Harry was nowhere in sight when I left to go meet Jamie in the media room.
I needed someone to talk to about what had happened, and Jamie was the person I was closest to.
When I arrived at the theatre like room, Jamie was already set up with blankets, popcorn, and the scary movies.
"You rea- whoa you look like you saw a ghost. I knew this freaking White House was haunted."
"No, I just had run in with Harry." I sighed.
Jamie frowned but started the movie anyway.
We cuddled in the seats, blankets over us and shrieking every time a zombie would jump out.
"Okay, this one is too scary!" He paused the movie.
I was still hiding behind my blanket with only my eyes peeking out.
"So tell me about your run in with Harry." Jamie turned to me. I had been waiting for him to ask.
I hated initiating conversation, he knew that too and knew I wouldn't say anything until he asked me.
"He was outside my room and I asked why he was being so rude to me today and he just flipped out on me and called me a whore because he thought you were my boyfriend which is insane and i've been talking to this guy at school and then he like shoved me in my room and it was just...I don't know..."
"Okay." Jamie said slowly before exhaling. "I'm going to need you to explain that to me but give me more information."
I must have spent 20 minutes telling him every detail of living with Harry since the first day. Jamie looked at me with wide eyes and a dropped jaw and when I finished the story I thought he was going to flip a switch.
"He can't treat you like that, Emma!" Jamie exclaimed.
"I know it's his job and he has to protect me but I'm not a baby." I mumbled, whining as I laid down on the floor. "I guess I just don't know what to do, Jamie."
"Well...we could watch this movie and scare ourselves shitless?"
"Mmm...yeah okay." I shrugged and Jamie laughed but as he reached for the remote we heard someone clear their throat.
Jamie and I looked up and I quietly gasped when I saw Harry standing there in the doorway.
He clearly looked uncomfortable but was putting on a strong facade.
"Emma, can I speak with you?" He said and I blinked in realization that he was actually asking to see me.
"Why, so you can yell at her again?" Jamie then piped up behind me and I whipped around to see him standing up, his protective posture already in place.
"J-Jamie!" I shot up, panicking as he walked toward Harry.
"Excuse me?" Harry said through his teeth.
"You heard me quite clear. All you've done is scream at and threaten Emma since you've met her and I won't let you do it anymore." Jamie approached him.
"Listen to me, Jamie, i'm the one who was put in charge of her protection. Not you. So your entitled ass can back up."
"Harry!" I yelled.
"What?! You think he could do what I do? I could break him like a tooth pick!" Harry snapped at me.
"I've been there for her longer than you have!You think that screaming at her and punishing her will make her listen to you? Well if you knew anything about Emma you would know that doing that only pushes her away! I could protect her better than you ever could because I know how to treat people!" Jamie fired at Harry.
"Yeah? So when an assassin breaks into the apartment with a machine gun and a grenade what are you going to do? Sweet talk him into not killing the daughter of the President?"
Jamie snarled at Harry before pulling his back like he was going to punch him.
"Jamie no!" I grabbed his arm and yanked him backward.
Harry was fuming and I had never seen Jamie this angry.
"Stop it!" I shouted at both of them. "Harry, stop acting like you own me and Jamie, I can fight my own battles. I'm not a little kid anymore!"
They both glanced at me, still furious with each other.
"Fine." Jamie muttered and acted like he was going to leave before stopping and looking at Harry.
"You want her respect? Don't treat her like she's a criminal. You may have been raised in the military but she wasn't. She has feelings and a heart that you will never know the capacity of. She's sweet, generous, and selfless and has been through more than you know. So back off and treat her like a human."
Harry just silently glowered at Jamie as he grabbed my hand and led me out of the media room.
I didn't want to make Jamie any angrier by lecturing him so I let him go to bed so he could cool off while I went back to the media room. Harry was gone so I settled myself into a seat and covered myself with a blanket before searching through the loaded disks on the player.
I obviously felt like torturing myself because I automatically chose The Notebook. Cliche, I know, but i'm pathetic like that.
If the world knew Emma Winston sat in the White House and watched The Notebook all day i'm sure the media would have a field day.
Of course as the movie progressed I was a sobbing mess, partially crying from the movie and then partially crying from the encounter between Jamie and Harry.
Everything felt like it was crashing down around me and there was nothing I could do about it.
I wanted to live with Harry peacefully, I wanted Jamie to stop fighting my battles for me, and I wanted my brother back but I knew only two of those this were possible, and by possible I meant probably never going to happen.
I was startled as a pair of arms wrapped around my shoulders but I relaxed when I realised it was my mom.
I didn't have to open my eyes to know it was her. I could smell her perfume.
"I want Grayson." I sobbed into her chest and I felt her sigh as she began to rub my back.
"I know you do honey, we all do."
"He- was- my- best- friend." I gasped between body raking sobs.
"I know, you were his too." She patted my back."Grayson loved you more than anyone, Emma, you were his baby sister."
"I wish he was here."
"Me too, me too."
It took me awhile to stop crying and once I did she pulled back to wipe my tear streaked face.
"How did you even find me?" I sniffled.
"Harry came and got me, told me you were in here crying."
Harry had been watching me?
I glanced at the door to see a shadow move away.
That bastard.
After what he had put me through tonight he had no business being around me.
"You okay?" My mom asked, snapping me out of my daze.
"Yes." I replied. Honestly, all I wanted to do now is go sleep. "I'm tired so I think i'll head to bed now."
"Okay. If you need me you know where to find me." She hugged me and kissed my cheek before we both headed out seperate directions.
I didn't see Harry as I walked to my room but I felt his presence looming and knew he wasn't far.
When I arrived at my room I prepared for bed before jumping under the covers and hiding myself from the cruel, cruel world.
Knocking on my door awoke me and just as I lifted my head Jamie stepped inside.
"Hey." He gave me a small smile. "I wanted to apologise for last night. That's not how I wanted your visit to go."
"You were defending me, it's okay." I gave him a partial smile.
"Thanks." He laughed. "Your mom wants to take us out for breakfast and then shopping so she said to get ready."
"Okay." I sighed sleepily before getting up from bed. After a nice shower I dried and curled my hair before applying makeup and then dressing in a burberry patterned dress that had a black collar and band around the waist, and paired it with black stockings and black boots.
An hour and a spritz of perfume later I was ready to go.
Jamie texted me to meet him at the doors by the west wind where we had met yesterday and I opened my door only to be greeted by Harry's back blocking my way.
He stepped forward and turned to look at me but I wasn't having it. Not today. So I continued walking, completely ignoring him.
He followed behind me though, his toes practically clipping my heels as he remained close behind.
When I arrived at the door in question my mother was already waiting there with Jamie.
"Oh, Harry. There you are. Has the location been approved for breakfast?" My mother asked him.
"Yes, its all clear." He nodded at her.
I stepped closer to Jamie and looked at my mother, silently pleading for us to leave.
"Alright miss anxious, relax, we're leaving." She rolled her eyes at me and when the agents opened the doors I wasted no time in walking out to the car.
When Harry got into the vehicle behind us I groaned, this resulting in a lecture from my mother on politeness and courtesy for others.
If only she knew.
We arrived at a posh restaurant in downtown D.C. and we're escorted inside, receiving a standing ovation from other diners that included members of congress and the senate who shook our hands and said their hellos.
We sat down at a table and I ordered coffee, desperately in need of a caffeine boost.
As we sat at the table conversing with my mother about college I glanced up to see Harry across the restaurant, his eyes trained on me.
I rolled my eyes at him and looked back at my mother and Jamie who were discussing his plans for when school was over.
"I think I might go travel, ya know? See the world, learn about different cultures." He smiled.
"My sister would never let you go sight seeing around the world!" My mother gasped.
"I'm trying to convince her! Maybe you could put in a good word Aunt Paige?"
"I'll do my best, but it will take an army to change her mind." She laughed.
I was on my third cup of coffee but the time my eggs benedict arrived and my mother told me to slow down but Harry's ever present eyes on me made me anxious and a tad bit angry.
"Sorry." I muttered after my mothers scolding and ate the rest of my breakfast slowly.
When done eating we left the restaurant and made our way to the shopping district.
Jamie was fun to shop with because he made everything an adventure. My mom got onto us several times for messing around in the shops but I could tell she was just trying to keep up appearances, she knew how we were.
As my mother and Jamie looked at wallets for my Aunt Lisa (Jamie's mom) in Kate Spade I leaned against the wall to wait.
I wasn't much into purses and wallets, I only had a few, I preferred back packs or cross body's.
"Emma." The voice I had become too familiar with spoke right next to me and I wanted nothing more than to slap the British out of him.
"Emma." He repeated.
"What?" I said through my teeth.
"I'm sorry about last night. My behaviour was deplorable and I should not have put you in that position."
This is the first time I had ever heard him say the word "sorry".
"Which time? When you screamed at my cousin for defending me or when you shoved me against the wall of my bedroom after calling me a whore?"
He bit his lip.
"You know what Harry? I'm done. I've tried playing nice and i've tried getting even but nothing works. I won't try to be your friend anymore, I get it. We're obviously not meant to get on."
I walked away from him at this but I couldn't help but catch a glimpse of his hurt expression in a mirror.
He caught my eyes for a moment with his wounded ego but then pulled himself together and turned his back to me.
It was time I faced the facts. Harry would never be the friend I wanted him to be and I would never be anything but a child to him.
He didn't want to kiss me like I thought he was going to yesterday, that was just wishful thinking.
He hadn't been watching over me last night and heard me crying, he had probably been coming back to yell at me more.
Harry wasn't who I wanted him to be, but that's okay, because no one ever was. It's about time I get used to it.
--
Aw a new chapter!
What did oh think about Harry and Jamie's rift and what was Harry really trying to say to Emma?
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Much love xx-m