Run (H.S)

Chapter 16

Harry's POV

The blood on my knuckles is steadily dripping onto the floor of the club as I storm out of the bathroom in a fit of rage. My eyes immediately scan the crowd of people for a pair of green ones filled with fear. My hands are shaking, and my vision is blurred. After scanning the room, I push my way through the crowd to the back door that I am sure Stella drug Olivia through.

The second I open the door my body is engulfed in the cool air outside. The sounds from the club fade completely out as the door slams shut behind me. Stella is cradling Olivia in her arms while leaning up against the brick wall. Olivia is just staring into space lost in her own mind. I have never seen her more terrified.

"Is she okay?" I say the second I am standing in front of the two of them. Stella's head snaps to face me.

"What do you think?" Normally her snarky remark would piss me off but under the current circumstances I manage to remain calm.

"Are you waiting for a car?"

"Yes. I am taking her back to the hotel." Stella says finally making eye contact with me.

I stand there thinking for a minute. Olivia looks terrified and frozen in her place. She hasn't said a word and her eyes that seem dark and filled with terror, haven't left the back door since I walked outside. Her hair is falling out of the updo it was pulled into earlier. Her makeup is smudged and the thick line of eye liner that was present earlier is now running down her cheeks. I would usually make a comment about her looking like a raccoon but now isn't the time. The words that come out of my mouth next shock not only me but my present company also.

"Let me take her back. My rental is parked down the street. It will be faster than waiting." Stella's

head snaps towards Livi then back to me.

"No way! Have you lost your mind?" Olivia winces at the loudness of Stella's voice slightly pulling back from her.

"No. She needs to leave now before the cameras see her. That is the last thing she needs."

"It's fine, Stell. I'll be okay." Livi's voice comes out as a whisper. Stella goes to argue with her but Olivia's face turns giving her a look that she seems to understand.

"Don't be an ass to her, okay" I just nod my head as a response before Stella turns back to her best friend whispering in her ears as Livi just nods back as a response. I mumble out letting them know I will be right back with the car before jogging down the side of the building with my hood and sunglasses on.

The walk to the car is quick and I manage to remain hidden from the crowds of people swarming the front of the club. I quickly make it into the small black car I had rented for our time in Las Vegas and start driving around the corner to the back of the club. Stella and Olivia are still standing in the same spot I had left them in when I returned.

I don't understand why I am doing this in the first place. Maybe it was the checked out look on her face when I stumbled into the bathroom. Maybe it was the way she was trying to fight him off before becoming like a deer in the headlights and giving up. It may have been the look on her face that reminded me of the childhood innocence she used to have when I knew her better than myself. Whatever it was brought out a tiny sliver of the old me who would do anything to protect this girl.

I hated this girl an hour ago and now I am putting all my efforts in to help her. Something inside of me has shifted and dragged up years' worth of memories of a particular female that no matter how hard I try I can't forget.

The rage that consumed my body not too long ago has dwindled down to a simmer just below the surface. I have tried everything to forget all of my own history with Liv to avoid the same feeling I had the morning she didn't come back. Hell, I have done everything to avoid feeling anything at all besides indifference and anger. The anger that I felt towards her shifted to the person pinning her down the second I walked in the room.