Hayley
“What do you want?” Karla snapped as Hayley approached the pair on the bridge just minutes after Nate’s phone call. Hayley cast her eyes onto Lewis who was sitting on the floor with his back against the bridge railing, sitting in a small heap, enclosing himself from the world. Hayley stepped past Karla, only to be stopped with an arm across her stomach, Hayley jerked backwards and glared at Karla.
“He’s fine.” She murmured through gritted teeth. Hayley gripped Karla’s arm and swung it aside for her to pass. Lewis didn’t lift his head from his arms, folded on his knees. His back rose and fell in rapid movements, it was obvious he wasn’t fine but of course Karla wouldn’t want her anywhere near Lewis. Hayley stared down at him, unsure of how to approach the situation.
Hayley plopped herself down next to Lewis and cautiously put a hand on his back. They were so close, yet so far apart. Lewis lifted his head and looked at Hayley. His eyes were filled with tears, trying their best to spill over the eyelid, like a full glass of water. His dark eyelashes were soaked and his cheeks were rosy, the only feature on his face that had a shade of colour.
Hayley felt a pang of guilt and looked away; she wished she could have been with him when he had got the news so he wouldn’t have had to be alone. Lewis scrunched up his eyes and the tears spilled down his dull and empty face. Hayley put her arm around his shoulders and Lewis leaned all his weight against her, laying his forehead on her shoulder and sobbed loudly. He made a few gurgling noises and hiccupped from all the crying. Hayley rested her head on top of his.
Will we ever say the things we’re feeling, maybe reach down underneath and tear down all the walls that stand in their way, would they ever have a happy ending or would they only be pretending that their lives were fine just as they were...Lewis’ arms wrapped around her middle and squeezed her tightly. Hayley fought back her tears. Karla stepped in front of Hayley, her sneakers scratching against the gravel when she walked.
“He was fine before you arrived; I had just managed to calm him down. You always need to ruin everything don’t you?” Hayley frowned and looked up at Karla.
“What do you mean, ‘ruin everything’, what exactly have I ruined, Karla?” Fury was building inside of her, she did not want to start something now, especially with Lewis right here, in the state that he was.
“It’s exactly what I said, Hayley. You clearly don’t listen, do you? You ruin absolutely everything; I can never have anything I want. Can I have something, just this once without you sabotaging it for me?” Her voice was rising with every sentence.
“Karla, please, can we not do this right now, Lewis needs comfort, not us fighting. Please.” Hayley tried to calm Karla down. Karla laughed a cold and ragged laugh.
“You don’t get what I am trying to say, do you? Clearly not. You are too stupid to understand anything, let me spell it out for you. I want you, to L-E-A-V-E.” Hayley was shocked at how unfair and harsh Karla was being.
“Look, Karla, please can we just leave this for some other time, this isn’t fair on Lew-”
“Fair?” Karla scoffed, “Let me tell you something about fairness Hayley, Life is unfair, you just got to learn to let it go. You sure don’t understand what he is going through, you still have parents Hayley. You will never understand until you put yourself in his shoes, and for the time being, I think it’d be best if you just left.” Lewis sniffed and released his grip around Hayley’s waist. Slowly he lifted his head off of her shoulder and wiped away the remaining tears from his cheeks. Hayley rose from the floor and sized herself up with Karla; they were the same height so Hayley looked directly into Karla’s eyes.
They stared at each other, both of them ridden with anger and fury. Hayley was fuming. She broke their stare and glanced down at Lewis, looking dully at the two of them.
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“You deserve to be happy Lewis, I am so sorry about what has happened, and everything you have been put through. I know I haven’t been here for you but trust me; there isn’t a day that passes without me having thought of you. I miss you so, so much...” Hayley was on the verge of tears,
“Karla wants me to leave, so before anything gets uglier than it already has, I will. If you need me, I’m just down the road; you know I will be here for you Lou, Forever and Always.”
With that, Hayley turned her back to them and walked back home, wiping away her tears, leaving behind what once used to be a promise, but now just seemed like empty words.
***
As Hayley approached her house she noticed Nate’s bike parked on the road. She smiled softly to herself as she saw him, leaning casually against the front door in a leather biker-jacket and jeans. He did not see her come his way; he seemed to be in his own world. Hayley picked up speed and ran straight into his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face into it. She nuzzled her face down into his broad chest and breathed in deeply. Nate stroked her hair tenderly and held her in his arms.
“Did you find him?” Nate mumbled into her hair. Hayley nodded her head against his chest.
“And? Is he alright?” Nate pressed.
“I don’t think so, Karla made me leave.” Nate grabbed Hayley’s shoulders and moved her backwards, he frowned.
“Wait, she did what?” Hayley shrugged her shoulders.
“She made me leave; I didn’t want to fight with her in front of Lewis, so I left.” Nate shook his head and pulled Hayley back into a tight hug.
“She is honestly such a, a...”
“Bitch?” Hayley said loudly.
“I was going to say vile human being, but that works too.” Hayley laughed softly. “But seriously, she made you leave? Did you even get to give him a hug?”
“Yeah I did, he needs support, more now than ever Nate.” Hayley’s voice croaked.
“Got any idea who he’s staying with for the meantime?” Nate asked curiously.
Hayley frowned and shook her head. “He’s coming to stay with me; there is no ways I am letting him stay in that house alone.” Nate stated. “And if Karla even tries anything with you or me again she better count her lucky stars if I don’t whack her.” Hayley gasped dramatically and smacked his shoulder playfully.
“Gender violence, Nate, you won’t raise a hand to her, you will never see the light of day again.” Nate smiled down at Hayley.
“Wouldn’t even give it a second thought, but seriously, if she tries to pull something like that again, she will be sorry.”
“I feel like a damsel in distress and you’re my Nate in shining armour.” Hayley grinned, “See what I did there?” Nate laughed and bent down to kiss Hayley on the forehead, but instead he kissed her cheek.
“Hayley, you are so adorable.” He whispered.
