"Shit!" I said again.
"Why are the paparazzi following you? You guys broke up!" Derek said.
"I know! I don't know, they are probably trying to get some juicy story." I said while rolling my eyes and holding back the tears.
"Let's go." Derek said while getting up.
I got up as well and he goes over to the cashier and pays for the food even though we barley ate any. He came walking over to me and opened the door for me. The minute I walked out the paparazzi was bombarding me.
"Is this your new boyfriend?!" One shouted.
"Who is he?!" Another was yelling at me.
They were all shouting things at me and I was so angry that they were even there. How did they find me? I wasn't famous. I didn't want Harry to see the pictures and get the wrong idea but of course he would see them on the internet or something.
One of the paparazzi got really close to me and Derek got in the way to stop him from touching me.
"Back off her!" Derek yelled at them.
I was shocked that he said that to them but also grateful that he had because they listened to him. His strong muscular body probably made them a little scared. I continued my way to Derek's car and then jumped in when we got there.
He started driving away and almost hit one of the paparazzi but didn't really care. Both of us wanted to get out of there before any more pictures could be taken. I started crying because I knew Harry would see them and think something was going on with Derek and I when there wasn't.
"I'm sorry you have to deal with this." Derek said.
"It's fine."
"If you don't mind me asking but...is that why you broke up with him?"
"What do you mean?" I asked him.
"The paparazzi? The fame?"
"Oh. Well that was slightly it. The main reason was that I got a lot of hate and I wasn't good enough for him."
It was weird that I was being so honest with him but somehow it felt natural, like me and Derek were meant to be friends.
"Who told you that?" He asked, getting angrier now.
"The fans."
"And you listened to them?"
I was silent for a moment but then nodded my head and the tears started to fall harder now. He came to a stop and I realized we were in my driveway. He looked over at me and brushed away a tear from my face.
"You deserve him and he deserves you." He said while looking into my eyes.
I gulped a little and started to sob even harder. He took me in his arms and I was about to object the physical contact but it was what I needed at the moment. I needed to feel someone holding me as I was falling apart.
*****
I was laying in bed and realized it was Sunday. One more day here and I was back to London. I was excited and not excited about it as well. I didn't want to have to see Harry walking around but at the same time I wanted to see him again.
"Brooke!" I heard my mother say.
I groaned, not wanting to get out of bed, but getting up going out into the kitchen to see what she needed.
"Ellie is on the phone for you." She said.
I take it and go straight to my room to get some privacy. The minute I put the phone to my ear I heard yelling. It sounded like a guys voice and then I heard Ellie yelling at him to stop. I realized it was Niall's voice.
"Hey." She says, out of breath from having to chase Niall to get the phone back.
"Sorry about that." She said.
"What was that even about?" I asked.
"He saw the pictures. He's angry at you."
I knew what she meant at once and sat down on the bed. I logged online and saw a bunch of photos of Derek and I with captions like "New man for Harry's Ex?", "Harry cheated on?", "Harry dumped for another man?", and they continued on.
"So. Care to explain?" Ellie said.
"YEAH EXPLAIN!" Niall screams from the other end.
Ellie must have given him a glare because he was about to go on but then stopped.
"We went out to eat as friends. I told you. Paparazzi followed us and took pictures, turned it into this whole thing as if I broke up with Harry for Derek."
"Did you?" Ellie asked.
I was shocked that she even asked that question.
"Of course not!" I yelled.
"I figured but I just wanted to make sure."
I got up and got my suitcase, starting to pack for my early flight tomorrow.
"Are you still coming back tomorrow?" She asked.
"Yeah I am starting to pack right now." I said while grabbing some clothes.
"Ok well I should go."
"Wait let me talk to her!" Niall pleads.
"Can he?" She asked me.
"Put him on."
"Brooke." Niall said.
"Niall it's not what it looks like."
"You sure about that? Because Harry thinks it's like that. I haven't seen him so down. It's your fault. You are the reason for his pain right now. Remember that." He said and then hung up.
I was going to fight back the tears but then gave up and let them fall down my face. I cried for a few minutes and then made myself stop, I didn't want to be weak.
I finished up packing and once I was done with that I realized it was around dinner time.
I walked out into the kitchen and smelled my favorite meal cooking.
"Hey! I am making your favorite! Goodbye present!" My mom said.
I laughed a little and said thanks. I looked out on the patio and see Derek putting some type of brick in the ground. I opened my screen door and go over to where he was kneeling.
"Looking good." I said.
"Thanks." He said with a smile.
"Sorry about the pictures."
"Don't worry about it."
"I know but I forgot about your wife. I don't want her to think you are cheating."
"Honestly it's fine." He said while getting up and rubbing the dirt off his hands.
"Ok just making sure."
"You ok?" He asked.
"Been better." I said with a small laugh.
He smiled a little and nods his head in understanding.
"When you go back to London, if you ever need to talk just call me." He said.
"Will do." I said with a smile.
He looked at me and in that moment I realized I was the girl he loves. He was looking at me the way Harry looks at me except Derek didn't give me the butterfly feeling that Harry did and still does.
He walked over and gave me a hug while whispering "I never should have let you go" in my ear.
I looked up at him and give him a small smile and then say, "No, you shouldn't have but I thank you for it because if you hadn't then I would've never met Harry."
He smiled a little and nodded his head. I gave one more hug before walking away and going back inside for dinner.
