Chapter 21

It was now the end of the week, and Friday came quicker than expected. For the whole week I ditched every class except photography, and instead did extra shifts at the Coast.

It was starting again, I’m losing myself, and the memories were coming back.

~~~~~

It was about 5 months after Hayes, and his father had moved away. No one knew where they went, we all thought they would come back.

Months passed when we got the news that they moved to Hawaii. The news hit everyone hard. It got to my mother the most.

She started getting depressed, still wouldn’t let go of Mr. Bart-ley though.

I think it fueled her, fueled her long enough to keep her breathing. Even if he didn’t feel the same way.

She’d secretly call him every day. Even if that meant calling around and asking for him. He changed his numbers, not us.

I think deep down she knew the truth.

A year has passed without them, and my mother is now a smoker. She lives in her room, and barely eats.

She is hurt, she feels abandoned by Mr. Bartley. Most nights I hear her crying. It’s bad.

Maybe things went south, maybe Mr. Bartley and my mother had planned another life.

Another life, just the two of them.

Would she have left us behind?

~~~~

It’s a Friday afternoon, and I’m eating a popsicle while sitting on my car. Something hits me right in the face.

“Alex, throw the ball back over!” Adam shouts.

I watch the ball that hit me, bounce on the pavement. The rhythm of the ball matched my pulsing nose.

I get off the car, holding my nose, in fear it might be broken.

I grab the ball and walk next door. I haven’t been over Hayes’s in years. Thankfully, it was just in the garage. This was still much; the secrets won’t swallow me whole though.

It was Hayes, and my brother, they were in a middle of a game.

Hayes’s hair was hanging over his face, he was drenched in sweat, and he was shirtless. I could see the scars.

“You could’ve just thrown it over.” Hayes says.

“Oh, you’re talking to me now, that’s great.” I mumble. He ig-nores me.

“That ball hit me in the face, you’re missing a few more words.” I say.

“Your brother threw that ball.” He says, they both laugh.

“Well then, you both suck!” I say, then throw the ball at Adam.

“What the hell Alex! Hey, if you’re going to be like this, Jeff can’t come to the party.” Adam laughs.

“How do you know about Jeff?” I ask him.

“Who’s Jeff?” Hayes asks.

“What party?” I ask. My phone chimes.

What time does the party @ your house start?

-Rochelle “Hayes needs a welcome back party and needs to meet some of my college peeps. Guess whose house is hosting?” Adam hoots.

My nose starts to bleed. Adam tries to apologize.

“It’s fine. I totally deserve this anyways, right?” I say.

“I’m fine, just leave me alone.” I say I rush back to the house, grab a kitchen towel, and some ice.

My hands were shaking now, I try to breathe. I’m one to fear blood when I see it, it scares me.

~~~~~

Once the bleeding stopped, I took a cold shower, and put on some-thing decent. Which for me meant, flared pants that covered my slip-pers.

Followed by a crop top that said I HATE YOU in bold letters. The top is covered by my red windbreaker, from work.

I’m feet’s away from the kitchen when I hear Rochelle giggling, and laughing. In the kitchen I see her, and Hayes making out, hands all over each other. Rochelle sees me and gives me a hug.

“Alex! Guess who is back together? I’ve missed you, where were you all week?” She asks.

Hayes is looking at me again, he won’t stop.

“How’s the nose.” Hayes asks. I let go of Rochelle and ignore Hayes.

I open the fridge.

“Alex, what’s wrong?” Rochelle asks.

“Nothing, what are you talking about?” I ask.

“Come on Al, where were you?” She asks.

“Shouldn’t you be mad at me for being a liar?” I say.

I grab out the chilled drinks.

“You meant well.” She laughs.

“Whatever.” I say.

I use a bowl and fill it up with ice from the fridge. I pour in the chill drink and mix it.

Rochelle and Hayes are watching me. The fizzy bubbles can’t hide the stares.

“Look, I’m fine. My face is bruised, people are about to come over, I’m a little tensed, that’s all.” I lie.

“Is it Jeff?” Rochelle asks. I look at Hayes.

“Sure, why not.” I say.

You Saved Me Once Book 1 Chapter 20: 10I’m Sorry Your Moving Away worlds apart Chapter 76: Episode 75 The Witches Chapter 23: Meeting With Moxie Rochelle smiles. She grabs an ice chip and eats it. Rochelle’s crunch calms me, Hayes looks at me.

“Hopefully you can finally have a taste of him.” She laughs before going for another.

“Totally.” I mumble.

I watch as Hayes leaves the room. I brush him off, and grab snacks for the party.

This was going to be a long night.

You Saved Me Once Book 1 worlds apart The Witches