California

Chapter Fifteen

Hailey told us everything about New York over dinner. She'd rented a small flat just outside Manhattan - though mom and dad wished she'd stay in the island - and was living the dream. Her life felt like something straight out of a movie: She'd wake up and jog for half an hour while the sun rose. Then she'd shower and stop for breakfast at a coffeeshop near her place. She'd then head off to Columbia for classes, which varied day by day, and study at the library whenever she had some spare time. Law School was really demanding and even Hailey, who'd always been the intellectual prodigy of the Halls, struggled to keep up. Don't get me wrong, she had amazing grades - it's just that it was much harder than high school could ever be.

She said she and Benjamin would usually head out to Long Island during the weekend to enjoy the sun. He studied business at NYU and was just as committed to his career. He couldn't tag along because he had an extracurricular project due that week and had to work on it back in NYC. She also told us her car remained in the garage most of the time because traffic in Manhattan was hectic and she would just take the subway to Columbia and to the firm where she interned.

"The job's really nice." She said while enjoying dad's grilled chicken. "I get to work alongside great lawyers in big profile cases."

"What, like murder trials and everything?" I asked, amused.

"Not really," she laughed. "I'm more into corporate law, so I mostly aid the partners in mergers and brokering deals."  

"Well, that just sucked the fun out of it." Joked mom. "I'm kidding, honey. We're really proud of you."

"And you're gonna work at this firm once you graduate?" I asked.

Hailey raised her eyebrows and took a sip of the water. She gasped as if stalling. I had no idea that was a sensitive topic.

"Well, who knows." She half smiled. "It's still my second year, so we'll see."

Her face showed excitement, but hidden away in her tone was a sort of melancholy. While her mouth kept saying how perfect life was in Manhattan, her eyes told a different story. I knew my sister well enough to know when something was up, even though mom and dad seemed oblivious to it. I figured I'd talk to her about it later, but the opportunity never came. 

We went to sleep that night in the same bedroom, but I sensed she wasn't feeling herself. Instead of pushing it and acting normally I gave her some space and fell to sleep beside her. There was a perfectly neat bed in the guest room, but we chose to spend the night together like we used to do in Seattle. Back there we had two beds in the room, but sharing a bed wasn't too bad either. After all, she was just a little bit taller than me and we didn't take up much room as it was.

The next morning she woke up feeling better. She got up moments earlier than me and planted a kiss on my cheek, just like she used to. It felt good, just as if I was a child again. Hailey had cut her hair shorter than ever, just a little past her shoulders, but it looked radiant. They were the same golden curls as mine, only now a shorter version. We looked alike, but had differing traits that made us quite unique in our own way. Most people usually couldn't tell us apart, so I guessed we were the only ones who could see the differences so clearly.

She'd just had a shower and had a towel wrapped around her. She came running and jumped on the bed while she brushed her teeth. Clumsily, she said:

"So, what's the plan?"

I had planned us a sisters night when mom told us she'd come visit. Hailey loved the movies so we'd head out to the cinema later on to watch a Nicholas Sparks picture that had just premiered last week. I remembered seeing the posters while I biked to town and wishing Hailey were there to watch it with me. Now my wish had come true and I wasn't willing to let it blow over. After that we'd head home and have a lazy Sunday in the middle of the week. I'd tell her everything about Clareview and Amanda and even Cali. I'd been waiting for this moment because Hailey was my confidant. She'd known absolutely everything about my life: My first kiss, my first hangover, every single one of my problems... she'd been there for me through it all. I also wanted her to know that I was there for her too.

"There's this new Nicholas Sparks movie, so I thought maybe we could catch that later on." Her face brightened at the idea. "Then we could come back home, pop in some Netflix and choose some show to watch. How does that sound?"

She rose and ran to the sink. She washed the toothpaste away and smiled.

"You're the best at planning ahead, sis." She checked her phone and jumped. "Wait, is this right? You're gonna be late for school."

I checked my phone and only then saw all of Amanda's missed calls. She'd waited for me at the stop but once she realized I wasn't coming she'd hopped on. I texted her apologizing and told her I'd explain everything over lunch break.

"Shit!" I cursed and threw the pillows out of the way. The next bus would arrive in about ten minutes and I hadn't even dressed yet. "I gotta catch the next bus or I'll miss first period!"

"Hey, don't worry!" Hailey was calm while she picked up her car keys. "I'll drive you. Now hurry up or mom and dad will go nuts."

...

We backed out of the driveway a few minutes later and I managed to calm down. I had fifteen minutes before first period and we could get to Clareview in eight. I typed in the location on her phone and she followed the GPS.

Hailey had always been a role model for me. My mom was strong and successful and I loved very much, but Hailey was my hero. She was always the best sister I could've asked for and she stood up for me many times when mom and dad gave me a scolding. She protected me and I felt safe around her, which was one of the reasons why it was so hard to manage once she left. In a month's notice she'd packed her stuff, rented a flat on the other side of the country and flown away. Of course we had a goodbye party and we had plenty of time together before she actually left, but life was never the same without her. I knew mom and dad felt it too, but I was the one who had to live without my best friend around. 

That was the third time she'd come to visit, the first two back in Seattle, but in all of them I'd seen something off about her. She was cheerful as ever and just happy overall, but I knew something was wrong. As I watched her drive me to school I noticed the same look on her face - sort of distraught and anxious. Like her mind was on something else. I wanted to talk to her, but I had to wait for the best moment. The GPS announced we'd arrived, but Hailey had seen the amazing gates of Clareview much earlier, from a distance.

"This is your school?" She asked with her mouth wide open. 

"I had the exact same reaction, you know?" I said as I got out of the car. "Thanks, sis! I'll see you later!"

"Excited for tonight!" She replied and I ran to class. 

I saw her car leave and decided I'd talk to her that evening. I knew something was bugging her and I could't handle seeing my sister so uneasy, though I kind of had a feeling I already knew what it was all about.