The Improbable Clause of Missing You

Chapter Two

We hadn't even kissed yet. We hadn't even had our third date yet, if you could even call it a date. 'Date' usually meant me, him, and a truckload of his buddies.

"Really? Well, oh. Uh." I mumbled. My eyes watered. A single tear fell.

"Ah, oh, Hayley..." Frankie sighed, sitting down next to me and wrapping a comforting arm around my shoulder. We sat there, silent, letting the news wash over us and sink in. Well, for me it was. Sinking in, that is.

"There must be a mistake?" My voice was small.

"Look, Hayley, I care about you a lot. I know he cares about you a lot, although really misguided half the time. I know he makes you happy. I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of this, alright? But you need to talk to him."

"I do." I said simply, hugging a pillow to my chest. "Can we hang out today instead? I want a break right now."

"What's left of the day, sure."

It's one in the afternoon, which makes sense since Frankie's here and not in the park where we'd agreed to meet. I must've been really tired.

"I... I'm sorry I had to tell you."

"Thank you." I say, sincerely, managing a wobbly smile. She was only looking out for me.

"When I get my hands on him, though. I swear, if Matt hadn't held me back, I would've pummeled my fists into his sorry little –"

"I appreciate the notion, but considering how you are against liquor and blood..."

"Glad to see our princess back to her full-fledged sarcastic health. Just a bit moody and groggy. You'll be alright."

"I will be when you tell me what happened with you and Matt last night," I deadpanned.

A blush fans over her cheeks.

"We're talking outside, in the garden, and he says 'Let's get out of here,' and so I say 'Okay', and he takes me to his family's restaurant, and we just sit there over fries and coke, chatting." Her cheeks are glowing, and her eyes are shining brightly with the kind of childish delight seen only on Christmas.

"So I'm just sitting there, laughing, and suddenly he's looking at me with the sweetest smile ever, and I know that that same goofiness is reflected on my face. And then the next thing I know, he's reaching over to grab my hand.."

A wave of vulnerable loneliness rushes over me briefly, but I push it away. No. Don't make this about yourself.

Your best friend deserves this happiness. You're happy for her.

"And then he walks me home. And it's, like, almost 12. But he walks me all the way home like some chivalrous twenty-first century knight. What a dork, I can protect myself."

"I'm sure you can." I said. "Took you guys long enough. I told you he liked you back! I TOLD YOU SO!"

"Chocolate for the broken heart and for the victorious one?"

"Certainly." Her eyes searched mine for any sense of upset, but I hid it easily.

I didn't want to worry her.

Sceptical, she took my outstretched arm anyway and we ran down the stairs.

"I don't want to be rubbing this in your face, love. You're my best friend, though, so I wanted to tell you first."

"And I'm glad you did. Don't worry. Your happiness is way more important than some... Some Owen, okay? Like you said, we're best friends."

She nodded silently, breaking me a chunk of chocolate as a grateful gesture.

The corners of my cheeks lifted, unwavering. Because no matter what, I'd always support my best friend.

"By the way... Yesterday was a mess." I gave her a run through of the evening, complete with the hot chocolate incident.

"So you should feel bad right about now, for leaving me in the clutches of Andrew."

"I don't." She laughed. "Tell me about hot chocolate boy."

"I just told you!"

"I mean, is he cute?"

"You're taken, you crazy bat!"

"Answer the question."

Reluctantly, I replied, "I suppose... Tall. Sorta lanky. Great hair, though."

"Mhmm. Vague descriptions. Shiftily avoiding my gaze. Very cute, I take it?"

"You could say that."

"Listen, Hayley. I know you're trying to suppress how upset you are with Owen right now. You're a very strong person. And I recognize that you'll be okay. You don't need to suppress it, you can wallow in it selfishly for all I care. You're selfless as is and this won't tarnish that. Neither will your strength diminish."

"Love you." I muttered, smiling again.

"Love you too, Hayley." With that, she pulled me into a hug.

There's a beat of silence, before her voice pipes up again.

"If Owen ever gets out of the picture, which I'm currently rooting for, I think hot chocolate boy could be on for something."

My forehead met the marble of the countertop in embarrassment. "But I royally messed up."

Frankie is quiet, though I'm pretty sure she's laughing; I can feel the silent vibrations of her shoulders shaking. Way to be supportive, best friend.

"I'll probably never see him again, anyway." At this, I look up, and true enough, she's calming down from her laughing episode and grinning toothily at me.

"Don't say that," she begins, "you never know how things may end up."

"Sure." My stomach growls. "Can we order pizza?"

"Let's get it fresh at the mall. You need to get out more, your skin is looking a little pale."

"It's winter."

"Oh, shut it."