Untitled (Story) — || 4 ||
“Gabe’s smoking. I know I should’ve stopped him, but I…I don’t know. I really regret not stopping him. Smoking is horrible. And you went because of it. You were the best friend anyone could ever ask for. You’re my inspiration.” I smiled as I got up and walked out of the closet. I saw Alex sitting on the couch. “What the heck?!” I yelled, obviously startled. “How did you get in?” “You left it opened,” he said. “What? No I didn’t,” I argued. “Yes, you did. There was a little crack.” He sounded emotionless. “Is something wrong?” I asked, trying to sound concerned, even though I didn’t care right then. “I’m just really sorry for what happened,” he said, his voice shaky. “It’s okay,” I said, even though I was still hurt on the inside from when he slapped me. He gave me a half-smile. That’s all I needed from him. I forgave him. Even if I didn’t say it out loud, I could tell he knew I was cool with him now.
Alex just stared at me. His stare reminded me of Chris’s never-ending gaze. Warm tears started streaming down my face. “What’s wrong?” he asked, suddenly concerned. “I-I,” I stammered. “I…I just… miss Chris a lot.” I said, trying to speak clearly. “What does that have to do with anything?” he asked befuddled. “You were staring at me. Your eyes reminded me of Chris’s,” I told him, looking into his hazel eyes. “Hayles…” he trailed off and hugged me tight enough for me to choke. “Sorry,” he said, pushing away. “It’s alright.” I gave him a warm smile. Alex picked up my guitar and started playing some chords from ‘Cute Without The E (Cut From The Team)’ by Taking Back Sunday. He knew that that was one of the many songs that cheer me up.
I grinned and side-hugged him. There was a knock at the door and it opened slowly. Gabe walked in and sat next to me. Alex glared at Gabe and stayed quiet as Gabe told me something that I couldn’t believe.
“Hayley, this is important. Really, really important.” I nodded, telling him to talk. “Chris didn’t die. He ran away,” he told me. “What?!” I yelled. I heard my aunt ask if I was okay. “Yeah, I’m okay!” I yelled back to her. “How?” I said, lowering my voice. “The funeral.” “I don’t know how he did it, but he did it. Him and his brothers somehow pulled it off,” Gabe told me.
“Oh my God,” I said, shocked and mad. “Why didn’t he tell me?! I cried for 2 months!” I felt rage take over. I took my phone out and dialed Chris’s number. No answer. “How did you find out?” I asked Gabe, practically yelling at him. “Greta told me,” he said. I could hear panic and fear in his voice. I ran downstairs to Greta’s room. I opened the door and I saw her stroking Chris’s hair. I stood there, eyes widened. “Knock first!” Greta yelled at me and threw her water bottle at me, but I dodged it. I pulled Chris by his v-neck and dragged him to behind the staircase. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I whispered, loudly. “I-I…How did you even find out?” he asked. “Gabe,” I replied. But when I said his name, it didn’t sound like my voice. It sounded like someone who just had their heart broken.
Before I knew it, I was crying. “No, Hayley! Don’t cry!” Chris begged, hugging me tightly. The smell of Axe, lotion, and soap made me get butterflies in my stomach. “Who told Gabe?” he asked, sweetly. “Greta,” I said through sobs. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” he said, kissing the top of my head and rubbing my back. “Why wouldn’t you tell me?” I asked him. He didn’t respond. “Why?” I repeated. “Because…I…I really don’t know,” he replied, sounding as if he was about to break down crying. “I’m sorry,” he said, quietly. I looked up into his hazel eyes, which were filled with tears. “I should… go now,” he said. “Where are you staying at?” I asked. “Jeremy’s house,” he said. “Jeremy?” I said.
“You know him?”
“Yeah. Well…kind of. Greta introduced me to him today at school.”
“Isn’t he good-looking?”
“Yeah. He has a nice face.”
“So….you like guys with hazel-ish eyes?”
“What?”
“Brendon has hazel eyes. Your first boyfriend, Grant, had green eyes. And Jeremy has hazel eyes.
“And I have hazel eyes.” I looked at him, startled. He was smiling. “Um…” I started. I didn’t know what to say. “Greta told me,” he said. “Oh. Um…this is awkward,” I told him, looking away. “But…I don’t like you like that.” “Oh. Um…like I said…I-I should go now,” he said, sounding embarrassed. “Wait, wait…wait. Do you like me like that or something?” I asked, very curious. “No. I really have to go. Bye,” he told me, walking towards the door. He grabbed the knob and left, leaving me wondering.
