"Brooklyn!" Harry called. "Are you okay?"
"Fine!" Brooklyn said sharply and flushed the toilet. She went back over to the sink and cleaned herself up before going back into the bedroom.
"Were you just sick?" Harry asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I'm just anxious," Brooklyn sighed. "That's pretty understandable considering my current situation."
"Let's go back to yours, pick up some clothes and then we can come back here. Away from your parents."
"I want to be away from you too!" Brooklyn groaned.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Because you're still pissed at me?"
"Yes! Harry, you need to understand that I will not be controlled!" Brooklyn said firmly.
"That's going to be very difficult for me," Harry said and arched an eyebrow. "I tell people to do something and they do it. That's how things work here."
"That's not how it works with me," Brooklyn said. "Especially after my past I want control. I want a choice. I don't like being bossed around. And yes, that is partly because I'm stubborn, but partly because of what happened to me. Harry, I will always fight you if you try to control me. I will not change."
Harry stared at Brooklyn and there was silence for a few minutes. "You say you want control, that's exactly what I want too."
"Then it looks like we're going to continue to clash."
"Surprise surprise," he muttered. "Brooklyn, I can't change either. You have your reasons for being how you are, and I have mine. I can't just forget about them." Harry ran his fingers through his hair. "Even if I want too."
Brooklyn frowned. "Harry," she said, her tone soft. "Is this about your family?"
Harry picked up Brooklyn's shoes and passed them to her. "Come on, let's go to your house and then we'll come back."
"Harry," Brooklyn repeated. She caught his wrist. "Tell me."
"If they would've listened to me to stay at home then it never would've happened," Harry said. His tone was sharp and rough. "I will only ever tell you what to do because it's what's best for you, babe. I will always keep you safe."
"Sometimes what's best for me isn't what I want," Brooklyn said. "Call that stupidity or whatever you want, but I call it freedom of choice."
Harry gritted his teeth and shook his head. "You're going to be the fucking death of me."
"I could say the same," Brooklyn shot back and grabbed her phone from her bag. She had many messages from Violet, her aunt and uncle and Brandon. "Gosh," she sighed. "Brandon heard about what happened from Violet. Apparently mum and dad are staying at the house for the next few days before their flight home."
"There's no way you're staying in the same house as them," Harry said.
"Then I'll go and stay with Sasha-"
"Or you can stay here. With me."
"I don't think that's a good idea."
"Too bad, I think it's great."
"Can we just go?" Brooklyn sighed.
"Only if we come back here," Harry said. "Look, I know you're still going to hold a grudge, but at least I know you're safe if you're here. You can ignore me or do whatever the hell you want, but I would really appreciate it if you stay here. Especially with Ben out there."
Brooklyn gave Harry a look and she walked past him.
"What are you doing?" Harry called.
"Ignoring you."
Harry rolled his eyes but followed Brooklyn out. The house was silent so neither of them spoke as they made their way downstairs. Brooklyn remained silent once they got into Harry's car.
"Are you really going to ignore me?"
Brooklyn didn't bat an eyelid and she busied herself on her phone.
"I shouldn't complain, at least you're not arguing with me," Harry muttered and they were soon on their way to Brooklyn's house.
"Everyone will be asleep," Brooklyn said when they reached her house. "So, don't speak."
"Yes, ma'am," Harry said sarcastically and got out of the car. Brooklyn frowned when she entered the house. She could hear talking.
"Sounds like people are awake," Harry murmured and Brooklyn followed the voices through the house.
"Gosh," she groaned when she saw her parents and aunt and uncle sitting in the living room.
"Brooke!" Brooklyn's aunt, Lisa, cried and jumped up, running over to Brooklyn and smothering her in a hug. "Gosh, honey, we've been so worried! Where have you been? Are you okay? Don't ever disappear like that, do you understand me?"
"I-I... Aunt Lisa, I'm fine," Brooklyn spluttered, but her heart warmed. She may not have her mother's love, but Lisa loved her as a mother should. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you where I was. I was with Harry."
Lisa raised her eyebrows, a small smile on her lips. "With Harry?"
"She fell asleep as soon as we got back to my house," Harry explained smoothly. "It's my fault, I should have contacted you."
Brooklyn narrowed her eyes at Harry. How could he be so charming towards everyone but her. Lisa's smile widened, falling under Harry's spell.
"Brooklyn was a little... upset earlier, so we went back to my house so she could try and calm down," Harry said.
Brooklyn bit her lip. That was the understatement of the century.
"I heard," Lisa said softly, her eyes full of guilt. "I'm awfully sorry. I wanted them to leave, but there was nowhere for them to go. I'm afraid they have to stay here."
"It's fine, Brooklyn wasn't planning on staying here while they are in the house," Harry said.
"What?" Lisa gasped. "No, but this is your home! Where will you stay?"
"You'll stay at mine. Won't you, babe?" Harry said. He raised an eyebrow when Brooklyn looked up at him.
"I-"
"She will not stay with you," Brooklyn's dad spoke up. "We do not know who you are. You can't look after her-"
"I can guarantee that the care I can provide Brooklyn is on a level that you can only dream of achieving," Harry said. "And at this moment in time, I'm pretty sure that Brooklyn knows me a hell of a lot better than she knows you, her so called father."
"Let the brat go, at least then she'll be out of the way," Brooklyn's mum spoke up.
Harry's heart broke when Brooklyn reached for his hand, gripping it tightly.
"Someone needs to find a mirror," Harry said and looked at Brooklyn's mum. "And then you'll be saying that about the correct person."
"Brooke, be safe and text me as soon as you get to Harry's. I want a daily text just to let me know you're okay, and either me or your uncle will keep you updated with what's happening here." Lisa kisses Brooklyn on the forehead.
"Ditto all of what your aunt just said," Brooklyn's uncle said. He looked at Harry. "She's in your care, young man, keep her safe."
"I intend on doing just that," Harry muttered and he pulled Brooklyn away. She turned around without a glance at her parents and headed for the stairs that led to her room.
"I'm going to shower," Brooklyn said and grabbed her towel. "I'll pack my things after."
"Let's try and not spend more time than we have to in this house," Harry said as Brooklyn walked out of the room.
She returned 15 minutes later wrapped in her and her wet hair falling down her back. "Turn around, Harry," she said, rolling her eyes at him when she saw his gaze travel up and down.
Harry gave Brooklyn one last glance before turning his back. Brooklyn hurried to change and once she was dressed in jeans and an off the shoulder pink jumper she stuffed feet into a pair of flats and brushed through her knotted hair.
"I love your curls," Harry murmured. He stood behind Brooklyn and gently touched the ends of Brooklyn's blonde hair that was starting to form ringlets.
"That makes one of us," Brooklyn said. "Everyone always wants curly hair, but until you have it you don't know how hard it is to manage."
"If I can manage you I'm sure I can manage a few curls."
"You're a dick," Brooklyn huffed and pushed past Harry and grabbed a bag from under her bed. She packed quickly, throwing in a few outfits and toiletries. Hopefully she would only need enough for a few days.
"Ready?" Harry asked.
"Maybe I'll just stay at Sash-"
"Are you really going to turn up at half 5 in the morning?" Harry said.
"Fine, let's go," Brooklyn sighed and grabbed her bag. She followed Harry downstairs but she didn't follow him to the door. She quietly crept over to where her parents were and stopped by the door so she wasn't seen.
"You can keep the girl, Lisa," her mother was saying, "but don't come crying to us when she becomes the biggest pain in your backside. I was almost relieved when she was kidnapped, it's just a shame we got her back and had to hear about it for so long."
"How can you say that!" Lisa cried. "It took months to get Brooke to open up to anyone about what happened to her! You're cruel, saying that about your own daughter!"
"Daughter? The brat may be blood but that doesn't make her my daughter-"
"Come on," Harry muttered. He grabbed Brooklyn and pulled her through the house, taking her away from where she could hear her mother's voice.
"I don't understand why," Brooklyn whispered as Harry opened his car door for her. "What have I ever done?"
"Nothing," Harry said. "None of this is you, you've done nothing wrong. It's about her."
"But I must've done something-"
Harry kissed Brooklyn. "You have done nothing wrong," Harry insisted. "And don't make me tell you again."
A buzz flooded Brooklyn because of the kiss and she bit her lip and pulled Harry closer to her, crashing her lips to his.
Harry was the best distraction she could ever have, even if he did piss her off like no one has ever managed to before.