Yours, truly

Chapter 14.

Haley

Papers were spread out in front of me scattered along the desk and the floor, the copy of the Tim O'Brien novel open beside my laptop as I was sitting at my desk attempting to finish my last two hundred words for an English Essay. It seemed that because it was the last semester of senior year, Ms Lee set on giving out the hardest questions for assignments and I was struggling to finish them.

Mom just came home from a twelve-hour shift. She disappeared the other day with money on the table and a note on the fridge.

I decided earlier that I wasn't going to the game tonight.

I glanced a look at the hoodie sitting a few feet away from me. It haunted me as it sat there, smelling of him. I could describe how Luke smelled perfectly and how the scent intoxicated my nose when we lay there on the grass together.

A mix of expensive cologne and mint toothpaste.

Just by thinking of him, I sighed closing my laptop shut and staring at the ceiling. An uneasiness settled in my chest as I spun in the chair lazily.
After this morning's Spanish class, I just wanted the day to be over with.

"Hey!" My bedroom door opened and Rae stood there.

"Woah" I sat up quickly knocking more papers onto the floor and stared at her. "Hey"

She was wearing what looked like Austins swim hoodie styling it with a pair of vintage jeans and sneakers. She texted me yesterday, hours after I left Luke's, that she and Austin made up. She seemed to be in a better mood than these past couple of days.

"How did you get in?" I asked curiously remembering the locked door.

"Oh, your Mom" Rae responded. "She's really nice. Is she a doctor? She was wearing her hospital uniform thing. When I was younger I wanted to be a doctor to like help people. Then I discovered I didn't do well around blood..." she rambled staring around my room. "Studying?" She questioned.

"Yeah, I texted you. I can't come tonight" I got up and sat on the edge of my bed. "Lots of work to do"

"Come on it's Friday! I get you I love studying but we have the whole weekend to do work, I wanna hang with you. Are you okay?" She interrupted looking down at me. "Oh, and I'm sorry I couldn't go to Luke's the other day I just wasn't feeling like myself. If it makes you feel any better Luke offered to paint the whole thing after you left"

"Yeah he was being an ass" I mumbled fumbling with the edge of a blanket.

"He's been heated all week but it's just because of tonight, he's nervous. It's Coast Academy and there's an old friend that's gonna be there..." she trailed off rocking on her feet. "...and it's awkward but I can't say anymore. But it will be really fun" she teased pointing both fingers at me moving back and forth.

"I don't know" I shrugged.

"Come on! We all want you there. And you said your date went so well!" She squealed excitedly.

"I don't know about any more dates Rae" I reached down picking up my loose papers, straightening them in my hand.

"What happened girl?" She asked concerned.