LOSING IT ALL //HAYLEY PARKER

24

~LOSING IT ALL~

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24| I LIKE YOU, HAYLEY
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"I'VE BEEN TRYING TO reach you, Hayley, did you happen see my missed calls?" Dale grills me immediately he reaches our cycle. An awkward chuckle bubbles out from my throat as I guiltily retrieve my phone from my hip pocket. 8 missed calls, Dale-fucking-Randall.

I bite my inner cheek, staring at my screen with frenzied eyes. "I had no idea." I say, putting on a guise of innocent surprise, for I had indeed seen his calls but chose not to answer them for personal reasons.

Jennifer and Camille shares puzzled yet curious gazes at each other, and then shrewdly between Dale and I. My fingers coils unconsciously into jittery fists.

"Did you want something?" Camille asks, bright blue eyes shining with an intensive curiosity. "I had asked Hayley to assist me since my shift partner couldn't make it because of an emergency."

Dale smiles warmly at her. "It's nothing serious, really." And then to me, "I didn't know you were engaged. I'm sorry, I must've been disturbing you."

I shake my head in a short jerky motion, hands vehemently waving off his apology. "No no no, it's fine. You don't have to apologize, besides you had no idea whatsoever." Arching a brow. "Is everything okay, what'd you need me for?"

Large hands are shoved into the sleeves of his pants, broad shoulders appearing massive at the action. "Is just the furnitures." He says, bashfully staring between Camille and Jennifer.

"Furnitures?" Jennifer jibes incredulously, "Do you want to get furnitures for your room?"

I bite my bottom lip. Shit! I haven't told them about Dale's intentions of moving out. "Actually—" I start sheepishly. "Dale is planning on moving out soon."

I watch both their faces whiplashingly change from curiosity to horror. "WHAT?!" They both yelp in a ludicrous synchronization. My hand flies to my chest, startled by their outburst.

"Why're you moving out?"

"Is the house inconveniencing you?"

"—Or, are we inconveniencing you?"

"Why all of a sudden?"

Dale strokes his chin, probably evaluating how to answer all the questions unceasingly thrown at him. My face unconsciously morphs into concern. Jennifer and Camille can be aggressive and hellbent when they are being interrogative.

"C'mon guys, it's not because of us that he's relocating." I try to tame the chaotic atmosphere. Jennifer is relentless, she grips Dale's hand, her face wrinkling in distraught.

"Why're you moving? Did we do something, anything to offend you?"

Dale smile uneasily at her. "Of course not." And then tilts a please-help-me-out-here gaze towards me. I quickly intervene, tugging her back. "Jenny, you're misunderstanding everything here." I say.

"Hayley's right." Dale nods at me. "Honestly, I'm not moving because of you guys. You all have been nothing but accommodating and nice to me." He shrugs, directing his gaze to Jennifer. "I'm simply relocating cause I want to, or, I have to."

Jennifer's shoulders shags.

Camille leans over and wraps her arms around her, squeezing her shoulder. "Is Jayden aware of this?" She inquires gently.

"I told him about it." I say.

Jennifer sighs. "Must you really move?" She asks in a sad-longing voice. "I was beginning to get along with you, y'know."

Dale chuckles wryly. "Me moving doesn't necessarily mean I won't be seeing you guys around. Besides, we're all going ahead of ourselves. I don't intend on relocating right away. I've a lot of things to fix first."

Jennifer exhales in relief. "You had me there for a second." I shake my head in disbelief. She does like him. "Let's go in, everyone is waiting." Camille suggests, prodding Jennifer towards the café.

"Oh," I thump my forehead. "That's actually the reason why I'm out here. Jayden already got our orders." Jennifer smiles at me, then wearily at Dale before turning away and starting with decided steps towards the café. Camille quickly falls in steps beside her, leaving Dale and I standing alone in the parking lot.

Dale cocks his head and eyes me askew when they were both gone. "Did you really not see my calls?" He gropes. I could feel my face going ashen by the question, and I quickly look over his sturdy shoulder to avoid his piercing gaze.

"Of course." I wring my fingers, endeavoring to avoid his intensive gaze at all cost.

He exhales heavily and crosses his arms. "Y'know you're very bad at lying." He says. "It's evident that you're trying to avoid me. Are you sure everything's okay between you and Jayden?"

I nod. "Of course."

And then my heart jumps when I look into those brown orbs. I issue a bowl of expletives internally. I should've known better than to look into those eyes. They always see through me, and it's not something I adore.

"If it's about the other night, I'm sorry. I'll talk to Jayden about everything. There shouldn't be any awkward stance between us. I can't afford to loose your friendship now."

I narrow my eyes at him. "What'd you say?"

Dale smiles disarmingly. "I said, I. Cannot. Afford. To. Lose. Your. Friendship. Now." He enunciates every single word, and I search his beautifully sculpted face for signs of falsehood. I did not see any. His eyes are gleaming with unswerving honesty and admiration. I backpedal.

Does this mean he really likes me?

Does this mean everyone is right? That it is only me who didn't see that he actually likes me? Can it be possible? Is it?

"Hayley." His sonorous voice penetrates through my wandering reverie. My thoughts snaps into focus and the fog lifts. "Yes?" I quip faintly in a note of rapturous interrogation.

Dale stares suspiciously at me. "I thought you zoned out on me for a minute." He says skeptically. I know I did. "Anyway.." he face brightens into a bright smile, dimples burrowing cutely into his cheeks. "We should go inside, it's getting cold out here."

At that, I shiver from the sudden onslaught of wind that whistles through the parking lot, and unconsciously wrap my leather jacket around my neck. "Yes, of course." And as we start scuttling through the parking lot towards the café, Dale says something that makes me come to a flattering halt in front of the café's screen door.

"I like you, Hayley."

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