Searching for Hailey Bradshaw

Chapter 4

College, Hailey decided, was not for the lazy, especially when one enrolled themselves in an overload of classes. She hadn't realized what she'd been getting herself into when she'd met with her counselor the first time to figure out a schedule. But the professor who'd been assigned as her advisor was one of those all-brain, no common-sense people that seemed to think she could handle a twenty-six hour-a-week class load.

Boy, was he ever wrong.

Hailey had just finished one test, she had another this evening, and yet one more in the morning. She was run ragged enough as it was just trying to find her way around campus but this constant studying was about to drive her insane. Needing a major break, she decided to head toward her room and take a nice hour-long nap before she skimmed over some last minute notes for her next exam.

As she approached Ball Residence Hall, however, she quickly glanced around in hopes that she didn't spot Daniel O'Brien loitering anywhere. It was the strangest thing. The guy was suddenly everywhere.

She'd been heading to supper one evening and was about to exit the building when she caught sight of him sitting on the bench out front, engrossed in homework. Thank goodness there was a huge window that ran the height of the building and she could see the large bench by the entrance as she came down the stairs. It had given her just enough time to dash down a side hall on the first floor and sneak out the back way.

Then, someone had knocked on her dorm room the next evening and when Hailey had checked the peephole before answering, she was shocked to see him standing on the other side. Not knowing if he was there as a reporter to interview Hailey Bradshaw or if he was stopping by to visit her new alter-ego, Heidi, she decided not to answer.

These sudden reporter sightings made her feel like a bad omen was shadowing her. Since she'd told the guy one tiny, little white lie, she was certain she was doomed to pay for her fibbing sins and be forced to cross paths with him yet again.

So far, however, she'd caught a lucky break and managed to avoid him. But her luck ran out after three days. As soon as she entered Ball Hall and started up the flight of stairs to the second floor, she heard someone call, "Heidi!"

Hearing her sister's name, she glanced around almost expecting to see a big and pregnant quintuplet waddling her way. But Heidi was nowhere in sight. Instead, a grinning Daniel O'Brien was vaulting up the stairs to catch her.

Her mouth fell open. Dang it. Now what was she supposed to do?

"Hey," he said, smiling and courteously opening the door to the second level hallway for her to enter ahead of him. "I was wondering if I'd run into you again. I guess you finally found the right room."

Hailey pressed her stack of books to her chest and started down the hall, staring straight ahead. "Yes," she said in a bland, monotone voice.

"Good deal," he answered, falling into step beside her and walking close enough his arm brushed hers every few feet they progressed. "So, how's it going?"

"Fine," she mumbled the answer, being cautious not to make any kind of eye contact. Maybe he'd take the hint and leave her alone.

Or maybe not.

"Yeah, I'm okay too," he went on, totally not catching her stay-away signals as he continued to stroll with her. "Unfortunately, I haven't had any more naked girls visiting me in bed, but there's always another night, huh?"

Figuring he probably wanted to get some kind of rise out of her, Hailey pressed her lips tightly together and refused to comment. When she heard him make a noise in the back of his throat like he knew he was floundering, she had to work extra hard to keep her face expressionless so he wouldn't catch her grin of triumph. Yes! She was successfully blowing him off.