UNEXPECTED

Chapter 2 - Dallas

They say that what is coming is better than what's gone. Four months ago, I wouldn't have given that phrase a second thought. Now, it plays on repeat in my head. I guess what's coming has to be better when you've lost absolutely everything.

"Okay, class. That is all for today. Please refer to your syllabus for any assignments that are coming due. All assignments combined factor in at 25 percent of your final grade for the semester. I will only remind you of this for next two weeks. We will also have our first exam in one weeks' time. I will be able to tell if you actually studied." I tuned out my professor as I shoved all of my shit into my backpack and slung it over my shoulder, hoping that whatever notes I mindlessly jotted down was enough to study for a passing grade.

"Hey, Dallas. I was wondering if I could borrow your notes from Monday?" There are two things I don't know right now. One, if I even have notes from Monday and two, this girls name. All I do remember is sneaking out of her dorm room after a killer party last weekend.

"Yea, Sure. I'll see if I can find them. . . " Shit, she's going to hate me for this.

"Becca." She forced a smile as she told me her name again.

"Becca, yeah. That's fine. I'll find them and text them to you later." I muttered as I walked off. I probably should have been friendlier, considering I dipped in, then dipped out, if you know what I mean. I avoided everyone I could on the way to my truck. I wasn't in the mood for small talk, today of all days. I was flooded with memory after memory as soon as my alarms were cleared, and the calendar notification was the only thing on my phone screen. 3 years. 3 fucking years.

October 10, 2012 - I was waiting for Hawley at the baseball fields. She promised to help me warm up before I had to do my daily pitches for off-season. Just before I got started without her, I hear her running through the gate. God, she's beautiful. She's in her favorite jean cut off shorts, which should be a damn sin. She's sporting the t-shirt she made for the homecoming parade. Sprawled across her chest was "Dibs on #22" with a baseball heart underneath. I smiled at her in awe as she pulled her long brown hair into a high ponytail.

"What are you staring at, Tate?" She smirks as she grabs the glove I bought her and sets her stuff on the ground outside of the dugout.

"Something about mixing my two favorite things, baseball and you. How could I not be smiling?" She let out her all-encompassing laugh as she shook her head at me. The way she blushed anytime I gave her compliment still made my heart run circles around itself. I had only ever had two so-called girlfriends in my life. Neither of which I complimented much; it just didn't seem like something I should have to do. Something about Hawley made me want to shout everything I loved about this girl from the rooftops. She was worth every word, and then some.

"So, baseball and me. In that order? Ok, ok. I see where I stand." She jabbed as she picked a ball out of the bucket and lunged it toward me.

"Oh yeah? Where do you stand then, Hawlz?" Playful banter was our thing. She threw her head back in laughter at my serious tone. All I could do was stare at her.

"Come on, D. Throw the ball. We have to be out of here by 5. We have dinner with my parents and Heath tonight, remember?" Fuck. It's not like I forgot, but I was trying to. Having dinner with a girl and her parents AND her brother was not something I had at the top of my list. I know of her brother. He graduated two years ago and the only I have heard from my best friend is that he is protective of his littler sisters. Jackson played second string to Heath for two years. He told me it took one off handed comment in the locker room for no one to ever think about Hawley or Hadley again.

"I think I'm coming down with something Hawley." I said as I let out a fake cough. "I think it would be safer if I skipped out on dinner tonight, I don't want anyone getting sick because of me." I was trying to be funny, but I was also scared shitless at the thought of being pummeled by her brother.