I sat there. I waited for the guys to come back, or at least say goodbye or something. They never did. And I could have sworn I saw Ash's white van out of the corner of my eye disappear into the night and onto the streets.
Where was Hal? I started to worry. I got up from the bench and threw my ice pack away as I searched the beach that was emptying out with people for the night.
I walked over to groups of people-- just searching for her, but she was no where. Just then my phone exploded with my familiar ringtone. Hal! I picked up immediately.
"Hal! Where are you!? Are you okay?" There was a dead silence.
"Yeah," she finally croaked.
"What's wrong? Where are you?" I repeated.
"I'm in Ash's van." My heart twisted in my chest.
"Why?" I struggled to ask.
"They're taking me home. Please don't.... Please don't follow."
"Hal! What are you saying? Why are you leaving me here!?" I realized everything I had said so far had been empty, worthless questions whose answers just shattered my heart into pieces.
"Luke--" her voice broke. "This whole 'us' thing... I don't think it's gonna work..."
My chest pained. "Wh-- why!? Hal, understand I was just sticking up for you!!"
"I do, Luke. But that's what happens when things move too fast-- people get hurt. People kiss. People have sex when they had only been friends only hours ago. We did it all in one night-- we tried out this 'being a couple' thing, and it was great! Don't get me wrong. But, I think we're better off just being friends. I don't wanna be the girl to stop a whole concert on the first date..." I was dead.
"Hal, no--" but she had hung up and the line was dead. Just like me. Dead.
***
I didn't know what to do. I searched my pocket for my keys and found my car in the almost-empty parking lot. I sat inside it for what seemed like hours-- just thinking.
What was I gonna do now? Go back home? No. Not yet. I had to save us, Hal and I, from falling apart.
I revved up the engine and speeded back to Hal's apartment. 3:43. I rode the elevator up to floor 7. I could have sworn it still smelled like Hal-- her flowery perfume-- from last night when we had taken it.
I got to her apartment door. 337. I swallowed and unlocked it.
"Hal?" I muttered through the darkness as I turned on a nearby light. "Haleigha?" I echoed through the empty halls and bare rooms. Nothing. No one. She wasn't here. It was just me. Hal was gone.
YOU ARE READING
the promise ➳ hemmings
Fanfiction| Promises are just very sincere lies. We make them thinking that we'll keep them. But in time, our motivation to keep them fades-- just like the hope and trust others had in us that they wouldn't. It's just sad to think that's what our relationship...
