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nine

Harper.

I spent the rest of the day avoiding everyone.

I wanted to be alone, that's what I needed.

I walked around the hospital, I walked outside, I took time to myself, which I hadn't had in months.

Once it got dark, I returned to my moms room.

She was awake, watching tv.

"Hey" I exhaled, seeing her look to me.

She glanced to me, giving me the smallest smile.

"What are you scared of?" She spoke, not looking back to me.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"With me dating, what are you scared of?" She asked.

I just looked to her.

She looked to me, making me speak

"When dad left, you left too." I spoke quietly.

"I didn't have anyone at that point, and I'm just now kind of getting you back." I spoke to her.

"You never lost me, Harper." She spoke as a fact.

I wasn't going to get anywhere with this conversation.

"You know what, you're right" I laughed lightly.

"I'm just dramatic and hormonal, I'm about to start my period" I exhaled, making her smile.

"You'll always have me, Harper"

I woke up at four in the morning to the dreadful feeling of cramps.

I needed tampons.

I wrote my mom a note, grabbing the car keys and leaving swiftly.

I pulled up the nearest store directions and followed the directions there, thankfully getting there safely.

I bought tampons, Midol and candy, almost running back to the car through the darkness.

I sat in the hospital parking lot, eating my candy, praying the Midol would kick in soon.

An unknown number called me.

I ignored

They called twice more

On the fourth ring, I answered.

"Hello?" I questioned.

"Hey, it's Michael- we have tampons here, come back, don't waste money." He spoke, making me immediately close my eyes tightly.

"Did she seriously tell you that I'm on my period-" "I'm a Doctor, no need to be embarrassed." He spoke, making me almost want to scream from frustration.

"I'll be back in fifteen minutes" I exhaled, hearing him say the smallest
"Okay, be safe"

Then, I hung up.

I rubbed my face lightly, wanting to do nothing but cry.

My hormones were tripping the fuck out and I needed them to stop.

Michael.

"She said fifteen minutes, it's been an hour" Jennifer spoke to me.

I bounced my knee lightly, the concern just as high for me.

Luke entered as I searched for an excuse in my head as to why she wasn't answering her phone or walking through the door.

"What's up?" Luke spoke.

"Harper said she would be back in fifteen minutes and it's been an hour-" "what do you drive, I'll check the parking lot, she may just be watching the sunset" he suggested, making me nod slowly.

"A black Malibu" she mumbled, making him nod before leaving the room.

"She's okay."

Luke.

I walked through the parking lot, immediately spotting a black Malibu.

I went to the window, seeing Harper in the drivers seat, asleep.

I pulled the door handle, unlocked.

How unsafe, but she immediately woke up.

"How do you fall asleep with the door unlocked?" I asked, watching her rub her eyes.

"It's the medicine" she groaned out, rubbing her face before looking to me.

"What medicine did you take?" I asked her, making her hand me a bottle.

Midol

"This isn't supposed to make you drowsy" I spoke, seeing her shrug

"It always knocks me out" she spoke.

"Well come on, let's go inside- your mom is worried" I spoke, making her slowly stand,

She walked beside me quietly, holding a small bag of gummy bears.

"Want one?" She asked, the smallest smile on her mouth.

"Sure"