I closed and covered my eyes and we continued over to the restaurant. It was uneventful. It was semi-awkward, then we went back to the school. When I got back to my dorm I immediately laid down and fell asleep.
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The next day was rough. Luckily, it was Saturday which meant no classes. Adam was already gone for his training when Hayden woke up. He took his morning pills and laid back down. His head was pounding.
______________________________________________________________
*Knock knock knock*
"I'm coming."
When I opened the door I saw Ashley.
"Hey, Ash. What's up?"
"Nothing, can I come in?"
"Sure." She walked in and I pulled out Adam and mine desk chairs and we sat down.
"You ok, Ashley?"
"Not really. I feel bad for what happened last night. We all pressured you to tell us and that wasn't right."
"It's fine. I needed to tell you at some point right?"
"But you weren't ready and,"
"Hey, it's ok. I'm ok. The sun is shining, the birds are out. I'm not dead. You're not dead." She chuckled.
"Are you sure it's ok?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Anything you're curious about you can ask me. I'm ok with it. I'm like a walking classroom."
"I do have a question..."
"Ok, what is it?"
"When are you going to start tutoring me? We have a test on Friday. THAT'S LESS THAN A WEEK!"
We both laughed.
"We can start at anytime."
"Ok. I'll text you but right now I've got cheer practice. Bye!"
"Bye Ash!"
"Oh. Hayden. Are you going to the football game tonight?"
"I don't know. I don't even know anything about the game."
"It's fine. Nobody does and besides, David is going." She winked at me. "Oh and by the way. Yesterday you got a call from your sister from your 'Mum'." She laughed. "David answered. Ok bye!"
"Bye."
What the frickle frack was that wink?
I went over to my desk and pulled out a sheet of paper to write back to Asa.
Dear Asa,
Hi, beautiful. I'm so glad that you met a new friend. I'm doing fine. I miss Elise also but I miss you more. Americans are super weird. They spell everything wrong. Favourite. Colour. The whole shebang. I heard that you called last night. Why did you take Mum's phone? I hope she wasn't mad. The holiday that you were thinking of is Thanksgiving. Hopefully I'll be able to go see you then. I love you, Asa. Say hi to Patty and Eve for me.
Love,
Hayden
I didn't know what else to write so I folded the paper and stuck it in the envelope. I wrote the address and stuck a stamp on it. Then I got dressed and took it down to the mail room.
"Hayden!"
"Hey, David."
"How are you feeling?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well you got car sick. Just wanted to make sure you were fine."
"Never better. I get it all the time."
"Ok. Where you headed to?"
"The mail room. You?"
"No where. Just got out of my morning detention."
"What for?"
"Nothin' much. I just put hand sanitizer on Fox's pens."
"Wow, that's amature."
"I know. She only gave me an hour detention though."
"Guess that's a bit ok then."
"Yeah. Who's the letter for?"
"My older-younger sister."
"Oh uh Asa?"
"Yeah. I heard you took my phone call."
"Oh yeah. I thought it was your 'Mum'." He laughed.
"What if it was? What would you have said to her? Oh yeah this is David. I think your son is dead."
We both laughed.
"I don't know, I'd think of something."
We laughed and when we arrived at the mail room I gave them my letter and when I turned I saw David up against the wall on his phone, and I don't know what happened but it was magical. The sun hit his beautiful hair and his eyes were so beautiful. Time seemed to stop.
"Hayden? You ok?"
"What? Yeah I'm fine."
"Ok," he was cautious, "Ashley just asked me if I was going to the game tonight. I'll probably go. Are you going?"
"Wasn't planning on it."
"Why? Football games are the best."
"I don't know anything about the game. You say football, I think soccer. Remember, I'm British. The terrorist."
"Doesn't matter if you know about the game it not. You hang out, watch cheerleaders, and then go get in n out."
"You get what?"
David stopped in his tracks.
"Shit, this is a problem."
"I don't understand."
"You've never had In N Out, have you?"
"I don't even know what that is."
He wrenched in pain.
"Oh! My soul! Come we need to do stuff."
"Ok, still don't know what this In N Out is."
We walked to the gym where the cheerleaders were practicing.
"Ok girls and boys take 15!"
"Hey its smart ass and short stack."
"We have a problem."
"Are you ok, Hayden?"
"I'm fine..."
"No, he's not."
"What's wrong?"
*sigh* "We have a foreigner in our midst."
"Are that stupid?"
"Let me finish. He is a virgin."
"Wow TMI."
"Let me finish. An In N Out virgin."
She does this over-exaggerated gasp.
"I know, I know. Don't worry Hayden, we will get through this together."
"This means you have to go to the game tonight."
"Why?"
"That way we can get In N Out afterwards."
"Whatever. I'll watch American Football."
"Yay!" then Ash hugged me.
"What time is it at?"
"Game starts at 7."
"It's at night?!"
"Yeah."
"Where is it at?"
"The stadium about 3 miles away."
"What's wrong?"
"I can't drive at night."
"It's fine. I'll drive you. Be ready by 6." He patted my back and gave me a smile. I returned it.
"Ashley! We have a problem!"
"Coming! Gotta go guys. See you tonight!" She jogged over to her team.
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I grabbed the shirt I was going to wear then put it on. I grabbed Sean's vest and leash and put that on him. I looked at the time. 5:53. It's too early to take my night pills, but by the time we would get home, it would be too late. I really hated that.
*Knock Knock*
"It's open." I started to gather my night pills and put them in my to-go bottle.
"Hey, short stack. Whatchya doin?"
"Gathering my pills. What's the time?"
"Just about 6. You almost ready?"
"Yeah. Just gotta finish getting my pills in this little bottle then I'm ready."
"I thought you swallowed pills?"
"It's too early to take them right now so I have to bring them with me."
"What time to you usually take them?"
"IK take my morning ones when I wake up, which is usually about 7. My mid-day ones between noon and 1. Then my evening ones around 7-8. Then I repeat." I gave him a small smile. He returned it. "It's not as bad as it seems."
"How many do you have?"
"3 in the morning, 5 in the afternoon, then 7 at night."
"Holy shit."
"I thought you were Mormon?"
"Ha yeah I'm a less strict Mormon."
"Ah. Ok I'm ready." I grabbed Sean's leash and we started walking.
"Why doesn't he wear his vest at school?"
"He doesn't really like it, so I don't make him wear it when he doesn't need to."
"That's nice. Here's my car."
"Up, Sean." I followed. I strapped myself in and looked to see if it was safe for me to keep my eyes open. I decided that it wasn't that dark and not many cars had their lights on, so I kept my eyes open.
"Don't you need to cover your eyes?"
"I'm fine for now. It's only when it's dark and cars have their lights on."
"Ok." Then he started driving.