Shadowbrook

Just my luck.

When I go to the mall to get a new sweater, my boyfriend tells me through a text that it's over between us and now I don't have a ride. I kind of just stared at the phone before I sighed, shoving it into my pocket.

And today is my birthday too. I didn't want anything except money, so my mom gave me fifty dollars and I bought an entire outfit with it. When I got home, I just wanted to relax.

I leaned against one of the columns outside the mall and I heard the doors open and close. I turned-and froze.

It was him.

Hightree Academy bad boy Harry Styles, wearing all black and a black fedora, casually walking and when he saw me, his brow creased and he approached me. You see, Harry is gorgeous, tan skin, lean though muscular, green eyes, curly brown hair, and dimples.

He stopped a few feet away from me. "Waiting for someone?"

"I was waiting for my boyfriend but he broke it off so right now the only thing I'm waiting for is death." I said and he threw his head back and laughed. It was a pleasant sound and despite my previous depression, I sort of felt satisfied with myself.

"Well the mall might run into some problems if you die here so why don't I take you home," He offered me a hand. "and you can die there."

I smirked and took it, muttering. "I barely even know you."

"Of course you do." He said. "I'm your knight in shining armor." He tapped the rim of his hat. "And a fedora."

I laughed. "So where's your car?"

He raised an eyebrow, "Car? You wait right here, missy."

He jogged off, disappearing in the parking lot and five minutes later a glossy black motorcycle pulled up, Harry on it, wearing a shiny black helmet and I got on the back of it.

"I'd better not die." I said. "If I do, I'll haunt you forever."

"I've been driving this for three years." He said. "I know what I'm doing. But first thing's first."

He turned and pulled my hair out of it's ponytail, letting the long curls cascade down my back and he took off his helmet, putting it on me and I blushed, thanking the helmets for not letting Harry see it and he turned back around, speeding out of the parking lot and I held on for dear life.



When we pulled up to my house in a small neighborhood by Whitewood Park near the woods, there was a moving truck and a guy in a blue vest and black dress pants telling the movers to watch his stuff.

"Is Mr. Rogers moving in?" Harry remarked and I laughed.

"Thanks for the ride, Harry. You're the best." I told him.

He smiled. "I'm supposed to be bad, remember?"

"Just because you wear black and you have tattoos on every square inch of your body does not mean you're bad." I said, taking off my helmet. "It just means that you're different, which isn't a bad thing."

His smile widened and he took the helmet from me, putting it on before he gave me a nod, taking off down the street and I waved at him before turning and strolling into my house.

My mother was painting something, which looked like a beautiful castle being attacked by a dragon and I shook my head, laughing. My mother drew the craziest things sometime. Me and her looked alike. Same red hair, pale skin, small figure but while she had green eyes I had hazel.

I smiled, "Poor castle. What's going on mom?"

She smiled back. "Dinner, tonight. With the neighbors."

"The new neighbors?"

"Yeah."

"Are they nice?"

"They seem nice." She said. "They'll be over at five o'clock. To celebrate your birthday since you have zero friends. Alright?"

"Alright. Thanks mom. That really helped my ego." I said glumly and walked up the steps to my room.



There was a knock at the door and when I went downstairs, my mom had already gotten it. In stepped the man from earlier, and I got a better look at him. He was tall and handsome, muscular, with close cut brown hair and blue eyes. His son, was tall and muscular also, with chocolate brown eyes and brown hair. He was extremely hot. When he looked at me his eyes widened before they hardened.

"Hello Arnie." My mother said, smiling. "Is this your son, Liam?"

The boy rolled his eyes. "No, I'm the mailman. It's a new policy to wear black now."

My mother's face fell. "Oh, sorry. That was a dumb question."

Liam showed no guilt. "Yeah, it was."

He walked into the dining room and Arnie looked embarrassed. I wanted to give this Liam a piece of my mind for making my mother feel bad but I just sat down at the table, across from Liam, who kept glaring at me.

"So, how is everyone?" Arnie asked. "You?" I looked up at him. "Jamie, right? I know your mother because we went to school together and after I bought her latest work we met up and talked, and she invited me to your birthday dinner. I hope I'm not intruding."

"No, of course not." I smiled. "I'm fine. How are you?"

"Great, thank you." His cheeks reddened as he looked at my mother. "How are you, Fiona?"

My mother blushed herself. "Fine."

"Liam?" Arnie asked, and a certain sternness came into his voice.

Liam shrugged. "The chicken is dry."

"Liam!" Arnie scolded but I had had enough of this boy's disrespectful nature.

I glared at him. "Hey, shut up! My mom bust her butt making this meal for you! The least you could do is pretend to like it-"

"The least you can do is sit there and eat your food like the little girl you are." He snapped and my hands thought before my mind did.

I scooped the mashed potatoes and flung them at him and he blinked before picking up the corn in the cob and throwing them at me, I threw up my hands and picked up my chicken, throwing it and while my mother was laughing, and I sort of started to too, Arnie was pale and as still as a statue.

He stood up, walked over to Liam, slapped him hard before he grabbed Liam by the back of his jacket and practically dragged him out of the house. Me and my mother just stared at each other before we burst out laughing.

"Happy birthday, Jay." She giggled.

I smiled, thinking that maybe today wasn't a total fail.

Notes