"Brooklyn, thank you so much for your help today," Ben said once the last customer left the diner. "You've been a lifesaver."
"It wasn't a problem," Brooklyn smiled. "It was nice doing it again, reminded me of being back home."
"In that case, I would like to offer you a permanent position here," Ben said and Brooklyn's mouth dropped. "That's if you want it?"
"O-of course!" Brooklyn gasped. "Thank you!"
"No, thank you," Ben grinned. "I'll email you your shift patterns by the end of the week and get Violet to tell you any important information. Would you be happy starting next week?"
"That'd be great," Brooklyn said, nodding eagerly. "Thank you so much."
"It's not a problem," Ben said and checked his watch. "It's getting late, I'll let you get off."
"Thank you, Ben," Brooklyn beamed and grabbed her bag and her clothes and headed to the door of the diner. "See you next week." She waved to Ben and stepped out into the cold night air. Brooklyn shivered and and rubbed her arms and started the walk home.
She had already text her aunt telling her she was going to be home late and not to worry.
Town was deserted and Brooklyn couldn't help but be cautious as she walked down the empty streets. She knew she was safe, but she couldn't help but feel nervous.
Brooklyn cursed her luck when it started to rain. "Typical," she murmured and sighed.
A car driving down the road caught Brooklyn's attention and she stiffened when it pulled to a stop beside her. The dark window slowly rolled down and relief filled Brooklyn when she saw it was only Harry and not some random person.
Then again... Harry was a random person.
She didn't know anything about him.
"Get in," Harry called and drove along beside Brooklyn.
"I'm fine."
"It's raining, late and cold," Harry said. "Get in the car, Brooklyn."
"I'd rather walk, Harry," Brooklyn said.
"I have to drive past your house to get home," Harry called. "Come on."
"I said no," Brooklyn frowned. She didn't want to be near Harry and risk touching him.
"I won't touch you," Harry said after a silence. "Just let me take you home."
Brooklyn stopped walking and turned to look at Harry. "Why?"
"Because it's raining, cold, dark and you're scared."
"Scared?" Brooklyn questioned. "I'm not."
"I don't like liars," Harry said. "Get in."
"Have you ever thought that you're the one scaring me?" Brooklyn questioned.
Harry's lips twitched. "I'm not," he said. "I'm making you feel many things, but scared is not one of them."
The rain got heavier and Brooklyn chewed on her lip. Her house was a long walk away.
"Fine," she mumbled and walked round the car and climbed into the passenger seat.
The car was lovely and warm and Harry turned to look at Brooklyn as she rubbed her hands together and blew of piece of damp hair out of her face.
"You're soaked," Harry muttered and shook his head as he started to drive down the road.
"Rain would do that to someone," Brooklyn said, arching an eyebrow at Harry.
"I'm being nice, no need for the sarcasm," Harry tutted.
"I tried to decline your offer but you were annoyingly persistent," Brooklyn shrugged. "You'll have to deal with my sarcasm."
Harry raised an eyebrow at Brooklyn. "How was working at the diner?" He asked.
"It was great until you turned up."
"Quite the rude one," Harry murmured, but Brooklyn ignored him and stared out of the window. "Brooklyn, why don't you like being touched?"
Brooklyn stiffened and she pursed her lips. "No comment."
"Brandon touches you. Other girls touch you."
"No comment."
Harry sighed and shook his head. "I can make assumptions?"
"That's all they will be," Brooklyn said stiffly.
"Fine, you don't have to tell me," Harry said. "Yet."
"There's nothing to tell, Harry," Brooklyn frowned.
"And there you go again with the lies," he said and tutted.
"And how do you know if I'm lying or not?" Brooklyn questioned.
"Because I know," Harry shrugged. "Every word you say I'll know if it's the truth or not."
"Oh really?"
"Really."
"Okay, psychic," Brooklyn said. "I have a sister. Truth or lie?"
"Lie."
Correct.
"My middle name is Paige? Truth or lie."
"Truth."
Correct.
Brooklyn scowled at Harry. "I don't like you. Truth or lie?"
Harry stopped the car and Brooklyn realised they were outside of her house. "Oh," Harry chuckled and turned to face Brooklyn, leaning forward like he did in the diner. "You wish that was the truth." Harry slowly raised his hand and Brooklyn froze when he tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, but he was careful not to touch her skin. "But it's not, babe."
Brooklyn swallowed and quickly span round. She fiddled with the door handle, but eventually shoved the door open and stumbled out. "You're delusional, Harry," she said.
"Lie."
"Goodbye, Harry ," Brooklyn said quickly and slammed the door. She rushed into her house without glancing back at Harry.
"Brooke," Brandon said. He was walking down the stairs opposite the front door. "Who was that that dropped you off?"
"Nobody," Brooklyn said dismissively and dumped her damp bag on the floor.
"What are you wearing?" Brandon frowned.
"I got a job!" Brooklyn grinned, happy to change the conversation.
"Oh, dear, that's great!" Lisa called, poking her head out of the kitchen door. "Brandon, you should take a leaf out of your cousins book!"
Brooklyn laughed and stuck her tongue at Brandon who rolled his eyes and shoved Brooklyn playfully.
"Brooke, dear, go upstairs and dry up. I'll warm your dinner up for you," Lisa called.
"Thank you, aunty Lisa!" Brooklyn smiled and made her way upstairs to her new room. She yawned tiredly and showered as quickly as she could, getting changed into clean, warm pyjamas. Once she was done she headed back downstairs and sat at the kitchen table with Lisa to eat her dinner.
"I'm so glad you're settling in, Brooke," Lisa said sincerely. "You've not had any problems have you?"
Brooklyn's mind went to Harry. "No," she said. "No problems."
*
It was a miserable day when Brooklyn woke up in the morning. She yawned and rubbed her eyes, sitting up in her bed. She could see the rain pouring down outside her window and sighed.
"B!" Brandon yelled and rushed into Brooklyn's room. "Sorry, you've got to get your own way to school, I've got to leave early!"
"But Brandon-" Brandon was already gone and Brooklyn sighed. "It's raining," she mumbled and pulled herself out of bed. She stumbled into the bathroom and had a quick wash and changed into a pair of ripped jeans and a long khaki coloured sleeved turtle neck top.
After dressing and tying her wild curly hair up into a messy bun she quickly applied some makeup and stuffed her feet into her shoes.
"Ow," Brooklyn mumbled and scrunched her forehead up when she felt a large amount of pressure in her head. She went into her bathroom and fumbled around for some pills, swallowing them dry when she found them. Once she was done she searched the numerous boxes in her room until she found her umbrella and coat and then grabbed her bag and made her way downstairs to the empty house.
Rain hammered down outside and Brooklyn sighed. "Thanks Brandon," she mumbled and grabbed an apple before slipping her coat on and heading to the front door. She zipped her coat up and got her umbrella ready, bracing herself as she stepped out into the strong rain.
"Blasted rain," she grumbled and pulled her coat hood up. Before Brooklyn had made it two steps down the pavement a familiar car pulled up beside Brooklyn and Harry arched an eyebrow at her as he rolled the window down.
"We need to stop meeting like this," he said.
Brooklyn rolled her eyes. "We do."
"We're not going to have a repeat of last night, are we?" Harry asked. "If I offer you a lift are you going to take it or be difficult and try to refuse it?"
"Would it annoy you if I refused?" Brooklyn asked, smiling slightly when Harry pursed his lips.
"I won't lie, unlike you, so yes. It would annoy me," Harry said.
"Good," Brooklyn grinned and started to walk along the pavement.
"I'll drive alongside you the whole way to school," Harry warned.
"I'll ignore you."
"I'm trying to do you a favour," Harry said. "Get in the fucking car. You're going to be soaked by the time you get to school."
Brooklyn turned to look at Harry and raised her eyebrows. "No need for the harsh tone," she said patronisingly, smirking when Harry narrowed his eyes at her. "And I'd rather be wet than sit in a car with you."
"You know, I would much rather be the one who made you wet," Harry called and Brooklyn gasped, literally choking on her own spit.
"Excuse me!" She blurted.
"Come on, hop in," Harry said. "I'm getting bored."
"You... You can't just... You-"
"Try to form a proper sentence, Brooklyn," Harry said and rolled his eyes.
"Ass," she snapped.
"Would an ass offer you a lift?" Harry wondered.
"Yes," Brooklyn mumbled.
"Are you sure you don't want to take the offer?" Harry said and Brooklyn swore under her breath.
"Fine," she sighed and just like the night before she walked round the car and climbed into the passenger seat. She dumped her umbrella into the foot well and pushed her hood back once she shut the door behind her. "Just keep your hands on that half of the car," she warned and pointed to Harry as he drove away from her house.
"Can't make any promises," Harry murmured.
"Make one," Brooklyn said and Harry frowned.
"What?"
"Don't touch me," she said quietly and winced when the pressure in her head increased. "Please?"
"I won't," Harry said after a few moments silence. "Not unless you want me to."
"I won't."
"Not yet," Harry said mysteriously. "But you will."
"Stop that," Brooklyn snapped. "Just stop it!"
"Stop what?"
"Stop talking like you know me!" Brooklyn groaned. "You don't know me, Harry! You don't!"
"I can get to know you," Harry said, casually shrugging his shoulders.
"You're impossible!" Brooklyn cried. "Just be normal!"
"But where would be the fun in that?" Harry wondered as Brooklyn rubbed her head. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she muttered. "Just a headache."
Harry turned to frown at Brooklyn. "What does it feel like?"
"Like a headache," Brooklyn said in a 'duh' tone, but then she answered his question. "It's this weird pressure in my head, like someone is pushing my head down onto something really hard. It doesn't hurt, it's just a strange feeling. Really strange." Suddenly the pressure went and Brooklyn frowned. "Weird," she murmured.
"Gone?" Harry said, but it wasn't a question, it was a statement.
"Gone," Brooklyn said slowly and looked to Harry but he was staring straight ahead at the road.
Weird, Brooklyn thought, really weird.
*