Before it ends

She hides behind her doe eyes...

The air was warm, gently blowing, lowly whistling. I walked home. I felt like I needed to, before the fighting began.

Dan: So what are we going to do today? Apparently schools out for 3 days due to some gas leak.

I wasn't even thinking about school, but I was glad it wasn't a concern anymore.

Me: I have to get home. No plans yet but we'll see.

It's not that I wanted to go home, I just felt like I had to. Walking on eggshells all the time, in my own house, I couldn't do it. I wasn't just going to miraculously be okay with my dad and I'm not going to pretend like talking to him behind my back doesn't matter. I don't know what I'm going to do. I just have to do something.
The inside of my left pocket began to buzz.

Incoming call: Hayley Rhys

"Hello?"

"Hey." I could hear a croak in her voice, it sounded like she was nervous, nervous or scared, or both.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah-obv- I mean of course."

"So-"

"Did you sleep with Ashley?" It took me a second to understand the question, a second to smile and a second to answer. "Wow, I was so righ-"

"No." silence. "I didn't have sex with Ashley."

"Oh."

"Yeah, oh." I could see her blushing, it wasn't hard to imagine. Her cheeks would light up and the taint of pink would swim to her nose. "So is that why you called her this morning?"

"Great. She told you about that then?"

"I kinda woke up to it."

"I was just calling to tell her about the gas leak at school, I mean I know you've been here all summer but you just joined school. I was looking out for you." silence. " I offered to drive you and in the meantime accidently- on purpose implied she was keepingyoucaptivebecausesheisamaneatingwhore."

"Wait what? Try slowing down."

"Look it doesn't matter." It did, it mattered a lot. I knew there was a nasty, possessive side to Hayley and I didn't want to meet it, I let this slide. "Anyway I called to ask if you're free?"

"Not right now I'm walking home. Probably going gym with Dan later."

"Well, you see, I'm going out of town. Not too far-"

"Rhys are you asking me out?"

"Don't get a big head." I could picture her rolling her eyes and a long blue strand tripping over her eyebrow.

"I already have one, but I guess your talking about the one on my shoulders not-"

"I swear if you carry on that sentence the next time I see you I'll rip out your tongue." Silence. " I'm going to a cafe. They have the best coffee, and my favourite- carrot cake. Do you wanna come?"

"Umm-"

"You don't have to."

"I want to." I said it a little too quickly. " I mean I'll have to check my schedule."

"Come on." She let out an annoyed breath, or at least what she wanted me to think was annoyed. I heard the tease behind her words. "Firstly, lets not pretend you even keep a schedule. Secondly, I'll pick you up at seven so you'll have plenty of time."

"Sounds great, but I'll let you know if something comes up, as you know I'm a busy m-" the call ended. She hung up, She just hung up. No goodbye.

Hayley: Make sure your ready. X