Never Meant It - h.g

15

Hayley

I woke up in a familiar setting. My bedroom. I stood up & saw I was in the outfit from the night before.

"What?" I held my head & looked around my room.

"Honey!" a voice yelled.

"Dad?" I asked.

"Honey!" he burst into the room & gave me the largest hug.

"Dad," I started to tear up.

"I'm so glad you're back. I knew we would find you," he held me tighter.

"What happened?" I asked as I let go.

"We got a lead from a very nice boy nearby & the police took no longer. We gathered all the cars & headed to the woods where he said you were & we found you passed out next to a burnt out fire & some cans of beer. We didn't find your kidnapper though. We just took you home straight away. I'm so happy you're back. Your friends have caught you up at school & you're going back tomorrow if that's okay? We're also going to-"

"Woah dad slow down," I stopped him.

My dad never talked a lot but he only did when he was overwhelmed. My dad hasn't talked much since my mom died so this was scary.

"Who told you where I was?" I asked.

"This kid, Nash Grier or something," he said & then when I mentally slapped myself.

That day when Nash met me he probably recognised me from TV & snitched. Damnit Hayes was right. He was a snitch. Maybe the police got them too. My heart began to race.

"Did you find anyone with me?" I asked.

"No but when I find the bastard who took my daughter & killed Eric I'm gonna-"

"Dad it's okay. I'm okay," I huffed.

"Did they do anything to you Hayley?" he asked & that's when I thought for a bit. They did teach me a few things.

"No they just forced me to drink with them," I sighed & I'm pretty sure I was lying.

"Did they hurt you Hayley?" he asked, even more anxious then the last question.

"No," I murmured.

"Did they-"

"Dad please. I want to forget about this. It's passed. I'm here now & unharmed. Now let's live our lives as normal & pretend nothing happened," I smiled.

"Okay honey. I'm just glad you're back. Now you might wanna get ready for tomorrow because you're going back to school & you haven't been in a month so of course it will feel awkward," he chimed.

"Okay," I groaned & fell back onto my bed.

"Hayley," he murmured, causing me to sit up.

"Yes?" I asked.

"I love you. I thought about how I didn't say that often while you were gone & if it really was the end then I didn't get the chance to say I love you," he began to tear up which really surprised me because my dad isn't emotional.

"I love you too," I smiled at him & fell back into my bed.

I heard my door close & I looked over at my phone to see multiple texts, calls & reminders. I checked all of them as I grew sadder. I was happy to be back but I was having so much fun with the Karnis. They were basically my brothers, my protectors. I didn't wanna go back to my ordinary life. I wanted to live dangerously but most importantly I wanted to live dangerously with Hayes.