(Closed)Is it just me breathing?

[Harper Williams]

“Hey, sugar.” I kept my eyes in front of me. The man was speaking Italian and I didn’t understand a word of it. He was drunk, I could smell the stale scent of vodka on his breath as he got closer to me. “Can you spare some Euro for a gentlemen?” I didn’t understand him, I spoke mainly English and Italian wasn’t even considered my second language. I just kept walking, knowing stopping meant he could actually grab me if he needed. I felt a hand on mine and I was being dragged to the alley way.

“No!” I hollered, pulling away from him. “You have no money then you pay in a different way.” I narrowed my eyes in on him, tugging away from him. “Stop, please. I don’t know what you want. I don’t speak Italian very well.” He shoved me on my ass in the alley way, glaring down at me. “Euro?” I narrowed my eyes in on him. Euro, was money, I do believe, right? “I don’t have any on me.” I pulled the pockets to my jeans out to prove my point.

He grunted, getting closer to me, putting his hands on my sides, helping me stand so my back was against the wall of the building. “No money. You pay another way!” I turned slightly. “Stop.” I closed my eyes, crying out. “Leave me be!” He tugged at my jeans more, breaking the button to them clear off. I closed my eyes, wishing this away. If I wasn't so darn stubborn, I would be fine. But, I had to run away, from 'trouble'. When in reality the trouble was being away from Neil.

I let out a slight cry, shoving at the man, but he was stronger then me and he meant business. He kept grunting and saying things I didn't understand. Not that I really cared or needed to know what he was saying. I just wanted him to go away. I closed my eyes, wishing him away.

[neil]

My phone beeped at me and I looked down seeing “failed message” flash across the screen. Shaking my head, I pressed resend on the message I just sent to my brother, knowing he needed to know. I couldn’t have her getting lost. If he needed to call the police, I wouldn’t mind. Usually I’m having a run in with them for different reasons, and I’m sure they had had their fair share of me, but I couldn’t just let Harper get lost. Hunter would kill me.

I put my phone back in my pocket, sighing heavily, continuing to run off in the direction of where Harper had gone. I didn’t know if I could find her, but I was definitely not giving up until I found her. Even though we’d only known each other about an hour, I knew I really liked her. I knew I wanted to find her for more than the fact that I didn’t want my balls torn off. And Hunter would. She would rip them off with her fingers and serve them to me with a nice Chianti.

“Stop.” I thought I heard her call out. It was in English, and mostly around here, even the tourists spoke Italian. I knew it had to be her. She was crying out for help. I started running off in the direction I heard her voice. “Leave me be!” She cried out more and I ran as fast as I could. I was in pretty good shape, but I didn’t feel like I was running fast enough. I didn’t feel like I was going to get there fast enough.

I came around the corner, seeing a man with his hands all over Harper, pushing her up against the wall of the alley. I shook my head. No way she was going to fall victim to a nasty fucker because of me. Running over to them, I grabbed him around the waist, pulling him from her, tumbling down to the ground with him, rolling around before coming up on top, starting to beat down into her. ”Leave her alone, motherfucking cocksucker! You have no right to touch her!”

[/b] I was pissed. She may not be my girl, but I liked her and I didn’t like seeing his hands all over her, especially because she didn’t want it. I continued pounding into him, hoping I’ll punch him hard and enough times that he’ll pass out.[/blockquote]

[Harper Williams]

I heard foot steps, coming quickly near us and I let out a shaky breath as the man slammed to the ground. I couldn’t tell who he was rolling around with, my eyes were so blurry with tears. I stepped forward, finally, seeing it was Neil. His fists were ramming so hard into the man’s face I was scared to move. “Leave her alone, motherfucking cocksucker! You have no right to touch her!” He screamed in Italian, I didn’t understand any of it. He was speaking so quickly and rough, not that it mattered any, I wasn't that good at Italian.

“Neil,” I whispered, stepping forward, my body shaking roughly. He was hitting the man so hard blood was all over his hands. I took another tiny step forward, grabbing his shoulder. He whipped around, clearly caught off guard, swinging at me, I fell back, colliding with the wall and falling against the ground. I let out a loud groan, my head spinning like a wheel. “Neil,” I grunted, feeling his hands on me, where his hands where was beyond me. I had no clue. “We gotta get out of here.” I moaned, reaching behind my head, touching the spot that was aching.

“The police. You cant get in trouble because of me.” I slowly stood up, taking his hand, forcing my feet to run, not caring that it was hard to focus on anything. I was fine, it was just a little bump, nothing I couldn’t live through. We came out of the alley way and I kept running, his hand securely in mine. We came to another alley way, except this one was abandoned and we could be alone.

I leaned over, sitting against the wall as I took deep breaths, my hands on my knees. I slid down the wall, my head aching to much to keep standing. “Oh,” I groaned, grabbing my head. “My darn head.” My head fall back gently against the wall and I closed my eyes. “Ill just sleep. A little nap and we can run from the police again.” I smiled at him, with my eyes still closed.

[neil]

I felt a hand on my shoulder as I was beating this man to his bloodiest pulp, turning quickly around in my rage. Harper fell back against the wall and I blinked at her, pushing the man off of me, who had basically passed out anyway. I was sure I hadn’t killed him, but I didn’t really care. Sure, Harper and I only met today, but there was no way I was going to let some vulgar fucker have his way with any girl just because he can. I happed to like Harper, even though it was clear she didn’t like me, but that wasn’t going to keep me from protecting her.

I got up, walking over to her, my body still shaking. I dropped to the ground beside her, my back leaning against the wall as I pulled her over to me. I wanted to comfort her, even though right now she probably didn’t want any man near her right now. “Neil, we gotta get out of here.” I shook my head, my body still convulsing in anger, breathing deeply. “In a minute.” She didn’t like that answer. “The police. You can’t get in trouble because of me.” I arched an eyebrow at her, shaking my head. I had to remember that she didn’t know me at all. I was always getting in trouble with the law for inconsequential things. Getting in trouble with them for something that actually meant something would actually be a step up for me.

She stood, taking my hand, tugging me to stand with her. She started running, still not letting go of my hand. She seriously didn’t want me to get in trouble. It was kinda sweet of her. I could get used to this, some one actually caring about what happens to me. She pulled me down an alleyway farther down the footpath, pulling me to lean up against the wall with her. She was breathing heavily, and I still couldn’t believe how concerned she was. After what had just almost happened to her, she was more concerned about what would happen to me because of what I did.

She slumped down against the g round and I followed suit. “Oh,” I looked over at her as she grabbed the back of her head. “My darn head.” I hadn’t been near anyone as wholesome as her, some one who says darn instead of damn, in so long. She was actually a breath of fresh air. I smiled softly at her, leaning closer to her. “I’ll just sleep. A little nap and we can run from the police again.” She smiled over at me, my eyes still closed and I shook my head, wrapping my arm around her as I pulled her to me, standing up with her. I had finally stopped shaking, being next to her actually having an incredible calming affect on me.

“No napping,” I told her, holding her closely to me as we walked between the two buildings toward the Grand Canal. “You’re complaining about your head, no way I’m letting you nap. I don’t want you getting a concussion because of me.” I walked with her close to me, heading toward the canal. “So we just need to keep walking. No gondola. Just our feet. Keep talking. I’m not letting you fall asleep as we walk either.” We started walking along the Grand Canal and I thought of anything I could to keep her awake. “Tell me something about you, something no one knows.”

[Harper Williams]

 I felt his arm wrap around me. It was amazing, how much the simple act helped make me feel better. I was scared, for him, for me, for the man in the alley even, but him holding me made me feel better. Slowly, without my permission, I was standing up. I opened my eyes, but squinted when it hurt to much. “What are we doing?” I whispered, looking at him. “No napping,” I sighed, nodding. He was scared I had hurt myself worse then a simple bump. But, I knew it was just a bump, that was all. A bump, nothing more. “You’re complaining about your head, no way I’m letting you nap. I don’t want you getting a concussion because of me.”

I sighed, looking ahead of me, shaking my head slightly. I was fine, but, I knew he wouldn’t believe me, even if I did say it. “So we just need to keep walking. No gondola. Just our feet. Keep talking. I’m not letting you fall asleep as we walk either.” My eyes slid shut, not fully, I could still see slightly in front of me, but my head was hurting so terribly, I just wanted to lay down for a bit.

“Tell me something about you, something no one knows.” I smiled, shaking my head. “If I told you something nobody else knows, you’d know and that would defeat the purpose wouldn’t it?” I laughed softly, wincing slightly. “Thank you, for helping me. I’m not sure what he planned, but I know it wasn’t something nice.” I swallowed, looking forward, my eyes clouding with tears. Sure, I was just now letting things sink in, but, I didn’t have the chance before.

I was running to save him. To save him from going to jail. I didn’t want him to go there. He didn’t deserve it, especially when all he was doing was protecting me. “How about you? Something you’ve never told anyone before?” I laughed, knowing more then likely he’d answer the exact same way I did, but it was worth a try, right?

[neil]

“If I told you something nobody else knows, you’d know and that would defeat the purpose wouldn’t it?” I laughed, shaking my head. That was the point here, sharing some deep, intimate secret you’ve never shared with anyone else. If she were to answer the same question, I’d enjoy telling her quite a few stories. I had quite a few, but if it was something no one knew, I’d have to think rather hard for the desired response.

She laughed, and I could tell it pained her slightly. “Thank you, for helping me. I’m not sure what he planned, but I know it wasn’t something nice.” Was she really that naïve that she didn’t know what his intentions were. I sighed, maybe it was best that way. It was already traumatizing enough for her. I didn’t want to add to it by telling her what could have happened if I hadn’t shown up. Of course, I was grateful that hI had shown up when I did, and I’m sure she was too.

“How about you? Something you’ve never told anyone before?” She laughed an I smirked down at her. She had just told me that she wasn’t telling me because if she did, then it wouldn’t be some one nobody knows anymore. I looked over at her. “I can tell you something nobody knows.” I smiled, leaning toward her. My arm was wrapped around her, so whispering in her ear wasn’t that difficult of a task. “I like you.”

I know we had just met, but couldn’t help myself. “Seriously,” I said, walking forward with her. “I usually don’t tell people things like that. But you are different. I don’t know what it is about you, but I just want to be nice to you, no matter what.” I smiled. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. Just stick by me and I’ll keep you safe.” I wasn’t really flirting with her. I sincerely wanted to take care of her. She didn’t know Italy very well, as I had predicted, and she certainly didn’t know Italians. But I vowed I was going to take care of her.

[Harper Williams]

“I can tell you something nobody knows.” I looked up at him, arching my eyebrow slightly, it hurt to do it, but I wanted him to see I was paying attention. He leaned closer to me, his lips mere inches from my ear. “I like you.” I smiled, my cheeks blushing slightly. Not many could make me blush, ok, that was a lie, not many could make me blush this much. I had no idea what it was about him, but he made me blush more times today then I had in well over a week.

“Seriously,” I nodded, smiling. I don’t think that really was something he never told anyone before, but, still, he was telling me, so, that’s all that mattered. “I usually don’t tell people things like that. But you are different. I don’t know what it is about you, but I just want to be nice to you, no matter what.” I smiled at him, my cheeks flaming up again! Again, for the hundredth time today. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. Just stick by me and I’ll keep you safe.” I nodded, holding his arm.

“I know you will. I’m sorry about ditching you earlier. It wasn’t right of me. I just…,” I looked forward, squinting when the sun got bright and hurt my eyes. “get scared of things.” I shrugged, looking up at him, smiling. “I promise. No more disappearing. Especially after what just happened. I honestly cant thank you enough.” I looked down at his hands, they were full a blood, blood he shed for me. My hands had that same exact blood on it, then it hit me. “You need to get cleaned off! You don’t know what that guy had!" I shook my head, wrinkling my nose, my stomach turning slightly at the sight of blood.

"We’ll go back to my sister’s place and you can shower if you want.” Even though there was blood on his hands, I didn’t let his arm go, or even his hand. I didn’t want to be away from him, even an inch, he made me feel safe. Safer then anyone ever had, especially when I was this close to him.I had never felt this way before, but, instead of running from it, I was just going to go with it. He was my friend, friends held each other's hands, right? I don't see how being his friend was wrong. Sure, maybe he'd want more, but if he could settle for friendship, then I would definitely be his friend. Because even in this short time, he mattered to me.

[neil]

“I know you will,” she replied to me telling her I’d keep her safe. “I’m sorry about ditching you earlier. It wasn’t right of me. I just…, get scared of things.” She looked up at me, squinting through the sun. “I promise. No more disappearing. Especially after what just happened. I honestly cant thank you enough.” I nodded, taking a deep breath. “You don’t have to worry about thanking me, Harper. I would have been a horrible person not to have done what I did.”

She looked back down before looking back up at me. “You need to get cleaned off! You don’t know what that guy had!" I took a deep breath, smiling down at her. She was sweet to worry about me catching some horrible disease from that fucker, when, if I hadn’t showed up, she could have been the one to contract something horrible from him. God, I had just met her, but already I didn’t want to see her get hurt. She was very gentle and sweet and I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Yes, she was still standing here beside me, but she was filling my senses.

"We’ll go back to my sister’s place and you can shower if you want.” I nodded. “I could use a shower, Grazzie, Tesorina.” I smiled down at her as we walked along the canal back toward her sister’s house. She had covered a lot of ground in her running away from me. I didn’t have ay idea if I’d ever find her, but the more I thought about it, the more grateful I was that I did. I knew neither Noah nor Hunter would ever forgive me for letting anything happen to her.

I pulled her closer to me, mostly to calm myself more, but also to help her know that I was here for her and I wasn’t going anywhere. After what just happened, there was no way I was going to leave her alone. I knew she needed to feel secure, and I was going to do everything I could to help her. I had stopped that man from his horrendous intentions. If I’d have gotten there a minute later, I didn’t even want to think about what he would have done to her, I was only so grateful I got there when I did.[/blockqote]