𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 ✔️

Chapter 42

MARCH 31ST

I taped the box that we just filled shut, my hands hurting from doing this for the past few hours.

"Here, let me do it," Aero offered after seeing me struggle.

He finished taping the box shut and I walked over to the couch, laying down on my back. We now have everything besides our couch and bed packed, which are being moved by movers tomorrow morning. 

And I still have to go tell Reid.

Aero came over, taking a seat beside me. He said, "It's 4 now."

I let out a sigh. I told him to drop me off at Reids at 4 so that I could tell him before I go and tell my mom. I pushed myself to be sitting up and said quietly, "I know. I'm just nervous."

"What are you so scared of?" he asked me. "You know Reid will come to visit us all the time."

I nodded, "I know. It's just, in our 6 years of being best friends we've never been less than a few minutes from each other. I guess I'm just scared he won't want to be my friend anymore."

Aero was quick to put both of his hands on my cheeks. He spoke gently, "Hey. Reid will always want to be your friend, I promise."

I took a deep breath before smiling at him. I nodded my head, "You're right. I'm ready to go and tell him now."

Even though I was still nervous, I thought that speaking positively might make me feel better. Aero said he was just going to load the boxes into his car while I'm telling Reid and my mom, and to text him once I'm done to come pick me up. 

Aero drove me to Reids and I had to take a few deep breaths before getting out of the car. As I approached the door Aero rolled down his window and yelled, "You got this baby!"

I smiled at him as he pulled out of the driveway, heading back to our apartment. I tried to walk right in, but to my surprise, the door was locked. I knocked a few times, waiting for Reid to come and answer.

The door swung open, but it was his dad standing there. He looked surprised to see me, "Hailey. What can I do for you?"

"Is Reid home?" I asked.

He shook his head, "No, he's hanging out with a friend. Want to come in and wait for him?"

I sighed to myself mentally. I shook my head, "That's okay, I'll just give him a call."

He nodded and I turned around to walk to my moms house. He stopped me, "Wait."

I stopped walking and turned around. He said, "I want to thank you for being such a good friend and girlfriend to my sons. You mean so much to them and Reid is always so happy whenever you're over here. You also brought them back together, which I'll never be able to thank you enough for. It makes me so happy seeing my boys be close again."

I felt my heart grow at his words. I smiled at him, "You've raised two amazing sons. I know doing it on your own must've been tough."

The mention of him doing it on his own made a sad look come across his face. No matter how many years its been, losing your partner must never get easier. He suddenly took a step forward, pulling me into a hug. I hugged him back and he whispered, "Thank you so much."

He pulled away, running a hand through his greying black hair. I gave him a smile and wave before turning and starting to walk to my moms house. I had no idea if my dad was home or not, I just had to hope he wasn't.

I felt relieved seeing that his car wasn't in the driveway when I approached my house. I knocked on the front door before entering. As I entered I called out, "Hey mom, it's Hailey."