Seabrook, Hadley

I'm Going to Need Those Back

I hauled myself out of bed the Monday after the fall, the first time in a couple of days except to pee, and lazily walked down the creeky stairs to find Sarah in the kitchen, glasses perched on her nose and apron slung around her neck. She looked at a cooking book, and held a spatula in her hand, the other one pointing at the words as she read.

She snapped her head up and locked her arms with mine, a happy smile growing on her face.

"I haven't seen you standing in a while," she commented, sliding her glasses off of her nose. "Does your head still hurt?" I nodded.

"I feel a pressure in my skull and I feel like my head is going to explode," I said. "But other than that I'm dandy."

Sarah smiled. "Well I'm working on these peanut butter pancakes, and they are sticking to the pan like nobody's business. They shred to bits when I try to flip them."

There was a knock on the door, so I went to answer it. The gang was all there, except for Luke. He didn't have a first hour on Mondays, so he was probably sleeping in.

"We've come to take you to school!" Payton said. I laughed.

"Thank you, but I can't go. My head feels like it's going to explode."

"Damn it, Hadley! You took Friday off, too!" Bree said.

"I know but I was attacked on Friday," I said, narrowing my eyes at her. She rolled her eyes.

"Shut up, Bree, Hadley is injured. It's all okay." Zane said.

"Yeah, we'll see you sometime soon!" Elliot said.

"And you are coming to school tomorrow!" Waverley called as they walked to Elliot's car

They left for school and I closed the door behind them. I walked to the kitchen, where Sarah wasn't making much progress.

"I keep trying but they keep breaking! But I made one," she said, handing me the plate.

I sighed. "Thank you, Sarah," I said, a smile on my face.

"Honey they're just pancakes," she said, jabbing her spatula in the direction of the pan. "Well, not yet. They're just shreds at the moment, but if I could just get the damn cooking spray-"

There was another knock at the door, and Sarah sighed before looking at the door.

"I'll get it," I offered, walking out of the room.

Toby stood at the door, flowers in hand and a cheesy smile on his face. I looked between him and the flowers before opening the door. He smiled wider when he saw me, and offered me the flowers.

"I heard you were in the hospital," he said, looking at the flowers in his outstretched arms, "and I thought it was the least I could do."

"Toby," I said, awkwardly accepting the flowers. "You didn't have to do this."

"Actually I did," he said, heaving a sigh. "I know that it's a stretch, but I was wondering if... well I guess I'm wondering... I'm asking you to dinner on Friday evening. DiAngelo's."

I looked between him and the flowers. What the hell was happening?

"Uhm, I don't know if I can," I said, looking at the flowers.

We stood in silence for a good long time, which was probably just like ten seconds, but those ten seconds can (and did) stretch on for an eternity. When I finally mustered the courage to look at him, he had a frown on his face, his brown hair messy in a nice way, his white button down hugging his muscles nicely. He looked devastated, as if I had just taken a lollipop from a first grader.