Never Too Soon

Don't Worry

POV: Harper

I ended up going with my dad to help get our stuff out instead of going to school. I wasn't in the mood to deal with people at my school and I didn't want most of the stuff that was in my room, so it was a win-win situation. After I had finished packing my room, my dad and Gramps didn't let me move a single thing. I wasn't allowed to even touch a box.

I couldn't help but notice Lauren's car missing from her driveway. Part of me wished to tell her what was going on and part of me wanted her to forget about me. I'm seventeen. She's twenty-six. She does not want anything to do with me.

"A few more things I need to pack up and then I'll be all set." My dad brought out another box and my grandpa followed him with another.

"Okay, no rush." I rocked back and forth in the rocking chair that had never been used as I picked at a loose thread on my pants.

"Harper!" My head shot up at the sound of my name coming from her lips.

I got up and calmly walked over to her as I tried to stop myself from smiling and running to her.

"I was worried about you this morning. You weren't here. No one was. I knocked and nothing. I even drove your route to school." Lauren pulled me into a hug and let out a sigh of relief. I tried not to enjoy it as much as I did, but it made me happy. It made me content despite all that was going on.

"I'm okay. My mom and dad got into a fight to say the least." I shrugged as if it didn't effect me any.

"How are you feeling about it?" She furrowed her eyebrows and examined my stature and body language shift.

"It was over me being a sinner, but apparently they weren't happy to begin with. I was just the cherry on top." I looked everywhere other than her.

"Do you mind me asking what about you she thinks makes you one?" She asked as if she knew.

"Do I have to tell you or do you already know?" I looked her in the eyes and she nodded her head.

"A similar thing happened when my parents found out, but I moved in with my grandparents while they talked some sense into them." She grabbed my forearm comfortingly. "Everything happens for a reason."

"You're gay too?" I was taken aback. I did not see that coming.

"Sweetheart, I have a gay pride flag in my front yard. I'm bisexual." She chuckled.

I looked behind her and low and behold, there was a little pride flag right beside her mailbox.

"Harp, last box and we can head out!" My dad yelled to me from the front porch.

"I'll miss my neighbor buddy." She playfully frowned.

"My dad is going to try to get the house, but we may just sell it afterwards and move into a different house that someone hasn't died in in this neighborhood. A smaller one that doesn't have ghosts." I gave her a sad smile.

"If you ever need anything just text me." She wrote her number down on an old mini notebook in her back pocket with a pen. "I always have this on me with me being a writer. Whenever I get an idea it's good to jot it down." She ripped the piece of paper out and handed it to me.

"Thank you, Lauren." I gave her a genuine smile and tucked the piece of paper deep into my pocket to make sure it wouldn't be able to fall out. I couldn't risk that.

"You're welcome, Harper. If you ever need a ride to and from school just text or call me. I'm always here."

I only nodded my head. My grandparents' house is closer to my school than my old house, so I definitely won't ask her to go out of her way to pick me up.