The Last Day

Chapter one

Hadlee couldn't stay in one place too long.

She didn't have much to carry, only a dirty backpack with a broken strap that held an empty water bottle, her useless phone charger, a half eaten protein bar, and tampons.

The crunching of leaves behind her made her freeze in her tracks. Somebody else was here.

***

Eight months earlier:

"I'm telling you, Tana, it's really nothing." Hadlee swore, but the smile she was unable to keep from spreading across her face told otherwise.

Tana pointed to her accusingly, jumping triumphantly. "It is something! Ha! I knew it! You like Rowan Dawson!"

Hadlee slammed her locker closed and hushed her best friend fiercely, glancing to either side of the school hallway to make sure nobody heard. When she was positive everyone was going about their usual business and hurrying to fifth period, she shrugged innocently and hugged her textbooks to her chest.

"Okay... maybe just a little." She admitted to an already celebrating Tana. "But you know him and I have never really... well, I don't, know it's just that we have known each other since dippers!"

Tana rolled her pretty brown eyes, a curl of cinnamon colored hair had fallen across her flawless coco skin. She brushed it away and continued dancing. "I know! Oh Hadlee, that just makes it even more cute!" She squealed in delight and Hadlee laughed.

Tana and her were both wearing their cheer uniforms today, it was a Friday game day after all, and a group of senior football players passed by and waved confidently to the pair of popular girls.

Hadlee waved and then turned back to Tana, who stared at her expectantly. "So, you're going to talk to him tonight at the game right?" She asked with a bounce in her step as they began to walk to AP chemistry.

Hadlee shook her head, a frown forming. "No. It's too sudden, don't you think? Besides, I want to tell him at a time where he's not distracted."

Tana nodded knowingly. "Smart. The championship game is defiantly a distraction from a solid relationship."

Hadlee snorted, seeing the serious expression on her best friend's face then laughing more. "That's very true."

***

Hadlee smiled sweetly as Rowan approached her, his model styled brown hair wet from sweat and dotted with grass blades. His football jersey was stained with dirt, and Hadlee knew he probably stank after a game like that, but she didn't mind.

She dropped her pom-poms onto the track and ran past the other screaming girls on her cheer team. In the last minute of the game their team, the Bears, had pulled through and won. The stands were a mass of excited fans exiting the stadium, and the football team sprayed water bottles and jumped in excitement.

"Rowan! Oh my gosh I can't believe-" before she could even finish her sentence, he had grabbed her hand and pulled her into a fierce kiss.

She was dully aware of the cheer team screaming now for her, and the football boys howling and calling out Rowan's name. For Hadlee, time had frozen in place, and when they pulled apart she was breathless and craved more.

Rowan smiled, a mischievous grin that was slightly crooked. "I've been wanting to give you that for a long time." He said, his voice just as breathless, his deep green eyes sparkled with excitement.

Hadlee was numb, a smile formed on her lips.

"That's funny, because I was planning on giving you something too."