Searching for Hailey Bradshaw

Chapter 13

A week later, Hailey was in her room, frowning over a paper she had to write for Psychology class. It wasn't just any paper either. A handful of randomly selected students were going to get their names called to read their papers aloud. And Hailey didn't want a corny half-hearted attempt jotted down to embarrass herself in front of a hundred other classmates if her name was called.

Erasing a particularly shoddy-sounding line, she clenched her teeth and wondered how to reword the statement. Man, she wished Daniel was here. He always knew how to arrange his written work. She'd become a big fan of his articles in the past few weeks and the boy had talent, no doubt about it. His columns were entertaining, informative and straight to the point.

But none of his gift had rubbed off on to her yet. She was coming up with one big, empty blank. It was pure deliverance when her phone rang to save her from having to think about the assignment further.

Checking the caller ID to make sure it wasn't Daniel trying to call Hailey Bradshaw, she grinned when she saw her sister's cell phone number come up. She quickly pressed the receiver to her ear.

"How's the almost-mama doing?" she asked, happily.

"Horrible," Heidi muttered and sucked in a hiccup as if she were crying. "I'm big and fat with swollen ankles and Scott and I just broke up."

"Oh, honey," Hailey cooed sympathetically.

She wasn't too worried about the break up, though. Heidi and Scott were constantly arguing and having trivial little spats. Then the next day, they'd be back together, stronger than ever. To count, Hailey knew of three times Scott and Heidi's wedding had been put off because of a nasty scrap. And this one made number four.

"I just want to talk to you and eat lots of junk food. So, will you come let me in already? This dang door is locked and I can't get to your room."

Hailey paused. Huh? "What do you mean?" she asked. "What door?"

"I'm standing outside Ball Hall," Heidi said right before sniffing again. "And I can't get in. I just want to see my sister, for the Love of God. Why can't I get in?"

"You mean you're here?" Hailey said in shock. "On campus?"

Heidi paused from her dramatic snuffling to snap, "That's what I just said. Now, hurry up and come down here to let me in. I want to go to that ice cream shop I saw right before turning into the campus."

Heidi was here! She was at Ooie-Pooie and she was standing right outside Hailey's dorm building. As that realization sank in, Hailey leapt into action. She had to get Heidi out of sight before someone who knew Hailey as Heidi actually ran into the real Heidi.

"Okay, just stay there," she panted out, already pulling off the ratty shorts she'd been wearing and grabbing a clean pair of jeans. "I'll be right down."

"Hurry," Heidi whined. "It's cold and windy out here and the baby is kicking me in the ribs."

"I will," Hailey promised and hung up. She was stepping into her shoes before she even had her pants pulled all the way over her hips.

***

Daniel was not having a good day. Another girl in one of his journalism classes got the assignment he'd been craving. Plus, his professor had proof-read his latest entry and found it full of so many grammatical errors, he'd handed it back and told Daniel to re-write it completely.

Then Daniel had gone and opened his big mouth by announcing that Hailey Bradshaw had tried to call him the night before but the call hadn't been able to successfully come through. So, thinking she was still enrolled, the professor told him to try finding her again. Frustrated, Daniel started back to his dorm room, feeling exhausted.