A Misunderstanding : The Music Freaks :

Chapter 3: Unexpected Encounters

Hailey and Zander walked down the school hallway toward the music room. As they passed Drew and his group, Hailey braced herself for the usual rude remark. It never came.

Instead, Drew paused and let the others walk ahead of him.

"Hailey?" he called.

She stopped and turned around. "What do you want?"

Drew glanced back at his friends, then returned his gaze to her. "Can I ask you something?" His voice wavered, worry clear on his face.

Hailey hesitated before turning to Zander. "Go on ahead."

"Alright," Zander said with a glare in Drew's direction. "But if you're late, I'll kill that idiot."

He walked off toward the music room.

Hailey crossed her arms. "Alright. What do you need?"

Drew looked nervous. Hailey already knew.

"You're worried about Jake," she said.

Drew froze. "Uh, yeah," he admitted quietly.

"Don't worry," Hailey said softly. "He's fine. We won't hurt him."

Drew visibly relaxed. "Thanks, music fr, I mean, Hailey."

He walked away, leaving Hailey watching him with a small smile.

"He likes Jake," she murmured to herself.

She turned and headed into the music room.

When Hailey arrived, Jake was already inside, talking with Milly and Sean. Zander wasn't there.

She glanced around the room, confused, but shrugged it off. He was probably grabbing something from his locker.

"Hey, everyone," Hailey called.

"Oh, hey, Hailey," Jake replied.

"Where's Zander?" Luke asked.

"I'm actually not sure," Hailey said. "I'm sure he'll be here soon."

Jake reached into his pocket, his expression tightening. "Hey guys, I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?" Hailey asked as he opened the door.

"I forgot my phone. I'm going to grab it."

He left, and Hailey sighed.

"Even when he's on time, he forgets something," she said.

Milly and Sean laughed.

"At least he shows up on time now," Sean pointed out.

"That's good, I guess," Hailey replied.

"Well, anyway," Sean continued, "I finished the track for the competition. All that's left is the vocals."

Milly lit up with excitement. She plugged in her amp, strummed her guitar, and let the sound ring out.

"Maybe turn that down a little," Jake suggested as he walked back in.

"Awwww, you're no fun," Milly replied, lowering the volume.

"I hate to say it, but I agree with Jake," Zander said as he entered the room.

"And where have you been?" Hailey asked.

"W, well, I was just in the bathroom," he stammered.

Hailey wasn't convinced, but she let it go.

"Alright, dork. Get ready."

Zander took his place at the keyboard.

"Everyone ready?" Hailey asked.

"Yep," Jake replied as the others nodded.

"Alright. Three, two, one, go!"

They launched into their song, Take Me Away.

Later that day, Hailey and Zander walked home together when they noticed Drew and Jake ahead of them. Drew dropped Jake off, then kept walking in the same direction as Hailey and Zander, straight past his own house.

Hailey frowned. "Where do you think Drew is going?"

"Probably to the store," Zander replied coldly. "Why do you care?"

Hailey didn't answer.

When she got home, she went straight to her room and sat on her bed. Drew had been nice to her today. That was a first.

She wondered why, when something outside caught her attention.

She looked out her window and saw Drew heading into his house, carrying several brand-new tools. Confused, she was about to brush it off when she saw him pull out a piece of paper.

Her curiosity spiked.

She grabbed the binoculars Zander had given her for her birthday and focused in. She couldn't make out much, but she could clearly tell the paper had something to do with Jake.

Her stomach tightened.

"What is he planning?" she whispered.

"Hailey!"

She jumped and spun around.

"J-Jake?" she gasped.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

Jake sighed. "Music practice, remember?"

She facepalmed. She had completely forgotten their pitch lessons.

"Sorry. Let's go."

They walked to Hailey's studio and got to work.

"I think that's it," Hailey said later, exhausted.

Jake leaned back in his chair, looking smug. "Now I'm even more perfect than I was before."

Hailey rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Jake."

Jake's phone buzzed. He glanced at it, and a flicker of conflict crossed his face.

"I have to go. Bye, Hailey," he said quickly.

"See you," she replied, confused.

Once he left, Hailey opened her laptop and started watching videos, but something nagged at her. She hurried back to her room and looked out the window.

Jake was walking down the street.

Then he turned toward Drew's house and went inside.

Annoyance mixed with curiosity. She pulled out her phone and sent Jake a message, telling him they needed to talk, then went back to her own things, unaware of Drew's plan.

Someone else had noticed too, and had already connected it to Drew rifling through Jake's locker earlier.

Hours later, Hailey read Drew's reply.

She smiled.

At last, she would have an answer to her question.