More Than Friends - A Hayes Grier fanfiction

Chapter 52 - So close, yet so far

"Hayes!" I am shocked to hear his voice. My heart is racing like crazy and I cradle the phone like a baby.

"Sophie, who is it?" Molly says from outside the changing room and I shout to tell her it's Hayes.

"I can't believe you are awake." I whisper.

"How are you?" His voice cracks and he sounds deathly tired.

"I'm fine... but less about me. What about you?" I feel my voice break. Molly walks in and motions to put it on speaker.

"Haas! It's Molly!" She says and he laughs.

"Hey!"

"Sophie is crying. Haha." Molly says like a two year old. I wipe my cheek and realise I am. I pass Molly the phone and burst into tears.

"Soph, don't cry. I'm awake you should be rejoicing!" Hayes says cockily, like his usual self and I can't help but grin.

"Where are you guys?"

"At our nana's. She is getting married, how great is that?" Molly says and I hear Hayes reply.

"Where are you anyway?" I grab the phone back.

"Still at the hospital. I am already sick of this dingy blue room. Thanks for the flowers and the card by the way." I remember the gifts I brought.

"Your welcome," is all I can think to say. After nearly nearly a month, my best friend is finally back with us.

"Girls." Mom pops her head round the curtain. "We need to get going. Another booking has arrived."

"Hayes, we need to go but I cannot wait to see you." I say awkwardly.

"Oh, Sophie..." Hayes says. I am waiting anxoiusy to hear what he may say next.

"yes..."

"I can't wait to see you."

...

Back at Nana's house I want to call Hayes. I am about to ring him back when mom calls me downstairs.

"We are going out for dinner." She says and I roll my eyes.

"I know you want to talk to Hayes but this is the last night with Nana and Arthur before we leave tomorrow morning."

"I'm sorry mom." I apologise. I am told to change into nicer clothes. I go into my suitcase and pull on a pair of trousers and a dressy shirt. Molly lends me a pair of black shoes and we go downstairs to go out for dinner.

Nana and Arthur take us out to a nice Italian restaurant near the house. When we are seated at the table with drinks in our hands, Mom makes a toast.

"To my mom, and Arthur. On your wedding and the many happy memories to come!" We clink our glasses and drink.

I feel my phone buzz and see that hayes is calling but I ignore it, not wanting to ruin our last dinner together. Nana talks about the wedding and Arthur is shown pictures of the dresses. He grins and puts an arm around Nana.

"We just want to thank you all for coming down. I know it has been a hard month, especially for you Sophie." I smile weakly and sip my drink again.

...

We touch down in North Carolina the next morning. I fall asleep in the taxi coming home and cimb into bed as soon as I get in. I need to think, get some sleep and see Hayes.

I go to school the next day, obviously not expecting to see Hayes. Noah tells me he is resting at home and will be coming back to school by the end of the week. I am still jet lagged from the pane ride and I nearly fall asleep in math. Kaitlyn shoves me to wake me and I lift my head up wearily.

"You excited to see Hayes!" She asks brightly.

"Yeah, have you seen him yet?" I ask, expecting her to say no.

"Well, we went round the day before yesterday. He was asking after you and Nash said he's been talking about you since he came back from the hospital."

"Wow..." I say. The need to see him is getting stronger and stronger. I plan to head round this evening but then I realise... cheer. I groan and hold my head. I don't want go but I have to. I haven't been to practise in ages and I am letting the team down otherwise.

"What's up?" Alyssa asks.

"I wanted to go see Hayes today but I have cheer commitments."

"Oh babe. We'll say hi for you." She says. I raise a brow at the fact I didn't get an invite to their little get together with Hayes but instad of being spiteful I get on with my work.

...

"how was Florida?" Madison asks as we stretch. I tell her about Nana and Arthur then about Hayes.

"That's great!" She exclaims. We jog around the perimeter of the mat then wait for Kayla's instuctions.

"Full out please girls!" She yells and we all groan. We run through the routine but I am unfocused. I am about to go into the stunt and I feel something is wrong. I go up and immediately feel the dizziness upon me. I yell to get me down and I run off the mat into the bathroom. I throw up violently and sit on the toilet floor in tears. I ear the music cut and thrundering footsteps. My brain swirls.

"Sophie?"

"Sit her up."

"She'sgoing to faint give her space." I hear and my last thought is, ironically, "notagain..."