Quiet Heart

Chapter 16: Deal or No Deal?

I woke up to the sun beaming through the white sheer curtains that dangled over the window to the right of my bed. I looked over at my bedside clock and saw that the time read 10:27am. I rolled over on my back and just stared at the ceiling smiling.

I actually slept a full night for once, I thought to myself.

I dragged the covers off of me and made my way to the bathroom to brush my hair, before heading to the kitchen for breakfast. As ragged as I looked in my hoodie and Nike shorts, I didn't really care. All of my friends have seen me like this before, so I honestly didn't care what I looked like. I cheerfully made my way down the hall, until I remembered what all had happened last night. The smile on my face immediately faded and my bubbly walk turned into an unhappy trudge. I entered the kitchen in complete silence, passing by Hailey at the stove, and sat down at the table.

"Morning sleepy head!" Hailey spoke, looking up from the frying pan.

I didn't respond.

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed didn't they?" Hailey giggled, turning back to her cooking.

I just glared at her, then got up and made my way to the living room. Chase was seated in the recliner watching TV and I curled up on the couch next to him.

"Morning," I said half-smiling, "Whatcha watching?"

"Oh, hey! I'm just watching some HGTV show I think," he said sounding a little confused, "Hailey turned it on." he laughed.

"Ahh," I laughed in response.

"Here, you can change it if you want," he said offering me the remote.

"Oh it's okay," I smiled, "Have you seen Andrew this morning by the way?"

"Umm yeah I think so. I think I saw him go out to the dock when he got up about an hour ago."

"Okay, thanks! I think I'll head out there and keep him company."

"Okay, I'll come get you guys when breakfast is ready."

"Thanks!" I smiled as I got up from the couch.

Just as I started heading toward the back door, Ethan came in the room.

"Hey babe," he smiled, "You just get up?"

"Yeah, I actually slept well for once," I laughed.

"For once?"

Crap, I almost slipped up.

"Uh yeah. Keeping my chemistry grade up has been pretty stressful." I lied.

From the corner of my eye, I could see Chase with a skeptical look on his face. Whether or not that look was meant for me, he seemed to be catching on to something which worried me.

"Anyways, did you just get up too?" I asked trying to avoid the subject of myself.

"No, I've actually been up for a good 4 hours. Since the birthday plans changed, I went to the grocery store and just got some snacks for the boat."

I never told him that... I guess Andrew did, I thought to myself.

"Awesome! Speaking of Drew, I was just about to go talk to him about the rest of the day."

"Oh, okay." Ethan said with disappointment in his voice.

I ignored his tone and proceeded to the door, "I'll be back in a few."

With that, I was outside and away from more awkward conversation. I made my way down the sloped backyard and to the dock where Andrew sat.

"Hey," I spoke as I sat down next to him, "Whatcha thinking about?"

"Last night honestly. I still can't figure out why Hailey would do whatever she's doing." he responded as he grazed the water with his toes.

"Hey, you don't need to be stressing about this," I said placing my hand on his shoulder, causing him to look up at me, "This is my problem. I shouldn't have gotten you involved. Plus it's your birthday! You're supposed to be happy!" I spoke with a big grin.

"Yeah I guess, but you're one of my best friends Soph, and I don't want you to be dealing with this."

"I know. I wish I didn't have to deal with it either... How about this? You can help me as long as you forget about it for today. Deal?" I grinned, reaching my hand out for a handshake.

He paused for a moment.

"Deal." he shook my hand and it was settled.

"Good. Now put a smile on that face! You're finally seventeen! How does it feel?" I questioned like an eager news reporter.

"No different from yesterday and the day before and the day before that," he joked, as I playfully punched his arm.

"Loser! You've gotta feel something!" I urged.

"I don't feel the slightest bit different. Honest!"

"Whatevs," I laughed, "Well anyways, since you told Ethan about the change of plans, he went--"

"I didn't tell him anything," Andrew interrupted, "I haven't talked to him all morning."

"Then how did he know about us canceling the party?"

"Well he was up and gone way before I got up. The only other person up was... Hailey." he sighed.

"She must have overheard us last night when she was watching us."

"Hey guys! Breakfast is ready!" Chase hollered from the house.

"Kk! Be up there in a sec!" I hollered back. I turned back to Andrew before speaking, "Okay, let's just forget about this for now and try to enjoy the day."

Andrew nodded in agreement, before standing up. He reached his hand down to help me up, but as I got up, I slipped and fell into the water dragging Andrew with me.

I rose above the water laughing and coughing up water at the same time and seconds later Andrew was doing the same.

"Woops," I said sarcastically shrugging.

He just shook his head at me and laughed. We swam back up to the dock and climbed out of the freezing water. I stood there for a second to wring out my hair, when I noticed Andrew staring at me again like the day we got stuck in the rain.

"What?" I asked as I felt the pink rushing to my cheeks.

"You still look beautiful when you're completely soaked."

We looked into each other's eyes and I felt that weird feeling again.

"Umm we should probably head back now," I said nervously pointing back up at the house.

"Oh yeah, umm, yeah let's go," Andrew also said pointing awkwardly at the house.

We trudged our dripping-wet bodies up the slope and through the back door. When we walked in, everyone was seated at the kitchen table. They all turned and looked at us with mixed expressions. Ethan looked hurt, Hailey looked confused, and Chase looked amused.

Andrew and I both looked at each other and laughed before explaining.

"Uh we kinda accidentally fell in the lake," I said sheepishly.

Andrew let out a slight laugh and I started grinning.

No one spoke so he interrupted the silence, "Umm yeah so we're just gonna go dry off and change. We'll be back in a sec."

"Yeah, umm also can I borrow your hair dryer Hailey?"

Still speechless, she nodded her head and I made my way out of the room. I walked down the hall until I came to her bedroom door. I turned the knob, walked in, and closed the door behind me. I was about to walk into the bathroom when I noticed her phone sitting on the nightstand. Instead of going to dry my hair, I decided to do a little investigating to see what that video was that she was watching the night before. I unlocked the phone and began searching through her picture and video files.

"What are you doing?"

I immediately shut the phone off and put it down, turning around to see Hailey standing in the doorway.