"What's your last name?" Brooklyn blurted, blushing slightly when she realised how random the question was.
"My last name?" Harry asked. "Why do you want to know that?"
"Because I don't know anything about you."
"It was only yesterday when you were making it your mission to avoid me, babe," Harry pointed out. "And now you want to get to know me?"
"I didn't say I want to-"
"I didn't say I'm complaining."
Brooklyn opened her mouth but closed it quickly. She did want to get to know Harry, but she couldn't. "Well... Well, I am complaining. Just forget I asked," she said quickly.
Harry raised an eyebrow and Brooklyn frowned when she noticed irritation flashing across his face. "Fine," he said after a few moments and focused his attention on the road.
Brooklyn did want to get to know Harry. He annoyed her, and made her snap, but she also trusted him and felt safe around him. And she hated that.
Deep down, it was like it was ingrained in her, she feared men. She couldn't help it. But she didn't fear Harry, not anymore. And that scared her.
A guy she had barely known two weeks had gained her trust, even when she was trying to avoid him.
It was wrong, and Brooklyn didn't like it.
But she did.
"Damn viscous circle!" She complained under her breath. She expected Harry to say something about her talking to herself, but he didn't even spare Brooklyn a glance.
The rest of the journey was silent and she chewed on her lip awkwardly as Harry parked the car at school. It felt like time was moving painfully slow.
"Um... thanks," Brooklyn coughed and reached for the door handle, but a distinctive click made her stop. "Did you just-"
"Lock you in, yes," Harry nodded.
"Why?"
"Because I need to ask you a question."
"A question?"
"That is what I just said, babe," he said, his tone patronising.
Brooklyn narrowed her eyes. "Then ask away."
"Are you going to go back to trying and failing to avoid me?" Harry asked, sounding as if he was bored with Brooklyn doing exactly that.
"I..." Brooklyn paused. She couldn't let anything happen with Harry, well nothing more than what had already happened. She wanted to- Brooklyn pushed the thought of her liking Harry from her head and pursed her lips. She couldn't like him. But he made it so damn hard to ignore him. "Yes."
"Fucking hell," Harry sighed. "Why?!"
Brooklyn jumped at his raised voice. "What do you mean?"
"Why are you going to avoid me, damnit! It's not going to work, you know it's not!" Harry snapped.
"I..."
"You feel this, Brooklyn! I fucking know you do! Just give up trying to run away from what you feel!"
Brooklyn took a deep breath. "I don't feel anything-"
"Bullshit," Harry said harshly. "I tried to be patient, but you're wearing me down!"
"Maybe it's because one moment you're nice and the next moment you're an ass," Brooklyn huffed. "You can't get annoyed every time you don't get something you want!"
"I've already got what I want," Harry muttered. "It's just taking a while for that to be made clear."
"That doesn't even make sen- You know what, I don't care. Harry, you're too much. I'm screwed up, just accept that and leave me alone."
"But you don't want me too. Not really."
"I do."
"Don't lie to me!" Harry said, sounding very aggravated.
"Don't yell at me!" Brooklyn snapped and Harry gritted his teeth and clenched his jaw.
"Brooklyn, there's something you need to know about me, I've got a very short temper," Harry said slowly. "You bring it out extremely easily. I've been holding it back, but you're going to make me snap."
"How is your temper my fault?" She gasped.
"Because you're fucking stubborn!" Harry snapped. "And you make me angry!"
"And you make me angry! But you don't see me blaming you!" She said, her voice rising.
Harry clenched his hands into fists and Brooklyn heard a click. "Get out," Harry said, his voice cold.
"Gladly," Brooklyn muttered and she scrambled out of the car and slammed it with as much force as she could muster, smiling sweetly at Harry who narrowed his eyes at her. "This is not how I wanted to start my morning," Brooklyn grumbled.
*
"He gave you a lift again," Sasha sang as she slid into the seat beside Brooklyn.
"Don't remind me," Brooklyn groaned.
"What happened?" Sasha asked, noticing Brooklyn's expression.
"We had an argument. Last night he was so sweet and then today-"
"Whoa," Sasha said. "Last night?"
"He came round and tutored me," Brooklyn mumbled.
Sasha smirked when Brooklyn blushed slightly. "And how much tutoring happened?"
"A... er... Not a lot," Brooklyn admitted.
"Okay, look," Sasha started and took a deep breath. "I don't like the guy, he's dark and mysterious, he always looks moody as hell, and I can't get a judge of his character, but your eyes light up when you talk about him, even when you're arguing-"
Brooklyn's eyes widened. "They do?"
"You like him. And he obviously likes you. He has never taken an interest in a girl before you. There's something there and I think you should just stop avoiding it."
Brooklyn narrowed her eyes. "Has he put you up to this?"
Sasha frowned. "Huh?"
Brooklyn shook her head. "Never mind."
"Just whatever to you, don't bring him to have lunch with us for something. He makes me on edge. He doesn't talk much, but when he does it's usually... mean," Sasha said.
Brooklyn couldn't help but laugh. "He talks an average amount with me," she said.
"Because he likes you. He can't exactly get to know you while saying one word sentences," Sasha said and raised her eyebrows at Brooklyn.
"I'm not getting to know him," Brooklyn protested. "I'm avoiding him."
Sasha rolled her eyes. "And how well have you done with that so far?"
"Shut up," Brooklyn mumbled. "I've been doing very well, considering his ability to randomly show up everywhere."
"You've been doing shit," Sasha said and looked up as Alice joined them. "Hasn't she been doing shit?"
"Hey!" Brooklyn called. "Don't gang up on me.
"It's for your own good," Sasha smiled.
"Shit at what?" Alice wondered, sliding into the seat next to Sasha.
"Avoiding Harry," Sasha said, matter of factly.
"I have actual shits longer than you can manage to avoid him," Alice said with a shrug.
Brooklyn furrowed her eyebrows. "I thought you were meant to be my bodyguards!"
"And we take full blame on that part," Sasha nodded.
"I don't," Alice argued. "Remember my period story to try and cover your back? That was on point!"
"The rest is all down to you and your lack of self restraint when it comes to him, girl," Sasha said.
"Self restraint?" Brooklyn repeated. "Fine, it happens now, for real. No more, Harry. We've had an argument, he basically told me to fuck off, so I take it we're not talking. Not talking is good, it means he won't randomly turn up outside my house. I can't do this, I'm feeling confident."
"Good for you, but we don't believe that you can," Sasha laughed and Brooklyn glanced to the door of the classroom as Harry, Greyson and Ace walked in.
Brooklyn locked eyes with Harry. His face was hard and he regarded her with a cold look before walking past her and taking a seat in one of the only spare seats. Behind Brooklyn.
"I don't know what you've done, Brooklyn," Greyson said lowly and stopped beside her, leaning down slightly. "But he is very angry, and he's finding it hard to keep it contained."
"According to him in the one who makes him angry, so tell him to stay away from me and I'll stay away from him then there won't be a problem," Brooklyn said simply and Greyson smirked, shaking his head slightly.
"That's not wise," Greyson said and raised an eyebrow in warning before taking a seat behind Brooklyn.
Sasha and Alice both turned to Brooklyn. "Good luck," Sasha chuckled.
"Watch me do it," Brooklyn said and she jumped when the seat beside her was filled up by Josh. "Hey," she smiled.
"Hi," he nodded. "I have one question for you and one question only, can you make it to the party?"
"Violet booked both you and her off of work," Sasha told Brooklyn and smiled triumphantly. "Of course she can make it, Josh."
"What she said," Brooklyn said and pointed to Sasha. "Actually..." Her mind went to Harry. She had to try to move on, and she could use Josh, not that she'd actually do anything with him.
She needed a distraction.
And Josh could probably do with getting rejected a few times.
"Yes?" Josh wondered.
"Who are you going with?" Brooklyn blurted.
"Well, currently myself, but I would love the company," Josh said cockily and Brooklyn rolled her eyes.
"Well, the company is here," Brooklyn smiled.
"Are you asking me out, Brooklyn Fox?" Josh said cheekily.
"The offer is going quickly," she warned.
"I'm joking. I'd love you to come with me, Brooke," Josh said. "I'll pick you up at 9pm?"
"Sounds good," Brooklyn nodded.
"Great it's a date," Josh smiled.
Brooklyn paused and chewed on her lip. "Yeah..." She said unconvincingly and coughed, forcing a smile. "Yeah," she repeated, her tone more upbeat. "It's a date."
Brooklyn frowned when she heard a crunch from behind her and she turned round to see Harry's pen split in half, the ink spilling over the desk. Harry was looking directly at her, his eyes dark and angry.
Brooklyn half expected a reaction from Harry, but she was still surprised. He had previously told her that he would get jealous easily. "Is there a problem?" She asked innocently and bit her lip to stop a smirk when Harry narrowed his eyes.
"Yes," he said stonily, his eyes flickering to Josh who has also turned round.
"No," Ace said smoothly. "No problem."
"Like I said," Greyson said lowly and looked at Brooklyn, rolling his eyes. Greyson knew exactly what Brooklyn was doing and so did Harry, but he couldn't help but get angry. "He gets angrily easily."
"Really?" Brooklyn said and looked back to Harry. "You should try and stay clear of the things that make you angry then."
Greyson shook his head at Brooklyn. "Turn around now, Brooklyn," he said, his voice turning serious. "And shut the hell up."
Brooklyn's mouth dropped. "Excu-"
"Do it," Greyson said sternly. "Or someone's going to do something they regret." Greyson and Brooklyn both looked at Harry who seemed to be growing angrier by the minute.
"Brooke, cmon," Josh muttered and Brooklyn flinched when he nudged her arm. Harry noticed this and it only seemed to add to his anger.
Brooklyn quickly turned round and looked down at her notepad, she picked up her pen and distracted herself with writing the date.
Harry seemed very angry, but she had to do everything possible to put him off her.
Make him leave her alone.
Otherwise she knew she would fall for him, and she couldn't let that happen.
She couldn't get close to anyone. She was screwed up, and getting close to someone would just result in her getting heartbroken and more hurt.
Brooklyn rubbed her head when the pressure returned and she screwed her face up when her head started to hurt. She whimpered quietly, but Josh heard and looked to Brooklyn.
"You okay?" He asked.
"Fine," Brooklyn grimaced and flinched when there was a quick sharp pain in her head. "My head just hurts." Brooklyn closed her eyes and focused on trying to block out the pain. The pressure in her head started to decrease, and the pain subsided slightly.
"Harry!" She heard Ace gasp and the pain slowly started to decrease. "Stop it!"
"He's fucking angry," Greyson said under his breath and tightened his hold on Harry. "He won't listen to you."
One thing that Brooklyn did not know, was that Greyson and Ace had been holding Harry back the whole time. Greyson's hand was wrapped firmly round Harry's wrist and Greyson and Ace were both straining slightly, struggling to keep Harry in his seat. Ace glanced at Harry cautiously, one more little thing and Harry would snap. He adjusted his grip and glanced at Brooklyn.
She didn't understand that while she made him angry, she was the only one that could calm him.