Brooklyn walked into another class she shared with Harry. Usually she sat at the back and Harry sat next to her.
Today she sat right at the front. She was early for class and there was only one other girl in the room. Brooklyn didn't want to judge, but this girl had all of her books and pens neatly laid out in front of her and she was sat up straight, ready for the teacher to come in.
Brooklyn sighed and took a seat next to her, smiling at the girl and finding out her name was Cassie.
When Harry walked in she wasn't looking at him, but she knew he was here. It was as if she could sense his presence and her body wanted to turn and look at him.
"Move."
Brooklyn stiffened when she heard his voice and Cassie paled. "B-but... But this is m-my seat," Cassie said.
"Move," Harry repeated, his voice cold and he wasn't asking.
"Don't move, ignore him," Brooklyn said to Cassie. "He's just being an ass."
"I won't ask again," Harry warned.
"You weren't exactly asking in the first place," Brooklyn snapped. "How about you move?"
"Fuck off," Harry said to Cassie, ignoring Brooklyn.
Cassie looked at Harry with wide eyes and she nodded, scrambling to pick up her things and move seats.
"What the hell, Harry!" Brooklyn exclaimed as Harry sat down next to her. "What's your problem!"
"My problem is you avoiding me," Harry shrugged.
"That was out of order!" Brooklyn gasped. "That was mean!"
"I'm not a nice person, babe," Harry said. "Remember that next time you're avoiding me."
"Are you surprised I want to avoid you? I don't want you anywhere near me, Harry! After what you told me... I don't even want to speak to you!"
"Are you scared?" Harry asked lowly.
"Scared..."
"Of me."
Brooklyn averted her eyes.
"You are," Harry said.
"I am," Brooklyn muttered. "But..."
"What?"
"Nevermind," Brooklyn said quickly.
"Brooklyn," Harry said. "What?"
"It doesn't matter," she huffed.
"You can either tell me or I'll use other methods to find out," Harry shrugged. "Remember, I'm in your head, babe."
Brooklyn narrowed her eyes. "I am scared, but I know you won't hurt me," she rushed out.
"Good."
"No, it's not!" Brooklyn snapped. "I don't want to feel the way I do about you and know that you won't hurt me! I don't want this!"
"But you do."
"But I don't! And the fact that I do is messing with my head!"
"Come to mine tonight, I'll explain everything properly."
"No," Brooklyn said and shook her head. "I mean it this time when I say I've heard enough."
"It wasn't an offer, babe," Harry said sternly.
Brooklyn slowly turned to Harry with a raised eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
Harry leaned closer to Brooklyn and she sucked in a breath. "I'll meet you after school."
"No you will not!" Brooklyn protested.
"Don't try and leave," Harry said. *I am in your head after all.*
Brooklyn jumped and narrowed her eyes at Harry. His lips twitched slightly and he leaned back, waiting for Brooklyn to argue with him.
She didn't, however. Instead she directed her glare towards the text book and ignored Harry for the rest of the class.
*
"Hey, girl," Sasha said as Brooklyn met her friends for lunch. "Alice told us something happened with you and Harry."
Brooklyn's eyes looked across the busy canteen and landed on Harry. He was far away but Brooklyn knew he could hear every word that was being said.
"I don't want to talk about it," Brooklyn said dismissively.
"It must be bad if you don't want to talk about it," Sasha said. "Did he hurt you?!"
"No!" Brooklyn said immediately and she frowned when she saw Harry tense. "He... He wouldn't-" Harry's eyes flicked up to Brooklyn and she swallowed. "He wouldn't hurt me."
"Physically," Violet murmured. "What about mentally?"
"I don't think he'd do it in purpose," Brooklyn said honestly and she looked away from Harry.
"Boys always hurt you," Sasha said. "Whether they mean to or not."
*I don't like your friends, babe,* Harry said.
Brooklyn looked back to Harry and narrowed her eyes. "Girls, honestly, do you like Harry?"
"Not particularly," Alice shrugged. "How anyone can be friends with my brother amazes me. And, no offence, B, but Harry is a dick."
Brooklyn smirked and raised an eyebrow at Harry.
*I really don't like your friends.*
"Neither of us are particularly fond of him," Sasha said. "But we do like you and him together. He's the only guy that you trust, that has to mean something. There has to be a reason for it."
Brooklyn fidgeted in her seat. She now knew the reason. Mates.
"Hey girls," Austin said as he, Jasper and Tyler joined the girls at lunch.
Violet greeted Jasper with a kiss and Sasha smiled awkwardly at Austin. They both went red.
Brooklyn glanced around cautiously and Tyler caught her eye. "Don't worry, Josh isn't here. He definitely won't be coming near you again. Harry made sure of that."
"He nearly died out of fear when Harry approached him at school," Austin chuckled.
"What? What do you mean Harry approached him at school?" Brooklyn frowned.
"You didn't know?" Austin asked. "Harry's made it clear that no guy is to go near you. Josh was black and blue."
"He beat him up!"
"Did you not see him yesterday?" Tyler asked. "He looked shit."
"B, Josh tried to force himself on you. So what he got beat up," Sasha shrugged.
"I don't need Harry to fight all my battles!" Brooklyn gasped. "Besides, he scared Josh enough at the party! Granted Josh is a creep and deserves it, but that's not the point! The ass."
"There's no point moaning to us about it, B, take it up with the man himself."
*
Brooklyn considered confronting Harry in her next class with him. Instead she hid in the library as she had a feeling she wouldn't win any argument with him.
"Hey."
Brooklyn looked up from her phone and sighed when she saw Ace. She grabbed her bag and stood up, getting ready to leave.
"Wait! I'm the nice one! Don't leave!" Ace said quickly and Brooklyn eyed Ace cautiously before slowly sitting back down.
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't leave right now?"
"Because I'm not a dick, unlike Harry," Ace said and Brooklyn smirked slightly.
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't be running, you turn into a great big dog, isn't that dangerous?"
"We're not dangerous," Ace said calmly.
"But you can be."
"A baby can be dangerous if you give it a knife," Ace countered.
"What do you want, Ace?" Brooklyn asked.
"To talk," he said simply and smiled. "I'm not here to mess you about, Brooke."
"But Harry is."
"Harry is... Harry," Ace chuckled. "But he cares for you. He cares more for you than I've ever seen him care for anyone else. Harry isn't trusting, he's not open and he's very cold. But not to you."
"He's not exactly very open to me, I know nothing about him. Not personally."
"Have you ever asked?" Ace wondered.
"Um... no," Brooklyn said. "B-but I don't even want to know anything about him!"
"Are you sure?"
"...yeah?"
Ace chuckled. "Just accept him and you."
"No," Brooklyn said immediately.
"You're very stubborn."
"And I don't plan on changing," Brooklyn huffed. "I've got to go."
"Just give Harry a chance to explain everything, properly. Don't hide out in the library when you have class with him."
"I'm not- how did you know?" Brooklyn demanded.
Ace just smiled. "You'll be good for each other."
"How do you know that?"
"Because you're mates."
"That means nothing!" Brooklyn protested.
"That means everything."