Hayley
The entire week Hayley had tried to keep herself occupied, she felt awful for telling Lewis like that.
It shouldn’t have ended like that. She thought to herself on Thursday morning. Just then her phone buzzed loudly. She leaped over her bed and landed with a thud on the floor as she grabbed her phone.
“Hello?” she panted, slightly dazed from the adrenaline pumping through her.
“Hayley, have you been running?”
“Ha! No, sorr- sorry, just let me catch my breath quickly.” She sucked the air in and out of her lungs.
“Okay, I’m back. What’s up?”
“Well, I believe you’re single.”
“Nate, I told you that yesterday, don’t act like you found out from someone else.” She teased. Nate chuckled,
“Yeah, whatever. I was wondering, if you aren’t busy or anything.”
“No.” Hayley replied quickly.
“No? I haven’t even asked you yet.” Nate sounded a little shocked.
“Oh, shit, that, that sounded awful, I meant No I’m not busy.”
“Oh good, you have somewhere to be later.”
“I do?” Hayley smiled, “And just where might that be?”
“Have you been outside yet?”
“Outside? Yes, why?”
“Can’t let a beautiful day like this go to waste.”
“Still don’t know what you’re on about, Nate.”
“Been to the beach lately?” He asked sarcastically.
“Oh, the beach. Yay, I can’t wait.” She picked up the silver chain hanging on her neck and pulled the heart from side to side, as if it were a zip.
“It’s not really a date or anything; we can go as just friends right?”
“Huh? Oh yes of course.” Hayley couldn’t help but feel a tiny bit disappointed; she had really gotten closer with Nate over the past few days.
“What time would you like me to come over?” He asked, snapping her out of her slight daydream.
“Anytime will be great, the later the better, we can watch the sunset.”
“Sounds so cliché...” Nate teased.
“See you later Nathan.”
“You know I hate that, I only get called Nathan when I’m in trouble.”
“You are the troublemaker here.” Hayley teased and heard him laugh.
“See you, Hayz.”
“Bye.” She hung up and smiled.
“Look at you, is that a smile I see?” Mrs Bennett said as she walked into Hayley’s room with a laundry basket.
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“It sure is.” Hayley said as she got up off of the floor and picked up some of the clothes strewn across her room.
“Why are you so happy?” Her mom asked curiously and folded her bedspread over the bottom of the mattress.
“I’m going to the beach.”
“Oh? Who with?”
“A friend.” Hayley said vaguely.
“Hayley, please don’t tell me you are seeing Nathan again.”
“So what if I am? I’m single aren’t I?” Hayley argued. Her mom let out a sigh.
“Sweetie, isn’t it a bit wrong, going for his best friend?” Hayley shot her mom a look and opened her cupboards, “Have you seen my black shorts anywhere?”
“Fine, ignore me, but all I’m saying is be careful, everything has a way of turning around.” With that she picked up the laundry basket and chucked the shorts at Hayley’s head.
“Argh! Mom.” Mrs Bennett smiled and walked out, closing the door behind her. Hayley rolled her eyes and slipped out of her pyjama bottoms and into her shorts, falling over halfway. She landed on the floor with a thump and huffed, blowing the random strays of hair out of her eyes. Now, where is my bikini top?
***
“Well don’t you look cute?” Nate said as he gave Hayley a long hug. His arms draped around her waist.
“Thank you, I went through hell to look this great.” Hayley joked.
“Come on, let’s get going, don’t want to miss the sunset.” Nate took her hand and tugged her out the door.
“Are we walking?” Hayley asked as she scoped the scene for a car.
“No,” Nate turned the corner and picked up a helmet for Hayley.
“I didn’t know you had a motorbike!”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.” Hayley couldn’t help but smile as she sat behind him on the bike, the gravel in the road was thrown back as he rolled on the engine and the bike set off. She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. Nate was taller than Lewis and had a much bigger build. He had always seemed so shy around Hayley until she got to know him a bit better. Hayley felt an adrenaline rush pulse through her veins, she had never felt more alive.
The smell of salt and water wafted in the cool air at the beach. Hayley took a deep breath in and soaked in the scene. Nate pulled up next to a small fence near the beach and got off the bike.
“Wow, it’s beautiful.” Hayley gasped as she looked out across the landscape. The white sand forming a blanket that stretched for miles out.
“It is, isn’t it?” Nate smiled slowly as he looked out at the waves breaking on the shore. Hayley looked at him contently,
“Race you down there!” She yelled and set off, sprinting her way down the sand towards the water. Nate was fast, a lot faster than her, he was athletic and being tall added length for him to swallow the ground as he ran. She could hear him laughing as he caught up with her quickly, grabbing her waist and picking her up.
“No!” She laughed.
“Gotcha.” He whispered into her ear.
“That’s totally unfair, I demand a rematch.” She teased breathlessly.
“How about we just take a walk?” Nate said, putting her down on the ground again.
“Sure.” Hayley smiled.
