~Young Love~

Chapter 26

Hayes and I went to gym class. He sits right in front of me.
"Alright, class. There's a few things we have to discuss. Spring break has been over for about a week now. This week has been a successful week for all of my students, from 9th-12th grade. I thought I'd tell the 9th graders first, which is you guys, that St. Catherine's, in Florida has invited my class to do sport tournaments." Mr. Smith told the class. Everyone was cheering.
Hayes raised his hand.
"Is there football?"
"Indeed there is."
Peyton raised her hand.
"How about cheerleading?"
He nodded. "Yup"
"How about volleyball sir?" Elena asked.
"There's every sport you can think of. You can only choose two to play. Now I have sheets to send home for permission. We have 2 and a half weeks to practice. I also need an idea today of what two sports you guys have thought about doing. So let's start with..... Sarah." I thought about it. But then I looked at my foot. "Mr. Smith, my foot is still broken, and it shouldn't come off for another 2-3 weeks. I don't know how I'll be able to practice anything. "
"Well, what sports did you have in mind?" He held a piece of chalk prepared to write on the board.
"Cheerleading and volleyball." He wrote them down.
"I'll talk to you at the end of class, alright?". I nodded.
"Next... Hayes."
"Well, I wanna try at least something new, so football and... Basketball."
He wrote it down.
Brooke raised her hand. "How long are we going for?"
"About a week." Everyone cheered again.
"But! Your teachers are still giving some work. Wouldn't be fair." He said.
Most of the girls chose volleyball and cheerleading, and the boys went for football and basketball. But I think everyone chose those two cause it's probably the sports with most attention and attraction. I actually like both of them, and don't need anyone's attention. I already have Hayes.

It was the end of class. Everyone left the room except for Hayes and I. I was supposed to talk to the teacher and Hayes wanted to stay with me.
"So, Sarah. About the sports. "
"Yes, and my foot."
"If worst comes to worst, you can come to take pictures. Unless you get a checkup or something like talking to the doctors and talk to them about this, then you can just do the sports you want to do. Either way you can come, it's a gym class, and we're a team. Besides, I don't think your boy Hayes would want to go without you and he's a good player for everything." Hayes and I smiled. "Well, except cheerleading sir" Hayes said laughing.
"I would be surprised if you couldn't." We all laughed. "Just talk to the doctors and come back to me whenever you find out, alright?" He led us to the door. I nodded. "Thanks Mr. Smith."
"No problem."

We got to the cafeteria for lunch. "Hey, maybe your dad will take his gym class to Florida too!" We sat down at a table with our friends. "Yeah maybe. Haven't talked to him for a while. It's been a few months. Well, since I've seen him. We talk on the phone and stuff, but it doesn't feel the same anymore." He said. He looked upset.
"Then go. This weekend. You and Nash."
"I can't. I don't have money right now and school work needs to be done."
He was lying. He had money, we just got back from the tour. Even I had money for going.
"Fine I'll pay. Just go."
"No, Sarah I can't."
"Yes you can!"
"No I can't!"
I voices were raising, and our friends were staring at us. There's something he isn't telling me. I got up and walked away. I went and called Nash.
Nash wouldn't care what he's going through. He said he'd be here anytime I need him to be. "Nash, can we talk for a few minutes? " "Yeah. What's up?"
"Why doesn't Hayes want to go back to North Carolina and see your dad?"
Nash paused for a second as if he were upset. "He wants to see dad. I know that for sure. I just don't think he wants to go to North Carolina. "
"Why? What isn't he telling me?" "His ex.....- He should tell you. Not me.. I'm sorry." He hung up.
Hayes came outside and saw me. He sat beside me. "What happened to her?" I asked about his ex that Nash said. I knew that he knew what I was talking about. He sighed. "Car accident. .." I saw a tear stream down his face. I used my thumb to wipe it away. Then I remembered a conversation we had back.
* flashback *
"Hayes?"
"Yes baby girl?"
"I know this is gunna sound stupid, but are you a.... Virgin?"
He laughed.
"You do know we slept together last night, right?"
"Yeah, I mean, before that though?"
He stopped, and just stared into my eyes with a little smile.
"You know it doesn't really matter.. Right? I mean, we're together now, so who cares about the past"
*end of flashback*
I put my hand over my mouth slowly.
"She was your first.." I whispered. But I knew he could still hear me. He nodded. "She died a few nights after. Car accident..." He stopped so he could wipe a tear. "She was my first love... It's only been 5 months.. " I hated seeing him cry. I sat back and got tears in my eyes. I realized that if she wouldn't have died, Hayes and I wouldn't be together. But he was happy. He didn't deserve that.
"That's why you left North Carolina?" I looked at him. He was still looking at the ground.
"Well I had the choice. Mom was moving either way. My step dad got offered a job down here. Either way mom was moving and so was Skylynn. I was going to stay with my dad, but then the accident happened, and it was too hard, so I moved. I thought it'd be easier. " he had more tears down his face. I wiped them off his face. Our foreheads were now together. I whispered to him. "You made it." I sat back against the tree. "I'll go with you." He looked a little bit frustrated again. "Are you serious?" He stood up. " I just explained to you why I can't go back." I also stood up. "And I'll give you two reasons why you will go back. You need to see your family, and I'm going to go with you to support and comfort you along the way and I don't care what you say. If my parents were to split, I'd make sure I could get every chance to see them. Some kids want to see their parents and they can't, and don't have the option to. And you do, Hayes. You do." I sighed and I left him alone.
"Why is this such a big deal Sar?" He walked slowly but closer to me. I took two steps towards him. "I saw that awful, upsetting look on your face when you said you haven't talked to your dad. Little did I know it led to something like this. And I'm sorry. Okay?" He came and hugged me. "I'd like if you came with me." He whispered in my ear. I looked into his eyes and smiled. I gently kissed him on his soft lips.
"Get a room!" I heard Elena yelling from the field. Hayes and I burst out laughing.