Ariela's POV
As soon as Harry put the car in park I jumped out and ran to the door even though my head was still throbbing in pain. Harry was hot on my heels as I thrust the door open only to see my father making his way to the stairs with that smile I knew all too well. I made a mad dash towards him and tackled him roughly to the ground.
"Daniela run!" I screamed as my sister was now at the bottom of the steps with a tear stained face.
"Go wait in the car." Harry told her, and she ran off. Oh shit Harry! "Ariela what are you doing?" He asked me confused. It only took one moment of Harry being a distraction to me for my father, if I can call him that, flipped me over and started to punch me. Harry quickly came to my rescue planting a good blow to my father's face. He stumbled off me and Harry helped me up. My father was in a heap on the ground clutching his face and before Harry could stop me I kicked him in the sweet spot and he groaned in pain. He then stopped moving so I guessed he was knocked out. I was quite satisfied now and we both ran back to the car.
Once we were sitting in the car the questions begun.
"What the fuck was that?" Harry asked me now out of breath from the punch and from rushing to the car. "Sorry Dani." He quickly added.
"I will explain at yours, now drive!" I yelled trying to make my point stronger. He obeyed what I told him and we were now off to his place. The drive was silent until about halfway there, I heard an unusual sound coming from the car.
"Uh-oh." Harry said.
"What uh-oh? There can't be an uh-oh, what the hell is the uh-oh?" I asked him clearly not being able to calm down from the recent events.
"Calm down Ari we just ran out of gas."
"We what!!"
"Ran out of gas. I think there is a station a few minutes' walk away so I'll go and you girls stay here okay?"
"No, no, no if you're going somewhere we are most definitely coming with you." Daniela piped up; I guess she was feeling a whole lot better.
"Yeah, I'm in agreement with Dani on this one Haz."
"Wow that's a first, you guys are actually agreeing on something." Harry said trying to lighten the mood. It didn't work so well. I just brushed it off and asked,
"Can we start walking now?"
"Yeah sure. It's only like a 5 minute walk, 2 minute run if you want to but I think the walk will be better on your head." I agreed with him and we started walking.
"So how about explaining the reason that your dad was beating you girls?" Harry asked me.
"Oh, about that. Ever since mom died dad had started to drink. Only a little at first but then it turned in to an everyday thing. I don't think he was getting enough satisfaction with drinking away his sorrows so he then started to beat us. I got the worst of it trying to protect Daniela."
"So that's why you always wear tights and long sleeves."
"Yeah it is. So lately it has been getting a lot worse and it's getting to the point where I have to put make-up on Dani and I to hide our scars and bruises. Once I have enough money I'm going to get a flat so we can move out of that hell house."
"Okay, but one thing I don't understand is why haven't you gone to the police about it? Surely they would put him in jail."
"The reason for that is because he knows pretty much all of the officers. Some of them beat their children too so we don't want to risk getting more injured by him getting told that we went to the police. Get it?"
"Well that is a very good point. Hey, I see the station." He told me. It was still a ways away but at least we could see it.
"Hey Hazza," Daniela said to him, "Can you give me a piggyback the rest of the way, my legs are killing me?"
"Sure DD, no problem." We stopped so she could jump on his back.
"Why do you even call me DD anyway?" She asked him, in all reality I didn't have a clue as to why either so I was pretty interested in his explanation too.
"I don't really know, I guess I just sort of called you it one day and it stuck." He said shrugging his shoulders. She stayed silent as if agreeing with him.
"So are you sure it's okay for us to stay at your house tonight? I mean, Anne won't be mad that you are coming home at 1 in the morning and bringing us will she?" I asked him still sceptical if it was okay or not.
"Oh yeah, she'll be cool with it. She will probably still be up anyway. On Fridays she usually watches sappy romance films all night in the living room."
"It's funny, I remember when you and I would watch them with her and you being disgusted at the snogging scenes." We both laughed at this memory from back in the summer of 4th year. Oh the times when he was grossed out by girls, now he pretty much has them falling at his feet.
"Oh yeah, I remember that. I also remember you and mum crying every 2 seconds in Love Actually." He said smirking at me.
"Well I'm sorry if that was a fantastic film okay? But correct me if I'm wrong, that still is and probably always will be your favourite film."
"Wow you know your facts." I giggled at this.
"Well you know me, I have an amazing memory." It was his turn to laugh this time as he and I both knew I had a terrible memory.
"Oh, oh, oh! The station is right there can we run for the last bit? I'm getting kinda cold." Daniela said with a shiver.
"You okay to run?" Harry asked me.
"Yeah I'm okay, let's go." I said and we broke out into a jog.
Once we finally got there we went inside. It was really warm and had a distinct smell of coffee. Oh the drink I held so dear to me. My favourite was cold and pretty complicated, it is a Vanilla bean crème frap with whole milk, not too much whipped cream; I can imagine the steaming hot liquid on my tongue as I'm thinking this.
"I know you want something to drink by the way your staring at the coffee maker so go ahead, it's on me." Harry said flashing a smile in my direction, "Vanilla bean crème Frappuccino light on the whipped cream and with whole milk right?" He asked me.
"Wow I can't believe you remembered." I told him shock clear in my tone.
"I've got a good memory unlike some people." He said sarcastically. I just laughed him and went to make my coffee. Dani also got a hot chocolate and Harry got some tea. Oh how very British of him. After we paid and got the gas in the gas can, we started to walk back to the car.
When we got back Harry started to pour the gas into the car. I was standing out there with him and Daniela was in the car. As I was standing there I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched. I looked around, quickly scanning the tree line for the source of my feeling. Just as he was finishing up I saw it. I swear he had been knocked out back at the house, but I guess my assumption was wrong. He was just sitting in the bushes watching us and just for a brief moment, he caught my gaze. It was horrifying to think he had been watching us the whole time we were standing there pouring the gas. Just as we were getting in the car I looked over to where he was before and I froze. He was gone. I shot my gaze to Harry and said,
"Drive, drive now!"
"Why the hurry?" he asked me. At this point I gulped and pointed a shaky finger to the window behind him. He looked to where I was pointing and then slammed his foot onto the gas. My dad was standing a couple feet away from Harry's window smirking at me. After that interesting experience I was really paranoid.
As we drove up Harry's driveway the porch light came on, I was really nervous as to what his mom would think when Daniela and I walked in. We got out of the car and made our way up to the house.
"Are you sure your mom won't mind us staying here?" I asked him worriedly.
"It's fine Ari don't worry," He said placing his hands on shoulders," I think she will be happy to see you because we haven't hung out in so long." He told me with a genuine smile on his face, this reassured me. I nodded my head and we went inside.
"Oh Harry your home just in time to watch Love Actually with me." Anne said while sitting on a tissue covered couch and not taking her eyes off the T.V screen. When Harry didn't respond she turned around.
"I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!" She cheered in happiness, "I just knew you guys would date at some point." She jumped up and hugged me. "How are you Ariela, it's been a while."
"I'm great actually Anne but-" I started to say but Harry had cut me off.
"Uh mum, we aren't dating." Harry said awkwardly, finding the carpet extremely interesting.
"Oh, well sorry for thinking that. It's just, you two have been close for so long I just thought that you had finally gotten together. Harry doesn't just bring home just any girl at 1:30 in the morning." She said laughing slightly. At this point Dani peeked out from behind us. "Oh my gosh Daniela you look so grown up, come and give me hug my darling." She said to her arms outstretched and she gladly ran into them. Anne had been like a mother figure to her because I was over here so much with Harry and I had to bring Dani a lot of the time.
"Well um, we're just gonna go head up to my room now." Harry said trying to detach us from the conversation.
"Where am I going to sleep?" Daniela asked.
"You can sleep in the guest bedroom love, and Harry and Ariela will stay in Harry's room alright?" Anne told her.
"Okay." She said agreeing with her and rushing upstairs to the bedroom. I don't know how many times we have both slept in there but by my calculations, it was a lot.
After saying goodnight to Anne, Harry and I walked up to his room. When we got in there I sat on his bed and flopped backwards.
"So where am I going to sleep exactly?" I asked Harry who had now taken his shirt off and was rummaging through his drawers.
"You can either sleep in the bed with me or on the floor. My suggestion being the bed because from experience, we both know that floor is the hardest thing in the world to sleep on." Boy did I know that. Those were not good memories.
"Okay then, the bed it is." I said sitting back up.
"So um, do you want something to sleep in besides your uniform?"
"Yeah sure whatcha got?"
"Here, put these on." He said chucking some of his boxers and one of his many Jack Wills pullovers.
"Seriously, your boxers?"
"Hey, it's that or nothing. And you should be proud, that is my favourite jumper." He said laughing a bit.
"Oh my gosh, the Harry Styles of Cheshire Consolidated is letting me wear his favourite jumper," I said clutching his sweater to my chest and pretending to fan girl.
"Haha very funny," He said with sarcasm clear in his tone, "Now go change." He told me pushing me into his en suite.
Once I finished changing I washed off my make-up and shoved my hair up into a messy bun. I walked out only to see Harry already lying in his bed with his eyes closed. I assumed he was sleeping so I crawled in on the other side facing away from him. Not long after that I fell asleep.
Harry's POV:
I felt Ariela climb into my bed. Wow, I never thought I would be thinking that. Anyway, I had a feeling she wasn't facing me so I opened my eyes. She was lying there with her eyes closed trying to fall asleep and I was just watching her. She looked so beautiful without make-up, and she doesn't even know it. She thinks she has to get all done up to look good, but in reality, Ariela Elizabeth Starford is the most beautiful girl I have ever met.
A few minutes later I concluded that she was asleep by the light snores coming from her mouth. I was still wide awake watching her sleep. About five minutes had passed and then she started to move a bit. She turned over and cuddled into me. It was kind of cold in my room so I understood her movement. Her head was snuggled into my chest, so I did what most guys would do in this situation; I put my arms around her. She seemed to like this because the smallest of smiles erupted on her lips and to be honest I was enjoying this as well. It was in that position that I fell asleep.
In the morning I woke up quite early. Too early in my opinion, it was 8:00. Ariela was still sleeping and I didn't intend on waking her up, she had a long night so I let her sleep. Sometime during the night she ended up halfway on top of me with her arm around my waist, her head on my chest and our legs entangled. I smirked at what she had done during the night, but my arms were still securely wrapped around her so I guess I couldn't really say much. Another thing she had done was push the blankets to only be covering from my waist down, and I wasn't wearing a shirt so I was quite cold right now. I shut my eyes quickly when I heard my door open slightly.
"Awh isn't that cute," I heard my mother whisper to herself; "Oh I have to get my camera." She said excitedly. When she left the room I opened my eyes, smiled and thought, this is going to be in photo album for sure. It would no doubt have a caption like 'The Lovebirds' or something along those lines. I closed my eyes once again when she re-entered with her camera this time. I heard the camera shudder over 3 times so I was thinking this had to be a good photo op. I then heard somebody else come into the room. I only assumed this to be Robin, my step-father.
"Aren't they the cutest things?" My mom said to him.
"I didn't know Harry had a girlfriend."
"Oh, that's Ariela. They have best friends since she moved here when they were in 2nd year. They aren't a couple yet, but judging by the way they are sleeping, it shouldn't be long before they get together."
"I see, well she seems to mean a lot to Harry if she is wearing that sweater."
"What sweater, the Jack Wills one? Oh he has a ton of those."
"Yeah I know, but that one is his favourite."
"And how would you know this?"
"Because one time when he had a girl over, she asked if she could wear it and he got pissed at her then she left."
"Why haven't I ever heard of this occurrence?"
"Because that was the week you were in Paris."
"Oh, okay. I think we should leave before one of them wakes up."
"Yeah I agree." Robin said and they left shutting the door behind them.
I looked down at Ari only to see her looking straight back up at me. She was smiling and at that point I knew she had woken up when my parents were in here.
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*Authors note*
Hay fanfic readers hay! Sigh, it's not the same, anyway, can you believe Harry remembered her order? Like wow! Well... that's my friend's complicated order at Starbucks so I thought I'd use it here. So, which team are you on, Ariam (Ariela+Laim) or Hariela (Ariela+Harry) please leave your choice in the comments and let me know what you think! I am also in the process of writing another One Direction fanfic, it's called One Fateful Phone Call. I think you'll like it, and the awkward thing is, I came up with the idea in the shower, I know I know TMI right? So yeah imma go now so byee!
Please vote/comment/fan I would really appreciate it thanks!
~Starlightr x