Never Too Soon

Stubborn

POV: Harper

"Harper, hun, wake up. Dinner is ready." A gentle hand rubbed my shoulder until I opened my eyes. "Let's go in and eat."

I looked at Lauren once my vision cleared to see her smiling.

"Come on sleepy head." She continued her same, warm smile and waited for me to sit up.

I whined as I sat up and fixed the seat upright before reluctantly putting her jacket back into the backseat. "It better be good food. I was out like a light."

"Someone's grumpy without nap time." Lauren teased me and got ready to get out of the car and into the pouring rain.

"I'm leaving you behind again." I bolted out of the car and into the house before Lauren was even to the porch.

"Thanks for ditching me in the rain." Lauren grumbled and held her jacket close to her.

"I'm not going to run slower because you are slower." I shrugged.

"Alright children. Come eat." My Nan walked out of the kitchen with a big dish with something in it.

"What did you make?" I followed her closely.

"Chicken parm and spaghetti to go with it." My Nan set the dish down in the middle of the table and my Gramps rushed to get to his seat. "I don't know why you're rushing. You can't eat until everyone sits down and has a drink."

I sucked my lips in to stop myself from laughing while Lauren failed and settled for a quiet laugh under her breath.

"I don't think your dad is going to be able to come home tonight, Harp." My Gramps gave me a sad smile. "Power lines fell onto the highway and workers can't go out in the storm with the way it is."

"Oh," I furrowed my eyebrows and looked down at my plate.

"Harper! Can you hear me? Someone help me!" I faintly heard my dad yell at the top of his lungs while I tried to look around, but for some reason I was upside down.

"Daddy? What's going on?" I started to panic and look around.

"Hey hey hey, we just went for a dangerous rollercoaster ride. We are safe now. I need you to stay calm and I am going to get you out. Some more people are on their way. Just bare with me." My dad tried his hardest to pull the door open, but it wouldn't budge. "No! Open!"

"Am I going to be okay?" My bottom lip started to quiver as I started to cry.

"You are going to be okay, Harp. I can't get to you through the window, but some firefighters are going to come save the day." My dad spoke in a calmer tone.

Loud sirens and yelling surrounded me when the car door started to make loud crunching noises.

"I've got eyes on her! Someone get the seatbelt cutters!" A woman yelled and then more yelling followed her words as the door slowly peeled open.

"It's okay sweetheart. I've got you." One man comforted me while another man cut my seatbelt. As soon as the seatbelt came undone, I fell straight down into several sets of arms.

"Hey, Harper, look at me. You are with me." I felt hands cupping my cheeks as Lauren's voice brought me back from my flashback.

"Huh? What? I am so sorry." I panicked and went to stand up, but Lauren quickly put a hand on my knee.

"Relax, you are okay. Your dad will be okay. You are safe. Try and calm down enough to eat. If you can't, I won't push you to." Lauren continued with her calming tone and I slowly nodded my head.