The Arrangement | Completed | Wattys2020

21.

Matty's POV

As I approached the door, I thought of every single possible scenario that could play out right now.

I left the light on. Well, this would be the best scenario.

I know it's not true, though.

Someone knew I was out of town. Someone came and broke into my house and took all of my shit. A homeless person broke in and didn't want to sit in the dark.

As I opened the door, I let out a small sigh of annoyance as well as relief as I saw the person sitting on my couch.

"Haley? What the hell are you doing in my house?"

Haley looked up at me with tears in her eyes. She looked fucking awful.

"I'm sorry. I just...I didn't know where else to go." She sobbed.

"How did you get in here, Haley?"

"The spare key. You told me where you hid it, remember?" She sniffled.

"Haley, you can't stay here. You also can't just break into my house any time you feel like it!" I exclaimed.

"I didn't break in! I had a key!"

"No, you took the key. Listen, you need to leave. Candace is outside right now and I can't have you around here. You can't keep doing this, Haley." I sighed.

"She's with you right now?" She asked quietly.

When I looked up, I saw her picking the skin around her nails. I remember when she used to get stressed, she would pick and bite at the skin until she started to bleed. It's an anxiety thing she always did. A habit she truly couldn't break.

"Hey, don't do that." I mumbled, lightly pulling her hands away from each other.

She jerked her arms away from me and instantly began to pick at the skin once again.

"You need to leave, Haley." I said once more.

"My dad is dying." She said flatly.

"What?" I said, trying to make sure I heard her correctly.

"He's dying." She cried, putting her face in her hands.

I instantly pulled her in for a hug, knowing any words I could have said wouldn't make the situation any better. Hell, this hug doesn't make it any better. It's just all I have to give.

"I'm so sorry, Haley. It's okay. It will be okay. I promise." I said into her hair as she cried into her shoulder. I was surprised when I actually felt my eyes start to water as well. When I looked down at the phone still in my hand, I pressed the red button to end the call. Candace heard what was said, i'm sure.

Haley's dad wasn't anything like my own. He was kind and gentle with everything he did. Whenever Haley and I got into any sort of trouble, he was always there to back us up. Whenever my father decided to be an asshole, Robert was always there to make it better. He was the father I wish I had. He was more of a father to me than my own.

Robert is sick, though. Very sick. Throat cancer soon turned into brain cancer. Stage four cancer that they are no longer able to treat. He wanted to be at home and no longer surrounded by hospital machines and weird smells. He didn't want to be catered. He always told me these things. He just wanted to feel at least a little normal. Normal wasn't going to happen, though. There is nothing normal about this situation. Cancer is such a fucking disaster. It breaks families apart and ruins the life of the one it infects. Nothing will ever be the same.

"Why did this happen?" She cried into my chest. Why does this happen? Well, I don't have the answer for this. I have no fucking clue why shit like this happens to good people. Terrible things happen to the best people, and there is nothing we can do to fucking stop it.

"I don't know, Haley. I don't know. It will be okay, though. I promise." I said. When it will be okay, though, I don't know.

"I can't go home. I can't go home and be in the house. He isn't there. I mean, he is...but, he isn't. His body is there, but that's only a shell of the person he was. He will never be home again. My mom doesn't even seem upset over the whole thing. She blames him for what happened! I mean, how can she do that? How can she be so heartless?" She sobbed.

Haley's mother has always been a pretty difficult woman to deal with. Due to the lack of affection she received from Haley's grandparents, she never really knew how to deal with difficult situations. Often, she was closed off from everyone and very emotionally detached. Melinda, her mother, was a very nice woman in most situations. But, in times like this, she can become heartless. This is a prime example. I guess she just deals with these things in her own way.

"I'm sure she doesn't really blame him. She's just...hurt." I tried to reason with her, but I know that Melinda probably does blame him. Even if it is something that can't have anyone to blame.

"Can I stay with you? Please, Matty. I can't go home. Please? I can sleep on the couch. Just don't make me go home. Please." She begged, looking up at me with her teary eyes. Despite any past we might have had, I couldn't leave her alone. Not right now, and not like this.

"Of course you can. Just...let me run the girls home, okay? They don't live too far away. Just stay here and I'll be right back, okay?" I said, pulling away from her embrace.

"Do you promise?" She asked, "You know...that you'll come back?" She mumbled.

"I promise. Stay here, okay?" I promised her, before stepping away and walking out of the house.

As I approached the car, Candace was looking at me like I was fucking insane. She got out of the car as soon as she saw me walking towards the driver's seat.

"What the fuck is going on?" She yelled, though barely above a whisper.

"Listen, I know that we had plans but I can't do it right now. Haley is going through some shit right now with her family and she needs a place to stay. I'm letting her crash on the couch for tonight. I'm going to take you home, and I will come and get you guys in the morning. Okay?" I said, taking a hold of her shoulders as she looked up with me.

"Is she okay?" She asked softly.

"She will be. But for now, just worry about getting home and getting some sleep. I'll be at the house in the morning to get the two of you and we will meet your dad at Monty's." I reminded her. While we were in Colorado, her dad mentioned that he wanted to meet me. I guess he has a right to meet me, given both of his daughters are with me more than they are with him nowadays.

"Okay." I whispered, looking down at her hands.

"I love you, baby. Remember that, okay?" I assured her. I know the shit that's running through her mind right now, but she is the only person I have eyes for.

As we got into the car, I glanced into the rear view mirror and saw Phoebe sleeping in her car seat. Her face looked so peaceful. Her life will be simple. I pray that she never has to be the victim in this cruel, unforgiving world.