Chapter 11

--Harper--

I sat downstairs in the living room, watching nothing on the overly large TV. I heard the door open and I leaned back over the couch. And my mother walked in with my father, dressed nicely. Of course, they were either at a fundraiser, or they had gone to dinner and completely forgotten I was coming today. I flipped over the back of the couch and walked to the doorway. Standing there with my arms crossed, leaning against the door frame. My father helped my mother off with her coat, and I waited for them to notice me. My mom turned around and nearly came out of her skin. She put her hand over her heart, and my father looked over his shoulder and jumped a bit.

"You weren't supposed to be here until tomorrow!" My mother looked to my father for help, like he was going to send me back to make me come back when it was convenient for my mother. He smiled at me and opened his arms.

"Can you ever forgive us for not being here when you got home?" I looked between both of them, I told them I would stay at school and they had both thrown a huge fit. Making me feel guilty so I came home thinking they would want to be a family because I was gone most of the year, but I came home to an empty house.

"No. I figured you would be out tonight, but I thought maybe you would want to pick me up from the airport yourselves." My mom looked to my dad with panic and I felt like something else was going on here.

"We need to talk Harper." He came over and I walked back into the living room, they both sat on the couch and I looked at them. Waiting for whatever news they had to come out so they could leave me alone again like I knew they were going to.

"We have brought you something back from school, you know to, keep you company. And to make sure you keep out of trouble." I looked at them and I didn't understand, did they get me a puppy or something. Cause they would be stupid for doing that, I wouldn't be here to take care of it, and I surely couldn't take it back to school with me. I looked up as another shadow entered the room and my heart dropped and my hands curled into fists. Miles stood in my doorway looking very smug. I looked between my parents and my mother smiled at Miles like he was the prized horse at a race. It clicked in my head, mother didn't like me with Gabriel. I felt cold fury sweep through my body. And I turned walking from the room, not letting any of them know where I was going. I grabbed my coat and walked out the front door, I heard my mother's heels click after me.

"Harper, that is no way to act towards a guest." I pulled my coat on and spread my wings and she put her hands on her hips.

"I forbid you to fly young lady." I let out a humorless laugh and slammed the front door shut, and took off into the sky. I didn't want him here, I mean I had to deal with him in classes. But he had almost killed my best friend. I didn't want to spend any kind of free time with the animal. All because he was jealous that Gabe could dream sail and he couldn't. The wind bit at my face and hands, making my eyes sting with tears. And I just wanted to go back to school, if Miles was here, then I didn't want to be. I thought about flying back, I could make it. Couldn't be that far if it was only a two-hour plane ride right? Well, the plane did move faster than I could. It was out of my reach. I stopped and hovered looking out into the darkness. I couldn't make it back, I turned and tried to think of somewhere I could go. Anywhere I could go. But there wasn't anywhere, my parents didn't exactly allow me to make very many friends. I was tutored at home, and my father spent a lot of time away, my mother wasn't exactly what you would call a PTA mom. I turned back and came in through my window, and I walked to the door, throwing the lock across and stripped out of my wet clothes and taking my phone with me into the bathroom. I got a hot shower to chase away the lingering cold. I got out and dressed in my warmest clothes and called Gabriel.

((Gabriel))

I sat on my bed with my head in my hands. Why did this boy have to ruin everything for me? Two weeks alone with Harper, I would never be able to compete with him from here. I looked at my phone and her face flashed across the screen. I wanted to ignore it, I didn't want to answer it and hear that she was having a good time with him. But I couldn't ignore her, she might need me. I answered it, and her words came at me in an angry rush. And never in my life had I been so happy about her anger.

"I don't want him here Gabe." I could do nothing but agree with her because I didn't want him there either. He had attacked me what if he attacked her.

"My mother thinks he is some kind of prize, I don't think she understands why I don't want him here."

"Harper-" I didn't even know what to say. I didn't want to tell her my insecurities and have her laugh at me. But like she always did, she knew what I wanted to say.

"I don't want him, Gabriel, I want nothing to do with him. Especially after what happened to you, I wish you were here instead." I seconded that.

"Well we can only make the best of the situation, as much as I hate him and don't want him anywhere near you...he is a good fighter. You could learn from him and kick his ass...so it's up to you." She seemed to be debating.

"I don't know if I would even be allowed to spar with anyone in the house," I kind of liked her hesitation. I trusted her that wasn't the problem. It was him, I didn't trust him. He had almost killed me! I mean I think I was within my rights to be a little worried.

"It's just an option, did you do any more of the study guide?" She hesitated for a moment.

"Umm sure. Hey did you sail on me earlier?" I was hoping she wouldn't mention it because I hadn't had a chance to talk to my father about it yet.

"Yes, it was more of an accident than anything. I wasn't looking for your mind it found me." She was quiet for a second and I heard a knock on her door. I waited while she answered the door. And then I heard his voice, he was in her room, for some reason it made me extremely jealous. Why should he get to be in her room and I don't? I paced at the end of my bed. While he talked to her about something her mother wanted her to do. I heard a very satisfying slam of the door and she picked the phone back up.

"You let him in your room?" It came out more accusing than I wanted it to. I heard a winded chuckle and was very glad she hadn't taken offense to that.

"Is someone jealous?" My first thought was to deny it. But I knew she already knew. There was no point in lying to her.

"I prefer the term protective." She snorted and I could almost hear the attitude.

"Don't give me sass, I'm protecting you."

"My big strong boyfriend." I felt a bit of pride when she called me her boyfriend.

"That's right, don't you forget it." She sighed and I heard paper shift. I didn't want to let her go but we both had to study.

"I'll call before bed okay?" She shifted her hold on the phone.

"I guess I can last that long," she gave a dramatic sigh and I clutch the phone a little tighter.

"Bye."

"Bye." We both hesitated a moment for hanging up. I looked at my book, I would never be able to focus on studying now. I walked downstairs and Cal was sitting in the kitchen talking with my mother.

"Do you even have your own home?" He looked at me waving a cookie in my general direction.

"My mother doesn't bake, so by default, this is my second home. My home away from home one would say." I shook my head at him and sat down across from him on the island. My mom watched me for a moment and she knew I missed Harper, hell she missed her more than I did. Cal was oblivious to anything that didn't have to do with food.

"You know I do have some money put away if you wanted to take a flight." My mom started and I shook my head. I would abandon my family so close to Christmas to check and make sure my girlfriend was okay with my childhood enemy. I was sure we would be okay, we were stronger than this.

"No that's okay, I'll handle this." She put her hand on my shoulder.

"You're like your father," I was going to be offended but she held up her hand.

"In the aspect of responsibility and strength, I know you want to stay here with us for Christmas, but Harper needs you too." I shook my head and heard my phone ringing. I looked down and it was an unknown number. I didn't want to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Hey Gabriel, I was wondering how long you think it would take for me to bang your girl." I felt a quick flash of rage race through me, just the thought of not being able to do anything. But I had to trust her, I knew he would never get that close to her.

"You touch her and I swear to god--" I heard him laugh, and I squeezed a fist tightly. My mother put her hand on my shoulder.

"What you gonna do Mathers?" I pulled in a breath. I never would use this against anyone, anyone but him.

"I will slowly torture you in your dreams." It was my only defense. He wasn't sure if I was serious or not.

"You can't reach me here." Which was a distinct possibility, but then again I had reached Harper earlier today. Who was to say I could reach his dreams too?

"Wanna test that?" Cal's cookie froze halfway to his mouth. And I closed my eyes and tried to get ahold of myself.

"You touch my dreams Mathers I'll beat the shit out of her." It felt like someone had me pinned by the throat. I had a hard time breathing, and my mother turned for her phone. I rolled over my shoulders.

"I promise you this Miles, you touch her in any way. I will tear your mind apart, so badly you won't be able to lift a fucking finger for the rest of your worthless life." Never in my life has I threatened anyone, nor have I swore in front of my mother. Cal's cookie fell from his fingers. I was fiercely protective of her. Ever since the accident, nothing goes anywhere near her. Ever.

"We will see," He hung up and I put my phone down and my mother was in the other room talking quickly on the phone with someone. Cal wiped his finger on his pants.

"Sorry." He held up his hands, he wasn't offended or upset just didn't want to be in the crosshairs of my anger. I got up from my seat and I was hot from anger. I was worried, scared he would hurt her. My mother came back in with a flush on her cheeks from the cold or anger I wasn't sure. Probably a little bit of both. She sat her phone down and waited with her arms crossed.

"You're father said he would handle it." She called him, the man she swore she would never turn to for help she called in my moment of anger. She wanted Harper protected just as much as I did. I sat back down in my seat and Cal had taken two more cookies and was downing a glass of milk. I wanted to see her, I wanted to make sure she was okay. But I wasn't going to smoother her. This wasn't going to end well.