Summer Daze [h.s.]

Chapter 6*

A loud crack of thunder yanks me out of a deep sleep. Clutching my chest, I shoot up in a frenzy, blanket yanked up to my chin. The sun was beginning to rise and bathed the cream walls in a melancholy color of grey and blue. The sound of raindrops patting the windows filled the room and then a flash of lightening had me lay back down, covers now over my head. I've always hated thunderstorms, ever since I was a little kid. I figured I'd grow out of it by now but apparently I wasn't so lucky. The comforter stirs next to me and realization hits me: Harry is still here. In my bed. In my childhood summer home.

With half the covers over my face all I can see was his right arm and legs. He scoots closer to me and his right hand reaches for me under the covers. "Reagan, come here. It's ok." He whispers. I inch closer to his warmth and take his hand, squeezing it tight. The covers tug up and he's underneath with me, laying on his side. "Not a fan of storms I take it."

"Never have been." Another flash lights up the room so I brace for another rumble. Harry pulls me into his chest, rubbing his palm between my shoulders to ease my nerves. Thunderstorms have always reminded me of the worst night of my life. Forever will I associate them with my dad waking it in the middle of the night to tell me my mom had been in an accident. I'll never forget how the lightening lit the sky in ominous hues of violet while we drove to the hospital, the rain coming down so hard you couldn't see two feet in front of you. I kept asking if mom was alright, if she was alive. Dad did his best to hide the anguish behind his aged green eyes, but I knew. Even though I kept asking, I knew.

Another rumble and it shakes the walls, making me whimper. "Harry..." I whine.

He holds me tighter, "Hey, hey I've got you." His warm lips ghost my forehead as he spoke. "It's just a storm, it'll pass."

"I hate them... so much." I could sense the tears threatening to spill over my waterline but I was so exhausted of crying I refused to let them fall. Harry's hand lifts my chin, and the faintest light of the morning allows me to see his eyes. "Breathe with me. Calm your heart." I mimic his breath, inhaling for four and exhaling for four. "There you go, keep going."
I repeat again and again until my pulse finally slows to its normal rhythm. Once the panic subsides I notice the sound of the rain against the windows slows. Harry pokes his head out from the covers. "See? It's gone. The worst is over." I pull the covers down and look for myself like a scared child. My eyes bounce around the room as if I'm looking for monsters, but he was right. The rain had come to a screeching halt.

"You okay?" His index finger grazed my cheek.

"Mhm."

"Quite the way to wake up."

I scoff, "I'll say." I fall back onto my pillow and sigh. "How am I still scared of storms. It's so stupid." I utter to myself. Harry props himself up on his arm next to me, tucking a loose curl behind my ear and says, "Nothing stupid about it. I'm not a fan of them either."