haphephobia • ed

Chapter 3

The next day.

I wake up on to the smell of omelettes drifting throughout the house. Yet again, the nostalgic smell fill my nostrils and i instantly want to get out of bed. Hastily, i whip of my covers and place the warm slippers over my cold feet. I do not know about anyone else, but when my feet are cold by whole body is cold. The feeling of heat running through my veins sparks happiness inside. Recently that's been happening more which it quite peculiar. 

I walk down the rickety stairs and see the familiar site of blonde wavy hair and know that my mother is there. 

"Hello mother." I speak with a groggy morning voice. 

"Good morning Harper." She sings with a grin on her face. "Can you please go wake your sister? The omelettes are ready."

I nod and begin the journey. I start the climb up mount Everest. Every step and i'm almost at the very top. Reaching the top, i ring the bell near the attic entrance. I walkie talkie up to her commanding her to come down and eat her omelette. Suddenly, the entrance opens and i am met with a petite girl whose air is in a wavy tangle.

" Is it breakfast time commander?" She says with a salute. 

"Yes so you better get down soldier." Primrose and my mother were the only two i was willing to talk to a be happy around. And possibly Grayson, i guess he seemed...different. But everyone seems different and then you get to know them and they bit you in the ass.

We both march down the stairs continuing our army role-play. Our mother laughs at our child like behaviour baring in mind i am 18. 

We sit and dig into our omelettes. After not really eating yesterday, i'm slightly hungry but not enough to eat over half the omelette. I see my mothers face drop when she see I've only had about a quarter.  Guilt washes over me so I try and force myself to eat more. The food rises up from my gut. My mouth begins to water. Dashing, i make it to the sink in time for the eggy mixture to hurl out. Gagging, my mum comes over holding my hair back. I shift from her touch and run to my safe-place. I chuck on the nearest clothes which happen to be a pair of light wash loose jeans, a thrifted shirt and some slip on vans. 

"I'm going out." I state bluntly. 

Slamming the door behind me, i begin to run. Hoping that if i run i'll get  as far away from my problems as possible. I keep running until i make it into the quirky little town i live near. I divert my route into a small street so no one can see that tears falling down my face. I had no one to go to. The two people i rely on are probably confused and don't care where i am. There is only one person i may be able to turn to. Grayson.

I dial the number. The ringing sound building suspense. I feel like i'm in a movie. Just as my hopes are building up. They fall once again. A feeling i'm very used too. The automated message begins to play. With this being the only chance i had, i speak after the beep.

"Grayson, hi it's Harper Springs. The girl from the cafe who said she liked your shoes...um...I just needed someone to talk to and maybe get my mind off of things. If your free, maybe we can meet. Urm..so..yeah bye." Instantly, i feel idiotic. He must think i'm a psycho. We don't even know each other and i'm crying down the phone to his voicemail. 

I sit on the kerb. Waiting, just waiting for a miracle to happen. 20 minutes go by and nothing. Slowly, i push myself up abut to head home when a yellow Jeep passes by. I look at it in awe. That right there is my dream car. But unfortunately God has given me the permission to ride around on a teal bike. 

The window rolls down and I am met with a pair of slightly familiar eyes. 

"Like what you see?" The voice however did not match the eyes i was remembering. The facial structure, the hair colour, the lips. Everything was the same but the voice was deeper. So deep it could hit the ocean floor. 

"Yeah I guess so." I whisper slightly embarrassed. The boy that sat next to him raised his head suddenly. Our eyes met and i new that God was on my side that day. 

The face of the one and only Grayson Dolan was met with mine. 

"Springs? Is that you? Are you okay?" I had forgotten about my bloodshot eyes and the tear stains running down my rosy cheeks. 

"Yeah i'm...fine." My voice breaks mid sentence and i immediately know my cover has been blown. The boy driving has a sympathetic look in his hazel eyes. Something about him was enchanting. Grayson was a good-looking boy but this guy was breath-taking. Not once have i had a surge of lust ruin through my blood.

"Come on Springs. Hop in." Grayson spoke with charm. Helping lift me from the pit of despair.

I run around the car and sit in the back. I hardly know Grayson but i know he would never hurt me not like he did.