♡ chapter 12 - Rose ♡

            Shh, don’t weak the demon up! She just started that female shit last night when we got back.”

            “She can’t sleep till noon.”

            “And she won’t. There’s approximately four minutes and thirty two seconds until noon, so shut your face.”

            Groaning in annoyance at the two voices wakening me, my eyes peeled open to reveal Harry and Liam standing at the foot of my bed. I realized Harry had been the one saying to let me sleep, but I was almost thankful that they weren’t letting me. At this time of the month, the only thing I’d like to do is stay in bed and that’s the only thing I don’t need to do. Crazy how this stuff works, but at least I was able to get a little swimming in yesterday before Mother Nature decided to go all bitch-mode on me.

            Abruptly, the realization of what happened last night come rushing back at me. I hadn’t meant to be completely irrational by jumping off the rocks, I thought it’d be fun. Besides, Harry is always overly cautious with every little thing I do, so I wasn’t expecting it to be as seriously dangerous as he made it out to be. But he had saved me, and after that he had gone completely ballistic on me. You’d think he’d try to console me after I nearly died, but no; he yelled. He yelled like he always does because those damn mood swings of his always get the better of him, and I hate it.

            “See? Happy, Liam? She’s awake now thanks to you,” Harry muttered.

            “Shh,” I shushed as I squeezed my eyes shut. “Rose isn’t in the mood for this mess so early.”

            “Is Rose in the mood for talking about herself in third person?” Liam chuckled.

            I mustered a smile in return, my hand naturally falling to my cramping stomach. My periods aren’t usually that bad, but the stress weighing on my shoulders is multiplying my nausea by a thousand.

            “Come on, Rosalie. We’re all about to go out on another hunt,” Harry said, avoiding eye contact and I figured it was because of the scene that occurred last night.

            “Must I go?” I grumbled, peeking up at the both of them. “I’m really not in the mood, and unless you want to deal with sporadic and drastic mood swings, I don’t think it’s the best option for any of you to bring me along.”

            Harry rubbed his face with his hands, but Liam gave me a soft smile and said. “Yeah, you can stay here. Harry’s just too over protective to leave you by yourself.”

            Liam laughed as Harry shot him a glare. “She’s not staying here alone, Liam.”

            I rolled my eyes. “You always underestimate me, Styles.”

            Harry rose an eyebrow. “Is that right? You jumped off a four foot pile of rocks and nearly killed yourself.”

            Clamping my jaw shut, I pursed my lips and huffed, looking away from him. Liam snickered as there was a slight knock at the door, Jessie’s head popping through as he gave me a soft smile. He entered, Harry’s body tensing noticeably as he avoided eye contact with his brother.

            “There! Jessie can stay with you, Rose. Right, Jessie?” Liam asked.

            Jessie shrugged. “I can if she needs me to.”

            “She doesn’t,” Harry snapped.

            I gave him a sharp look, then turned to Jessie with a small smile. “Thanks, Jessie. As long as you don’t mind being a personal servant for an overly emotional teenager, then it’s all good.”

            Jessie chuckled. “Nah, I don’t mind.”

            Harry’s jaw tightened, but Liam was already pulling him towards the door. Harry shot Jessie a glare while Liam was informing me they wouldn’t be long. After that, they were gone as quick as they came.

            Jessie gave me a genuine smile. “So, is there anything in particular girls on periods like to do?”

            “Hmm…” I pondered, pursing my lips in thought. “I usually lay on the couch all day like the lazy bum I am watching romantic comedies with a bunch of junk food and a box of tissues, but you know… We don’t have to do that.”

            Jessie chuckled. “I’m not sure about the romantic comedies, but we’ve got a giant tub of chocolate ice cream in the kitchen.”

            My eyes bulged. “Ooohh, I think I want that.”

***

            “Rose, I have a question,” Jessie said as he leaned forward and paused the movie, turning to face me.

            I shoved a spoonful of ice cream into my mouth. “I might have an answer,” I said through the cold junk food, shivering the slightest when I swallowed.

            Jessie smiled, but his lips twitched as it faded. “Do you like my brother?”

            My eyes widened, eyebrows shooting up as I nearly choked on my spoon. “L-like how?” I stammered stupidly, not willing to believe that I was actually having this conversation with Harry’s brother about him. Ironic, right?

            “You know… like, like him,” Jessie said nonchalantly as he gave a little shrug. “Like relationship like.”

            Biting my bottom lip, heat rushed to my cheeks as I managed to laugh it off. “That’s hilarious, Jessie. Why would you think I liked Harry?”

            Jessie shrugged one more. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen him listen to anyone before, but he damn sure takes orders from you. Like in the little market the other day. I could’ve sworn Harry was going to kill the poor lady off the bat, but he listened to you, Rose. I’ve never, ever seen Harry listen to someone before. Not even our parents.”

            Puffing out air from my cheeks, I took another bite of ice cream. “Maybe my cat-like reflexes to intimidate him because he knows I won’t hesitate to kick him in the balls.”

            Jessie bellowed out in laughter. “Now that would be a sight to see.”

            I chuckled, realizing it’s been about nearly two hours since the group had left. Waiting for Jessie to press play, it never did so I turned back to look at him. My breath hitched in my throat was our faces were mere inches apart, his breath fanning my face but not smelling as minty as Harry’s. (Is that weird?) The spoon dropped from my hands at our close proximity, his eyes scanning over my lips.

            “You know,” he breathed quietly, brown eyes piercing mine, “I’m glad you’re not into Harry. Especially since I’ve been wanting to do this since I laid eyes on you.”

            Before I could process it, Jessie’s lips were on mine.

            In the emotional messed up state I was, I didn’t even attempt to push him away like I would if I were more stable. But being on your period really messes with your senses sometimes, so I sat there like a motionless statue. My eyes were still wide open, staring at his closed eyelids as his chapped lips stayed pressed to mine. But it wasn’t even five seconds later before the front door busted open.

            “What the fuck?” Harry’s voice boomed and before I knew it, Jessie was being ripped away from me.

            Harry slammed Jessie’s body into the wall, his fists gripping Jessie’s collar so tight that his knuckles were turning white. Nothing but utter rage filled his sharp emerald gaze, his jaw clenched as he examined his brother heartlessly, disgust, anguish, and sorrow trailing with his gaze.

            “Relax, Harry,” Jessie struggled to say as Harry grip tightened, his fists pushing into Jessie’s throat.

            “Relax? Are you out of your fucking mind? I should be murdering you right now!” he shouted, the vein in his neck popping. “I fucking warned you not to touch her, Jessie, and you have the fucking nerve to kiss her?”

            “Harry, calm down,” I spoke quietly from the couch, my eyes flickering back and forth between the two brothers.

            Harry didn’t even turn around to face me, his nostrils flaring as he pushed Jessie further into the wall. My eyes widened when cracks began to form in the wood, a splitting sound drifting through my ears and I realized he was going to break the house if he didn’t stop.

            “Harry, you’re going to break the wall, stop it!” I shouted, standing from my position and instantly regretted it as the cramping intensified.

            Fucking periods, man.

            Surprisingly enough, Harry dropped Jessie’s body to the ground. I watched as Jessie let out a pained grunt, slouching against the wood of the cabin as he rubbed his neck which now had bruise marks from Harry’s fists digging into it. Harry whirled around to face me, still livid.

            “Did you kiss him back?” he snarled at me through gritted teeth.

            “I—no, and what the hell does it matter if I did?” I asked, fed up with being shouted at by his short temper.

            Harry heaved both hands through his hair furiously, his chest rising and falling rapidly as if he were nearing explosion. But before Harry could respond, Jessie’s weak voice floated over to us, “Tell her, Harry.”

            My eyes bugged out as Harry swallowed, sending a death glare to his brother but not hurting him in the slightest. I didn’t even have time to wonder if he could hurt his brother, or if he was just choosing not to. Instead, my voice come out in a soft and weak whisper as I asked, “Tell me what?”

            “Nothing,” he snapped through rigid breaths, “just drop it.”

            “No, tell me,” I demanded.

            Harry chewed his bottom lip as he still breathed erratically, his hands twitching by his sides. Jessie limply stood, groaning some as he continued to rub his neck but he managed to say, “Harry is using you, Rose.”

            “Jessie, you better shut the fuck up right now,” Harry growled lowly.

            “The only reason he even let you tag along with him is so he can give you up later,” Jessie continued. “He knows about Marcus coming after you, Rose, because he set it up. That’s why he doesn’t want me near you because I was trying to warn you. I was going to save you and—“

            “Shut up, Jessie!” Harry yelled, flicking his hand and sending his brother flying backwards into the wall once more, but Jessie seemed unaffected.

            Tears were pooling my eyes, the period making me even more emotional than I already am. This must’ve been what I had overheard them talking about a few days ago. I should’ve seen it coming, I suppose. Harry has always been so harsh to me, never showing the slightest bit of care except in sporadic moments. It makes sense why he never left me alone was Jessie; he knew Jessie would say the truth.

            And even though it shouldn’t hurt as bad as it does, I let the tears fall one by one down my cheeks as I gawk at Harry, trying to twist this new information into my already deranged reality. My vision is growing blurry from the tears, my head whirling with the immense pain in my stomach intensifying it all. Nothing seems to be true anymore.

            Harry stared at me, his eyes wavering back and forth between mine. He stepped closer, but I stepped backwards. Pain flickered through his emeralds as he whispered, “Rose, please. Just… just let me explain.”

            My head shook all on its own, not minding the tears anymore. “I should’ve seen this coming,” I murmured to myself, but Harry heard and the guilt in his eyes increased. “I just… I just thought you were finally warming up to me.”

            “Rose, I—“

            “Save it,” I cut him off as I threw my hand in the air to stop him from talking. “I don’t need excuses.”

            “Rose, just listen to me, dammit!” Harry boomed as he ran his hands through his hair. “Yes, all right, fine. I was going to turn you in, but that… that’s changed now. I swear on my life I backed out and—“

            “I don’t see why I don’t just turn myself in,” I whispered as I wiped my cheeks furiously, conflicting emotions bubbling in the pit of my stomach.

            “Don’t you dare,” Harry said abruptly, his eyes widening just the slightest. “Rose, you’re not leaving.”

            Biting my bottom lip to hold back the sobs threatening to leave my lips, I give a curt nod. “Fine, but I’m not talking to you, either. And don’t you dare even think about coming into this room to talk to me, because I am done, Harry. I am beyond the point of finished with all of your shit.”

   With that said, I spun on my heel and slammed the bedroom door closed. 

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A/N: Haha, some truth is spilled xD So, there were actually a lot of responses on the team thing. Anyone changed their mind after this chapter? xD Love you all (: xx

P.S. Thank you so much to @Lessbrainmoreheart for translating Half Bad into Italian! I'm so happy, omg <333

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