AN: Hey hey! I'm back. So a little update for y'all. I am very sorry for the ridiculously long break. I was swamped at work, home, and in classes. Fortunately I have found some time to restart/continue this story, which I have every intention of finishing. A little bit of sad news, I had several chapters typed up for this. Unfortunately they have all gone kaput. Gone. Out into the universe. Sooooooooo I'll have so rewriting to do. As always, please read and review. Thank you to anyone who has read and reviewed in the past. If you have stuck around, much love to ya. I promise to finish this and do it well. Thank Ya! AN
"I don't like him," Reese muttered, visibly shaken as she nursed a mug of hot tea. She glanced out of the corner of her eye at Harry's sulking figure. He sat hunched over on her broken down couch, elbows resting heavily on his knees, as he rubbed his palms together. She watched him over the rim of her cup, billows of soft steam licking at the tip of her nose. The muscles in her legs twitched from their awkward prison between her butt and the side of the chair. Ignoring the sharp needle-like pain in her calves, she waited for a response. It had been two weeks since the ordeal at the warehouse Neither of them had been too eager to "chat" about it. So naturally they let it grow into the giant overwhelming elephant in the room that had thrown its metaphorical weight around until someone snapped. Interestingly enough it had been Harry who broke the silence.
Reese felt the corner of her mouth twitch at the thought. She supposed she should have taken it as a good sign that he would be so proactive in their relationship. He would work with her. Go farther when she couldn't find the strength to meet him halfway. Yet, she found traces of resentment in her heart at it. Silently chastising herself at the selfish and childish feelings, she watched Harry in his own internal struggle as he sought an answer.
"He's not," Harry murmured softly, eyes focused on the floor. "really that bad. I mean he isn't even around all the time." Reese raised an eyebrow at him.
"Not that bad?" her voice ripe with disbelief. "Harry, he shoved a gun in my hand and tried to make me shoot someone. It doesn't matter..."
"Someone who raped you," he snapped, pinning her with a hostile stare. She flinched at the 'r' word.
"Harry," Reese said with a calm she didn't feel. " Madden's dangerous. It doesn't matter if he has 'good intentions' or if he is only there some of the time. It isn't healthy." Placing her cup down on the table, she swung her legs from their perch and clasped his hands in her own. "He has to go."
"Do you think it is that easy?!"he snapped, plucking his hands roughly from hers. She watched as anger seeped over his face, scratching angry lines along his face. "I can't just turn him off."
"I didn't expect you to," she sighed. "I will help you in whatever way I can. I worry for you."
"I know!" Reese recoiled in her chair at the outburst. "I know he's bad for me. Do you think I like it? That I like me? I hate it, but I can't just get rid of him!" She watched through misting eyes as Harry stormed out, slamming her door shut behind him. The cracking sound of wood banging crashing into wood vibrated through her tiny apartment. Her heart took a nose dive into her the pit of her stomach. A wave of emptiness pricked the center of her chest, and spread its icy fingers throughout her limbs, sucking up any energy she had left. Reese leaned back in her chair, letting the worn material support her suddenly slack body. In the stifling silence, her loud sniffle only magnified her misery, as twin trails of tears spilled from her eyes.
000-000-000-000-000
Reese sniffed her hand with a grimace, the distinct metallic tang radiating from her palms. She detested that smell. It left a sour taste on the back of her tongue. Scrunching up her nose in displeasure, she sought out her bag. Four days. Four ridiculously long and painful days had passed since Harry had stormed out of her apartment. Four days since she'd last spoken to him. Or seen his sweet face. Each morning she'd awakened and hopefully checked her phone. She was worse than a kid on Christmas morning, hoping to find her present in the form of a text or missed call. The thought process was always the same. Maybe she had her phone on vibrate. Maybe it was in another room. Maybe she was so tired, that she'd slept clean through the ringtone. Each morning her phone mocked her with only the time.
At least the little inanimate object was willing to give her the time of day. It was more than she could say about Harry. The fact which infuriated her that much more. So much so that she'd forgotten to grab herself a snack as she'd left for work. Her stomach rumbled obnoxiously at the thought of food, and the contrastingly snackless bag before her. Twitching her nose, Reese silently debated on the possibility of waiting it out, versus seeking out something edible in the building. Another visible growl rolled through her stomach. Shrugging at no one in particular, she decided to meet the demands of her empty tummy. Her eyes alighted on the lone vending machine which stood generally untouched in the corner, as if offensive to the sight by the girls bustling fed the machine two of her newly acquired crumpled dollar bills, as she silently fumed. Over the past few days, she had bounced from a body crippling depression to a boiling rage. Depression at not having heard from Harry in such a long time. Rage at his being mad at her for being concerned for him. Crying at the apparent loss of her best friend and lover. Cursing at how he turned the situation around and managed to make her feel at fault for this stalemate. Snatching out the little bag of trail mix, Reese stared inside the clear plastic, and pursed her lips at the excess salt coating the interior of the bag. She tossed the little bag on top of her duffle bag, and made her way onto the floor.
It was one of their themed nights, where happy hour was extended from from noon to four by an additional hour. The tables sat more aptly filled with the bodies of men and women alike, just free of work and enjoying the two dollar specialty drinks. She could possibly score extra revenue with a few private dances from the crowd, but priorities dictated acquiring a bottle of water first.
Reese strolled strolled between the tables, her signature sweet smile riding high on her cheekbones. Not quite to her eyes, though. On her way she passed the wall along which was a row of booths, separated by individual sheer curtains. Several of the booths were already well occupied with enthralled customers and their respective dancers. A few steps from the bar, Reese felt a hand wrap roughly around her arm and tug her through one of the curtains. She squeaked in surprise, as the unexpected momentum threw her flush against a warm body. The stiff hem of long jacket fluttered about her bare legs.
"I want my turn."
She turned her head up, only to be encounter a pair of startling blue eyes peering down at her. A sly grin curled about Harry's lips as he held her tightly in his arms. Her heart fluttered involuntarily in her throat. If only the treacherous organ understood how arguments worked. Fortunately her stubbornness prevailed in shushing the pulsating beat tapping its excitement beneath her skin.
"What are you doing here, Harry?" she asked as she squirmed out of his embrace.
He raised an eyebrow at her and moved to wrap her in his arms again, "I'm here to see my girl, obviously." Reese sidestepped his outstretched arms and clumsily pressed her back against the wooden side wall of the booth.
"Reese..."
"Is everything alright?" a voiced rumbled, interrupting Harry. She turned her head to the new voice. Through the pale rose colored shimmer of the curtain, Reese could see the mountainous form of a man standing with his arms crossed over his chest. The tension in his thick , muscles could be seen under his crew neck black shirt.
"Yeah, Dan," she smiled sweetly at the looming figure. "It's ok, really." He looked from her to Harry, clearly doubting her words. His glare traveled up and down Harry, sizing up the smaller man. Out of the corner of her eye, Reese spied Harry's smug grin spreading at his being assessed. She winked at Dan, plucking at the soft strap of her bra until it slid teasingly off the curve of her shoulder.
"Ok," he said finally, still eyeballing Harry. "You keep your hands to yourself, and I'll do the same." Harry smirked as he nodded. The sarcasm not lost on the powerful figure, Dan sucked his teeth before turning his back on the, and returning to his place by the bar.
Reese blew out a breath through pursed lips. Her current stability could not handle a dramatic scene. Keeping an eye on the curtain, it was now her turn to give Harry a seething glare. Under the weight of her expression of displeasure, Harry smuggly plopped down onto the seat behind him. He smiled happily at her, while brushing his lap clean of any invisible dirt with long exaggerated motions. Crossing her arms in front of her chest, she watched his unfamiliar behavior with a sneaking suspicion.
"Well come on then," Harry chuckled, as his eyebrows wiggled with all the seriousness of a cartoon wolf howling at a lounge singer.
"You a paying customer?" She asked, not in the least interested in playing any sort of games with Him. The grin easing from his face, he shimmied out of his long coat.
"Nope. I get it for free, remember?"