Forever & Always

Same Place New Me : 17

Hailey's pov:
I woke up to a text from my best friend that said, "Good luck with the interview today!" since I had an interview with "The Adam Buxton Podcast" at 11:00 in Beverly Hills. Her name is Inanna Sarkis. She played Molly in the movies we starred in together, we've been inseparable ever since. We share an apartment together, but she is in Canada right now visiting her family.
After I finished the podcast interview, I had a master class at ALDC: LA at 2:00. It only took 15 minutes from where I was doing the podcast to get there, so I scheduled a meet and greet before the class started.
The meet and greet went well and I met a ton of fans. The class went great as well and I taught a bunch of amazing young dancers. Today was a normal busy summer day, but now I have a flight to catch.
Now that I graduated Penn State I'm off to medical school. Which means that a lot of my fame related things will have to be put on hold. That's how it has been the past few years too. I put school before everything else.
     As soon as I got to LAX people instantly started noticing me. I'm not one to disguise myself from the public eye, unless I'm in a hurry. I took pictures with some fans and answered some questions. Most of them consisted of questions like where I was going and what my next project was. I also don't like keeping secrets either, I say as much as I'm allowed to.
     I didn't know how to feel when I stepped out of the airport after landing. I got into my rental car and drove to the place I used to call home, the Outer Banks. I haven't been back in 3 years. Same place new me, I guess.
     Last time I was here it was Christmas break my freshman year of college. After that my career took off. JJ broke up with me, Pope and I stopped talking, Kiara stopped reaching out, and Sarah, John B, and I only talk occasionally.
     I didn't tell Sarah or JB I was coming back. In fact I didn't tell anyone besides the fans that came up to me and asked. I booked an Airbnb so that was my first stop. After unpacking, I left to go surfing at my spot. I hope I can still surf as good as how I used to.
     I surfed for a couple hours. I was definetly rusty, I wiped out a lot! After my surf sesh I went tanning. I was listening to music when I got a call from Inanna.
"You went to the Outer Banks without telling me?"
"Yes, but I didn't tell anyone unless they asked where I was going. The only people that asked were the fans I saw at LAX, and the fans at the airport here."
"Okay Hails. How long are you going to be there?"
"Only 2 weeks. I just wanted to get away from all the interviews and such. Then I hop right back into everything. I love it but your girl needs a lil' break." I say laughing at the last part.
"We all do." She laughed but continued. "Have you seen anyone you know yet?"
"Not yet but I plan on going by my old friend's house to say hi to his parents." I sighed. "Maybe I'll see you know who. Knowing him he's probably already moved on." I say sadly.
"If it's meant to be, then it's meant to be babe. If he doesn't see what I see then he doesn't deserve you. I mean hell you're Hailey fucking Routledge! The famous actor, dancer, model, and future surgeon! A quadruple threat! Seriously he would be insane to have moved on from you!"
"I know, I know, but it's been 3 years that's a long time. I'm still hung up on him for some weird reason."
"You know if he doesn't come around, you can always go to Hero. He's single, hot, and super into you. Don't even deny it." She was right. Hero played Hardin on "After" and "After We Collided". We are best friends. My cast mates have always said he was into me, but I was so hung up on JJ that I never really saw him other than as my bestie.
"Okay! If I don't see JJ at all or he has moved on, then I'll give Hero and I a shot."
"Yes! Finally!" She said laughing, I laughed as well. "Okay well I'll let you go H! Bye bye!"
"Okay Bye!" After she hung up the phone my music started playing again but I decided to turn it off.
I was packing up to leave when press came barreling towards me. I sighed and didn't walk away, because it's not who I am. Instead I smiled and waited for them to reach me.
"Hailey is it true you're here for modeling?"
"No, I'm here for vacay!"
"How long will you be in North Carolina?"
"2 weeks!"
"Will there be another movie in the After movie series?"
"I don't have any information on that yet."
"Is it true that you and Inanna got into a fight and that's why you left?"
"No! Absolutely not! I came here to just relax before I get super busy."
"Are you here visiting any friends or family?"
"Not particularly."
"Are you here visiting your ex-boyfriend?" I froze after they asked that.
"I-um... no I'm not. How did you know my ex-boyfriend lived here?"
"Your old Instagram posts." I forgot I never deleted those. They asked a lot more questions, then after what felt like ages they finally said, "Well that's all for now thank you for your time." I just nodded and smiled as they walked away. I picked up my surf board that I rented and returned it.
Then I decided it was time to walk over to Heyward's Seafood. He always said I was the best one out of the Pogues. He especially liked when I would smack JJ on the head when he would get annoying.
When I walked inside I instantly saw him talking to someone, he had yet to notice me. Once he finished talking he turned around to see me. His straight face quickly turned into a smile and he laughed.
"Hailey Routledge? Is that really you?" He said walking over to hug me.
"In the flesh." I replied as we hugged.
"Never thought I'd see you around these parts again. Being famous and all that."
"I had to come back to my roots at some point. I haven't been here in 3 years and this place hasn't changed a bit, still love it though. How is everyone?"
"We're doing fine. You wanna see my boy?"
"P-Pope is here?" I said my smile widening. I haven't seen him or talked to him since I was here for Christmas break freshman year.
"Yeah he's out back let me take you to him." I nodded and he led me outside.
"Hey boy look who's here!" He yelled at him. Pope looked over at me doing a double take. He smiled and walked over to hug me, I hugged him back.
"Damn it's been 3 years and you've certainly changed miss celebrity." He says sarcastically.
"It's good to see you too Pope. I've missed you!"
"I missed you too! Have you heard from anyone else? I haven't talked to anyone since sophomore year besides JJ."
"No I haven't, I only talk to John B and Sarah now. It's sad but I guess we just had our own things to do. I never knew you all stopped talking. What happened with Kiara?"
     "I wanted to focus on school and I broke up with her. I haven't heard from her ever since. I got a new girl named Quinn. She's super sweet, you would love her." I nodded in response smiling. Heyward went to go talk to someone else, so it just left Pope and I.
     "H-how's JJ?" I asked tentatively.
"Well uh... he works for my dad now, he's not here for some reason. He really misses you Hailey. He regrets everything he said and did after Christmas break. He still talks about you a lot."
"H-he misses me?" A smile slowly crept onto my face.
"Every time I would come down here for Christmas or summer, he would be my media outlet. He knew everything about you and quite it's creepy. He went to college too. Community college, but I mean it's something." My eyes went wide.
"The JJ Maybank went to college?"
"Yes, yes he did. Want to know why?" I nodded. "He wanted to impress you, so he could possibly get you back one day. He got jealous of that guy in your movies and decided to turn his life around." My jaw dropped and I got butterflies in my stomach.
"Wow!"
"Yeah. He still lives at the château, he even cleaned it up a bit." I couldn't believe JJ actually grew up a little. I was about to speak again but the back door flys open, and someone runs down to where Heyward is standing.
"Heyward! Hey sorry I'm late, my alarm didn't go off so I slept in! It won't happen again!" Sure enough it was the blonde boy I missed so dearly.
    Heyward looked toward JJ then to me and Pope. JJ turned around and did a double take like Pope did earlier. I stood there looking at him like a deer in headlights.

2 chapters in one day, im proud of myself hahaha! i had a free day today so i decided to grind. this is all for today though, idk when ill post the next chapter seeing as the only thing i have picked out is the chapter title.