUI, and a claim of property damage, the dated year was Harry's senior year of high school, no doubt a stupid high school prank.

Nothing really seemed to stand out, but I jotted down the small accounts in the file.

The next couple of pages were more or less just added information, court dates, tickets, so on and so forth.

It wasn't until about the fifth page I found the one document that could be my potential next lead.

Mr. Samuel Tracey, the owner of the handgun found in Harry's car that night.

It looked like I was going to have to pay Mr. Tracey a visit.   

Samuel Tracey lived six blocks from my apartment, he wasn't hard to find.

I knocked on his door and waited patiently, I could hear shuffling from the other side. Finally a gruff voice hollered "Who is it?"

"Detective DeLaney. I'm looking for a Samuel Tracey." I said holding up my badge to the peephole, the deadbolt clicked and the door cracked open before an old man with a beard submerged from behind it.

He was wearing glasses and a sweater vest, those were the first things I noticed about Mr. Tracey.

"What do you want?"

"Mr. Tracey, have you ever seen this man?" I asked holding up a picture of Harry from the folder in my hands.

Tracey studied the picture for a second before nodding slightly.

"I've seen him. Why? What has he done?"

I looked around, his house was located on a busy street, cars and people passing by.

"It's kind of a personal matter, mind if I come inside?" I asked and he paused before slowly moving out of the doorway allowing me to step inside.

His home was warm, and smelled old.

"Have a seat." Tracey grumbled before taking a seat himself on the recliner across from the couch.

"So what's he done?"

"Well, Mr. Tracey-"

"Call me Sam." He corrected.

"He was found about six months ago with a handgun in his car, this particular handgun belonged to you." I said and he sighed a long exasperated sigh.

"Damn kids." He mumbled under his breath.

"Excuse me?" I asked and he rubbed his hands together sitting forward.

"Harry and my boy were friends, Douglas," He said gesturing to a picture of a young man about Harry's age hanging on the wall.

"Douglas was killed about two months ago in a drug heist." Tracey said clearing his throat and I instantly felt sympathy for him.

"I'm so sorry."

"No, he was always getting into trouble, hell from the time he was in elementary school I was getting calls for his behavior, I didn't expect much more out of him as he got older." He explained, I noticed then the bottle of scotch and glass sitting on the coffee table. Mr. Tracey poured himself a glass before offering me some which I declined.

"My wife Laura," He continued, "died giving birth, leaving me to raise Douglas. I tried my best by him, worked three jobs to give him the best life I could give him, but he took it for granted." He said taking a sip of his drink.

"Mr. Tra- Sam," I corrected, "You said Harry and your son were friends?" I asked and he nodded.

"Harry and Douglas went to school together, and they were friends all the way up until about six months ago when Harry disappeared. They would hang out after school and once they graduated my son and Harry would hang out almost every other day or so, no doubt both doing things they shouldn't do, which leads me to ask again, what did Harry do?"

I sighed and opened the folder containing Harry's file.

"About six months ago the police found Harry's car outside of a Mr. Wesley Langston's home, he had been waiting there for about four hours for Mr. Langston to return home, and he had your handgun in the car with him. He also had some rope, sheets, duct tape, other various items, so the intent was clear what he was planning on doing." I said and Mr. Tracey's features changed to surprised by the news.

"Harry?" He asked and I nodded.

"Harry was such a good kid, I mean, he got into trouble like Douglas but Harry would never try to kill anyone.."

"I would like to think so too Mr. Tracey, but as of right now Harry is still pledging guilty until proven otherwise." I said and Tracey sighed.

"I don't know anything about the gun. I realized it was missing about two weeks ago when I was going through my things trying to find something to sell to pay my rent," he said taking another sip, "since Douglas passed I've let myself slip, I lost all three of my jobs, of course, the government takes no pity on people like me. So I decided to try and sale some of my things to get money to get back on my feet until I could find a job, I didn't even know the gun was gone until then." He explained and I nodded sympathizing.

"Well, the gun will stay with the police for evidence until the trial is over and decided, if you want it back-"

"I don't want it back." Tracey said cutting me off.

"Tell them to keep it, I'll even sign my name over to them, I just, I don't want it back. I'm old," He started, "I'm old and I'm at the point now, my wife is gone, my son is gone, if someone breaks into my house with the intent to kill me, well, I'll be ready." His eyes were misty and I swallowed a lump, such a sad thing when someone doesn't value their life anymore after all the trials and tribulations they had been through.

"I understand." I said finally, gathering my things to leave.

"I'll let the police department know that you want to sign the title over to them, I'm sure someone will contact you within the next week or so to do it."

Tracey nodded and then he too stood up.

"I'm sorry I wasn't more help." He said and I shook my head.

"No, you were a good help, I can mark this off my list." I said and he smiled a small smile then offered to walk me out.

"Thank you for your time Mr. er, Sam." I corrected.

"You're quite welcome Ms. DeLaney."

I headed to my car, it had started to rain, shocker.

My phone began to ring and it was Lennon.

"Hello?"

"Good morning." He said from the other end and I could practically hear his flirty smirk.

"Are you off today?" I asked.

"I am, I was actually wondering if you wanted to get some lunch?" He asked and I wanted to say yes, but I knew I had far too much research to do.

"I would love to, but Callahan has me on Harry search all weekend."

"Oh, I understand." He said sighing.

There was a silence.

"So I'm guessing our dinner plans are off for tonight then?"

I felt my heart sink, I had forgotten about our date.

"Tristan I-"

"No really, it's fine." He said sincerely although I knew he was really disappointed.

I thought about it for a minute.

"You know what? How does takeout sound? My place tonight? Maybe you can help me with my research." I said and I heard him chuckle.

"Sounds great. Seven?"

"Seven." I agreed before hanging up.

I drove to the library, it was always quiet there and I figured I could get some more research done.

The wind whipped around me creating goosebumps on my arms and legs, I was glad I had chosen to wear slacks today.

As I stepped through the library door, the warmth welcomed me, I always silently adored libraries, the smell of books and the serene calm of the silence of those going into parallel universes created in their minds by the turning of each page.

The librarian, Doris, knew me well, she lived in our building for while after Devlin and I moved in and I had come to this library many times in the past to do research on cases. She smiled fondly at me as I walked over the help desk.

"Detective DeLaney nice to see you."

"Doris, I told you, call me Avery." I said smiling and she laughed.

"I'll try to remember that."

I smiled at at her and headed over to the table I usually sat at, pulling out my laptop and connecting it to the internet.

The next four hours I spent looking up every single detail I could get about Harry, his mother Anne, his sister Gemma, his father Desmond, all of the people in his life. There was nothing out of the ordinary, which only infuriated me more that I wasn't getting anything.

My cell phone buzzed in my pocket and I stepped outside to take the call, it was Devlin.

"Hey Ave, I'm on lunch wanna grab something?" She asked and I thought about declining but the growl in my stomach told me otherwise.

"Where?"

**

I met Devlin at Wahaca, a Mexican restaurant, she was sitting in a corner booth clad in her scrubs, today was Minnie Mouse.

"I ordered you a tequila sunrise." She said smirking and I rolled my eyes.

"It's midday."

"And? You walked here didn't you?"

I started to protest but the waitress reappeared with a large glass of orange and red liquid, an umbrella and orange wedge sat on top.

"Thank you."

She took our order before disappearing again.

"So, any news on Styles?" She asked dipping a chip in salsa.

"No, and the only lead I got turned out to not really be a lead at all. Turns out the gun that was on him belonged to a friend of his father, his son, Harry's friend, was killed a couple of months ago and he doesn't want the gun back." I said and she looked sympathetic.

"How sad."

"Tell me about it."

"So what now?" She asked and I shrugged tugging on my hair.

"I have no idea Dev, Callahan wants all this information on Styles by Monday and I have nothing."

"What about the other guy? Langston right?"

"I haven't done a lot of research on him yet, but the police already talked to him and said he cleared." I said and she nodded.

"You should still do some research just in case they missed something."

"You're right." I agreed and the food arrived.

We ate and talked some more about the case and her job.

"I'm telling you, if he asks again I'm tempted to do it." She said and I laughed.

"I think you should, he's good looking, smart, he's obviously got money.."

"Yeah, yeah." She said waving her hand.

"What about you and Officer sexy?" She asked talking about Lennon, I could feel my cheeks reddening.

"He's actually coming over tonight."

Her eyebrows lifted and she smirked.

"Oh really? Should I occupy myself with something tonight and leave you two...?"

"No, it's not like that." I said rolling my eyes, "He's just coming to help me with the case."

"Mmhmm, I hope you shaved your legs."

I rolled my eyes but could feel my cheeks blazing again.

"I mean it's not like you haven't-"

I blushed even harder and avoided her gaze.

"Oh my God, you haven't slept with him yet? Seriously?"

"Shut up." I said and she burst into a fit of giggles.

"Ave! Get on it! I mean literally get on it. "

"Shut up!"

"I'm just saying!" She said throwing her hands up and then checking her watch.

"Shit, I have to get back to work."

I nodded and slid out of the booth behind her, laying a tip on the table as we walked out.

"I'll see you at home." I said and she shook her head.

"Oh no, I'm not coming home until late, I'll leave you and Officer Hot Pants to it."

I smacked her on the arm and she laughed again before hugging me and departing in the opposite direction to her car.

The walk back to the library was short, but I was freezing by the time I got there.

**

My muscles were stiff from sitting so long and when I checked the time I jumped in panic to realize that it was going on five thirty.

I put my laptop back in my bag and my things before waving goodbye to Doris and leaving the library.

The air outside had dropped measurably and I shivered getting into my car putting the heat on full blast.

When I got to the apartment I took a quick shower, shaving my legs I felt the heat return to my cheeks, Devlin could be right.

**

I was in the kitchen when I heard the doorbell buzz and I headed to the speaker.

Come on up." I said and within a few minutes I heard a light tap on the door.

I opened the door, expecting to see Tristan on the other side, but who was there instead had my heart pounding, my head swimming, and the feeling of vomit creeping up my windpipe.

He was leaning up against the door frame, his arms crossed, clad in a white tee shirt and a pair of black jeans; his inky tattoos snaked up his arms and across his torso visible through his thin tee shirt. His hair was now tamed and swirled in waves around his face, a smirk placed on his full lips, his green eyes burning dangerously into mine.

"Hello Avery." Greeted Harry.  

[the-fangirl-way]

1: Documents

A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed the epilogue I posted yesterday. I've written 16 chapters to this story so far, all of them on Wattpad, if this gets a decent amount of likes I will continue posting a chapter a day. I hope you guys like this one too. Thank you!

"Officer Delaney." Harry corrected, the smirk growing on his face.

"You look good."

"Thank you." I said shaking off his compliment, bribery would get him nowhere although he never failed to try.

I took notice to his clothes, the last time I had seen him he was still adorned in the orange jumpsuit all inmates wear on their first months of being incarcerated, Harry had now surpassed the six month mark and was wearing an official gray jumpsuit.

"I see you've adjusted, no longer wearing orange." I said eyeing him and he shrugged.

"It's a change of pace, orange never really complimented me very well anyway."

"Right." I stated before clicking the pen in front of me again.

"You ready?"

"As I'll ever be." Harry said, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms across his chest.

I reached up to flip on the camcorder and then settled the lens on him.

"Harry Styles, male, twenty four, conviction of attempt of First Degree Murder and sentenced to twelve months until trial." I said and Harry looked unfazed by the information, almost at ease.

"How have you been..adjusting?" I asked and he shrugged, looking at the wall behind me.

This was the most frustrating part, trying to get answers for a case, and never getting anywhere.

"I'm meeting with the DA this week Harry, they're going to want some sort of facts to go off of when they represent you in court." I stated and he didn't blink, didn't move, just sat there, stoney silence.

"Where were you July 9th, 2015 Harry?"

Silence.

"Why were you in Mr. Langston's home?"

Silence.

"The police think you were there because you were waiting for him."

More sufferable silence.

"....Where'd you get the gun Harry?" I mumbled the last part and his eyes met mine but he said nothing.

"You're not helping yourself. If you can't give me anything but silence I can't work out details and try to help you get out of this." I said sighing and he didn't falter.

"I spoke to your mother last week." I said and that was the first time he made any kind of facial expression other than blank.

"She's worried about you Harry, she wants you to-"

"You don't have any fucking clue what my mother wants." He snapped and I leaned back in my chair folding my arms across my chest.

"Then tell me." I said and he clenched and unclenched his jaw, never saying a word.

"I want to help you, Harry, God help me I want to help you get out of this mess, I just need to understand your motives so I can. Please, throw me a bone." I said and he just sat there, staring at the table, at his hands, at the wall, everywhere but me.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and exhaled. He was so infuriating and I was losing my wits one at a time.

"There is nothing you can do to help me." He said finally, and I sighed a forlorn sigh.

"You always say that but I can help you, you just have to be willing to let me help you."

Harry just raked his fingers through his messy hair and went back to being silent.

A few moments passed, the ticking of the clock behind me on the wall was the only sound in the room and although our session wasn't up for another fifteen minutes I had to get out of that room.

Harry's complexion had changed just since the last time I had seen him, about three weeks ago.

He had gone from a nice olive tone to pale, his pink lips were paling as well. His cheekbones were more prominent than last time, my guess was he hadn't been eating.

His hair had grown, but it was greasy looking and ratty, I guessed prison showers weren't the best either.

He was picking at the skin around his nails when I sighed again, clicking the pen and closing the file, his eyes lifted to look at me.

"I guess that's it then. I'll be seeing you in the next few days for a follow up." I said flipping off the camcorder and slipping it back into my bag with the file and my pen.

"In the meantime, please consider giving me some information, or at least take a shower." I said scrunching up my nose and he smirked finally.

"Duly noted." He said and I motioned for the officers to come back in, they entered and Lennon escorted me out while the others stayed with Harry until I was gone.

"Seeing as how you've still got ten minutes until the session is over, I'm guessing he didn't talk today either?" He asked, and I shook my head in frustration.

"No, and I just need a small sliver of information to connect the dots. It's all so frustrating." I said and Lennon nodded.

"Maybe next time."

"You always say that." I said and he smiled a charming smile.

"Let me walk you out to your car."

I nodded as we stepped back into the rain, he opened my umbrella for me and held it above our heads, it was big enough for two.

When we got to the car he turned to me and smiled.

"So I was thinking maybe tomorrow night if you weren't doing anything we could go get dinner? Maybe catch a movie?"

I nodded, a nice date would take away the stress of this case and I needed a little time off.

"Sure, sounds good." I said and he smiled.

"I'll pick you up at 7?" He asked and I agreed before getting into my car, he waved as I drove away.

It was already going on five when I got back to the agency and I had to hand in my blank file to the head of directors before punching out for the evening.

I tapped lightly on my boss's office door, Mr. Callahan.

He was sitting in his office chair on the phone and he waved politely at me telling me to come in and have a seat, he would be with me in a moment.

His office was twice the size of mine, for obvious reasons, the walls littered with awards off accomplishments he'd made in the bureau since the twenty years he had worked for the FBI.

"Just have them fax me the information and I'll send you an email about it tomorrow." He told whoever was on the phone before hanging up.

"DeLaney." He greeted me with a smile.

"Mr. Callahan." I said, my stomach in knots, I knew he wasn't going to be satisfied with my empty report.

"About to head out?" He questioned and I nodded.

"Yes sir, I was just coming to hand in my file."

"Oh right, the Styles case."

"Yes sir." I said looking down at my hands.

"Nothing today I'm assuming?" He said then and the knot grew bigger at the conviction in his voice.

"No sir. He's just not cracking. I'm trying all I can-"

"DeLaney, I don't need you to just try I need you to do all that you can. The DA is meeting with you next week correct?" He asked.

"Yes sir, and as to date right now I have only a handful of information I can deliver to them to put on their file." I said and he rubbed his hands together, a trait he did when he was agitated or thinking.

"DeLaney," He started, "I put you on this case because you're smart, you're one of the few that graduated with honors and one of the few that have proven to me that you can do this job."

I nodded, my gratitude for Dirk Callahan was endless. He had given me a shot at this job when I had just gotten out of college three years ago, and he had putten me on cases far worse than this one, granted; the clients were easier.

"I took a big risk hiring you with no previous work experience, but I saw potential in you that I hadn't seen in years. And you've proven to me in the past that you can uphold my decision to hire you so early by doing a damn good job." He said pausing.

"Thank you sir." I started but he held up a hand, silencing me.

"With that being sad, I don't expect any less of you on this case. I know Harry Styles is being a pain in the ass right now, probably more so than other clients you've dealt with. But I believe that with your determination you can get it out of him, so for the next seventy two hours I want you on constant Harry research, dig into every file you can involving Harry Styles, his mother, his father, aunts, uncles, cousins, anyone you can find that may have any leads on what happened that night with him and Mr. Langston. Do a background on Langston too, find any information that you can." He said pulling a paper out of his desk and handing it to me.

"This, is the access code to every single human beings file this side of the United Kingdom, it will allow you to find out anything you need to know." He said and I could have hugged him.

"Thank you so much sir." I said standing up, pulling the file out of my bag and handing to him.

"No need." He said waving it away. "Whatever you find add it to the file."

I nodded, reaching out to shake his hand.

"I'll see you Monday morning." He said and I nodded before heading out of his office, before heading back to my office to collect my things before clocking out.

"Headed home?" Julian, a coworker, asked me when I reached the clock out desk.

"Finally." I said huffing and he laughed.

"Long day?"

"Incredibly."

He nodded understanding and I punched in my clock out number before digging my keys and umbrella out of my bag.

"Have a good weekend." Julian said and I smiled warmly at him before retreating out the door into the night air.

It was just going on seven when I pulled up to my apartment, the air had gotten colder and the rain coming down felt like ice pellets, it was early December, no doubt we would be seeing snow in the next few weeks.

I unlocked the door to my apartment, the light was on and a wonderful smell was wafting in the air as I entered, meaning my roommate and best friend Devlin was home.

Devlin Johansson had been my best friend since grade school, she was a year younger than me and had graduated a year after I did from Stanford. She was smart, funny, and beautiful. Dark hair and hazel eyes, she was curvy and had all the guys after her. She worked at the local hospital as a pediatric nurse and worked around the clock hours.

"I'm home!" I said setting my purse down in the chair beside the door and shrugging off my jacket, hanging across the back of the chair.

"Ave! I'm making spaghetti!" She shouted from the kitchen, I hung my keys on the key rack and kicked off my shoes before heading that way.

"It smells delicious." I said turning the corner, she was wearing an apron and her long hair was tied up in a bun on her head.

"Taste it." She said spooning some of the sauce out and holding it up for me to try.

It had a great tomato basil and garlic taste, it was also sort of tangy.

"Well?" She pressed.

"Another cooking success." I said and she smiled a wide smile.

"Really? You don't think it needs anything?"

"Nothing but to be in my stomach." I said and she laughed.

"How was work?"

"Ugh, frustrating." I said opening the fridge, bending down to get a bottle of water.

"Styles again today?" She asked and I nodded.

"Yes, and again I got absolutely nothing."

"I'm telling you, waterboard him." She said stirring the noodles and I rolled my eyes and chuckled.

"If only. How was work for you?" I asked taking a sip of my water.

"It was okay, I got off early which never happens, but Dr. Stevens asked me out, again." She said and I smirked.

"And you said?"

"I said..I said I'd think about it." She said rolling her eyes.

"He's so persistent."

"Yeah, but he's hot." I said she snorted.

"He's cocky." She corrected and I shrugged.

"You say cocky, I say hottie."

"Well, he's going to have to do a lot more than compliment my scrubs before he gets a date with me." She said and I laughed.

"Well, I'm going to take a shower. Did anyone call?"

"Your mom did, and I think your sister tried calling earlier."

"I'll call them both back when I get out of the shower." I said and she nodded.

"Dinner will be ready probably in another thirty minutes or so."

I headed out of the kitchen and up the stairs, our apartment was considerably big and spacious, we had really lucked out when renting it, the people who lived here before us had just moved out when we called about it.

I pulled off my blouse and skirt and stripped down before getting into a hot shower, the water cascaded over my shoulders and down my back, relaxing my muscles.

I thought about Harry and the case and I groaned, I was going to spend the next three days trying to find out information on him that I wasn't sure I wanted to know, he was so pensive all the time, so mysterious except when he was being charming.

I washed off and then shut the water off before stepping out, retrieving my towel and wrapping it around myself and my hair.

I got dressed in an old pair of cotton shorts and a tee shirt before heading back downstairs, the smell of the food made my stomach growl, I had skipped lunch.

Devlin was setting the table when I entered the kitchen, a big bowl of spaghetti and meatballs sat in the middle, surrounded by a bowl of tossed salad and garlic bread, it looked and smelled heavenly.

Dinner was delicious as per usual when Devlin cooked, she had missed her calling on culinary school.

We loaded the dishes into the dishwasher and she retreated off to the living room to watch some tv, I called my mom and my sister. Both of them were fine, just checking up to see how things were, moving across the the continent was a change for our family, but they were happy that Devlin had decided to move with me to London when I got the opportunity with the FBI agency so that I would have someone to stay with.

I got off the phone with them and decided to start my research on Harry, figuring now was as good a time as any. I headed up stairs and grabbed my laptop, settling on the bed with it, and the file I dove in.

[the-fangirl-way]

Case 111 (Harry Styles AU)

1: Prologue

I love coffee, in fact, I'm certain that the majority of my sanity is still intact because a hot cup of coffee brought me back to life after a long night.

I love coffee, because no matter what happens in my life the one thing I know I will always be able to depend on is a hot cup of coffee at the end of every day or the beginning of a day that I know is going to be stressful as hell.

A day like today.

The file in my hands felt heavier than it usually did although I know that it's impossible, seeing as how I had added almost nothing to the file since the beginning of the case and the thought alone made me queasy.

The rain fell heavily against the windshield of my car as I stared ahead at HM Wandsworth Prison, although it held almost two thousand souls, I was only here for one.

Practically forcing myself out of the car and into the rain I opened my umbrella, I knew that open toed heels weren't a good idea but for some reason I really didn't believe that it would rain, but when didn't it rain in London?

Sloshing through the puddles in the parking lot I stepped up on the sidewalk where an officer met me at the entrance, I was no stranger to this place, and so he didn't question me; instead holding open the door for me to step inside.

"Officer DeLaney." The receptionist smiled at me from behind the desk.

"Hello Darla." I smiled back at her, although the smile was forced, this was the last place I wanted to be today, but duty calls.

She buzzed me in where I was met by Officer Lennon, he smiled a flirty smile at me which I returned, we had gone on several dates but had yet to make anything official.

He was tall, handsome, smart, and funny. All of the features I admired in a man.

"Ready?" He asked and I sighed.

"Not particularly."

"Think you'll get anything accomplished today?" He asked, and I shrugged.

"One can only hope."

The sound my heels and his shoes shuffling against the flooring were the only sound that could be heard, it echoed off of the eerily silent walls.

Everything was so white, so sterile.

He led me into the interrogation room where I took a seat at the desk.

"I'll be back." He said before exiting the room.

I inhaled a deep breath and shrugged off my damp jacket, placing it on the back of the chair. I then sat the file on the desk, and took out my video recorder getting it set up and ready to go.

I clicked my pen and quickly scrawled down the date on the already empty entry sheet, marked with dates from nine previous sessions, all blank.

I sat my pen down and placed my hands in my lap before hearing the familiar buzz of the lock and the door click open.

In walked two correctional officers followed by Officer Lennon who had his arm stretched out holding on to the person whose sole existence was the reason I was here today.

They settled him in the chair before retreating out the door, Lennon shooting me a knowing glance that he would right behind the glass watching if things got out of hand, which they never did.

Inmate number B596-LM.

He sat across from me, I took notice that his hair had grown measurably since our last meeting, it was in an unruly bun on top of his head. His eyes were the shade of emerald, and right now the gems were locked on me, a lazy smirk pressed against his full lips.

"Avery, good to see you again."

"Harry, nice to see you again. And please, call me Officer DeLaney."  

A/N: hey guys!! So this story is also on Wattpad where I originally wrote it and I forgot about it but I am bringing it back because I like the storyline and I feel like it could go somewhere so I'm also posting it here. So if you like this story give it a like and reblog and check it out on my wattpad @ CandiHoran67. Feedback is welcome as always and I hope you guys enjoy!!