"Well, um... I'll... Er-"
"I think you'll find the word you're looking for is thanks," Harry said, turning in his seat to look at Brooklyn who was fumbling with her bag.
"Yeah... Um, thanks," Brooklyn coughed and reached for the door handle. She opened the car door, but she was stopped by Harry who reached out and grabbed her bag. Missing her hand by millimeters.
Harry leaned forward and Brooklyn stiffened. This was happening too much with him.
He was getting too close.
"I won't touch," Harry said lowly, his green eyes flickering to Brooklyn's wide blue ones. "Tomorrow? Same time?"
"N-no, it's fine," Brooklyn said quickly and shook her head.
"See you then."
"I said no," Brooklyn said.
"And I don't really care," Harry shrugged.
"No," Brooklyn said sternly. "No more lifts. Harry, please leave me alone."
"And why would I do that?"
"Because I asked you to," Brooklyn said softly.
"I don't like being told what to do," Harry said slowly. "Tomorrow. Be there."
Brooklyn pulled her bag from Harry's grip. "There's something you should know about me."
"And that is?"
"I don't like being what to do either," she said, forcing a smile on her face. "Goodbye, Harry."
"Later, babe."
Brooklyn arched an eyebrow at Harry, but she didn't stick around to question him. She scrambled out of the car and walked into school, completely unaware of all the curious looks because her mind was too wrapped up in Harry.
He did something to her.
He made her feel... Something.
She couldn't tell if she liked it or not and it scared her.
Brooklyn groaned as the pressure came back and she leaned against her locker, rubbing her temples in frustration. "Stop thinking about him!" She scolded herself.
"Hmm, let me guess?" Sasha said, appearing next to Brooklyn. "He's dark, brooding and handsome, has lavish blonde locks that I would die for, his name begins with H and he's someone you should stay away from? I think you should stop thinking about him too."
"It's hard!" Brooklyn whined.
"Do you like him?"
"No!" Brooklyn exclaimed. "Not like that! God no! I don't even want to be in his presence! He makes me feel like a little mouse trying to stand up to a lion! It's frightening!"
"He frightens you?"
"No." Brooklyn shook her head. "Intimidates slightly, but he doesn't scare me. The way he's making me feel scares me."
"Jheeze, he gives me that weird electric feeling that makes me want to shit myself," Alice said brightly, joining into the conversation. "Although, I think he makes me and you feel completely different."
"I think you're right," Brooklyn laughed. "Funnily enough I don't feel the need to shit when I'm around him."
"You should talk to him," Sasha suggested.
"Not a good idea," Brooklyn said. "I don't want to get to know him."
"Seems like he wants to get to know you," Violet said, walking up beside Sasha. "Are the rumours true?"
"Rumours?" Brooklyn wondered.
"You and Harry turned up to school together," Violet said and Brooklyn groaned as a crash of thunder rumbled outside.
"It was raining, he gave me a lift! It was nothing!"
"Not in this school," Sasha shrugged.
"Everything is something," Violet explained.
"I told him to leave me alone," Brooklyn grumbled. "I'm not in the right place to deal with boy trouble."
"You better get there because I think you're going to have a lot of problems with him," Sasha said and frowned. "Brooke, Harry doesn't take interest in girls. No one is worth his time."
"Apart from you," Alice said and nudged Brooklyn.
"That's why it's strange," Sasha admitted. "He's not just going to ignore you if you're the first girl anyone has ever seen him take interest in."
"H-he has not taken i-interest in me!" Brooklyn gasped.
"She's in denial," Violet said.
"Don't worry, the stage will pass," Alice grinned.
"How do I get him to stop?" Brooklyn frowned.
"It's Harry," Sasha shrugged. "You don't."
*
"Ah Brooklyn! Come, come!"
Brooklyn looked towards the door that she was so close to reaching and her mind was on the big slice of pizza waiting for her in the canteen for lunch. Instead she turned round and walked up to Mrs Mental's desk, narrowly missing Harry who walked past her and out of the classroom.
Too close for her comfort.
"Yes, Mrs Mental?" Brooklyn said.
"Brooklyn, I know you are smart girl," Mrs Mental said, her French accent ringing strong. "But you not excel in my native tongue. It's difficult language. You not good."
"Oh, okay-"
"But you will be good!" Mrs Mental declared, throwing her arms up in the air and giving Brooklyn a mini heart attack. "You will excel!"
Brooklyn took a small step back from Mrs Mental and frowned. "Sorry, miss, but I don't think I will. I'm not good at French at all. I think I'll only ever understand English."
"Nonsense!" Mrs Mental said, waving her hands at Brooklyn. "I will find you tutor! You will learn! Become good! Oui, oui?"
"Um... Sure," Brooklyn said, smiling unconvincingly.
"That the spirit!" Mrs Mental cried. "I will find one of my best students! You will learn!"
"Sure thing, Miss M-" Brooklyn coughed and stopped herself. "Miss," she corrected. "Thank you."
"No problem!" Mrs Mental grinned and then waved Brooklyn out of the room.
"Mental," Brooklyn said under her breath and made her way to the canteen.
Brooklyn queued up for food and she frowned when she realised everybody was putting a large amount of distance between herself and them. She cautiously fiddled with her hair, thinking she had something on her back or in her hair.
What was their problem?
When Brooklyn finally got her food she rushed over to Sasha and Alice. "Everyone is staring and standing really far away from me," Brooklyn said and looked over her shoulder. "Do I have something on my face?"
"No, but you have Harry's eyes on your back," Sasha said and Brooklyn span round and caught Harry staring right at her.
"He needs to stop," Brooklyn groaned and faced her friends. "Where's Violet?"
"With Jasper," Sasha said and pointed across the canteen to where Violet was sitting with a dark haired guy. "They go out. On and off."
"They're on and off more than a freaking light switch," Alice said and rolled her eyes.
"He's cute," Brooklyn commented and rubbed her head. The pressure would not go away.
"Not as cute as Harry," Sasha said, looking at Brooklyn.
"Harry? Cute?" Alice laughed. "I once knew a killer pitbull that was cuter than him."
"Alright, he's hot," Sasha corrected herself and Brooklyn stayed quiet.
She didn't deny it.
A mass of high heels clicking could be heard and Brooklyn rolled her eyes when she heard Stacy's voice.
"Slut," Stacy coughed as she and her cronies walked past Brooklyn's table.
"I'm so offended," Brooklyn called and smiled at Stacy. "Did you get an 8 year old to come up with your insults?"
"It's not an insult if it's true," Stacy shrugged.
"Oh, I wonder what names I can call you and get away with?" Brooklyn said cheekily. "Bitch, fake, slag two-faced, I guess I could use slut as well, maybe whore-"
Stacy gasped and stalked up to Brooklyn. "What did you say?"
"I called you a bitch, fake, slag-" Stacy raised her hand and Brooklyn arched an eyebrow. "I don't think it would be very wise to slap me in front of the whole school," Brooklyn said. "Unless you want to get expelled, then be my guest."
Stacy's eyes flickered around the hall and glared when she saw everyone looking at them. She gulped slightly when she caught Harry's cold, harsh look and she lowered her hand. "Watch your back, bitch!" Stacy spat and walked off.
"I love you!" Alice cried. "More than chocolate!"
"I really dislike that girl," Brooklyn said and chuckled at Alice.
"I don't think she's too keen on you either," Sasha teased.
"She started the problem," Brooklyn shrugged. "I'm not going to let her bully and scare me. No one deserves to be treated badly by her."
"You are amazing," Alice said.
Brooklyn flashed a dazzling smile. "Why thank you," she laughed. "You're not too bad yourself."
"Not too bad? I'm awesome!" Alice defended herself.
"Eh," Sasha shrugged and Alice gasped.
"I am awesome!"
"Slightly," Sasha said.
"Fully!" Alice exclaimed.
"Partially."
"Fully!"
"I don't think so," Sasha smirked.
"Take that back!" Alice gasped. "Or I'll never share my chocolate with you ever again!"
Brooklyn looked between Sasha and Alice as they play argued and smiled. They were the distraction she needed from Harry.
*
For the second time that day Brooklyn walked into Mrs Mental's classroom and took a seat at the back of the class. She busied herself with getting her books out and when she looked up Harry was standing by the desk.
"Jesus!" She gasped. "You frightened the life out of- No, you can't sit here!"
Harry ignored her and sat down next to her. "I saw what happened at lunch."
"You need to go."
"Stacy needed putting in her place-"
"I need to go," Brooklyn said to herself and stood up, but Harry pushed his chair back and kicked his feet up onto the desk, trapping Brooklyn.
"I'm trying to talk to you."
"And I'm trying to ignore you," Brooklyn frowned.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "How's that going for you?"
"I'm finding it rather difficult," she muttered and sat back down in her seat, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I could say the same about you."
"You find me difficult?" Brooklyn questioned.
"Highly," Harry nodded.
"Then leave me alone. Problem sorted."
"But it's not a problem," Harry shrugged. "Yet."
Brooklyn took a deep breath and pursed her lips. "I think I have a problem with you," she said. "Harry, you need to stop bothering me."
"And what will you do if I say no?" Harry wondered. "Besides, I wouldn't classify this as bothering."
Brooklyn raised and eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest. "Oh really?"
"No," Harry shrugged. "You rather enjoy my company, Brooklyn."
"Do I?" Brooklyn said and scoffed. "You're delusional."
"Am I?"
Brooklyn nodded. "Highly," she mocked.
Harry narrowed his eyes. "I hear you have been offered a job at the diner."
Brooklyn frowned. "How did you hear that? I haven't told anyone."
Harry just shrugged his shoulders and took Brooklyn's book, his eyes scanning over the work Brooklyn had done the previous lesson. "Your French is shockingly bad," he commented.
"So I've been told," Brooklyn said and glanced at her book. "It can't be that bad. I've done all the correct squiggly thingies."
Harry turned to look at Brooklyn and raised his eyebrows in amusement. "Squiggly thingies?" He repeated and Brooklyn looked up at him, not realising how close she had leaned in when looking at her book.
"Er..." She said and sucked in a deep breath. Harry's bright eyes were staring right into hers and he was close.
Too close.
"Squiggly thingies," she said and leaned back, letting out her breath. "Above the letters."
Harry nodded and he he slid Brooklyn's book back to her. "A two year old old can write better French than you."
"Did a two year old come up with that insult?" Brooklyn asked, sounding genuinely curious. "It's shockingly bad," she mimicked and Harry pursed his lips.
"You rather enjoy mocking me don't you?" Harry said.
"That's a push," Brooklyn shrugged. "It provides me with a small amount of entertainment."
Harry shook his head and glanced to the front of the classroom as Mrs Mental walked in.
"Bonjour my lovelies!" She called and waved her arms about in a ridiculous manner than made Brooklyn giggle.
"Laughing at an old woman, so rude," Harry tutted.
"Hush," Brooklyn said and rolled her eyes.
"Did you just tell me to hush?" Harry asked and Brooklyn nodded, paying attention to Mrs Mental who was telling the class to carry on with the questions set last lesson. "You hushed me," Harry said and rested his hand on the back of Brooklyn's chair, leaning close. "You fucking hushed me."
Brooklyn tensed and looked up at Harry. "What's with the bad language?" She said slowly.
"You hushed me."
"So you've said."
"Nobody has ever said that to me before," Harry said, his eyes flickering from Brooklyn's to her soft pink lips.
"There's a first time for everything," Brooklyn whispered and edged backwards.
"If you go any further back you'll end up on the floor," Harry said and Mrs Mental then decided to make a dramatic appearance to Brooklyn and Harry, making Brooklyn jump in fright and fall backwards where she had shuffled so far back on her chair.
"Partners!" Mrs Mental cried and Harry reached forward and grabbed Brooklyn's waist, holding her up so she didn't go tumbling to the floor. Brooklyn froze and looked to Harry with wide eyes.
"Get off," she whispered and tensed when Harry spread his fingers out, his hand grazing the bare skin where Brooklyn's top had ridden.
Sparks appeared at his touch as well as the pressure in her head.
"Brooklyn, Harry, partners? Brooklyn, Harry will teach you! He one of my best students. Oui? He tutor you?" Mrs Mental said happily, not noticing Brooklyn's extreme discomfort.
"O-oui," Brooklyn croaked, wanting Mrs Mental to leave. Mrs Mental grinned brightly and then walked back to the front of the class. "Get off!" Brooklyn snapped and grabbed Harry's wrist, pushing his arm away. "Don't touch me!"
"Tell me," Harry urged. "You might as well speed up the inevitable, babe."
Brooklyn's mind was still recovering from the feel of the sparks and she couldn't think straight.
Why did he affect her so much?
"I... Er..."
"Yes?"
"Don't," Brooklyn said. "Stop asking, Harry! My life is nothing to do with yours!"
"I think you'll find it is."
Brooklyn froze. "W-what?"
"So," Harry said. "I'm your tutor now, what days are you free?"
"You can't just change subject!" Brooklyn gasped. "What did you mean?"
"I'm free every Wednesday," Harry said.
"Harry!" Brooklyn said.
"Babe," Harry said. "I'm guessing Wednesday's are good for you too?"
"What? No!"
"Thursday then?"
"No!" Brooklyn said quickly. "No days."
"We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Brooklyn," Harry said. "Personally, I don't mind either, but you will."
Brooklyn's mouth dropped. "Are you threatening me?"
"No, I'm just giving you an incentive to choose a day," Harry shrugged.
"Me and you... No. You're not tutoring me," Brooklyn said and shook her head quickly. "No."
Harry leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. "Hard way it is then, babe."