Right Down The Line

14

Bee's POV:

"We are in the middle of nowhere..." I croaked slowly, rubbing my eyes and glancing around at the empty fields.

"She lives!" Harry dramatized from my right.

"Mmm... I'm not so sure she does." I rubbed my forehead at his loudness. I felt oddly shy about passing out in his car, so I avoided eye contact and planted my blinking eyes on the road. "How long was I out?"

"Awhile," he stated simply. "Feel better?"

I shook my head with a grumble, which he chuckled at.

"You'll be better after you wake up a little."

There was that warmth in my chest again, responding to his familiarity.

My eyes caught a coffee mug in the center console. At the thought of any liquid hitting my dry throat, I reached for it and put it to my lips. Right as I started tilting the half-full mug back, there was a hand on my forearm. I peered over at Harry.

"I... wouldn't." he said. "I should probably pour that out." And he took the glorious container out of my hand. I stared as he eased off the gas and lowered his window, pouring what definitely resembled coffee out onto the passing pavement.

"Mind if I ask why?" I couldn't stop the bratty bite to my voice. I guess we're back to moody Harry.

He smirked at my attitude, glancing at me. "That coffee had some vodka poured in. I assumed you didn't want that." His eyes shifted a bit. "And I don't need you getting sick in my car," he added, more firmly.

"Oh." My cheeks flushed. "That's... fine then." I decided, like it mattered.

Silence took over the car, thick with awkwardness. I didn't know how to act, what to say.

Vodka in his coffee? That's disgusting. Nobody in a good mental state puts vodka in their coffee. There's no way that tastes good.

I didn't move my head when I peeked through the corner of my eye to look at him. He seemed perfectly at ease. I decided I would appear that way too, so I relaxed into the leather and folded my hands on my lap.

"Here we are," Harry sang softly a few minutes later. A house appeared seemingly out of nowhere, as it was covered by a rolling hill that stood very near to it.

I perked up at the new sight. We rolled to a stop in front of the humble cottage. It was adorned with a fenced-in front yard and what appeared to be some trees behind it as I saw the green tops poking out from the old roof. The brick building stood all alone in this vast area, singular and unassuming.

I turned to Harry, who wore a small smile as he sorted himself out in the driver seat. He picked up the food bags and pushed out of the door, and I followed suit.

"I take it you've been here before?" I asked, following his excited paces through the gate and up the cobblestone path to the door.

"Oh yeah," he said over his shoulder. "Loads of times. Isn't it great?"

I smiled with some confusion, taking in the property and not really noticing anything particularly noteworthy about it, though it definitely felt cozy when we stepped in. I stopped and looked around as Harry walked straight through the home carrying our food. Again, nothing too excitable in here, though it was extremely welcoming and warm. Lots of drawings and paintings adorned the walls, a lot of colors were evident though they all seemed to be a tuned-down version, casting a warm calmness into the space. Approachable and remarkable.

"Who lives here?" I called out to Harry as I mused over the drawing nearest to me, unsure where he was. This drawing looked like it was done by a child, like actually.