The Primaries

3

I wake up to find all of my books on the floor, my shoes and clothes thrown everywhere, and Hailey missing. My first thought was that an intruder somehow got inside, so I get up and grab my lamp. I crept through the hall and open the bathroom door and nothing. I go downstairs crouching as low and steady as possible. I hear a noise in the kitchen so I quietly make my way there.

I shut my eyes, took a deep breath and hopped in the kitchen.

"AHHH WHAT THE HELL," screamed Hailey and I simultaneously.

I put the lamp down and Hailey drops her toothbrush.

"Why are you brushing your teeth in the kitchen?"

"Well, I look ugly brushing my teeth so not looking in mirrors makes me less self conscious," she said sounding like a smart ass.

"Addi, why did you have a lamp in your hand?" inquired my mom.

"I woke up to a mess in my room and Hailey missing so I assumed someone broke in."

We all laughed. My mom was eating breakfast and talking to Hailey about how guys are immature; which was directed at Cole. My dad was watching TV in the family room right in front of the kitchen getting offended by everything they were saying. The usual Sunday morning in the Taylor household. They like Hailey too much.

I stayed to talk for a bit, but went back upstairs with Hailey when my mom had to see her first patient. She's an at-home therapist.

"Hey, who's Noah?"

I was confused as to how she'd remember him because she was as gone as ever last night, "How do you remember him?"

"I know him? I just found his contact in your phone earlier."

"What? Let me see that."

I grab the phone to see his contact information and he had actually saved his number.

"He saved his number in my phone when he found it! Who does he think he is?!"

"Maybe it's time for a password, Addi."

He seemed like a gentleman yesterday but now I don't think so as much. If he did this to my phone, how many others? I get tempted to text him and I end up doing so.

"Aaron?"

"Jennifer?"

"Excuse me?!"

"Is that not your name?"

"It most certainly is not."

"So who are you?"

"Addison Taylor."

"OH SHIT I FORGOT I DID THAT. I didn't think we would ever talk again."

"Wow."

"That was before the thing with Kyle happened. I don't feel that way anymore, I expect to check up on you."

"How? You didn't have my number until now."

"I would've asked around."

"Fair enough."

At this point, Hailey is creeping over my shoulder reading everything.

"Addison is gonna get some dick at school tomorrow!"

"Calm down, Hails."

"Have you seen my phone?"

"Not in this mess, no."

"Back to Kyle's house then."

I stay quiet. I don't want to go but Hailey can't know about this. She would blame herself, never speak to Cole again, and make me report it. Her not liking Cole would be a good thing, but it can't happen this way. If anything ever escalates between them I'm going to be seeing a whole lot of Kyle, seeing as they're best friends.