SOFT SPOT// h.s

0.7 ~ green eggs and ham

"Do you like green eggs and ham?" Ellie asked Harry for what felt like the millionth time as we sat outside the car rental building.

"I do not like them
Sam-I-Am
I do not like green eggs and ham," Harry replied, rhyming off the exact words to the Dr. Seuss book. I knew he was growing bored with the continually repeated question, but he didn't show it.

"Sorry, she loves that book. We read it to her when I was pregnant," I apologised, laughing slightly at the memory.

"We?" Harry asked, his tone confused.

I blushed, feeling my cheeks flare up. "Sorry, uh Noah and I," I stammered.

"Oh," he replied shortly. "So, Noah's her dad, right?"

For a moment I swore my heart stopped and dropped to my stomach as I stared straight into Harry's eyes, hesitating for a slight moment before nodding.

"Yeah," I muttered in reply, unable to meet his gaze. I felt the guilt twisting in my stomach; I was never a good liar, but I was unable to restrain the answer that left my lips.

Harry nodded in understanding.

"Sorry," I said, unsure of why I was apologising but feeling the need to anyway.

"It's fine," he said, a small smile playing on his lips. A loud vibration started to stir in his pocket and he whipped out his phone. I gave him an understanding smile as he walked a few metres away, answering the call.

I couldn't hear clearly what he was saying, but I caught snippets of, 'Has she woken up yet?' And, 'I'm trying to get there as soon as I can." He cursed loudly as his phone battery died and the guilt felt like a heavy weight in my stomach as I realised Harry's determination to get home. Someone he loved was hurt, or in trouble, and it was Ellie and I that were holding him back.

When he returned, Harry's eyes were slightly pink, but I passed no remarks. I didn't want to pry into the mysterious phone call, but the curiosity was tugging naggingly at my sleeve.

I pulled Ellie on to my lap as Harry took resumed his seat beside me on the park bench. "You ok?" I asked him. His reply was a small nod. "You know, you can talk about it whenever you want, just so you know. I mean, we're friends now," I reassured him with a light laugh, just to have him nod again and bury his face in his hands. Whoever it was that was causing Harry this stress was obviously someone who meant a lot to him. And I intended to find out who it was.

----x----

"Is there any chance you could keep your eyes on the road and stop making funny faces at my daughter?" I scolded Harry jokingly as we continued our journey east in our rusty rental car.

It was an old 1967, blue ford mustang. It seemed in good enough condition, but we were doubting its ability to take us past Texas. But of course we were grateful for anything we could get. It beat walking miles in the deserted unknown. We had undeniably wasted hours after being stranded in the middle of no where, so Harry didn't hesitate to get driving as quick as possible.

Ellie squirmed in the borrowed car seat as she giggled at Harry's hideous play faces. "You know," Harry began, glancing over at me. "Ellie reminds me of someone."

I tried to hide my shocked expression as I held my breath, awaiting the moment when realisation would dawn on Harry and he'd hit the nail over the head with a hammer. (Or whatever that old expression is.)

"But I can't seem to put my finger on it," he said, relieving me partially of the paranoia that was building up inside me. I didn't reply, but rubbed my grimy hands on my jeans, which I had been wearing since yesterday. I really needed a shower. It wasn't until I felt a familiar feeling down below and sudden cramps in my stomach that I began to panic stressfully inside my head. I thought it had finished yesterday..

"You alright? You seem a little tense," Harry remarked, noticing my stiff posture all of a sudden. I started fumbling through my handbag, checking to see if I had any lady products stowed away. No such luck.

"Yeah, just a little hungry. Can we stop at a store? I want to get a few things," I asked him in a rushed tone as I drew steady breaths.

'Tampons, I need tampons now," I thought erratically. If I left a mark on the fabric of the seat, I would be embarrassed beyond words. Harry shot me a weird look, knowing something was up.

We pulled into a small convenience store and I told Harry to wait in the car with Ellie. I dashed hurriedly around the aisles, searching for the product I was in most need for. I lifted a box of tampax and threw it in to my basket, as well as some diapers and food for Ellie. I also grabbed some food and drinks for Harry and I. I approached the till and stuck my hand in my pocket, blushing furiously when I pulled out the only change I had left. $7.55. It wasn't nearly enough to pay for all the things I had wanted to buy.

"Uh, could you hold on a sec, I just left my purse in the car," I lied, exiting the shop before the confused cashier had time to answer.

"Need money?" Harry asked with an amused smirk. I nodded, a pink hue of humiliation creeping into my freckly cheeks.

He handed me a twenty dollar note and I thanked him before rushing back inside, paying and then sheepishly asking to use their toilets.

The restroom was grubby, but none the less, there was a toilet and a sink. I ignored the brown rust that climbed up the once silver taps as I slapped water on my face, washing away the remains of dust and dirt from my skin.

I stared into the cracked mirror and saw a different woman. I had been on the road with Harry for only 24 hours, but I knew that by the end of this trip, I'd be changed a lot.

Returning to the car, I could already hear Harry's witty comments and Ellie's golden giggles, bringing a smile to my face.

I shoved the bags of purchased goods in the back seat after giving Ellie a few things to eat and offering Harry some of the sandwiches and crisps I had bought, which he gratefully accepted.

"So how long have you and Noah been together, just out of interest?" Harry asked me as we drove along at a reasonable speed. We couldn't go any faster than 55mph without the engine shutting off which aggravated Harry.

"Three years," I replied, feeling a bit guilty as I remembered how my fiancé would be worrying. I hadn't given him much thought over the past few hours.

"So, just after you and I..?" Harry trailed off and I nod my head in reply, feeling slightly embarrassed that he kept bringing it up.

"You didn't wait long then to move on," he laughed harshly. He was only joking but his comment bugged me and I shot him a glare.

"I thought we were trying to be friends," I pointed out accusingly. "You're such a dick."

Harry raised his hands in innocence, momentarily taking both off the wheel, causing me to shriek in fear. "Woah, calm down. It was a joke," he said in defense.

"Whatever," I replied moodily, feeling a pang of homesickness for Noah.

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