Brooklyn took a deep breath and turned round, walking into the diner.
"Brooke!" Ben called. "Are you okay?"
"Fine," Brooklyn said and made her way into the staff area to change into her work clothes.
"What was that about in the parking lot?" Violet asked, catching Brooklyn as she made her way into the diner. "You both looked pissed!"
"He's a dick," Brooklyn said. She glanced at Ben, very aware that he was listening. "I'm not being bossed about by him."
"Gosh, no," Violet said. "Show him who's boss."
"He's so angry," Brooklyn groaned and rubbed her eyes. "I don't even know why I'm stressing so much, it's not like he's my boyfriend or anything."
"I didn't think you two needed to ask the question about what you were," Violet said honestly. "I thought it was obvious."
"You're not helping," Brooklyn groaned. She knew very well that Harry was a hell of a lot more than a boyfriend.
"Sorry," Violet said sheepishly. "Go and serve table 6, that'll distract you."
"Just what I had planned," Brooklyn groaned and took her notepad out of her apron and made her way to table six. "Hi there, welcome to-" Brooklyn stooped short when she recognised the couple at the table.
"Brooke," her dad smiled. "I didn't know you worked here?"
"M-mum?" Brooklyn stuttered, looking at the woman she called her mother in shock. "What... you..." Brooklyn turned to her dad. "What the hell is she doing here?"
"That's no way to talk to your mother!" Her mother snapped, her tone short and harsh. "Have some respect, child."
Brooklyn slowly looked at her mother. "Respect?" She said slowly, keeping her voice calm. "You want me to respect you?"
"The fact that you have to ask is ridiculous," her mother huffed and rolled her eyes. "I thought you might've grown up a bit since you've been gone, but after watching you and that boy argue like stupid children I can see you haven't."
"You saw-" Brooklyn sighed and shook her head. "I'd like to remind you that you two sent me away, I didn't choose to leave. However, I'm so glad I did move here because Aunt Lisa is more of a mother to me than you have ever been to me."
"You ungrateful brat!" Her mother cried. "All you do is complain and whine about all the oh so terrible things that have happened to you! News flash, darling, shit happens to everyone. You're nothing special! You just make a big deal out of it to make yourself feel special! You're not! You never will be!"
"Honey," Brooklyn's dad said. "That's enough."
"No, let her say what she wants," Brooklyn said. She swallowed a lump in her throat. "I know the truth, that's all that matters."
"It's your excuse for everything!" Her mother said and rolled her eyes. "Oh, I can't do that because there's going to be guys there and I can't even look at a guy now because I was raped. I can't go out in thunderstorms because it reminds me of when I was raped. I can't do this, I can't do that- it was ages ago! You'd think you'd get over it by now."
Brooklyn was frozen. She could see customers looking at her with open mouths. She could see Ben watching.
"All that crap about not being around boys is nonsense. You're sleeping with that guy that you were just arguing with! I can tell. You're a liar, using getting raped as an excuse for absolutely everything! You're a nightmare, Brooke, I'm still surprised this didn't happen to you sooner-"
"Enough!" Brooklyn's dad said sharply.
Brooklyn blinked, trying to push away the tears. She had no idea why her mum thought this. She had no idea her mum couldn't be nice.
"Hey, hey," Violet said softly and Brooklyn felt her arms wrap around her. "Come on, let's go out back."
"I..." Brooklyn was lost for words. "M-mum... what happened to me was the most horrific thing in my life. I will never get over it, and I never ever did anything to deserve it. No one could ever do anything to deserve that, and if you can't understand that then I pity the unsympathetic and cruel person you are." A tear slipped down Brooklyn's cheek and she let Violet pull her away from her parents.
Ben walked up to them and he genuinely looked upset. "Brooke-"
"Please, don't," Brooklyn whispered. She couldn't believe the whole of the diner now knew about what happened to her. "Just, don't say anything."
"I'll go and tell them to remove themselves from the diner," Ben nodded. "And you can go home, take all the time you need."
Another tear slipped down Brooklyn's cheek and Violet hurried her to the private staff area just as Brooklyn broke down. She crumpled to the floor and sobbed into her hands, memories of that horrible time flooding into her mind.
"Oh, Brooke," Violet whimpered and hugged her friend. She didn't know what she could do. How she could make Brooklyn better. She doubt that anything could make her feel better.
"How can she think that!" Brooklyn cried.
"I don't know," Violet whispered. "She's a bitch. A horrible person."
Brooklyn nodded and continued to cry. She couldn't stop.
"I'll go and get you some tissue," Violet whispered. She quickly left the room and returned a few minutes later with tissue for Brooklyn to dry her eyes. "I... I also called Harry."
"You did what?" Brooklyn said, sniffling and looking at Violet with wide eyes.
"I'm sorry, but I thought he might be able to help-"
"Crikey, I don't need this," Brooklyn mumbled and scrambled up from the ground and grabbed her back. "I need to go."
"You can't go by yourself in this state!" Violet protested, trying to stop Brooklyn who was a blubbering mess.
"I need to go," Brooklyn repeated and she made her way into the diner, ignoring the pitiful looks she got from everyone as she made her way out.
She had barely taken 10 steps down the pavement when a familiar car pulled up alongside her and Harry jumped out.
"Leave me alone, Harry!" Brooklyn exclaimed and wiped away tears. "I can't deal with you right now."
"But you need me to deal with you," Harry grunted and gently placed his hands on Brooklyn's shoulders, stopping her from walking. "Are you okay with this, babe?" Violet had told Harry everything that was said to Brooklyn.
"She practically yelled it out," Brooklyn whimpered. "Everyone in there knows! Before I came to this stupid town no one knew! And now-"
Harry pulled Brooklyn into his chest and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tight. "Let's get you somewhere private," he murmured.
"No," Brooklyn protested and tried to push Harry away. "I-I don't need you."
"Yes, you do," Harry said. "Just let me get you off the damn street. You can be annoyed at me after."
"I'm just going to go home-" Brooklyn stopped herself. "But they're both going to probably go there... why did this have to happen!"
Harry cupped Brooklyn's face, trying to focus her attention on him. "Come with me, babe, you'll be away from everyone. You can take time to yourself."
Brooklyn grabbed at Harry's hands, her eyes wide. "I-I... I don't want to be alone," she whispered.
"You won't be," Harry said gently and he tensed when two people exited the diner.
Brooklyn's parents.
"C'mon, lets go," Harry said firmly and pulled Brooklyn towards his car.
Brooklyn wiped more tears and Harry cursed when she looked over her shoulder. She froze when she saw them and fresh tears formed in her eyes.
"Brooke-" her dad started to talk but Harry cut him off.
"You've lost every right to talk to her," he snapped and opened the car door for Brooklyn. "Babe, get in."
Brooklyn looked up at him and more tears flowed down her cheeks. "Harry," she whispered.
Harry wiped her tears away and kissed her forehead. "Let's get out of here."
Brooklyn nodded and got into the car.
Harry slammed the door and turned to Brooklyn's parents, sending a look that he wished could kill. Within seconds he had walked round the car and was in the drivers seat. He revved the engine, put the car in gear and sped away. His hand went to Brooklyn's and she grabbed it gratefully, wanting the sparks to soothe her.
No words were said during the drive, and Brooklyn was silent when they pulled up at Harry's house. She remained sitting in the car, staring blankly ahead of her and Harry had to gently pull her out of the car and guide her up to the house.
He had his arms securely wrapped around Brooklyn, and her hands were gripping his shirt tightly.
"Harry," Grayson called. Brooklyn was barely aware that he had spoken. "You took off in a hurry." Greyson looked at Brooklyn and he frowned. She looked so vulnerable, so frightened. Brooklyn was the sort of girl that always seem happy and care free, it was strange seeing her like this. "Is she okay?"
"Definitely not," Harry sighed.
"What happened?"
"Surprisingly, her mother did this," Harry muttered. "I'm going to take her upstairs."
Greyson nodded. "If you need anything you know where I am."
Harry helped Brooklyn upstairs and into his room, sitting her on his bed. Harry went to his draws and took out one of his T-shirt's, handing it to Brooklyn. "Change out of your work clothes," he said gently.
It was like Brooklyn was in a trance. She slowly fumbled with her top and eventually swapped it for Harry's oversized one. Soon the rest of her clothes were off and his top fell down to her knees.
"Babe," Harry said. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Brooklyn shook her head and she laid down on Harry's bed, sinking into the soft pillows.
Harry pulled the bed covers over Brooklyn and kissed her cheek. "I'll be here when you wake."
*
It was early morning when Brooklyn woke up. She groaned and rolled over, gasping when she felt sparks.
"Morning," Harry whispered and Brooklyn blinked, looking at Harry who was lying next to her. "How are you?"
Brooklyn rubbed her eyes and sat up. "I feel like crap," she admitted. "My head is killing me."
"I'll go and get you some tablets-"
"No, no," Brooklyn said. "I should go. I'm still mad at you."
Harry gave Brooklyn a look and rolled his eyes. "Where are you going to go? Home?" Harry asked.
Brooklyn swung her legs off the bed and frowned. "He's still going to be there, and then so is she," she mumbled and groaned.
"So, how strong is your annoyance towards me?" Harry wondered.
Brooklyn gave Harry a look. "Still freaking strong don't you worry."
"Strong enough to go home?"
Brooklyn pursed her lips and stood up, rubbing her stomach when it churned uneasily. "What time is it?" She asked.
"5am."
"Jesus," she groaned.
"So, what are you going to do?"
"I'm going to pee," Brooklyn said and walked into the bathroom. She was washing her hands when her stomach felt like it was doing summersaults and she went back over to the toilet, lifting the seat up and retching into the toilet bowl. Brooklyn groaned when she brought the contents of her stomach up.