Damaged Goods. (A Harry Styles Fanic)

Chapter Nineteen

“Here” Lola handed Harry a mug of hot tea, steam swhirling out the top in clouds. Harry took the mug in both of his hands, resting it on his lap. The temperature of the china must have been burning the handprint off his palms but he didn’t seem to feel it, or care.

His dark checkered pyjama bottoms rose up at the bottom as he was sat on the cozy cushy sofa. His ankles exposed, Lola noticed the subtle tan line under where the coarse brown hairs insulating his toned calves ended. His legs were long, quite muscular and a natural tan colour.

“Have you eaten?”

Harry shook his head, his lips red and slightly pouted as he parted them to envelope the rim of his mug. Lola watched him intently, noticing how his throat muscles moved as he swallowed the tea. He looked so drained and weak.

“Can’t stomach anything” he mumbled, resting the mug on a coaster before slouching backwards, sinking his heavy frame into the back of the sofa. His scruffy brown waves hung over his forehead slightly, and he unconciously swept them to the right.

Lola twiddled her thumb awkwardly, unsure of what to do in this situation. Harrys stare at the wall infront of him was blank, not absorping any of the visual before him. Too much was racing through his mind at that moment, too many grieving thoughts. He couldn’t take it anymore, he needed sleep for a few hours to give his aching head a break. But whenever he laid his head down, all he could see behind his closed eyelids was Andy. It was torture.

Lola sat down on the other end of the sofa, an empty metre or so inbetween them.

“Is there anything I can do?” she asked

“Er yeah how about leave me alone?” Harry fired back sarcastically, without thought. It was his initial response and Lola felt a slight pang at the irritable tone to his voice, like he really didn’t want her there now.

Lola swallowed and nodded slowly, not wanting to say anything else. If Harry wanted to be alone, she was going to let him. She didn’t need to play victim in his mood swings. She rose up from her seat, inhaling deeply and turning on her heel towards the door.

With her hand hanging loosely by her side, she felt Harry suddenly take hold of it from behind her, bringing her to a halt.

“Wait no, I didn’t mean that” he rushed

Lola turned her head, looking back at him over her shoulder. His jade green eyes locked on hers, a pleading look in them as his dark eyebrows turned up in the middle. Both of his hands held onto her one small palm, bunching her four fingers in his gentle grip.

“I don’t want to be on my own” he said, his voice cracking slightly as he spoke.

She was baffled by the change in him and didn’t know how to behave as a reaction to this. She was only used to reacting to his abuse, this was new stuff to both of them.

Harry witnessed no change in Lola’s facial expression and knew she was fed up and ready to leave. He knew she would always be reluctant to do anything for him anyway, but he really was frightened to be alone.

He stood up to seem more sincere, letting go of her hands and letting one of his drop to his side as the other one scratched behind his neck anxiously.

“Could you…perhaps..stay with me, for a little bit?” he asked, trying to sound casual and not desperate. He scratched the scalp beneath his thick curls and his eyes glanced from the floor up to Lola’s eyes questioningly. Lola and him obviously weren’t best friends and were never going to be, but he didn’t care at that moment. He just needed her company.

Lola relaxed her facial features and sighed inwardly, giving him a reluctant nod of agreement and weak smile. Harry gave her a grateful nod in return and went back to his position on the sofa. He kept watching her as she tottered around, looking for something to do instead of sitting awkwardly.