Phobia||18+

P R O U D

"I want to try again." Charlotte said.

"You want to try what again?" Alastair questioned at her sudden interruption to his attempts at getting her to open up.

"Going to the shop, I want to try again."

Charlotte hadn't stopped thinking about her reaction since the event had taken place and she was thoroughly disappointed with her immediate reaction.

"Okay, we'll go tomorrow." Alastair decided.

"Can we go today?"

Charlotte didn't think she would be able to convince herself again the next morning that going was the right decision to make.

"Are you sure your ready?"

Charlotte nodded somewhat hesitant leaving.

Alastair stood from the couch. "I'll grab my key's and then we can go, okay?"

Charlotte gave a shaky bob of her head going to put on her shoes while she waited for Alastair.

Locking the door and heading to the car was a silent affair Charlotte continuing to reassure herself all the way, she would be fine, Alastair would be there.

"Why the sudden enthusiasm?"

"I haven't been trying and I know your only trying to help me, I'm not going to get anywhere if I don't try and I don't want to disappoint Oliver."

Alastair didn't respond.

Alastair took the same route as last time, the only difference being Charlotte's state.

As the car came to a stop Charlotte could feel Alastair's gaze on her as she stared at the shop in front of her. "It's all in your head Charlotte, I promise you nothing bad is going to happen to you, I won't let it."

The reassurance somewhat helped though Charlotte still didn't feel an overwhelming desire to step out of the car.

Alastair stepped out of the car first, Charlotte barley noticing as he came around to her side of the car.

Alastair puled open the door, holding it open for Charlotte.

When Charlotte didn't make a move to get out of her seat or even turn to face him Alastair crouched down o her level.

"Look at me Charlotte."

Charlotte looked to Alastair, the apprehension clear on her face.

"You have your safe road and we're going to be quick just in and out okay?"

Charlotte nodded not feeling confident in her own words through the turning in her stomach.

Charlotte followed behind Alastair, her steps cautious and slow and in a moment of haste as the automatic doors neared grabbed Alastair's and in her own.

Alastair tensed for a minute and just as Charlotte was about to remove her hand from his an apologize he squeezed her hand in reassurance bending down and whispering out a single order of 'breath' before tugging her along with him.

Charlotte's was sure she was going to be sick as the doors slowly began to open and they took a step inside.

The shop wasn't overly big and most likely family run but there was still multiple people in the store. "Why don't we get some ingredients for that new pasta bake you wanted to try?" Alastair proposed trying to distract Charlotte.

Without waiting for an answer Charlotte was handed a basket and led around the shop by Alastair who offered up different ingredients for Charlotte to put in the basket.