"Yep," Brooklyn nodded and fumbled with the door handle and got out of Josh's car. Josh walked round and held his hand out for Brooklyn to take.
She stared at it for a few moments and covered up her not wanting to touch him by smiling cheekily and walking ahead with a slight skip to her step.
"Ah, rejected!" Josh called and Brooklyn was glad to hear him laugh. Josh caught up with Brooklyn and they met up with Sasha, Alice, Violet, Jasper and Tyler on the way up to the house.
"It's so busy already and it's only early," Violet said.
"Then let's get inside before all the good drink goes," Sasha said.
Music was pounding when the group entered the house. There was a thin layer of smoke in the house and bodies were everywhere. Brooklyn grabbed Sasha's hand as she seemed to know where she was going and within seconds they ended up in a large kitchen filled with bottles and bottles of alcohol.
"Ooh, wine," Brooklyn said and grabbed a red cup and filled it up with an expensive white wine. Alice grabbed a beer, Sasha got a can of cider and Jasper passed Violet a spirit mixed with coke.
"Wine?" Josh asked as he walked up to Brooklyn, beer in hand.
"Yes," she nodded. "Problem?"
"You're such a girl," Josh laughed.
"And that's a bad thing?" She said and tilted her head back and lifted the cup to her lips. She smirked at Josh and within seconds the cup was empty.
"That'a girl," Sasha grinned and quickly replaced Brooklyn's drink. "We're getting you smashed."
Brooklyn didn't argue. She'd had a stressful last few days and she needed to let loose.
"Guys!" Austin called and he pushed through a crowd of people and smiled at his friends. "You made it!"
"It's not like we were going to miss it," Sasha said.
"I can't believe how many people have turned up!" Austin gasped. "I think I even saw your brother, Alice."
"That twat is here?" Alice groaned and rolled her eyes.
Brooklyn glanced around. If Kal was here then Harry would be too.
"Do you want a drink, Sash?" Austin asked and Sasha slowly raised the can in her hand.
"Um, I'm good."
"Oh," Austin said and laughed awkwardly. "Er... Shots?"
"I knew there was a reason we're friends with you," Alice said as Austin handed everyone a shot.
Josh looked at Brooklyn who was laughing at something Sasha said and smirked to himself, noticing how she was getting tipsier and tipsier. As soon as she had down her shot he handed her another one.
"Again? Shots make me queasy," she groaned.
"One for luck," Josh said.
"I think I might need it," Brooklyn murmured and smiled at Josh, taking the shot and swallowing the liquid quickly. The buzz of alcohol was taking affect and the room spun slightly as she followed her friends to the main part of the house where everyone was dancing to the music that was so loud it was making the floor shake.
Brooklyn felt good to let loose. Her worries were slowly fading the more she drank.
After about an hour she looked at Sasha who was longingly staring at Austin who was talking to a group of guys. Sasha sighed quietly and looked away, drinking more of her drink. Austin then glanced over his shoulder and looked at Sasha, frowning when he saw she looked a bit down.
"I'm going to play Cupid!" She told Josh and turned on her heel and a little unsteadily made her way over to Austin. She bumped into a few people on the way and quickly apologised. "Austin!" She said brightly. "Sorry to interrupt guys," she said to his friends and smiled sheepishly. "But I'm here to play Cupid."
"You can play Cupid with me anytime," one of the guys said and Austin hit his shoulder.
"I'm good thanks," Brooklyn smiled and turned to Austin. "Sasha," she said.
"What about her?"
"You like her, yes?"
"Well... I... Y-yeah, she's a good friend," Austin stuttered.
Brooklyn smirked. "But you like her more than a friend. Don't lie to me Mr. I've got eyes, I can see the looks you're giving her."
Austin sighed. "Fine, but you can't tell her. You know what she's like, she'll probably just take the piss."
"She won't," Brooklyn grinned.
"You can't be sure."
"Oh but I can," Brooklyn said happily. "She likes you."
Austin's mouth dropped. "She does?"
"She does," Brooklyn grinned. "Now go dance with her and kiss her like a man!"
Austin smiled gratefully at Brooklyn and weaved his way through the crowd to Sasha who brightened up when she saw him.
"Well done," Josh said, surprising Brooklyn who stumbled slightly. "Whoa." Josh caught Brooklyn before she fell and she quickly jumped back.
"Well done with that?" She asked, making sure Josh's hands were away from her.
"Setting them up," Josh said. "It was about time."
"You knew."
"Guessed," Josh nodded. "You having a good time?"
Brooklyn blinked a few times and willed her eyes to focus on Josh. "Huh?" She asked and giggled. "Sorry, I zoned."
"I asked if you were having a good time?"
"What?" Brooklyn said, struggling to hear Josh over the music.
Josh took a step towards Brooklyn and she sucked in a breath. "Are you having a good time?"
"Yeah," she nodded and went to step back, but Josh's hand went to her back and stopped her. "Josh-"
"Come on, dance!" Josh called.
"Let go of me," Brooklyn said and tensed up when Josh started to grind. "Josh, no."
"Why not? You agreed to come to the party with me, the least you could do is dance with me," Josh said into her ear and Brooklyn cringed.
"I need to go, Josh get off me!" She snapped and gasped when Josh grabbed her and span her round, wrapping his arms round her waist and pulling her flush against him.
"Just dance, babe."
Brooklyn started to panic and she tried to push Josh away from him, but failed. "J-Josh, please!"
Brooklyn whimpered when she was span round again. "I thought you were into me," he said.
"I'm sorry, Josh, please let go of m-me."
"You don't have to be into me to do this," Josh said, his words slurring and he leaned in for a kiss.
"Josh!" Brooklyn snapped. "You're drunk, get the hell off me!"
Brooklyn winced when Josh's hold on her tightened. "Just go along with it," he said and Brooklyn turned her head so his lips touched her cheek.
She screwed her face up. Everything about this was wrong. Her body was screaming at her to get away. But she couldn't.
"Don't be such a wimp," Josh said and grabbed the back of Brooklyn's head.
"J-Josh! Get off!" Brooklyn yelled and her heartbeat increased as he held her head in place and leaned in. "J-Josh, I'm being serious! Get the fuck away from me!"
Brooklyn was ready to have a full blown panic attack. A tear a slipped out and she was hitting Josh's chest. He was either too drunk to notice or he didn't care.
"Please," she pleaded and just as Josh's lips were about to touch hers he was yanked away from Brooklyn dragged onto the floor. Brooklyn gasped and everyone in the room turned to look at Josh who lying on the floor and Harry who was standing above him.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Harry growled.
"Come on, man, she wanted it!" Josh said.
"Does she fucking look like she wanted it!" Harry yelled and he looked at Brooklyn, his eyes softening slightly.
"You alright, Brooke?" It was Austin that approached her but she jumped away when he touched her.
"F-fine," she coughed.
Josh paled slightly and Harry was soon joined by Greyson, Kal and Ace.
"Get up," Harry snapped and when Josh remained on the floor he grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him off the ground. "Apologise! Apologise now!"
"S-sorry!" Josh spluttered and looked at Brooklyn. "I'm sorry!"
"Not enough!" Harry hissed and Brooklyn gasped when Harry punched Josh, sending him crashing to the ground.
It was then when Brooklyn rushed over to Harry and placed herself between him and Josh just as Harry was about to step forward to do something that Brooklyn didn't want to think about. "Stop!" She said and stumbled into Harry. He steadied her and Brooklyn didn't flinch away from his touch, it made her calmer. "Don't hurt him."
"Move away, Brooklyn."
"Don't hurt him!" She repeated.
"He was... touching you. He was going to-"
"I was there, I don't need reminding," Brooklyn said. "He's drunk. Let him go."
"No-"
"Josh, get away from Harry," Brooklyn called not turning to look at Josh, but she heard him scurrying away. She took a shaky breath and looked around, noticing the music has stopped. "This is a party, where's the music?"
The music started up again and Brooklyn placed her hands on Harry's chest and pushed him through the house, to a still busy but quieter room.
She stood still for a few moments and took a deep breath. She closed her eyes and focused on her breathing.
"Are you okay?"
"I will be," Brooklyn murmured and shivered when she thought of his hands all over her. "Just give me a minute."
Harry gently wiped the tears from Brooklyn's eyes and took her hand. "You're okay. I won't let anything happen to you."
Brooklyn pulled her hand from Harry's and sat down on the couch. Harry sat next to her and they remained in silence for ten minutes.
"I need a drink," Brooklyn said and hiccuped.
"I think you've had enough," Harry said.
"I'm fine now," Brooklyn said. "I just needed to calm down. I came to this party to have fun and that's what I intend to do!"
Harry raised his eyebrows at Brooklyn's 180 personality change and she stood up from the couch.
"You're not fine," Harry said.
"Oh I forgot, you're in my head," Brooklyn said sarcastically and rolled her eyes. "I will be fine, as long as I stay away from Josh."
"Where do you think you're going?" Harry asked as Brooklyn stood.
"To get a drink?" Brooklyn said.
"Alone?"
"Yes?"
"No you're not," Harry scoffed and stood up. He stood behind Brooklyn and placed his hands on her waist. "Walk, no one will touch you, babe."
Harry was right. It was as if people cleared a path for Harry and she made it to the kitchen Josh free.
"Brooke!" Sasha gasped and rushed up to Brooklyn. "What the hell happened?"
"Josh tried it on with me. I tried to get him to stop and he wouldn't," Brooklyn said as she filled a cup with wine and raised it to her lips, drinking greedily.
"So Harry stopped him," Sasha said and Brooklyn whined when Harry took Brooklyn's half empty cup away from her.
"He did," Brooklyn nodded.
"Problem?" Harry asked threateningly.