Ready To Run

The Ex and The Boyfriend

"Toby?" I asked shocked. What are the odds I run into my ex boyfriend I hadn't seen in years on my first day in London.
"Hey! How are you?" He asks, reaching out to touch my arm, which I awkwardly dodged.
"I'm good. How are you?" I asked, checking to see where Harry was. There was absolutely no way I wanted this conversation to continue longer than necessary.
"All the better for seeing you!" He says, once again reaching out and this time successfully grabbing my shoulder. He tightly squeezed it and I fought back a wince. What a dickhead.

"So are you here alone?" He smirks, looking around the small shop as though the person I could be with had a bloody banner announcing themselves.
"No." I say simply, shuffling out of his grip.
"Oh is Mia here?" He asks, his smile more forced. He and Mia had never gotten on as Mia would willingly tell him to fuck off.

"No. I'm with my boyfriend" I tell him. I suddenly feel a hand on my back and turn to see Harry eyeing Toby suspiciously.
"Can I help you?" He asks, taking in the scene as I stepped even closer to him, not wanting to be near Toby.
"No just chatting with my Pheobe" Toby said, looking Harry up and down. I watched as Harry's jaw clenched when Toby called me his.
"Well my girlfriend and I were just leaving" he tells him coldly, emphasising I was his girlfriend. He takes my hand in his and starts to lead me out the shop.
"Oh okay. Well Pheobe I still have your number so I'll message you. I've missed you" he smirks. Harry's hand tightens slightly on mine. I choose to ignore his comment and leave the shop with Harry.

"Who was that guy?" Harry asked as we got back into his car.
"Toby. He's my ex" I tell him, nervously, wondering what he'd think.
"Are you okay?" He asks, without any hint of judgment in his tone.
"Yeah I'm fine. He's just a bit weird" I tell him as he starts the car again.
"Weird how?" Harry asks me, glancing out the window as we drive past the shop again.
"He was just very controlling you know? I couldn't do anything without his permission and he always got his way" I say, cringing as I think back to the horrible times I spend with Toby.
"If he ever bothers you just tell me. I'll deal with him" Harry says, sounding slightly angrier now.
"I will. Promise" I smile, rubbing his arm in an attempt to calm him down. It seems to work as his jaw unclenches and he smiles in my direction.

I stroll through the isles of the supermarket, thinking of what food I was going to need. I was doing a general grocery shop but also needed a plan for dinner.

Eventually, I had gotten a selection of different foods and decided on tacos as I remember Harry mentioning it was his favourite food. I had also gotten some cheesecake for dessert. I felt quite happy with my choices as I bought all the ingredients. Harry, despite his arguments, was waiting in the car for me. I didn't want the paps to catch us together but I also didn't want him to see what I was going to cook him tonight.

"You took like 10 years" Harry complains as I place the shopping in the back of the car.
"Wow you look great for 29. You've barely aged a day" I joke, getting back into the passenger side.
"I moisturise" he jokes back, starting the car.

HSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHS

I hate making tacos. Something so simple shouldn't have caused me this much stress but somehow I was ready to throw it all out the window onto some poor pedestrian. I just couldn't get everything to stop falling apart.
"Oh come on" I sigh as the best taco yet falls apart two seconds after I place it down.

Finally, I give up and decide to just search what I'm doing wrong.
"This makes no sense" I say to myself, sighing again. There's no way I'm not making these though. I've started this so I'm going to finish it! I follow each step carefully and finally end up with a decent taco. Smiling, I repeat the motions, finally creating something edible.

"This smells amazing." Harry mentioned as I opened the door for him.
"Thank you. It's just ready" I tell him shutting the door. He finds the table set up with both our plates and a glass of wine each as well as a cliche candle to the side of the table.
"This is so romantic" he giggled, sitting down. "Tacos!" He adds happily, seeing what was placed on the plate.
"I remember you saying they were your favourite?" I more ask than say, sitting down myself.
"Yeah! I love tacos" he smiles. I smile back before we both start to dig in. "These are so good" he comments "were they hard to make?" He asks.
"Not at all" I lie nonchalantly, decidedly not thinking back to my many failed tacos in the kitchen bin.

I frown as I feel my phone blow up in my pocket. I pull it out and looked down to see messages from Mia, Kristy, my mum and even people I barely knew. What was going on?

Sorry this chapter is quite short but the next chapter is already being written! :) 1 year of Walls today!!! ❤️