~Chapter 6~

"Seriously though, you've got to admit that I've got skills," Maddie said, giggling as she had a sip of her orange juice.

We were having brunch at a quaint little café in Brooklyn and as usual I was wearing a large sun hat to not only conceal myself from the public but also so I didn't burn on this ridiculously hot day in August.

I laughed, cutting into my toast. "Yes, Maddie. Your chat up lines are second to none."

"Is that mockery I sense," she accused, daring me to challenge her.

I plastered an innocent look onto my face, looking at her with wide eyes as I brought my hand to my heart. "Maddie, how could you think so lowly of me?"

She snorted, grabbing the pepper shaker. "You really are a drama queen, Harps."

"Please, you love me and all of my charming personality."

She tapped her slender fingers on the white tablecloth, looking away in thought. "For some unknown reason..."

Our conversation continued in this light tone as we bantered back and forth with each other like usual, catching up on the last few weeks.

Maddison had been doing really well in regards to everything that had happened and was still completely sober. It had only been a little under a month but I was immensely proud of her.

We carried on chatting in our usual teasing fashion until a little while later. Just as we were about to ask for the bill, I heard the all too familiar sound of camera shutters and I grumbled in annoyance.

Maddison squirmed in her seat and I sent her a reluctant nod when she pleaded with her eyes for me to deal with this on my own. She hated the paparazzi or just unnecessary attention in general for that matter.

She slid out of her seat, probably to go and get the bill and I sighed as I turned around to face three people, two of them with cameras and one with a wireless microphone. It was then I realised that these weren't your regular paparazzi; they were reporters from one of those gossip channels on TV. How did they even find me?

"Harper," the lady with the microphone spoke first. She had bright pink hair and a small nose piercing that was also pink but the two shades clashed horribly. "Tell us what you've been up to recently."

Sighing through my nose, I stood up to follow after Maddison and plastered the fakest smile on my face. "Sorry but if you'll excuse me, I'm running late."

"Wait," she called as I was about to walk away, grabbing onto my wrist. "This'll just take a second."

Turning around, I yanked my wrist from her grasp and did by best to keep the smile on my face. "Sorry but I really have to—"

"Tell us about Damien Beckett. We know you said in an interview a while back that you're just friends but you've been commenting on his instagram posts with love eyes and hearts so there's got to be more to it than that."

Seriously? Now I couldn't be supportive on a friend's posts? Funnily enough, she was actually right about there being more to the story — even if that had nothing to do with the comments; that was just me being nice to a friend — but I'd never tell her that so instead I shook my head politely. "No we really are just friends. Now if you'll excuse—"

"Okay but what about A—"

"Harper, lets go!" Maddison called from the opposite side of the road, standing next to my car. She must've already called Diana. Thank you, Maddie.

"Sorry, I'm running so late," I said, practically sprinting to where Maddison was waiting.

I slipped into my car, releasing a breath I didn't know I was holding. "Cheers for that, Maddie. They really never know when to quit."

"Anytime," she smiled as Diana started the car, taking us far away from those reporters.

~*~*~

My phone pinged on my bedside table and I took that as an excuse to take a break from — or rather ignore — the endless emails I had been sifting though on my laptop. It was a Snapchat from Axel and I could feel a small grin forming on my face as I opened the image.

He was posing in front of a mirror, trying his best to imitate those duck lips some girls did, making me laugh as I read the message.

A: Oh great fashion guru, I need your expertise. T-shit, yes or no?

I typed my response quickly, internally rolling my eyes at the nickname.

H: I think a navy blue would suit you better, ducky lips.

A: orange not my colour? My many admirers have told me I look sexy in everything ;)

H: who are these 'many admirers'?
Zack and Liam pretending to be fan girls doesn't count

A: you win this round...
Anyway, gotta run but thanks for the advice my lovely admirer

H: you wish

A: I know

Not wanting to get back to my emails, I started scrolling through my instagram feed but the ten percent battery warning appearing on my phone brought me back to reality. Sighing, I plugged it in, giving my attention back to my emails just as a video call popped up from my older brother, Nathan.

Not thinking twice, I clicked accept, leaning back on my comforter as the call loaded. When it finally did, Nathan wasn't the only one on the screen, Zack and Wyatt — my older and younger brother respectively — were as well.

"Hey guys," I grinned at them, bringing my laptop to sit on my knees.

They all smiled back, waving like goofy idiots. "Hey, sis," Nathan said. "It's been a while."

I nodded sadly at him. Sometimes I wished I went to visit them more. "Yeah. How's my favourite little niece doing?"

Nathan had a daughter, Olivia. She was just a little over a year old and the cutest thing ever. She had dark curly hair and tanned skin which she got from her mum but she kept Nathan's blue eyes and I honestly melted every time I looked at her. 

As if on cue, crying sounds erupted from the background and Nathan rubbed his eyes, getting to his feet. "Well, that's her. Be back in a minute."

"He looks tired," I commented and both of my brothers shrugged.

"Yeah," Wyatt said, looking worried. "Aurora and I help him where we can. Even this idiot here," he pointed to Zack. "Helps out in his own way but it's tough without Olivia's mum. Nathan is really feeling the pressure to be a good dad."

Aurora was Wyatt's girlfriend. They'd been going strong for nearly six months and I'd heard she was great with kids which was great because a few months ago, Olivia's mother left Nathan high and dry, saying that she wasn't ready for a baby after being the one who was desperate to keep her in the first place. Nathan had been doing his best but he was the type of guy who'd feel like he wasn't enough and never would be no matter what he did.

"Do we need to stage an intervention?" I joked, still half serious.

Zack laughed, waving me off. "Don't worry about it. I'm taking him out clubbing this weekend. Once he gets laid he'll be back to normal."

"Is sex really your answer for everything?" Wyatt asked rhetorically, shoving him lightly.

Zack shrugged, a wolffish grin on his face. "Don't act like you're any different. Recently, you've proved just how thin the walls in this place are..."

Wyatt rolled his eyes but there was a playful glint to them now. "Well I've got a hot girlfriend. What do you expect?"

"Touché."

I cleared my throat loudly, trying to break up their conversation. "Guys... I'm still here."

"We know that Harps."

"Just like we know you're a bit of a f—"

Blushing from ear to ear, I threw my pillow at the computer screen. "That's enough, Wy. We both know I've got too much dirt on you for you to expose me."

He scoffed. "Please, expose me. I've got nothing to hide."

"So you wouldn't mind if I showed Aurora those pictures from C—"

His eyes went as wide as saucers as he realised what I was about to say. "Okay. Okay. Fine. You win," he said so fast I almost didn't catch it. "I'll shut up."

"Wait, what pictures?" Zack asked, looking really confused. Slyly, I mouthed a few words to him and realisation spread across his face, his jaw dropping open. "Hold up. You mean you actually got photos of that? Damn... Wyatt you're so fucked. I'd stay in your big sister's good books if I were you."

Wyatt pushed him much harder this time and he almost fell off the bed. "I get it," he groaned. "I'll be good. I really can't have any fun with you guys anymore, can I?"

Zack swung his arm around Wyatt's shoulder, pulling him into a choking squeeze. "Nope but that's what family's for. We're shitty to you but you love us for it. Right Harper?"

Grinning, I went to reply but their door slamming open stopped me. Suddenly, a high voice started talking. "Zackary, Wyatt have you seen Nathaniel?"

Speaking of shit family.

"Who are you talking to? Oh, Harper dear, how are you?"

"Fine, mother," I said to her politely through the computer screen. She looked the same as always. Her perfect blonde hair sat immaculately in an up do and her grey-blue eyes looked like they were scrutinising my every move. No different from usual then. She was wearing a pink lacy dress with a neckline a bit too low for simply wandering around the house and it looked like she'd been keeping up with her Botox injections.

Perfectly fake, just the same as I remembered.

"Well that's good. Harper dear, don't tell me you've gotten paler," she gasped over dramatically, here we go again. "What's the point in moving countries if you're not even going to try and get a tan. Your modelling opportunities are going to dry up at this rate—"

"Mother, you know I burn easily."

"Yes, yes how could I forget. Red heads always burn." The way she said it wasn't sympathetic but almost accusing. "If only you were blonde like Brooklyn and I. Everything would be so much easier."

Brooke was my nine year old sister and mother absolutely adored her. She was a mini her with the exact same hair and eyes and a charmingly manipulative personality to match. Mother really had been a terrible influence on her.

"I happen to love my hair," I defended weakly but before the words were even out my mouth I knew they were futile.

Luckily, Zack cut in before she could start ranting at me again. "I think she gets it, mum. Can Wyatt and I please speak to her now?"

She cleared her throat, standing up straight and readjusting her dress — just in time too, some unwanted visitors were about to pop out. "Right, yes. Of course. I'll see you at dinner boys. Bye Harper," she said, finally leaving my computer screen. "Oh and Harper." Spoke too soon. "You might want to go on a diet soon, dear. Your face looks a little rounder than normal."

I sighed as she shut the door and disappeared. Yep, just the same as always.

~*~*~

So how are we feeling about Harper's mum guys? She's an... interesting character to put it lightly.

Also, sorry I didn't publish last week. It's been pretty hectic lately but I think I'm starting to get a handle on everything.

Anyways, I hope you liked this chapter and it made you smile. If it did please don't forget to 🌟vote🌟 and comment 💜💜

Until next week, bye x