Brandon swallowed, but forced a confident demeanour that was full of cracks. "No."
"You sure? We can take it outside if you want to say something," Greyson threatened.
"He said no," Brooklyn spoke up. "You can leave now."
Greyson turned to Brooklyn and raised his eyebrows. "And you are?"
"None of your business," Brandon snapped.
"I'm pretty sure she can answer for herself," Greyson scolded and looked back to Brooklyn who tucked a piece of curly blonde hair behind her ear.
"I'm currently a girl who is trying to get her work done in peace," she said with a sweet smile. "Please leave us alone."
Harry tutted and Brooklyn raised her eyebrows at him. "Rude," he said and pursed his lips. "Not very nice."
"I could say the same about you," she retorted.
"He threatened your cousin," Harry said, his deep, velvety voice making Brooklyn's insides feel like goo. He pointed at Greyson. "Not me."
"Stop talking to her," Brandon said. "Leave us alone."
Harry raised his eyebrows at Brandon and looked at Brooklyn. "Is that what you want, Brooklyn?"
"Exactly what I want," Brooklyn smiled sweetly and turned back to her work.
*
"Brooke, how was your first day?" Lisa asked when her and Brandon walked into the kitchen after school.
"It was good, I made some friends," Brooklyn smiled and hugged her aunt. "Smells lovely."
Lisa was covered in dusts of flour and a sweet smell filled the kitchen. "I'm baking cookies," Lisa smiled. "You used to love them when you were little."
"If they taste as good as I remember them I'm pretty sure I'll love them now," Brooklyn grinned.
"I'm going to do some homework," Brandon said and walked off.
"Oh Brooke, your parents sent some of your things you left over. I put them in your room," Lisa said.
"Thanks," Brooklyn smiled. "I'll go check out what they sent." Brooklyn walked out of the kitchen and made her way upstairs to her room. On her bed were two large boxes. Brooklyn chucked her bag on the floor and she opened the boxes, pulling out random things that she had forgotten she had owned.
Her eyes landed on a shoe box and she gulped. She had forgotten that she had this.
She picked it up carefully, as if it would explode if handled roughly. Her breathing picked up and she set the box on her side. She didn't know why she kept it, it was a horrible memory, but it could never be forgotten. She slowly lifted the lid and gulped when she looked inside.
"Stop it," she said to herself and slammed the lid on the box. "Forget it, Brooklyn!" She grabbed the box and shoved it under her bed. "Out of sight out of mind," she whispered and turned her attention to the rest of her belongings.
After putting everything away she quickly changed out of her clothes she wore to school and pulled on a vest top, running leggings and a pair of trainers. She needed to distract herself. Forget about the box.
"I'm going for a run!" Brooklyn called as she ran downstairs and headed to the door.
"Be careful, it gets dark early!" Lisa called. "Brooklyn, get home before dark!"
Brooklyn tensed as she sensed the hidden meaning behind her aunts words. "I will!" She called weakly and rushed out of the house. She put her earphones in, turned the volume up loud and set off running.
She used running as a distraction. It cleared her mind and put her at ease.
She ran through town, trying to get an idea of where everything was. She hated being in a new place that she didn't know the layout of. After familiarising herself with the centre of town she turned on her heel and decided to cut through the woods to get home quicker.
Brooklyn frowned when she realised she had been running for a long time and the sky was starting to darken.
Her music was blaring as she ran through the woods, so she was completely unprepared when she crashed into a chest.
"Jesus!" Brooklyn cried in shock and looked up with wide eyes as she stumbled back from the person she had crashed into. "I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going-" She gasped when her foot caught a branch sticking out of the ground and she squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the ground to swallow her up.
Firm hands grabbed Brooklyn's shoulders and her eyes flew opened in fear. She looked up with wide eyes and was met with Harry's vibrant green orbs. "Get off me!" She blurted and tried to step back, but it resulted in her stumbling again.
Harry kept a firm grip on Brooklyn and raised his eyebrows when he realised she had gone tense. "Calm yourself," he said and Brooklyn slapped his hands away.
"Don't touch me!" She said sternly and carefully took a large step backwards, making sure there was space between her and Harry.
"A thank you would be nice," he said.
"You crashed into me!"
"I recommend you start looking where you run," Harry said and leaned against a tree, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
"I was looking where I was running," Brooklyn defended herself. "You just randomly appeared out of nowhere! Who even walks in the woods by themselves!"
"Clearly I do," Harry said, his tone making Brooklyn like a child. "You however shouldn't be alone out here at this time of night."
Brooklyn looked around cautiously and she chewed on her lip. It was dark. Lisa would freak if Brooklyn stayed out any later.
"I need to go," Brooklyn said and took another step back. "Thanks for crashing into me."
"You crashed into me," Harry corrected. "And I prevented you from falling."
"Don't touch me again," Brooklyn said sternly. "And I want my pen back."
"Why?"
"Because you took it from me," Brooklyn said, almost tempted to say 'duh'.
"Not that," Harry said and waved his hand dismissively. "Why don't you want to be touched?"
"Because you're a stranger," Brooklyn shrugged.
"The real reason," Harry said.
"I need to go home," Brooklyn said and turned on her heel. "Goodbye, Harry."
"Wait!" Harry called and Brooklyn stiffened when he ran up to her, his arm brushing hers. "These woods aren't safe at night."
"I can handle myself," Brooklyn shrugged.
"I'll walk you home."
"I'm fine."
"I'll walk you home, Brooklyn," Harry said firmly and Brooklyn looked up into his firm green eyes.
"I'm running," she said after a few moments silence. "You better not slow me down."
*
"Is Brandon home?" Harry asked when him and Brooklyn stopped outside her house.
"What does it concern you?" Brooklyn wondered, tucking a piece of curly hair behind her ear.
Harry shrugged.
"Well... Thanks for er... Running with me," she said and chuckled slightly. "You didn't have too."
Harry just shrugged again and Brooklyn jumped when Lisa threw the front door open. "Brooke! Thank God, I was getting worried!"
"Lisa, I'm fine," Brooklyn said with a small, comforting smile.
"Don't do that to me, young lady!" Lisa gasped. "I was scared you weren't going to come back, just like-"
"Aunt Lisa!" Brooklyn cried in panic, her voice rising. She looked at Harty cautiously. "I'm fine!"
Lisa spotted Harry and she gasped softly. "Oh, hello dear, you must be a friend of Brooke's?"
"He was just leaving," Brooklyn said and avoided Harry's scrutinising gaze. "Weren't you, Harry?"
"No, we were talking," Harry said lowly.
"I think you'd find I was talking. You were... Shrugging," Brooklyn said.
"I'll just leave you two," Lisa said softly and backed up into the house.
"So we're talking, are we?" Brooklyn wondered, raising her eyebrows at Harry.
"We are now," Harry nodded. "What was that about, with your aunt? She seemed worried about you."
"I've got to go," Brooklyn said and walked towards the door, but Harry's hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. Brooklyn gasped, in fear, but also surprise. Small tingles travelled up her arm and created a small buzz that was a foreign feeling to Brooklyn. "Let go of me, Harry," she whispered and frowned because of the tingles. They felt... Nice. "P-please!"
Harry frowned. "I'm not going to hurt you."
"I said let go of me!" Brooklyn demanded, trying to pull away from Harry. Brooklyn's breathing sped up when Harry pulled her to his chest and she swallowed. "P-please."
"You don't like being touched," he commented. "Why not?"
"Harry, if you do not let go of me I will start to panic!" Brooklyn said quickly and she struggled to breathe properly, her breaths coming out in short gasps. She hated being in such close proximity to a guy she didn't know, even with the weird sparks she was feeling. "P-please!"
Harry slowly let go of Brooklyn. "You're hiding something," he murmured. "I'll find out your secret, Brooklyn."
"Leave me alone, Harry!" Brooklyn gasped and rushed into her house. She closed the door behind her and leaned back against it, taking deep breaths trying to calm her breathing. Apart from Brandon, her uncle, and father, that was the closest she had ever been to a male in a year.
What the hell had just happened?