therapy [h.s.]

Twenty-six

"We should get cereal. Do you like cereal?"

Emma walked ahead of me, scanning the aisles. She looked back and beckoned me to speed up. I smiled, and began to push the cart at a faster pace.

We hadn't gone grocery shopping since our trip to Australia, so the fridge and pantry were pretty bare. She happily picked out her favorite foods, and me, being the big softie I am, let her get whatever she wanted.

"Can we get these?" she asked, reaching up and grabbing a box of lucky charms.

"Those are loaded with sugar, you know."

She furrowed her brows, giving me a questioning look, and I bit back a smile.

"Your point?" she countered.

I just smiled and shook my head as she placed the box into the cart. Then, her eyes lit up, as if she'd thought of something all of the sudden.

"Milk. We didn't get milk. We can't have sugar loaded cereal without milk."

"This is true," I agreed.

"I'll go grab some. I'll go get some candy too. What kind of candy do you like?" she asked me.

"You just get whatever you'd like, love."

She smiled and went on her tippy toes, pressing a quick kiss to my cheek.

"Thank you, Harry."

She disappeared down another aisle, while I continued to look for a cereal that wouldn't rot my teeth or cause diabetes. I took my time looking at the labels, when I heard footsteps coming near. I glanced up, my eyes meeting a familiar pair of icy blue ones.

"Harry Styles? Is that you?"

"Leah?"

I wanted to address her by her last name as well, but quite frankly, I couldn't remember it.

"Oh my god, it is you! I haven't seen you since university. Girls, look who it is! Harry Styles is here!"

Around the corner came two more familiar faces, Claire and Cindy, all of which I'd...encountered in university.

They all gushed upon seeing me, while I just stood awkwardly, scratching the back of my neck.

"Well how have you been, Harry? You look well."

"Thank you. I've been alright I suppose. What about you ladies?"

"We've all been great. Even better now that we've ran into you," Claire stated, causing them all to laugh like school girls.

"That's good to hear. Well, I should be going."

I tried to dodge the group of women in front of me, but they formed a wall so I couldn't get through.

"Going so soon? Why, you can't be here alone. That's definitely enough groceries to feed two people, maybe more. Who are you with, Harry?"

"Oh, no one. I just like to stock up," I lied quickly, trying to get by again, but failing.

Then, at the most inopportune time, Emma appeared, a gallon of milk and bags of candy in her arms. She didn't even look up as she put the items in the cart.