Driving someone home can be a blessing, especially if its someone you care about.
Tara froze by Hardin's sudden appearance again, how did she even know she'd be down here...but he happened to come at a right moment.
"It's you again...I remember you from last night," Archie said.
How could he forget, he knocked him out and locked him in his own car.
"Do you want to settle the scores with me?" Hardin jokingly asked Archie.
This man!
"Ohh you really want us to fight!!" Archie was more than ready.
"Ok... that's enough you two.." Tara came in between them before they could do anything stupid.
"Tara, this man is no good for you," Archie snapped at her trying to touch her, but Hardin pushed his hand away and pulled Tara behind him.
"What is good for her, only she will decide, you have no say in that" Hardin replied back.
This man was seriously getting on his nerves.
"Tara, who is he to speak for you anyway...just back off"
Things were getting out of hand, she needed to stop this.
"He's my boyfriend" She suddenly said.
"What,, Tara you weren't dating anyone...how can this be?"
How did he get to her before him.
"We just started dating, Archie, I'd really appreciate if you don't come between us" Tara replied, holding Hardin's hand.
He proved to be the better man between them.
" You heard what she said, walk away" Hardin repeated her words in a rephrased sentence.
Archie still couldn't believe it.
He shook his head before he entered his car and drove away.
"I'm now your boyfriend!" He teased Tara, tightening his grip on her hand.
"If I didn't say that, he'd never leave me alone" Tara replied trying to free herself from him but it was pointless to struggle.
"Someone once told me, you can never go back on your words"
He meant her. She once said it to him while they were still in school.
"So you now know its really me Hardin" she said.
"How long were you planning to hide it from me?" He asked.
" For forever," she replied head on.
"You weren't supposed to ever find out"
" But I found out, and that will not change" Hardin was hell bent on staying.
"How did you even know I'd be here?" She asked looking him straight in the eyes.
"I know you too well.... you'd try to run away again and the only place for you to run to was through here" he replied.
"Whatever, I still haven't accepted you being my bodyguard!" She looked away from him.
I'm still upset
"Ok...what can I do to get you to forgive me?" Hardin desperately asked.
"Drive me home, and maybe I'll think about it" she replied handing him the keys to her car.
He was going to drive her home.
~~~~~~
"So why didn't you say anything when you left back then?" Tara asked, suddenly remembering how they went their separate ways.
They'd agreed to meet but he didn't show up that day.
"I didn't get the chance to do it in person" Hardin replied, his eyes still fixed on the road while driving.
"I called you, and texted you, but you didn't reply" he added.
"I changed my number" she said.
"And I lost your contact"
Tara changed the direction of her face and looked at Hardin.
He hadn't changed one bit, he was still the same charming like he was back then.
"Do I have something on my face?" Hardin could see her through the side mirror rare view.
"No, you're perfect"
Always perfect.
She turned to the radio and turned up the volume.
"You're also still the same too" Hardin exclaimed.
He knew she loved loud music environment.
"Hardin, stop the car!" She suddenly snapped at him.
Hardin immediately hit the breaks.
Tara rushed out to the nearby food stall.
"I was hungry....I need a night snack" she said.
She knew very well Hardin liked such places...she could go to an expensive restaurant, but she still chise to come here.
"Two bowls of noodles please" she ordered.
"And make them spicy"
Hardin watched her and got a memory.
Flashback 8 years ago~~~
"Let's have a night snack HC, where do you want to go?" She asked him while they walked down the street together.
"You won't like the place I'll take you to" Hardin replied but Tara was serious.
"There.." he pointed to a food stall by the road.
"Let's go" he pulled her there.
"Two bowls of noodles please, and make them spicy" he ordered.
" Why spicy ones?" Tara asked.
"That's what makes them fun to eat"
End of flashback.
She remembered.
"Don't look at me like that" Tara said noticing how he was staring at her.
Her order arrived and the two dug in on their snack.
Afterwards, they got back to the car...and he drove her home.
She gave him the address of her house...the one she lived separately from her family.
By the time they arrived, she'd fallen asleep.
Not wanting to wake her up, he slowly carried her out of the car and took her inside.
He took her to her room, took off her shoes and covered tucked her in.
"I'm really glad you're back Hardin" she whispered in her sleep but he heard her.
"Goodnight" he whispered back to her, switching off the lights.
Tara's house was in a mess, she'd been living alone and organizing things was not her style.
Hardin cleaned everything up for her and organized it for her.
He placed everything where it had to be and even helped he do the laundry.
He took out the trash as well, it was the least he could do for her.
~~~~~
The following morning, Tara woke up thinking that Hardin bringing her home was all in a dream.
She rushed out of the room, only to find her house so well organized with everything in order.
The breakfast table was well set and she could smell, pancakes?
What was happening?
Hardin didn't leave...he stayed the whole night and did all that for her..now he was making breakfast.. for her...
It wasn't a dream, it was real..