Melody of a Second Chance

Chapter Thirteen - No Matter What

Jake's Pov:
   I was utterly speechless upon discovering that my home address had been exposed. It's been difficult for me to have even a moment of tranquility with Hailey, considering that her followers are somewhat obsessive and erratic. Yet, I never actually imagined that someone would go to such extremes as to dox someone like me, who isn't even famous!

Initially, Hailey and I were at a loss for what course of action to take. We were aware that continuing to stay at my home was not the most prudent choice. Although I didn't have enough time to gather all of my possessions, I gathered the essential items and luckily all of Hailey's stuff remained at Zander and Luke's home.

Hailey came up with the notion of us staying at her parent's home since my family didn't live nearby and I doubted Zander would want me to stay at his place. She had previously mentioned that her parents had offered to provide accommodations for them and assist with finding a home if necessary, making it a suitable option.

The situation was admittedly frustrating, although I didn't hold any resentment towards Hailey for it. I was aware that she had suffered much more severely than I had, so I felt as though I shouldn't complain. Yet, Hailey had opened up to me about the horrific treatment she had experienced at the hands of a despicable person and it felt as though we were reconnecting once more until we got interrupted.

Unfortunately, upon discovering that my address was leaked, it seemed as though our intimacy had disintegrated once more. As I drove towards Hailey's parents' house, I observed her experiencing considerable distress from her seat in the passenger side.

It invoked a sense of déjà vu because we had been in this predicament previously. I figured that Hailey was reproaching and blaming herself for the occurrence, and it pained me internally because said issue was not her fault.

As I drove, I softly grasped Hailey's thigh and reassured her, "Hailey, please don't blame yourself for this."

Hailey attempted to say something, but abruptly paused and simply nodded. I was able to discern that she was continuing to blame herself, and I was at a loss about how I might help her. We remained silent for the duration of the drive until we reached Hailey's parents house. Luckily, she seemed relieved at the sight of it.

As Hailey and I arrived at her parents house, her parents, including Bethany, appeared a bit astonished by our sudden arrival at their front door. Despite their apparent surprise, they were nonetheless accommodating.

"Hey kiddo, back so soon?" Micheal asked Hailey, embracing her tightly.

Hailey smiled, but it seemed somewhat forced. I knew how close she was with her father, so it was probably related to how she continuously blamed herself for my address being exposed. 

Shanon approached me with a smile and embraced me. Meanwhile, Bethany stood behind her. "Jake, it's been a while since you've been over here! How've you been?"

I returned the embrace, but my gaze remained fixated on Hailey's anxious expression. I was reluctant to partake in any conversation because I was so worried about her, so I merely responded to Shanon's question. "I've been well, I responded.

I think Shanon comprehended that something was off, so she maintained a smile as she moved towards Bethany. Bethany's eyebrows were raised and she was about to say something, but as Hailey abruptly grabbed my hand and led me to her room, the question went unarticulated.

Hailey clarified the situation to her father, and he and Shanon thankfully let us stay there for a couple of days while Micheal contacted some people who could help us in finding somewhere else to live.

Hailey's grasp was trembling as we walked towards her room, which appeared identical to how it had looked during the previous time we were here, which was when I broke up with her.

In an attempt to not bring up the unpleasant occasion back up, I thought it was best to change the topic. "My stuff's in the car, but do you want to stop by Zander and Luke's house to get your things?" I started to say, but I paused as I saw Hailey look like she was on the verge of tears.

I felt exceptionally saddened by the fact that she was visibly upset by this situation. "You...okay?" I asked in a concerned voice, the worry still visible in my tone.

Hailey walked out of her room, heading outside for an undisclosed reason. I swiftly followed her, stopping her when we were outside her parents house. This isn't the first time we've been in this predicament. Micheal, Shanon, and Bethany witnessed portions of our interaction, and shared concerned gazes amongst themselves, with the exception of Bethany who simply rolled her eyes.

Despite their evident confusion and concern regarding our situation, I didn't take the time to contemplate their reactions. Inside, my focus was strictly on Hailey. "Where are you going?" I asked her with unease.

"I...don't know..." Hailey uttered, her voice unsteady. The sight of tears rolling down her face made me feel incredibly worried, making me step closer to her. "I messed everything up! I'm responsible for you not even having a house anymore! This is all my fault!"

I quickly pulled Hailey close to me, acting on instinct. Then, I gazed down at her. "Look at me, this is not your fault. At all."

Hailey continued to weep as she clung tightly to me, her grip being firm. "I dragged you into my mess. If I had never called you that day...you would still have your house, and privacy!" She expressed, even if it did sound a bit muffled since her face was pressed against me.

"Do you even understand just how much I've enjoyed being with you again?" I asked her, with a soft tone and a touch of affection as I ran my fingers through her hair. "You gave me a second chance, and who needs to worry about that stuff? As long as I'm with you, I'm okay."

Hailey finally calmed down as she continued to cling to me, but she looked up at me this time. "Really?" She asked as her eyes glistened with lingering tears. "Really? You don't care?"

"Not one bit," I confirmed as I held her closely. "I don't care about those things because you're in my arms again. I just want to be in your company, the other stuff doesn't matter."

Hailey smiled through her trembling expression, seemingly relieved by my genuine assurances. "Thank you," she murmured before her lips pressed against mine, indicating that she was pleased by my words.

"Anytime, princess," I whispered. As Hailey's lips brushed lightly against mine, I immediately returned the gesture, kissing her passionately.

"You still should be a little worried about everything," Hailey said with a smile. "I mean...that was your home."

"Well, that's true. But, I know we'll be alright, and you're here," I responded earnestly with a grin. "Should we go back inside now?"

Hailey smiled and nodded, then gently took my hand and led me inside. Despite the challengers and setbacks we had faced together, I knew we would overcome them. Maybe I was afraid of losing her due to my past mistakes, but also I recognized my own growth and improvement with her supporting me. Ultimately, I was a better person when I was with her.

Authors note: so...this is the second to last chapter (the next chapter takes place in the future 😱)