And When He Is Here // hayes grier

Chapter 2

↠Hayes

I couldn't believe how stupid I can get. I mean, I've had a crush on this girl sense 5th grade. She's my next door neighbor and I don't have the balls to go and talk to her. I decided that before school starts, I will make it my mission to talk to her. One word, at least.

Every day when I'm outside I see her going over to her friend Dylan's or him going over to her house, and I can't manage to get out one word. Every day I see her pass by me and I don't even say a simple "hey". I've imagined it, saying something to her. My brother, Nash, has picked up on it, but I still don't admit it.

I looked across the street to see her and Dylan out on his front porch: almost looking like they're fighting.

"Dude! Pay attention to the game and stop fantasying over your little crush. Actually I remember you talking about liking her like 3 years ago. You still haven't talked to her?! Hayes, you're not exactly the shy type, but then again, you are a complete loser."

"Oh, shut up, Nash." I told him with a bit of annoyance in my voice and threw the basketball at him.

"Hey what do you think is going on over there? She looks pissed."

"I don't know. Stop starring! She's gonna notice us." I said back to him.

"Ya know, maybe she likes you too."

I thought about it for a second. But she has Dylan. And everyone says they're just friends but they still seem really close. Like he wouldn't want her dating anyone. "Nah. I doubt it," I tell my brother. 

"Oh how could she not like 'Mr. Dreamy blue eyes'. 'Mr. Popular'. 'Mr. Lacrosse star'. Hey doesn't she play lacrosse too? Y'all would make a cute couple." He's calling me all of the nicknames he got his freshman year of high school and sometimes still gets.

I smile just thinking about it, "whatever, lets get back to the game." With that, we did. And I lost my focas on Bradie.

↠Bradie

"Okay I thought it had stopped too. It did for like two weeks. Then it randomly started again. My dad would get mad at my mom and take it out on me. And there's nothing I can do about it. And neither can you. So B, just please leave it alone. Please. Forgot about it." He had a look of worry in his eyes. It broke my heart into a million pieces. We were supposed to have a good day. A good year.

And then is terrible parents ruined it. Like they always do. I mean they give Dylan freedom and all that but when ever he does something wrong, or even if he doesn't, he gets beat. That's why he's so good at lacrosse and that's why he will do anything to not be at home.

"Okay. I can't forget about it but-I just don't know what to do. I thought it was taken care of?" I replied to him. My mom honked the horn, I looked at the car then back at Dylan. My voice was cracking and my eyes were stinging telling me I was about to cry. This should never happen, to anyone. It makes me physically ill just thinking about it.

"Lets just go get in the car and have our shopping trip. Like always," he says trying to put on a smile, he slung his lanky arm around me. I just agreed with a nod and we got into the car.

"Hello, Jean, how are you on this fine day?" Dylan asks my mom like nothing in the world is wrong. He is good at that.

My mother laughs, "I'm good Dyl, what about you?"

"Pretty good I could say. Thanks again for taking us."

"It's what I live for."
We all kind of laughed at my moms comment but it died down very quickly.

"Mom can you turn on the radio?" I ask her. 

She did as I asked. Dylan and I jammed out to all the songs that came on until we were at the mall.

When we got there me and Dyl did our usual shopping routine; went to go get something to eat, then went to one of my stores, then one of his, then one of mine and his. And that's how it goes till we are done.

But the time we were done shopping we met my mom in one of the relaxing areas. Where the couches and chairs are.

"Hey guys, what did you get?"

I was the first to respond to her: "Ooo! I got a few shirts, a couple tank tops, shorts, jeans and 2 pairs of shoes ." I say in about a minute while looking at my four bags. I didn't realize how much I got until I had to say it all.

"Dang B. I didn't realize you got that much." Dylan commented.

"Wow, me neither," I said with a slight giggle.

And then my mom joined in, "wow-just wow. Okay what about you Dyl?"

"A few sweatshirts, a pair of nikes, some basketball shorts, some t-shirts, a few pair of nice shorts, and a couple pairs of jeans." He said with not as much excitement as me. He hasn't had much of that lately.

"Oh nice! Now how about we head on over to Outback for dinner then head home. Dyl you're staying the night right?" my mom replied. He will stay at my house every once in a while. We sleep in the basement, him on the air mattress and me on the bed. It takes a while for people to get around that sometimes, but we've had sleep overs for as long as I can remember. He just nodded in response. My mom was hesitant about it as we got older, we somehow managed it get around it.

"Yeah let's go," I shouted. We all got in the car and headed out to eat.