I took Hadley home after her mini breakdown, I know she hates missing school, but today is a mental health day for her. She needs it.
Once we got outside the store with her place upstairs. I held her hand as I walked her though the maze of isles to get to the door that lead upstairs. Her dad wasn't working so I could only assume he was upstairs. Poor guy. I wish I had known. Must have happened really recently considering I was talking to him only a few days ago, fully in tact.
We walk up the stairs and I open her door, her dad is on the couch with his leg up, reading a book. When we enter his eyes look at Hadley, filled with worry. The red in her eyes has gone down a significant amount through it's still pretty obvious that she's been crying. He looks at me confused, as though he's trying to decide if he should be angular me or thankful.
"Hardly is everything alright? Why aren't you at school." Her dad asks placing a bookmark in his spot and closing his book.
"I uh.... I needed a break for an afternoon." She says, she sounds exhausted.
"Of course, get some water and rest in the room. Gotta take care of yourself too Hadley." He dad Hines his genuine smile.
She nods her head, then lets go of my hand and walks over to her cupboard taking out a glass for water. She looks at the fridge and just sighs.
"What is it?" I asks quietly walking over to her.
She's shaking her head and almost laughing. "Dustin I can't just not do what needs to be done, it has to be done."
"Hadley..."
"No dustin, I have to go to the store and get food, I have some laundry to do, dishes, I need to pick up Oliver and help him with his homework, I have to do my own homework, that I left at school. "
"What's your locker combination?" I ask her
"Huh?"
"Combination," I say over pronouncing it. "I can go pick it up or I'll text Jess. I'll pick up Oliver, and give me a list, I can go shopping." I tell her.
"Dustin." I cut her off before she can even deny my help.
"Hadley's you're going to work yourself to both mental and physical exhaustion. Stay here, take a nap or something. Don't lay a finger on any Landry, or cleaning if any sort. I'll do it after I get back okay?" She starts to open her mouth to argue but I raise my finger. "Hadley!" I scold.
"Fine." She pouts, though I can see her relief form not having to do anything.
"Uh I'll have to borrow your car though, my mom took mine today." I smile to her. She rolls her eyes playfully at me and nods her head.
She writes her combo down on my hand with a pen then I start to head out the door when she adds something," Dustin?"
"Yeah?" I ask as I open the door to leave.
"Thank you." I catch the genuine feel from those words. I nod my head at her and start to head out the door. "And bring her back in one pice fox!" I catch just before I close the door.
Her use of the nickname fox brings heat to my chest, she haven't called me that since we broke up and honestly, I missed it a lot.
I climb into her car and hit the engine. First stop, the school. It's lunch now so I can go in get her stuff and get out. Before I pull out of the spot I give Jess a call.
"What do you want?" She snarled through the phone.
"Hi Jess, I'm good thanks for asking."
I can practically see her rolling her eyes."seriously Dustin what do you want? And the hell are you it's lunch and I was going to sit with you guys today and a certain you is absent."
"Sorry Jessica."
"Unaccepted."
"Whatever Jess. Listen I need a favour?"
For a few seconds she stays silent. "...I'm listening." She says annoyed.
"After school, since your education is soooo important " I start pulling out the 'o' sound, " could I drop Hadley off at your place and you can do with her what you will?"
"Wait? Hadley?" She asks, I can just picture her now, cleaning her ear mainline sure she heard correctly.
"Yes Hadley, she's having a rough go right now and she needs to detox, relax, be a girl in high school."
"Dustin Fox!" She screams in my ear and I pull the phone away to keep from paining my poor ear. "Are you telling me you and Hadley are back together?"
I hear hushed voices around her before Jess hushed them. "Not back together Jess, she was upset and I wanted to help her out." Though I do hope I can build this up again, even to the friendship we once had.
"Oh yes!" She says way to excited. Like her pic from the bachelor just got down on one knee. "I would love to hang out with her, absolutely!"
"Thank you Jessica, I'll drop her off around," I think of when school gets out. "3:30 I guess?"
"Perfect, though I must admit three hours notice is not a lot of time to plan a good session of R&R but I think I can pull strings." Then she hangs up without another word.
I put my phone down, buckle up and head to the school to pick up Hadley's work.
I get in and out of the school relatively fast. I got her math textbook and binder, her English novel plus notebook as well as one other binder that wasn't clearly named, some science class no doubt.
I hit the road and though about stopping somewhere for food to get Hadley and her dad for lunch. Do I stop in at the local Chinese food place and order some of a few different things. The classic rice, spring rolls, and orange chicken stuff like that. As I'm waiting for my order I look around at the decorations of the place, Chinese sayings and scriptures are on the walls as well as the classic calendar I love to get every year at Christmas.
"Order for Fox?" The woman says bringing forth two bags of mouth watering goodness.
"Thank you." I smile at her as I finish paying. I grab the bags from her. "Do you know how accurate American Chinese food is to authenticate Chinese food?" I ask her. I've never thought about it but I think it's most definitely been Americanized.
"I just work here." She says glumly. "Enjoy the food "
I just left. She could afford to get a better attitude. I'll just ask Hadley, she's smart.
* * *
I carry both bags in my one hand as I open Hadley's door. Her backpack slung over my shoulder filled with her work.
"I come bearing food!" Hadley looks over at me. "And work." I say turning to show her the backpack.
"Oh Dustin, you don't have to get anything for lunch." He father says starting to reach in his pockets, most likely for his wallet.
I put my hand up to stop him as I place the bags on the table. "Please I wanted to no need to pay me for anything. " I get out some plates and utensils as Hadley stands from the couch.
"I'll get you some Dad you stay and rest up okay." She heads over to the table that I stand and helps pull out the countless content of the bag placing them on the table top.
"I hope you like Chinese." I smile to her.
"You're such a goof." She giggled lightly, "but seriously this is..."
"It's not to much and I wanted some food and I though you and your father might too." I say handing her one of the plates.
"Well thank you, really."
"There is only one thing I ask in return of this gesture... actually two." I say she nods her head as she starts to make up a plate for her and her Dad.
"One I'm going to drop you off at Jessica's at 3:30, or you can drive yourself I just have to pickup my car first. " she looks ash me with question. "If there is anyone that I know that can do relaxation right, it's Jessica." Hadley nods her head for me to continue. "And two, is Chinese food actually Chinese food?"
She laughs at this question. "One I'm all for some R&R especially with Jess, I miss her. And two I'm pretty sure American Chinese food isn't authentic, at least not to a tee." She laughs
"What?" I ask her trying to not smile at how funny she seems to think I am.
"You are filled with silly questions."
"What can I say? I'm just that great."
She rolls her eyes playfully before taking her and her fathers plate to where they were previously sitting. She
Puts her plate on the coffee table in front of her and pats the seat beside her.
"Come on fox, come dine with us."