Roses and Hooks /// Harry Hook

Chapter 14: Ex-Friends

It's a new day on the Isle, and Uma asks Harry and I to go collect the money from the shops under her protection. Harry drags me from shop to shop, tickling me and teasing me about my height. In return, I take his hat and put it on my head. When that didn't bother him, I kiss him and take his hook while he's focused on me. This still doesn't bother him, which shocks me as he threatens and cuts anyone who even looks at it.

We stop at Jafar's trinket shop, Dr. Facilier shop of voodoo and card readings, and finally, Curl Up & Dye. This is the only store Harry won't be his angry demanding self, but only because I had asked him not to the last time we were in here.

Walking in, Harry's arm around my shoulders and mine around his waist, we see Dizzy with money in her hand. Harry taps the table with his hook, rattling everything on it to get her attention. I smack his chest and smile at her.

"Tax time, Diz. Sorry." She sighs before handing the money to Harry and then pulling the rest out of the register. As I smile in thanks at her and start to leave with Harry, a voice that I never thought I'd hear speaks up from inside the salon.

"Still running errands for Uma, or do you actually get to keep what you steal?" I can feel my eyes water, and I have to swallow to keep myself from breaking. Harry's arm tightens around me as he kisses the top of my head before turning around to face the one girl that I can't see, or I'll break for good.

Dizzy comes over and hugs me, telling me she's there for me, and I feel a tear go down my face. I take a shaky breath as I hold Dizzy close to me, afraid to let go. I can hear Harry's anger in his voice, and I know the only reason he hasn't lashed out is because he doesn't know if that would upset me more or less. I turn my head so I can watch the scene from the corner or my eye.

"Well, well, well." Harry mocks in anger, and Mal flinches back seeing how angry he is. She's afraid of the mad pirate like everyone else. "What a nice surprise." Harry says, and I can see Mal force herself to stay still as he walks up to her. I can only imagine what his eyes are showing.

"Hi, Harry." Mal says to him, her tone the opposite of the emotion on her face. She's terrified and has good reason to be. Uma had told me that I'm the only person Harry wouldn't hurt, and she didn't envy anyone who would dare hurt me. According to her, Harry said he'd burn the world down if I'd asked him to, and I think that's why a lot of people run from me now even when Harry isn't around.

"Just wait until Uma hears you're back." Harry says as he sneers, grin and smirk long since gone. "She's going to kill you for what you've done." Harry tells her dangerously low, and Mal swallows before shakily shrugging.

"Well, you can tell her good luck with that since I'm here to stay, and that I will be taking my territory back." Mal snaps at Harry, and this causes the temper to flare up in me. Uma figured out quickly that I'm just as possessive and terrifying when anyone goes after Harry, much like he is with me. Gil said we had power couple vibes, once.

Storming over, I push Harry behind me and glare at the girl I once called sister as I get in her face.

"I dare you to start something." I tell her and she looks at me, eyes wide in shock as she stumbles back a little.

"Rose..." Mal says barely above a whisper. Her eyes start to water, and that makes me even more angry. Now she cares?! After everything that she's done, now she's happy to see me?! How dare she come onto mine and Uma's turf, demanding to have her place back! She already has Auradon! She can't have the Isle, too!

"Don't." I snap at her, and she flinches back. My anger grows the more I look at her. Her hair is back to being purple and she's in her old clothes again. For some reason this sets me off. "So now, after EVERYTHING, you decide to stop being fake?! I told you to stop being fake weeks ago, but you said that you weren't faking anything! Mal, I fucking knew you better than that! You may have been able to fool everyone else, but I knew better. I tried to get you to stop and just be yourself, but you said no. So, what changed?" I step forward and get in her face again, my whole body shaking in anger. "Whose opinion finally got to you, huh? Come on! Tell me!" I shove her back into the wall behind her and that's when I feel arms come around me.