1 YEAR BEFORE
"I've for thick skin, and an elastic heart, but your blade it might be too sharp. I'm like a river band, until you pull too hard."
I patiently wait for my bus to pick me up from school. I turn up my music and let the lyrics fill my mind. The bus comes shortly after, I walk up the steps and take a seat next to my friend Alison.
"Hey." She smiles sweetly.
"Hey." I say putting my phone and earbuds in my bag.
"Brooke..I have to tell you something.." She trails off.
"What's wrong?" I question, worried.
"Harry and I... We're done." She looks down.
I'm at a loss of words. Harry and Alison haven't been dating long, but they always looked, Ike the couple that would be together forever. They always looked so happy together, like they enjoyed each other's company
"I'm so sorry." I sympathize.
She shrugs and looks away. Knowing she won't talk the rest of the bus ride home, I get out my earbuds again And listen to my music.
"I heard what happened." I say, going up to Harry.
"What?" He says turning around
"The breakup."
"Oh... That."
"What even happened? Don't make it seem small, I know you, it's obviously a big thing. She hasn't smiled yet and it's sixth period." I say sternly.
"We just decided it wasn't right, better off friends." He shrugs.
"How are you not hurt? She's crushed."
"It's resolved."
"Obviously not."
He rolls his eyes and puts papers back into his book bag. "Look I'd rather not talk about it. But I have a surprise for you."
I raise my eyebrows at his statement. "Surprise? What surprise?"
He laughs. "Well if I told you it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?"
"Tell me." I smile.
"I can't. You know, part of surprises is the element of surprise that comes with it." He smirks.
"Shut up." I shove his shoulder.
"Brooke, I need to tell you something." He says, his face turning serious.
"Uh, okay. What?"
He looks at the ground, as if he's trying to find words to say. He looks back up at me and opened his mouth.
"I like you. A lot." He says.
My mouth falls open and I look around the room.
"You can't like me. I'm the one who set you up with Alison!" I say pointing at him.
"I'm sorry, I can't help the way I feel."
The bell rings and I can safely say I've never been more excited for art to end, and I hate art. I pick up my books and speed walk into the halls.
"Meet me at my locker after eighth period for your surprise!" Harry calls down the hall.
I walk into the lunch room. I set my books down and let out a long sigh as I put my head in my hands.
"You look stressed." Alison says sitting down.
"Um... Yeah. Grades suck." I lie.
"There's always tutoring." She says getting up to the lunch line.
For some reason I can't help but feel guilty. Harry and Alison just broke up, and harry already admitted his feelings for me.
The thing that bothers me, I might feel the same way.
I stand at Harrys locker, waiting for my "surprise". I check the time on my phone, and when I look up, my face falls.
Walking toward the locker, is Harry and Alison, hand In hand, laughing and talking.
My emotions run wild. I'm confused and I want to know what the hell is happening.
"Surprise." Harry smirks.
I stare at harry, to Alison, back to harry.
"This was all... A joke?" I stammer.
"Yeah. You never got pranked before so we though we'd give it a try." Alison shrugs.
"So you lied to me Harry?" I looked at him, tears forming.
"Yeah I did, but it's okay. It's all good now." He shrugs.
My tears build up and I can burst any second. I'm filled with sadness but also anger. He lied. He told me he liked me, he lied. And I felt the same.
"No... No it's not all good, Harold." I choke out. He raises his eyebrows in confusion.
"Uh, are you about to cry?" He asks.
"Yes. I am." I say as my breathing gets heavier.
"Why? It was just a joke." His voice small.
"Because I felt the same way you asshole!" I immediately turn around and walk out of the building. I have to collect myself before I completely break down. I grab my phone and dial my best friends number.
"Hello?" She answers.
"Ab...." I sob
"You at school?" She asks.
"Y-yeah."
"Don't you move. I'm coming to get you, you can cry to me at your house."
A/N: so the first few chapters will be flashbacks that you will need in order for you to understand the book. This is the first flashback out of four, hope you enjoy and leave comments !
-BB
