Make Love, Make War (Tayley) |

AUTUMN

Hayley woke up from a short nap, cold and shivering, as someone played the guitar on the street outside. She grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around her, listening to the person until they suddenly stopped, dusk starting to form, everything silent but the sounds of the roads. "Damn," Hayley muttered, getting up and pulling an apple out her fridge.

It was nearly autumn. Crunchy, brown and orange leaves filled up her apartments windowsill, and her neighbors had already put up Halloween decorations. Hayley loved Halloween.

Taylor did, too.

She shook the thought out of her head, biting hard into the apple.

Hayley couldn't stop thinking about what she said to Taylor. That she was going to enroll and become a nurse. She didn't think she had the guts to live up to her promise. Zac would know what to do.

But Zac needs time.

Hayley threw the apple core out the window into the forest across the street, and grabbed her keys.
She missed the Parading Hippies.

Dusk was beginning to settle in, at 7 in the evening, so Hayley knew barely anyone would be there. She walked to the studio, shivering in the cool autumnal breeze.

When she opened the door, Patrick and a slightly older guy was there, with a intimidating yet sweet face.

As the door creaked over, Patrick looked up and excited got up and ran to Hayley. The two hugged, as he whispered, "We all missed you so much."

When they released, Hayley and the man (his name was Pete Wentz) introduces each other, and Patrick exaggerated good stories of Hayley.

Patrick then asked, "Hays, are you coming back regularly again?"

"Get everyone here tomorrow morning. I need to get something off my chest, okay?" Hayley replied, and Patrick and Pete nodded. "Thanks, guys. This is major and I don't know what to do."

The three worked on posters and calendars for a few more hours, and they all fell asleep on the chilled floor.

Hayley was shaken awake by a happy but confused Jenna, who kissed her cheek in greeting, and helped her get up. Everybody Hayley was familiar with in the group, plus a few new faces, were there, all excitedly bouncing around.

Zac was absent.

"What's up?" Hayley asked, throat hoarse, as Patrick gave her a thumbs up. "Ah, right. I asked Patrick and Pete to get you all. Thank you guys."

"Hayley, what is it?" Jenna questioned, playing with her fingers nervously, and a few others nodded.

She took a deep breath, trying to hold back tears as she softly choked out, "I want to join the army."

"What?" Jordan asked, and Jenna, who seemed to be the only one who heard, let out a small whimper.

"I want to join the army."

Everybody started talking at once, and a crushing, overwhelmed feeling overcame Hayley. She didn't know if she made the right choice.

She shut them all up and said, "I want to be a nurse. Help people. Isn't that what we stand for?"

A few audience members rolled their eyes and groaned, but the others who didn't smiled and came up to hug Hayley.

"Don't let Josh down," Hayley heard Zac say at the back of the room.