Drive » Haylor AU

10 - Issues

I already miss you, my little lion xx

"'Cause I got issues, but you got 'em too" ~Issues, Julia Michaels

(this is one of those times where the song is so accurate, if you just wanna skip the chapter and listen to it instead, go ahead)

That night we checked into another cheap motel on the side of the highway, somewhere in the middle of nowhere in New Mexico. Even though it was nearly midnight, we threw our bags into the room and then headed across the parking lot to the small diner that was situated there.

It was empty, and the waitress seemed surprised to see us, but she sent us a small smile anyway. She seated us at a booth and came back with the menu only moments later and I thanked her before a silence hung around the room. And after the waitress disappeared behind the saloon door, we were the only people there.

It wasn't necessarily an awkward silence, but it also wasn't a comfortable one. It was sort of a weird in between thing that seemingly only I picked up on. Harry was engrossed in his menu and I felt very shy all of a sudden, not confident enough to start a conversation.

After what seemed like ten hours, the waitress returned with a notepad. "What can I get you today?"

"I- I'll just have a- a Coke light the BLT, please," I ordered quietly, slapping myself internally for stuttering. When have I ever done that?

I figured it was probably just my insecurity kicking in. This was all so new to me. I was travelling in a Jeep with a hot guy and I didn't know how to act. I felt incredibly out of place with my YSL romper in the small diner and to be frank, I was probably just scared of being judged. Judged by the waitress, judged by Harry, judged by the motel owner, judged by everything and everyone. I had always been very aware of that, having every one of my actions interpreted by the media, whether it be positive or not. People say that you are your own worst critic, and I believed that until the papers and my parents did a great job of convincing me otherwise. I had never judged myself as harshly as they did, and I think that really took a toll on me.

The voice of the waitress tore me from my thoughts.

"And what can I get you, sweetie?" She smiled at Harry and he sent her a dimply one of his own, making me feel worse. She was a sweet middle aged woman with a ring, and it didn't seem like she meant it flirtily at all, so that was not what ticked me off. Not that it would have anyway.

It was the fact that Harry was able to have everyone wrapped around his finger in seconds, while I sat here like a stuttering idiot. Sure, he was a bit of an arse, but if you met him on his good side you would instantly love him. There was just something about his cute smile and his curly locks that could captivate anyone immediately. His eyes were guarded, but oh so green, and his tattoos were more intriguing than scary. I bet that in school he was always popular. Both among teachers and students, he just had them all.

"Could I please have a Sprite and a tuna wrap?" Harry smiled, his voice was strong and confident as ever, raspy in the most beautiful way possible.

"Oh, you're British!" Was she actually going to start a conversation now?

Harry chuckled. "That I am."

The waitress gasped again. "Where from?"

"Uh... just a small town in Cheshire, nothing too exciting." Well that was more than he ever told me.

"Oh well, that sounds exciting to me!", she laughed, "Now excuse me, I need to drop off your order."

Another charming smile was sent her way before she disappeared again, leaving me to look down at my lap. I could feel Harry's gaze on me, making me even more self-conscious. I didn't dare to look up with him examining me that intently and in that moment there was nothing more that I wanted than to disappear completely. Finally, after the waitress had set our drinks on the table, I collected as much courage as my awkward self could muster, and looked up.