Catch Me

Chapter Forty-One: Heartbreak

Chapter Forty-One: Heartbreak 

Zander exited his bedroom as the sound of knuckles frantically pounding on wood echoed throughout the apartment. He was surprised he had heard the knocking on the front door as the sound of fake gunshots and screams from his roommate's video game pierced the air.

The living room which Zander had spent most the weekend cleaning, had now been littered with trash once more. A pizza box with discarded pizza crusts lay open on the coffee table, crushed soda cans were scattered sporadically across the floor in front of the couch. Kyle and Spencer, Zander's two roommates, slouched on the worn out leather couch in front of the television. A long glass bong sat daringly slouched in the middle of Spencer and Kyle on a couch cushion. It leaned recklessly to the side, threatening to spill the blackened bong water all over the living room. The roommates each had a gaming controller in their hands as they battled each other on the latest video game.

Zander rolled his eyes as more knocking echoed into the apartment. He greatly wished he could kick these guys out of his apartment so that he could live in a peaceful, clean environment without the smell of marijuana that threatened to get him fired every day. He was sure the order of the recreational drug being smoked could easily be smelt downstairs in the Bagel Factory. More knocking.

"Don't you guys hear the door?" Zander's annoyed voice spoke up over the ruckus of the video game. He received little emotion from his two roommates as he made his way across the room and toward the front door of the apartment. The two roommates stared intently at the television screen. Zander made it a point to walk slowly in front of the TV. This was the only time Kyle and Spencer made a sound. They groaned and complained as both of their characters in the game succumbed to gunshot wounds to their heads while Kyle and Spencer had been momentarily impaired of their vision to the game. Zander smirked, pleased with himself, then went to answer the door.

The smirk vanished from Zander's face as he swung the door open. Haleigh stood before him. Her eyes were glazed over with tears, the bags under eyes were prominent and red, tears stained her cheeks.

"Hales, wh-?" Zander was cut off as Haleigh flung herself into Zander's arms. She buried her face into the crook of Zander's neck as she let out a frustrated sob. Confused, and unsure what to do, Zander rubbed Haleigh's back soothingly, and pulled her into the apartment, closing the door.

Zander lead Haleigh into his bedroom where they could be alone. Tears still stained her cheeks as she climbed into Zander's bed, pulling the covers over her head.

"Hales, talk to me." Zander pleaded worriedly as he climbed into bed next to Haleigh. He pulled her into his arms and let her cry into his chest. He could feel her tears as they seeped through his t-shirt.

It took Haleigh a few minutes to calm down, she sighed deeply, trying her best to control her breathing. Once her breathing was under control she told Zander everything that had happened in her American Literature class.

"Then she told the whole class that I should be happy because you have a big dick." Haleigh finished her story.

Zander snickered briefly, then composed himself. He was trying his best to be supportive, and he hated that Alyssa was tormenting Haleigh, but when he heard this last bit he couldn't help but laugh.

"It's not funny!" Haleigh smacked Zander on his chest lightly.

"I'm sorry, but it's a little funny." Zander smirked.

"Yeah, it's hilarious your ex girlfriend finds it amusing to humiliate me." Haleigh rolled her eyes and sat up in bed so that Zander's arms no longer held onto her comfortingly.

"She was never my girl friend." Zander corrected, he too sat up in his bed, leaning his back against the headboard.

"Whatever." The frustration in Haleigh's voice was apparent.

"Hales, she's just jealous." Zander began. "She has had this crazy obsession with me ever since she first started working at the Bagel Factory."

"You just don't get it Zander." Haleigh insisted. "You have no idea what I go through every day of my life. It takes every ounce of strength that I have to pull myself out of bed most days. I live every day worried that I'm going to say something or do something to humiliate myself. Most days it just seems easier to lay in bed hiding from the world. I worry constantly about stupid stuff, and repeatedly feel like people are watching me, waiting for me to do something embarrassing." Haleigh wipe a stray tear. Never had she told anyone about these fears, except for Shane, who also experienced similar feelings of anxiety. It was part of the reason the two best friends had gotten along so well. Haleigh found comfort in the fact that she wasn't alone, that there was someone else out there who had similar thoughts as she."And I know none of it is logical, but I just can't control it." She sighed and stood up from Zander's bed.

"Hales." Zander wasn't sure what to say. His heart raced as she shared these insecurities with him. He wanted to say something comforting, to make her realize that these fears were something she never needed to worry about, but the words didn't come.

"I'm just not sure if it's worth it anymore." Haleigh picked up her leather jacket from its place on the back of Zander's desk chair.

"If what's not worth it?" Panic struck Zander and he sprung out of bed, closing the gap between him and Haleigh.

"I can't live every day with another fear on top of everything else, Zander." She explained. "And Alyssa is going to find anyway she can to make my life miserable."

"What are you trying to say?" Zander's heart raced in his chest, he could feel his face turning a deep shade of red, and his eyes well up, tears prickling the back of his eyes, threatening to escape.

"I'm saying that I think we should take a break." Haleigh's gaze fell to a crack in the floorboards of Zander's room. She couldn't look him in the eyes. She knew her words were cutting through Zander's heart. She wished she were brave enough not to let the words that Alyssa spoke bother her so much, but she just wasn't there yet. "Until Alyssa is fully over you, I just think it would be easier."

"Easier for who?" Zander stepped backward, from Haleigh as anger boiled in his blood.

"Easier for me." Haleigh said as she slipped the sleeves of her leather jacket over her arms.

"Hales, I'm sorry I laughed. I will talk to Alyssa and tell her to back off." Zander was pleading now, something he had never done. He knew what it felt like to lose this girl, and he was desperate to prevent the situation that was unfolding before him.

"I gotta go." Haleigh pulled the hood of her jacket over her head, and reached for the doorknob of Zander's room.

"Hales, please."

Haleigh's eyes fluttered closed as she contemplated staying. She wanted to throw herself into Zander's arms. She wanted to forget about the world and get lost in his eyes. She wanted to feel his strong hands roam her body as they made love. She hated doing this. And she willed herself the strength to take it all back, though it never came. She mentally cursed herself for being so weak.

"I'm sorry." Haleigh finally said, the door swung open and she exited the room, and then the apartment, stepping out into the cool December air. 

I promise I have a plan! Don't get mad at me! <3
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