Never Too Soon

Strange

POV: Harper

"You're at a ten right now and I need you to be at a two before I listen to anything that comes out of your mouth." Max put his hand out in my direction.

"Kiss my ass, Maxwell. You stole my ice cream." I snapped.

"Technically it was Lauren's because it's in her house." Max pointed at me with the spoon he used to commit treason.

"No! Lauren bought it for me AND she put it on my side of the freezer by the chicken nuggets!" I stomped my foot.

"Dinner is on the way and I'll buy you more! It's not a big deal!" Max tossed the dirty spoon in the sink.

"It is a big deal because I want some now and I don't have any, because someone just had to go and eat the last of my ice cream! Not fucking cool!" I shoved him and he squealed.

"Ai! You need to check yourself before you wreck yourself, chica!" Max shoved me back but nowhere near as hard.

"Fuck off! You ate my food!" I stormed up to him only for a hand to wrap around my wrist.

I was pulled backwards into a body with one strong tug and a clearing throat.

"That's enough." Lauren whispered in my ear with my back pressed to her front.

Chills ran down my spine and I had to fight everything in me to keep up my bickering match with Max.

"He ate my ice cream." I tugged against her grip.

"Calm down, Harp." Lauren wrapped an arm around my waist to keep me against her.

"She pushed me!" Max pointed at me.

"You ate my food and shoved me back!" I growled and tugged against Lauren's grip.

"Don't fucking instigate, Max! You aren't the one with a past like hers! She didn't always know when her next meal was, so eating her food fucking triggers her!" Lauren snapped at her best friend who went pale at her words.

"Shit... sorry... I'll be out here." Max whispered and walked away with his chin tucked.

"Take a deep breath for me, please." Lauren whispered in my ear before burying her face into the crook of my neck where she peppered light kisses.

"He stole my food." I grumbled and struggled against her grip one more time to no avail.

"Breathe, Harper. Breathe." Lauren hushed me and held me tightly. "You have as much food as you want here. Whatever you want is here. I will get you more ice cream tomorrow on my way home from work. I promise."

"He stole." I whispered and rested my chin on her forearm that was snug across my shoulders.

"Max didn't know. He didn't know, baby." Lauren kissed my cheek before turning me around in her arms. "You never have to worry about not eating again with me. I will take care of you."

I looked up a her and nodded slowly. "I'm sorry I pushed him. I didn't mean to."

"I know you didn't, little one. I know." She pulled me into a tight hug and I closed my eyes in her grasp. "I've got you."

The certain three words calmed me nearly instantly. The three words that only she tells me and I knew she always meant it. A promise that she reminded me of whenever I needed it.

"There you go." Lauren kissed my forehead again. "Are you hungry or sleepy? You're only this quick to jump when your sleep bar or hunger bar is low."

"Both." I mumbled against her neck. "Are you mad at me?"

"Of course not. You could kill someone and I'd ask what they did to you." Lauren chuckled.