Chaotic (sequel to Psychotic)

Chapter 11

I was never one fit for experiences of the traumatic. I wish I was the kind of person who was quick-minded, who could swallow a situation as soon as it happened to focus their energy on coming up with solutions. Like Harry. He was calmer about things. But instead my energy was installed in worrying, conveyed in the falling of my tears and the churning of my stomach. I was jumpy, I got frightened easier. And maybe that is why I'm the one who jolted upright at the sound of the police sirens.

"Harry!" I whispered harshly, shaking the arm that had just been wrapped around me. Usually I would've taken a moment to marvel at his beautiful, sleeping features - but this was not a usual morning. He woke confused and irritated, sitting up almost as quickly as I had.

"What?!" he demanded grumpily.

I put my hand over his mouth, which deepened his annoyed expression. Or at least until he heard the source of my panic. His eyes grew wide as he looked up at the road suspended over us.

I let my hand fall from his mouth, fire surging through my body. I felt shaky, jittering with adrenaline. "What do we do?" I whispered.

He put a finger to his lips, mouthing the word, "listen."

Again, he seemed calm. But he still quietly but quickly began to pack our things, tearing the blankets off of us and bundling them up. All the while the noise got closer. The sirens seemed to become more drawn out, flatter, louder, as if trying to build up my dread with each screaming sound.

I reached back for Harry, my hand gripping his bicep in anticipation. He paused, and without seeing him I knew we were both looking up. The sound was so terribly close now, it couldn't be more than a few meters away. I felt nauseous with the jitters that wracked my body. Then it was right on the bridge. But the car did not stop. And the sound of the sirens flew past us.

A flood of relief swooped through me, my body and Harry's arm being released from my pervious nerves. I leaned back against Harry and he let me fall into his chest, my eyes closing as a sigh escaped my lungs.

I felt Harry relax behind me. "Not every cop car is out to get us." He almost laughed as he said it, coming to the same realization that I did. "There are crimes and accidents happening everywhere. That car could've just been after someone who was speeding."

I laughed lightly with his words. I had been so scared, so worried, I barely even considered the much more likely options. He pulled me to one side so that he could see me clearly. "We're okay," he chuckled, sliding his hands to either side of my face before he dotted kisses all over it. My cheeks, forehead, temples, nose.

I didn't bat at him or shy away like I usually would, but just laughed at his affection. "That scared the shit out of me," I said after he planted one last kiss to my cheek.

"To be honest," he said, pulling away slightly. "Me too. I just pictured Ms. Hellman behind the wheel with that stupid fucking scowl on her face," he said, and then tried to mock her usual expression.

"That's just like her," I laughed, although Harry's interpretation was much cuter than the real thing.

"Thank God they passed us though. Maybe it was even a good thing that they drove by, it's probably a sign that we should get up."

"Yeah," I agreed.

"And who really needs an alarm when you have the sound of cop cars to wake you up anyway?"

"Exactly," he said.

"So what are we doing today? Will it be eating some breakfast then running? Or running then eating?" I suggested, our only real options.