on the REBOUND (On Hold)

Chapter 20

HAYWOOD'S POV

It was an accident. I'd been doing pretty well for the past three weeks but one slip up was all it took for me to undo all the progress I'd made. I was messaging Tasha on the day's events (she requires me to provide her a blow-by-blow account of my interaction with Stan every time I meet him) and clicked on the WhatsApp notification before checking who it was from. 

TYLER <3333

18/8/2016

Maybe CSC.

CSC as in community service club?

Yep.

19/8/2016

Hey.

20/8/16

How're you feeling today?

21/8/16

I'm sorry I fucked up our friendship, Haywood. I didn't mean to hurt you.

22/8/16

Have you been sleeping well?

Logan said you looked tired today.

23/8/16

CSC didn't take me... so I'm in Band.  

24/8/16

Bought some Skittles.

Left the red ones for you cuz they're your favorite.

25/8/16

I saw some girl carrying a floorball stick in school today.

So I thought of you.

26/8/16

Finally got around to reading your favorite book, Flowers for Algernon.

I love this book now.

27/8/16

Are you eating well?

Logan says you're getting skinny from all the exercise.

28/8/16

I know you haven't been reading my messages.

And I'm sorry for sending all these to annoy you.

But I miss having someone I can speak so freely to.

29/8/16

I witnessed a miracle.

Logan didn't eat the skin of his fried chicken. He says it's all thanks to you.

30/8/16

Would you run away if I came to look for you?

Or would you just ignore me?

31/8/16

There's been so much work piling up lately zzzz.

01/9/16

Friend, how've you been?

02/9/16

Bumped into Tasha during lunch.

Kinda hoping I'd bump into you someday.

03/9/16

I got invited by this really cool guy for his book club meeting on Flowers for Algernon next Saturday.

Wish you were going. 

04/9/16

Logan says you got a stick today.

Am so excited for you.

Bet some part of it's green... haha!

All the grey ticks turn blue the moment the notification routes to my chat with him. 

Shit. 

Hay, wood.

Are you there?

I know you're seeing this.

Oh shit. I'm not prepared for this.

Please, I just want things to go back to the way they were.

Is that even possible?

How can I just be your friend? 

How do I just pretend nothing has happened?

That those 4 years were a passing fancy?

I'm not too sure I want this painful existence.

To be by your side and yet never good enough to enter your heart.

I'm not sure I want this at all.

I fling the phone into the dark recesses of the cupboard and feel myself slump along the wall.

***

A/N: Short chappie to show what Tyler has been up to...