SOFT SPOT// h.s

1.1 ~ You promised

In Editing

Morning rolled around in what felt like a few centuries later. Harry and I had barely spoken, apart from a few words exchanged about directions when I wasn't sure of where to go. A strange and awkward mood had descended upon us inside the car, and I didn't like it very much. It was obvious to me that Harry was embarrassed about his episode last night, and I didn't want to bring it up again, although I knew it was a sensitive subject that was going to come around again sooner or later.

I pulled off the highway a few hours prior and stopped the car in the parking lot behind a grocery store. Harry hadn't offered to drive and I didn't ask him to.

I had the heating turned up fully, but I still shivered occasionally. Harry still had yet to change out of his damp clothing and I shuddered to imagine how cold he was. He was rejecting any consolation I offered and ignored everything I said. I didn't like this side of Harry very much.

He was like a brick wall. Unmoving, unfeeling, expressionless and stiff. I couldn't deny the fact that I was worried and concerned at how abruptly he had closed up. What was going on in his life that he felt he couldn't share with me?

It was still quite early, only 6am, so Ellie was still sleeping. I had my eyes closed as my I leaned against the head rest, trying for a quick nap. Harry was slouched in the passenger seat, not sleeping, but in a world of his own.

I gave up on any hope of catching a wink of sleep due to the countless thoughts that were screaming in my mind, most of them to do with Harry.

The silence hung between us like an elephant in the room. I could hear the sound of his soft breathing and I noticed that his arms were lined with goosebumps.

"Harry," I said quietly. No answer. "Harry, you need to change out of those clothes."

I actually was almost convinced that he couldn't hear me until he gave a small shrug of his shoulders. I reached into the bag of clothes, and pulled out another pair of black jeans, a grey sweater and set them on his lap.

He stared at them with blankly as I stared at him with grim seriousness. I knew that out of the corner of his eye he could see me urging him to get changed.

"Jesus Christ," he muttered quietly and with a sigh of exasperation he tugged his damp Tshirt over his head and threw it on the floor of the car as I hid my small smile of victory.

"I won't look," I teased him as I rested my head against the back of the seat and closed my eyes.

"It's not like you haven't seen me before," I heard him grunt as he wriggled out of his skin right jeans. Seriously, that boy had better legs than me..

I gasped and felt my cheeks flush with colour. "Harry!" I shushed him, not wanting to bring that particular topic up.

"So, where are we headed now?" I asked nonchalantly, trying to discreetly change the subject.

"I'm driving," Harry said, his tone clipped. "It's my turn."

"Don't use that tone with me," I said, annoyed with his attitude.

He looked at me and gave me a smile so big and so false that I couldn't stop the corners of my mouth turning upwards. "I am driving Clary," he said in a sarcastically smooth, gentle voice.

I rolled my eyes. "Just shut up and drive then," I laughed.

He yanked the key in the engine and the car rumbled to a start. "Let's go to Texas," he said with fake excitement.

"

Look Harry, I know there's something really fucked up going on in your life right now, but don't you dare take it out on me or my daughter. You promised you would get us home and you're keeping that promise, okay?" I said, the aggressiveness and confidence in my voice shocking me.

Harry finally turned his head towards me, his expression slightly surprised. His lips turned up in a half smile of gratitude and he cleared his throat.

"Start the car. We're heading for Texas."

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If it means a lot to you- A day to remember

Ok because this is a really short update, I'll post another chapter tomorrow(Wednesday) if this gets 350+ reads before friday? If not, I'll just post on Friday :)

Tysm ily xx
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