My Brother's Best Friend's Friend (ON HOLD)

Chapter 11

"He did what? Why?" Ella yells after I tell her the whole incident with my dad, Harry, and I.

"I don't know. I mean, I get that I'm his little girl and all but it's getting to the point where he is going overboard." I tell Ella before I begin fidgeting with my hands. "Harry didn't even do anything bad to me. Instead of harming me, he saved me."

"Alex, I know this might be a bit awkward or out of nowhere but I have to ask you." Ella says.

"What is it?"

"Do you think you might actually like Harry?" Ella questions and I feel my heartbeat stop for a moment. Butterflies erupt in my stomach and my cheeks begin to flush.

"No," I reply, almost uncertain. "Even if I did, I would force myself to stop."

"Why?"

I get out of the car and swing my book bag over my shoulder. I sigh as I make my way towards school. Louis asked me the same exact question a few days ago and even though I answered him then, I am still stumped. Why is it always so difficult just to answer a simple, one worded question? What is it holding me back from saying how I truly feel? Suddenly, all those memories of Harry and I come flooding back.

"I don't know. I just... It's hard for me to explain." I answer and Ella smirks at me, knowing that I am lying. "There's something else that happened besides that."

"What is it?" Ella questions eagerly.

"Harry asked me to go to an amusement park Friday." I respond amd she squeals.

"Like on a date?"

"No, just as friends."

"Did he say that, or are you just assuming?" Ella asks and I smile, rolling my eyes.

"Exactly," Ella smiles before I begin to laugh.

~ * ~

"Alex, can you come here for a second?" My co-worker Matthew calls from the back I the store.

"Coming!" I yell, placing the papers on the counter top before walking in his direction. "What happened?" I ask as I put my hands in my back pockets.

"Can you help me bring some boxes up front? Sarah wants to put some of this stuff on display." Matthew tells me and I nod in response.

I begin to help him, stumbling over my own feet when I loose my balance. Matthew laughs at my stupidity and my cheeks flush with embarrassment. Pouting my lower lip, I blow upward and my bangs flow up so they land on top of my hair. Costumers walk in and smile at us, holding back their laughter. Once we finish bring all the boxes from the back, I open them and begin to remove the clothes from the boxes.

A ring is heard in the store and I immediately turn to the front door and see Ella walk in quickly as though she is in a rush.

"Hey," I say to her, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Have you seen this?" Ella asks, holding back the excitement she is feeling at the moment. She tries to sound angry but fails horribly, a smile overcoming her facial expressions.

"Seen what?"

She hands a magazine to me and I notice it's already opened to the page. Pictures of celebrities doing normal things cover both pages but there's one specific one that Ella points out. Tears begin to sting in my eyes as I realise who it is.

"I can't believe the paparazzi actually took a picture of you two together!" Ella squeals with a smile. I can't force myself to meet her eyes. My throat feels like it is closing in, making it harder for me to speak.

"That's not me," I say, bearly audible.

"What?"

"That's not me," I repeat a bit louder. Ella lifts her eyebrows in confusion then snatches the magazine away from me and stares at it.

"Who is it then?" Ella asks.

I look at it once more and notice something I didn't see before.

"Ell, this girl has blonde hair." I point out.

"What if they changed it after they took the picture?" Ella asks still hopeful.

"She has red lipstick,"

"So?"

"I don't ever wear red lipstick," I remind her.

"Oh my gosh Alex. Stop denying the fact that it might be you!" Ella yells.

"It's not me, okay?" I say. I feel a strange feeling rise from within me and I am on the urge of tears.

"Alex, are you okay?" Ella asks touching my shoulder.

"I think I know who this is." I say.

"Who?"

"Taylor Swift,"