The Reckless & The Brave

Chapter Two

I crossed the room and bent down in front of the mirror, applying my last layer of lipstick. I was totally ready to go out tonight. New York had been a great break for us, I wasn’t looking forward to going back to reality, especially seen as Harry would be returning to his job in the army soon. But right now, I was looking good and excited; all I need was my prince.

“Holly! Open up!”

Right on time I think.

I move swiftly towards the door, plant a big smile on my face, and open it. Harry pushes past me, along with Jack and James. “What the hell is going on?!” I ask, sensing their tense attitude. “We’ve got to go” Harry announced. He headed for the wardrobe and pulled out our suitcases, shoving my clothes and his in them as quick as he could.

“Seriously guys” I say “don’t leave me in the dark here.”

“It’s for your own safety ma’am” Jack nods.

“What is?!”

“Leaving”

I roll my eyes, I got that we were leaving, it was pretty obvious.

“I know that” I persist “I mean why are we leaving?”

Harry approached me, a serious expression on his face. “Listen HL, I’ll explain it in the car just trust me.”

That was the second time he’d said that in the last few days. I made a conscious decision to act now and ask questions later. I collapsed down by the wardrobe and helped him pack. It took us less than a minute to get everything together, it always did. I guess I was used to jumping up and moving at a moment’s notice. He gave our cases to James and put a protective hand on my waist, guiding me down the corridor and into the lift. It was at this point that I noticed I was still wearing my dress, it was the first time it had bothered me that is was low cut, revealing and sexy. Was I supposed to be going places in this?! It’s not actually appropriate for travelling. We moved quickly through the lobby and Jack and James waited to protect us from the paparazzi whilst we slipped inside the car. “Right” I breathe “Now will you tell me what is going on?!”

Anna was already there, sitting opposite us. She leaned over and handed me an envelope.

“What is it?”

Harry looked at me “I’m sorry Longford” he sighed.

I frowned and ripped it open. Inside were a bunch of photographs of me and Harry. I gasped, in some of these photos I was sleeping, there were ones of Harry kissing me goodnight. This was disgusting. All of them had been taken in our bedroom, it was horrible.

“WHAT THE FUCK!” I found myself yelling; louder than needed,

“Holly calm down” he was calling me my proper name and I knew he was being genuine. I took and few deep breaths and turned to Anna, “I don’t understand.”

“We think there were hidden cameras in your room, you know paparazzi.”

“But that’s illegal!” I point out

“Not if they can’t find out who it was.”

I stop there, getting my head around the fact that every time I changed in that room, showered, talked to Harry, all of it could’ve been seen.

“They’ve been sold to the magazines and newspapers; we think they’re going to run the story first thing tomorrow.”

“What story?!” I exclaim “There is no story; we were on a break in New York, the end.”

Anna pulled out her tablet and started scanning “Inside Holly and Harry’s romantic getaway – That’s New Magazine – Not so Royal After all – The Sun – Saucy new pictures from-”

I interrupt “Alright I’ve heard enough.”

“I don’t know how they did it” Harry confessed “But we’re going to get our lawyers on it.”

“But seriously! ‘Saucy new pictures’ – there is nothing saucy about them!”

“It seems they’ve only got pictures from your first night in New York… if that helps” Anna added. I glare at her, as if that makes any difference. They’ve still invaded my privacy and are twisting it to make it look dirty, like we’ve done something wrong. What are they going to excuse us of?! Sharing the same bed? Talking to each other?! I put my head in my hands and sigh. I feel Harry pulling me into his chest and hugging me tight. For once, I let him. I let him hug me and put a blanket over me whilst I close my eyes. We were clearly heading for the airport and going back home. “HL” he whispered in my ear “There is a chance they can’t run the story, the pictures are technically illegal. If we have time to stress this out and contact everyone by the morning; we are safe.” I know he’s only trying to make me feel better, but it does comfort me. Presumably that’s what Anna was doing now, as all I could hear was her tapping away on her Blackberry.

The airport is chaotic, obviously word got out that we were on the move because we’re being surrounded. There are no laws to stop paparazzi entering public places so they’re here, following by people wanting autographs and pictures. I clear my face up before we leave the car and put on my best smile. I’m still in my dress and Harry is still in his suit so we stand out even more than before. Thank god we fly in a private jet. I need some privacy. Unless they have hidden cameras on there as well I joke to myself.

“Holly!” I hear people call.

Technically, I’m not supposed to just randomly talk to every fan, the family have some kind of code of Ethics for this. But as I point out often, I not a member of the Royal Family… yet. Whilst we wait for Jack and Ana to sort out our passes and plane, we wait in a cordoned off area and I hear people banging against the door. Spare of the moment security is shit. I sit there and sigh to myself grumpily.

“I’m sorry we had to cancel our night, I’ll make it up to you” Harry says after a long period of silence.

I snort. “That’s the least of my problems.”

“I can always take you home to Craster if you-”

“Shut up” I say immediately. Harry always thinks he is some kind of burden on me because he comes with a lot of baggage. As much as I tell him it doesn’t matter he doesn’t change his mind. He doesn’t understand that he is my everything now. I didn’t go to University because I wanted to be at his side all the time and I don’t speak to my parents anymore. He is worth it; he just doesn’t know how special he is. Harry needs to stop hating himself all the time.

“Sorry” he replies

“Stop suggesting that I should always go home; stop trying to get rid of me.”

“I trying to protect you” Harry corrects. He turns to me and holds my arms, forcing me to make eye contact with him. “You are my life now Holly, I’d never forgive myself if you got hurt because of me.”

“I won’t” I tell him “I’m fine.”

He raises his eyebrow.

“Just be there for me” I add. He smiles and lifts his hand up, brushing a piece of hair off my cheek. His touch covers my body in goose bumps, making feel electrified. He always has this effect on me, someone should’ve put a warning label on him, it’s dangerous. He has this amazing smell, something you couldn’t get from deodorant or cologne; it’s a natural smell that draws me into him. It’s intoxicating. He pulls away just when I think he is about to kiss me. “Come on” he says “Time to go home.”