Chapter 42: I Need You

Whitney POV:

Song- Everybody Lies: Jason Walker

I was doing my best to distract myself from where we were headed.

Harry was too, singing along to the radio in his best American accent.

And it worked, temporarily.

When we were walking up the concrete steps to the building; Harry holding the door open before grabbing my hand securely as it fell back shut. The way he trailed by my side in step, squeezing my hand reassuringly while we approached the desk directly through the entranceway.

Up until I was told to let go of the only one keeping me calm.

"Okay Whitney can you come with me." The man spoke, I think his name was Cole; I don’t know he said he was the one I spoke with on the phone.

We took a few steps forward when the man turned and raised his hand towards Harry, "I'm going to have to ask you to wait out here sir."

I glanced to my right, desperately pleading through our stare for Harry to stay.

I could hardly do this with him; I couldn't bare the thought of without.

Harry ran his digits through his curls before speaking sternly, "I'm going with her."

"Sir it is standard policy-"

"I don't care if it came from the Queen herself!" Harry snapped, brow narrowing in frustration.

I fixed my grip on his hand when he was about to say something more. Biting his tongue for if he said another word the officer just may ask him to wait outside, outside of the building outside.

The police man glanced back and forth between us, landing upon me when he spoke, "Is this okay with you?"

I quickly nodded yes, my heartbeat fluttering uneasily.

The officer then fixed his gaze to Harry, "Everything comes from Whitney. You got that?"

Harry did the 'zip your lips, throw the key away' action before giving me a reassuring smile.

I squeezed his hand so tightly I was probably constricting blood flood before we headed back down two hallways, taking a left into a private interview room.

"Have a seat you two. I'll be right back I just have to grab a few things before we begin."

I let out a sigh, thankful for the extra minutes to gather my thoughts, Harry right by my side when we took our seats in front of the small rectangular table.

That was what I wanted right?

It's not like he hasn't heard this all once before.

Yes.

I told Harry everything.

Except that was what I thought happened.

But you see suppressed memories are always the worse to face,

Buried so deep sometimes you aren't even aware.

Aware that what you think happened is only just the half of it.

* * * * *

"Nervous?"

I nodded, "A lot."

His warm hand encompassed mine, entwining our hands on top the trim of the wooden table.

"It will be over soon."

I let out a sigh, staring at the door that could open any second, "Not soon enough."

"Hey look at me," He lowly spoke.

Hesitantly I met Harry's gaze, emerald eyes staring deep into mine.

"You can squeeze my hand off if you need to. Remember I'm right here for you babe."

I smiled, Harry mirroring my action before his lips fell to mine.

Dimples indenting to my cheeks when the sound of the door was heard creaking open.

"Okay sorry about the wait-"

We quickly pulled away, Harry coughing in attempt to keep himself from laughing.

Officer Cole glanced back and forth between us, rolling his eyes in annoyance, meanwhile my cheeks flaring uncontrollably.

"Well never mind it looks like you had plenty to keep yourselves occupied."

Out of the corner of my eye I could see Harry's chuckling change to a cold glare.

The man cleared his throat while taking a seat at the opposite end of the table. My eyes fell to the object placed in the middle.

A tape recorder.

"So we'll start off with you telling me everything you remember."

"Uh is that all?"

"Well I may have some questions for clarification afterwards to make sure you don't leave anything out."

I nodded, taking a deep breath when I felt Harry's large hand grip my knee, skimming the pads of his fingertips up my thigh before his palm fell in mine beneath the table.  

.

Song- Haunted: Taylor Swift

I started with what led me to go outside in the first place, the officer tapping at the table with a lack of interest.

I don't think Harry realized it but that led him to squeeze my hand harder than I was gripping his. Along with the way he continued to comb through his tasseled curls making it evident he was biting his tongue, resisting a commentary on the officer’s rudeness.

Well that was until the officer made a more direct remark.

"Ma'am my shift ends at two can we please move this along?"

I jumped as Harry stood, slamming his left palm flat against the table. When he opened his mouth to speak I quickly grabbed his forearm and pulling in hopes he would sit back down.

The officer smirked, which thankfully I don't think Harry was aware of for he simply huffed and took his seat once again reluctantly.

I did a quick glance at Harry, the left side of my mouth tugging up to show how I appreciated him wanting to say something but it really wasn't necessary.

I just needed to get this over with as soon as possible.

"So anyways after all of that I went outside and that's when he came out."

"He?"

"The man who attacked me."

"Can you describe what he looked like?"

"Um brown maybe black hair. Buff. Tall-"

"How tall?"

"Six three maybe I don't know it was pretty dark..." My voice lingered off.

I uncertainly looked to my left, adding another detail I thought of on that actual night but just mow recalled.

"Taller than Harry."

His eyes widened, sarcastically mumbling, "I'll put that in my notes. Taller than Harry."

I was really growing tired of his personality.

As if it wasn't hard enough to talk about, he continued to mock anything and everything I told him.

"Go on," he spoke staring out the tiny window to his right.

"Well he backed me to the brick wall so I couldn't escape. And that's when he..." My voice lingering off while my nails dug into Harry's palm.

"When he what?" The officer asked, suddenly finding interest my words.

"Go ahead babe," Harry whispered for only me to hear.

I took a deep breath, "He started lifting my shirt and I-I screamed b-but then this happened," I stammered, gesturing towards my bruised cheek.

"He hit you?"

"Yeah," I mumbled.

"What happened after that?"

I tried to open my mouth to speak but my lips began to quiver, struggling to control the anxiety in my chest.

Harry nudged my arm as I started down at our linked hands, "Babe?"

I shook my head, "I-I can't"

Harry sighed in response, sensing it was coming but unsure of how to handle the situation.

"He touched her." Harry spoke in disgust.

I fiddled with his bracelet while my cheeks reddened in embarrassment.

The officer huffed before he spoke, not pleased that Harry opened his mouth, turning to face me.

"Is this true?"

"Yeah," my voice cracked, Harry's hand departing mine.

"Okay can you tell us where?"

I bit my bottom lip as I begin to feel Harry circling my back in his comforting motions of his expansive palm.

"U-um h-he"

I bit down harder, frustrated by how difficult it was to say a few damn words.

Hell I didn't even tell Harry aloud.

It made it real.

"Where?" The officer prompted once more.

"I'm sorry I can't-"

My hand reached up to wipe beneath my lashes when he spoke again.

"Whitney where?"

“I can’t,” I mumbled once more.

My eyes continued to brim with tears, trying not to cry for then I would only be more embarrassed.

“Whitney we don’t have all day-“

I jolted in my seat as two hands pounded at the table, catching Harry hovering like before.

His voice bellowing so loud it made me jump once again.

"FOR FUCKING SAKE WOULD YOU GIVE HER A GOD DAMN MINUTE?"

My body shuttered, peering up beneath my lashes to find the man speechless at the opposite end of the table.

"You know what we're done with this shit."

"Ha-Harry what are you doing?" I questioned, reaching up to grip his forearm.

"C'mon-" Harry gestured towards the door.

"I can't," I whispered.

"Oh yes you can," Harry asserted.

"We need the rest of your statement before a case can be filed," the man arrogantly spoke at last.

Harry shifted behind me, placing his right hand on my shoulder, "Whitney c’mon-"

His voice cut off as a woman appeared in the doorway, mid-twenties, clipboard in hand, dazed expression.

"Is everything okay in here?"

No.

It was most definitely not okay.

_ _ _ _ _

Harry POV:

Song- Disengage: Sleeperstar

“Your officer here is harassing my girlfriend.”

“Excuse me?”

“Uh why don’t you come with me?” The woman suggested.

I ignored her, turning back to face the man.

“Can’t you see this is hard for her?”

“I sympathize with-“

“Oh bull shit,” I snapped.

“You can sit in the lobby for the remainder of the-“

“Why so you can grill her some more?”

“Sir-“ The woman cut in.

All three of us drew silent as Whitney stood, not saying a word as she stormed out of the room.

“Whitney wait-“

“Ma’am the rest of your statement-“

“Shut up about the damn statement!”

Then the woman chimed in, “Sir I’m going to have to ask you to step out-“

“Gladly.” I responded in an instant.

I quickly retrieved Whitney’s purse from the back of the chair, taking off into the hallway.

Left.

Nope.

Right.

Nope.

I took a deep breath.

Think Harry where would she have gone-

The car.

I jogged down the hall, swinging the door open in one swift movement as my feet began to pad down the concrete steps.

My eyes scanned before me to the Range Rover across the street, a shadow appearing on the opposite side.

Long hair, back resting against the passenger door, small frame.

Whitney.

I rushed over, almost forgetting about the passing cars, darting two along the way which made a point to honk their horns.

I slowed to a walk as I rounded the hood.

“Whitney?”

Her hand reached up to wipe her cheek with her sleeve, continuing to look at the curb before her.

“Whitney,” I repeated.

Hesitantly she turned to face me, pushing back her hair in the process with shaky hands.

“I’m sorry,” She whispered.

I took another step forward, “What do you mean? You have nothing to be sorry for.”

She bit her bottom lip, trying to hold back tears and the sight killed me inside.

I pulled her in for a hug, hands lacing around her back.

Her head fell to my shoulder as she locked onto my frame, body relaxing against mine.

I skimmed the back of her tee gently with my nails, rubbing my palm between her shoulder blades as she let out a sigh.

“I couldn’t do it.”

“Couldn’t do what?” I asked with confusion.

She pulled back to look me in the eyes, my hands cupping her jawline, thumb clearing the tears from her cheeks.

“It’s humiliating Harry. For them to know-”

“A guy took advantage of you Whitney. It’s not your fault.”

Whitney shrugged.

“That officer was an ass okay? Look we’ll figure something else out.”

“How are they supposed to find him if I can’t even TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED.” Whitney yelled, releasing the emotion bottling inside all at once.

“Excuse me,” A quiet voice intermitted.

We both released our grip, staring at the woman from the front desk who had the audacity to follow us outside.

“Dear we are going to need the rest of your statement.”

I stepped infront of Whitney before asserting, “She’s not saying another word to that damn officer of yours.”

Her eyes trailed down to her clipboard, extending it forward.

“I understand that the questioning didn’t work out well for you-“

“You could say that,” I sarcastically mocked.

“So if you would still like to file a case you may do a written statement for the remainder of the information.”

“She doesn’t-“

“Wait,” Whitney whispered, her hand gripping my side as she slid alongside me.

“So I would just write everything?”

The lady nodded, offering the clipboard to Whitney.

I glanced to my right when she nodded, “Oh-Okay I’ll try that I guess.”

“Are you sure babe?” I whispered, wrapping my arm around her shoulder.

“Mhm,” she hummed.

“Okay thank you. I apologize on behalf of Officer Cole, your welcome to come inside or fill it out here. Whatever works for you.”

“Thank you,” Whitney graciously responded.

.

Song- Love In A Box: The Workday Release

Once she had reached the stairs to the building across the street Whitney hesitantly turned to face me before asking, “Can I do it in the car?”

“Of course.”

I pulled the keys from my pocket and clicked the unlock button, pulling the passenger door open for her.

She half smiled as she hopped in; I swiftly leaned in to place a kiss on her cheek before moving around to the driver side.

Hopping in and quickly glancing over at Whitney.

She fiddled with her pen, glancing between the paper and out the front windshield.

“Harry?”

“Huh?”

“Thank you.”

I moved my hand to her knee, her beautiful sapphire eyes meeting mine piercingly.

“Anytime babe. You going to be okay?”

Her hand gently moved atop mine, leaning forward in my direction.

The only response being the one in which was unspoken.

Lips moving against mine gently, tasting the strawberry chapstick on hers.

Caressing kisses as her brunette hair brushed against my cheek.

Tugging at my bottom lip when they began to pull away.

My stomach flopped from the inside out when I saw the look in her eyes.

Her mouth opening to speak.

“Harry I-“

“I-“

“I know babe.”

My eyes narrowed, staring back into hers as my hand brushed her cheek, “I do too.”

There in the Range Rover.

Outside a police station parked off the edge of the street.

Was the first time our thoughts on our feelings were almost put into words.

But I didn’t want it to be like this.

When Whitney was so vulnerable.

So I spoke for the both of us.

Not saying it directly like she was about to but through the next kiss we shared.

We both knew.