After Forever & Ever

After Never Chapter 14

Tessa

We are on our way to meet Zed. He said his sister lives above this coffee shop. Which I guess is the loop hole to his house arrest.

Hardin has been on edge. I want to say since we left to come here. But it's been since the accident and I feel like it's only gotten worse as time has gone on.

He's like Ken said...unhappy. Depressed. He's in his head 24/7 and it's torturing him.

It's torturing me.

Because I know he can't shake all these feelings he's having and he won't let me in. He has been more open than I thought but he still is feeling things that he won't say. And I'm still feeling things I won't say.

So all we are doing is tip toeing around each other...and it's exhausting.

We pull up in front of the coffee shop. There's a cute sign out front 'Bubble & Brew'

"You okay?" I ask Hardin who looks genuinely nervous.

"Yea I'm fine." He replies taking a deep breath.

"I'll grab your crutches." I say as I get out and walk around to the back seat on the passenger side to grab his crutches.

He opens his door and is able to hobble out and grab them from me.

"Thanks" he says throwing me a slight smile which surprises me seeing as how I haven't seen any glimpse of a smile in some time...so why right now?

I lead the way, so that I can open the door.

I open the door and Hardin goes in.

My eyes quickly go to Zed's who is sitting at a table directly across from where we walked in.

He quickly stands...and looks at Hardin.

And looking at Hardin...you can still see the faint scratches on his face and the bruising that has turned a slightly yellowish tone under his eye.

You see him on crutches with his big leg brace.

You see someone who is normally so strong...look weak.

You could tell Zed doesn't know what to do. Hardin takes the open space of wall to rest his crutches up against, and he surprises me when he moves towards Zed and gives him a hug.

A hug that lasts long. A hug that maybe they both needed?...

Hardin takes a seat at the table, and Zed comes around and gives me a hug.

"Thanks for bringing him here." He whispers to me.

We both take a seat and I can't help but notice the ankle monitor on Zed's leg when his pant leg rides up as he sits down.

I can tell Hardin notices too since that's where his eyes travel.

"It's okay." Zed says in a reassuring tone as he slides his pant leg down covering the monitor.

Even though we all know that it's not. None of this is okay.

A waitress comes over to our table... "Hi guys, welcome to Bubble & Brew my name is Mona. I'll be your waitress. Do ya'll need a moment to look over the menu?..,Zed the usual?" I guess zed has been coming here I think to myself.

"Just a coffee black please." Hardin replies.

"Yeaaa...I'll take the usual." Zed also replies.

"I'll have a Caramel latte." I reply after briefly glancing at the menu and thinking that sounded good.

"Sure thing." Mona replies and leaves the table.

"Work on any new music lately?" Zed asks Hardin surprising both me and I think Hardin.