C22

Please stop saying how you're going to stop reading this book. I get that you're pissed Greyson is dead, but you can be pissed without being a right dickhead about it in the comments.

Thanks

*

"I heard she kicked?" Kimberly called, walking into Harry's room where Indianna and Brooke were bundled under the covers of his bed, watching a cheesy girly film.

"She did," Indianna nodded and stopped the film.

Kimberly glanced at Brooke who was munching on some popcorn, Brooke always ate when she was stressed or worried. Kimberly was jealous of Brooke. She was jealous of Brooke's relationship with Indianna. The girls were best friends, they had been through so much together.

Kimberly hated how bubbly Brooke was. She was always happy, everyone seemed to love her.

"Is everything okay, Kim?" Indianna asked, noticing Kimberly's silence.

"How do you do it?" Kimberly asked, looking at Brooke.

"Excuse me?" said Brooke.

"How do you do it?" Kimberly repeated. "You're never down, you're always happy! You should be screwed up. You should be the bitch, not me. So much has happened to you yet you're still happy and you seem like there's nothing wrong! How do you do it?"

Brooke looked at Kimberly and sighed. "I don't do it," she said simply. "I pretend. I fake everything. I bottle it up and eventually I explode. Wait- don't tell Harry I said that."

"He knows what you're like, Brooke," Indianna said softly and took Brooke's hand.

"Doesn't mean I want to admit it," Brooke mumbled and ate some more popcorn.

"Do you want to join us, Kimberly?" Indianna asked.

"I... er-"

"Move your butt and sit," Brooke called and rolled her eyes.

"Are the sheets clean?" Kimberly wondered, raising her eyebrow.

"Yes," Brooke laughed. "Jheeze, I'm not that bad." Indianna gave Brooke a look and she blushed. "Come on, we don't do it a lot."

Kimberly scoffed and joined the two girls on the bed. "If you're not bickering you're fucking."

"Let's just watch the film," Brooke mumbled.

"Wait," Kimberly said. "How do you fake it?"

Brooke paused and frowned at Kimberly before smiling brightly. It seemed so real, so genuine. If Kimberly didn't know better then she would've thought Brooke was the happiest girl alive. "A smile deceives many people."

"You make it look so easy," Kimberly murmured.

"Practise," Brooke shrugged.

"Don't even think about it," Indianna said to Kimberly. "Don't fake happiness, don't hide your feelings. It's not good." Indianna gave Brooke a look.

"It's now a habit," Brooke defended herself. "And I don't intend to give it up."

"I talk to you, I tell you everything, it helps to have someone to talk to," Indianna frowned.

"It helps you," Brooke said. "Not me."

"Don't lie," Indianna sighed. "I know you feel better after Harry finally gets you to open up."

"Indie, respectfully, please shut up," Brooke said. "I'd rather not talk about me, or Harry. I would like to talk about Kal." Brooke turned to Kimberly. "I've got a question and it's really been bugging me."

"What?" Kimberly asked cautiously.

"Have you had sex yet?" Brooke wondered and ate some more popcorn.

Kimberly's eyes widened. "I... We-"

"Don't look so shocked," Brooke said dismissively. "Me and my friends quizzed Indianna about it when her and Greyson first got together-" Brooke paused and glanced at Indianna, stopping herself before she mentioned anything else about Greyson.

"We were friends then," Indianna said with a small chuckle. "You and Kim don't really get along."

Brooke blinked, not expecting Indianna to not react at the mention of Greyson. "We were hardly good friends then. You made it super hard to talk to you," Brooke said and looked at Kimberly. "So, have you?"

"How soon was it before you and Harry did it?" Kimberly asked sheepishly. Brooke was seeing a different side to Kimberly. An insecure side. A side that wasn't a defensive bitch. "I've never done it before and I'm nervous. Was Harry your first?"

(A/N: I can't remember if I've mentioned about Kimberly knowing about Brooke's past or not, so I'm just going to pretend she doesn't)

Brooke paled. "You don't know?"

"Know what?" Kimberly questioned.

"A-about me?" Brooke whispered. "What happened to me?"

"Surprisingly you aren't the main subject of all conversations. I don't know anything about you," Kimberly shrugged.

Brooke swallowed and shrugged her shoulders, waving her hand dismissively. "Harry and I aren't the best example of mates," Brooke said. "We had sex two weeks after we met. He was the first person I had sex with that I cared about."

Indianna squeezed Brooke's hand. "Greyson and I waited a while," Indianna said, taking attention away from Brooke.

"But they did it at school," Brooke smirked.

Kimberly's eyes widened. "I would not expect that from you!"

Indianna blushed, but Brooke noticed how she rubbed her eye, pulling her hand away that was slightly damp.

"Lets watch the film, yeah?" Brooke said and this time it was Brooke who squeezed Indianna's hand.

"Yeah," Indianna agreed.

*

Indianna had fallen asleep, but she was awoken by Brooke.

"Indie, your phone is ringing," Brooke said softy and handed Indianna her phone.

"Crap," Indianna cursed when she looked at her phone.

"What?" Kimberly asked.

"It's Rogue," Indianna gulped, looking between Brooke and Kimberly with wide eyes.

"Don't answer it. Ignore it," Kimberly said.

"Are you mental? He's already going to be pissed! Don't make him anymore angry!" Brooke said.

Indianna took a deep breath and answered the phone. "Jason," she said and held the phone to her ear.

"Sister," Rogue said loudly. "I would say congratulations, for getting your pack member back safe and sound, if I wasn't so angry."

"A-about what happened-"

"I want you at my house," Rogue said simply. "Now."

"I- I'm busy-"

"Not anymore," Rogue said. "Chop chop, little sister, you wouldn't want to make me anymore angry, would you?"

The phone line cut off and Indianna stood up immediately.

"Where are you going?" Brooke asked.

"Home," Indianna gulped.

"You can't! You don't know what he'll do to you!"

"He won't hurt me," Indianna said. "Physically. If he was going to he already would have. I'll be fine."

"Don't be stupid. We're not letting you go alone!" Kimberly said.

"Yes, you are," Indianna said firmly. "He's already angry, I'm not making him any angrier. I don't want the pack to be at risk."

"Indie, at least tell Harry where you're going-"

"No," Indianna cut Brooke off. "Do not tell Harry, Brooke. Do not!"

"Two hours," Brooke compromised. "If I don't hear from you in two hours then I'm telling the whole pack. I've got the whole mind link figured out now since the Branding Ceremony. It'll only take me seconds to tell everyone. Everyone!"

"Two hours," Indianna agreed and rushed out of the room.

*

After Indianna had left Brooke and Kimberly sat awkwardly for a few moments before both leaving the room, going in different directions.

Brooke went to the kitchen and hunted through the cupboards for something to eat.

"Babe," Harry called when he found Brooke struggling to open a packet of chocolate with her arm in a cast. "What happened with Brandon?"

Brooke glared at the chocolate when she couldn't open it. "Damn food," she murmured.

"Brooklyn?" Harry said and took a step towards her.

"Aha!" Brooke grinned and successfully ate some chocolate from the now open packet.

"Brooklyn!" Harry snapped.

Brooke looked up at Harry and raised her eyebrows. "Yes?"

"What did Brandon want?"

"You know, I don't understand how chocolate can be so good, but be so bad for you," Brooke said and she gasped softly when Harry snatched the chocolate from her hand and held it away from her.

"Tell me," Harry said lowly.

"It was nothing really," Brooke sighed and looked up into Harry's eyes. "He was trying to explain himself, I guess in his own way he was trying to apologise. He said he was going to try and calm Rogue down."

"Was that all?"

Brooke nodded. "And he wanted to make sure I was alright."

Harry sighed and ran his fingers over the bruise on Brooke's face. "He didn't need to come here. Rogues got his stupid spies all over town, they could've fucking told your stupid cousin."

Brooke grabbed Harry's hand. "Can I have my chocolate back now?"

Harry rolled his eyes and kissed Brooke. "All I've seen you eat recently is sweets. You need a decent meal."

"I'm fine with junk food-"

"Come on, let's go out for a meal."

"But chocolate-"

Harry pulled Brooke towards the front of the house. "Chocolate can wait."

"Brooke!" Ace called as her and Harry reached the front door.

"Can it wait?" Harry asked.

"I just wanted to ask where Indie was," Ace said. "I can't find her."

Brooke paled slightly. "Really?" She said. "Strange."

"What do you mean you can't find her? Have you searched the house?" Harry demanded.

"Yeah," Ace frowned. "She's not here."

"I'm sure she's fine," Brooke shrugged.

"Where is she?" Harry demanded, crossing his arms over his chest and looking down at Brooke.

"I haven't got a clue! Why would you think I'd know!" Brooke argued.

"Because if you thought there was a slightest chance your best friend was missing then you'd be freaking out," Harry said. "And, babe, you're completely calm, so you know where she is."

"I don't!"

"Brooke, is she okay?" Ace asked.

"I don't know where she is!"

Harry grabbed Brooke and pressed his lips to hers. Brooke was soon lost in Harry's touch. The sparks were overwhelming. As they kissed Harry pushed through the barrier Brooke had up in her mind. She had pretty much perfected the art of keeping him blocked out.

But he knew ways around it.

He just had to distract Brooke long enough for him to push through-

"She's gone to see Rogue," Harry said and pulled away from Brooke.

"Harry!" Brooke yelled. "Keep out of my fucking head!"

"Why the hell would you keep that from us, Brooke!" Harry shouted.

"He could hurt her!" Ace said.

"Yeah, I thought that too when she first said she was going!" Brooke said and stepped back from Harry. "But she managed to be pretty convincing and made me promise I wouldn't tell anyone!"

"You're a fucking idiot," Harry snapped. "We're going to get her."

"No, you just had a fight with Rogue!" Brooke said. "If he sees you then he'll be even more pissed than he already is! It won't help Indie!"

"Harry, she's right," Ace sighed. "We can't risk angering him further."

"We can't just fucking wait!"

Brooke sighed and rubbed her eyes. "We do. And if we've not heard anything in two hours then we go round there and make him even more pissed."