Catch Me

Chapter Twenty-Six: Applebee's

       

Chapter Twenty-Six: Applebee's

    Weeks had passed since the night Haleigh had discovered the picture of Zander kissing Alyssa. Zander had tried to contact Haleigh on several different occasions, but she ignored all of his attempts. Haleigh had spent the last couple of weeks trying to focus on school. Her grades were better than ever right now, and her relationship with Sam was growing stronger. The roommates spent most of their time doing homework together, shopping at the Church Street Mall, and talking about Sam's relationship with Charles. Sam was courteous enough to not mention Zander to Haleigh.

    Haleigh had also spent a lot of her free time talking to Shane on the phone. She had confided in Shane about everything that had happened with Zander, and he had listened, and talked her through it. Shane had cautiously revealed that he and Bryan had made it official. Haleigh was happy for her best friend, yet also extremely envious. Shane had gotten to get out of Vermont, and he got the guy. What did Haleigh get? A drunk, mentally abusive father, a broken heart, and a dead dog. She was failing at trying not to be miserable.

    Haleigh dreaded going to her English Lit class most days. She hated seeing Alyssa's face. Deep down Haleigh knew this whole thing was not Alyssa's fault, yet she couldn't help but hate her. Her perfect red hair flowed half way down her back, her beautiful face was something that most girls should have been envious of. Haleigh hated everything about this chick. And she hated Zander for making her hate her.

    Toby had been the least helpful of all of her friends. During geometry he would badger Haleigh about Zander. Toby insisted that the situation wasn't what Haleigh thought it was. It was a "misunderstanding". One morning Haleigh was in a particularly bad mood when Toby had tried to bring Zander up in conversation for what seemed like the millionth time that day.

    "Toby if you don't fucking shut up about him I seriously will punch you." Haleigh had hissed at Toby in a hushed voice. The smile that permanently marked Toby's face had vanished in an instant and he turned his focus to the textbook that sat open on the desk in front of him. Haleigh had felt bad for snapping at one of her only friends, but she couldn't keep hearing someone defend the guy who had caused her so much pain.

    Haleigh's father had called a couple times, but she hadn't answered. She was still mad at him for the things he had said to her. Of course she had heard it all before, she just wasn't sure if she could forgive him this time. He needed to know that something needed to changed, it wasn't okay for him to say the things he said to Haleigh, and she wasn't going to instantly forgive him and blame it on the alcohol anymore. Not this time.

****

    Sam and Haleigh lay on their stomachs on the Sam's twin bed. Haleigh was having a difficult time figuring out a geometry equation. Sam, having taken the class the previous semester, was walking Haleigh through the problem. Haleigh's freshly cracked phone vibrated from beside her. The collision it had had with the cement wall a couple weeks ago had shattered the screen of Haleigh's phone, it still worked though. Haleigh didn't have to look at it to know who was texting her.

    "Still?" Sam sighed as she caught sight of Haleigh's phone. Haleigh didn't say anything as she continued to work on the math problem. "Why don't you just block him?" She wondered as she sat up in her bed. Haleigh shrugged her shoulders in response and continued to pretend to work. Haleigh had contemplated blocking Zander's number every day for the last two weeks, but there was something inside of her that was holding her back. She just couldn't do it.

    Haleigh closed her math text book and stood up from Sam's bed, then placed her homework on her desk. Silence filled the room as Sam leaned back flipping through the latest issue of Cosmo. Haleigh sat on the edge of her small bed, and scrolled through the messages Zander had sent.

    Zander: I'm sorry...

    Zander: Please talk to me Hales.

    Zander: I can explain everything.

    Zander: Haleigh come on.

    Zander: You can't ignore me forever.

    Zander: I'm going to make this right.

    Zander: ...

    There were plenty more where these had come from. Haleigh's heart thumped in her chest as she re-read the texts Zander had sent in the last couple of weeks. It was taking all the strength that Haleigh had in her body not to respond. She was surprised to have gotten a text from him today, he had gone almost four days without texting her, which had actually driven Haleigh nuts. As much as the constant texts Haleigh had been receiving earlier in the week were annoying, they also let Haleigh know that Zander still cared, that there was something that could possibly be still there between them. When he hadn't texted her for those four days Haleigh had to fight twice as hard not to give into the urges to text him. Haleigh read Zander's most recent text.

    Zander: Hey...

    Haleigh sighed deeply and continued to fight the urge to text back.

    "Hey lets go to Applebees." Sam interrupted Haleigh's thoughts.

****

    The two roommates arrived at the chain restaurant around eight o'clock that night. The sun had completely set, and the normally busy parking lot was nearly empty which was odd for a Friday evening.

    "Charles is going to meet us inside." Sam explained. Haleigh sighed in frustration. Great, she would be the third wheel to the Sam and Charles show, yet again. Haleigh hated it when her roommate would spring a visit from Charles on her. Mostly because she hated being the third wheel, but also because Charles was friends with most of the members of The Wailing Donkeyz, including Zander. It was awkward for Haleigh to be around him.

    Sam and Haleigh were seated at a window table. The moon shone brightly into the restaurant and reflected off the snowflakes as they fell from the dark sky. 

    "Can I get you girls something to drink?" A waitress asked as she placed a menu in front of each of the girls.

    "Diet Coke please." Sam ordered as she flipped through the pages of the menu.

    "And for you, darling?" The waitress, whose name tag read 'Amanda' asked Haleigh sweetly.

    "Can I just get a water please?" Amanda nodded and then walked off in the direction of the kitchen.

    "My girl's already saving a table for us." A familiar voice echoed through the restaurant. Sam smiled, and looked behind Haleigh in the direction from which the voice came from. Her smile faded instantly.

    "Shit." She whispered as she caught sight of something.

    "What?" Haleigh glanced up from the menu and turned to follow Sam's gaze. Charles stood in front of the hostess' counter, but he was not alone. Haleigh's heart sank as soon as she saw the familiar black leather jacket. She could feel her face flush a deep shade of red. "You've got to be joking." Haleigh hissed as she quickly turned back around to face Sam. Sam just shrugged at her roommate. "Sam, what the fuck?" Haleigh was pissed. Sam had to have known about this. Why would Charles randomly bring Zander along with him?

    "Haleigh, I didn't know I swear." Sam insisted.

    "I'm out of here." Haleigh made to get up but it was too late, Charles and Zander stood beside the table. Haleigh looked up, and her eyes met Zander's, her breath hitched in her throat. Haleigh was then forced to scoot over as Zander slid in beside her.

Hey guys, hope you liked this chapter! Let me know what you all think. Don't forget to Vote and leave me a comment! Another chapter will be up either later tonight or at some point tomorrow.