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FIFTEEN
THEN, FALL, 5 YEARS AGO
“So…who is this guy?” Maddie asks as I stand in front of our bathroom mirror putting my makeup on. She stands behind me, arms crossed against her chest as she waits for me to answer her question.
“He almost ran me over with his skateboard,” I tell her, eyes wide and focused on my reflection as I apply mascara to my lashes.
“What?” she asks incredulously. “When did that happen?”
“A few weeks ago. Then he tracked me down a little while later to ask me out,” I say, closing my mascara and pulling out my lip stick.
Maddie stares at me for a few moments before she says, “Ana, one, how rude of you not to tell me this. Two, is this a good idea? He seems like a weirdo.”
“Oh he definitely is,” I agree. And she scoffs. “But he’s sweet. Cute. Might be fun.”
I finish my makeup then fix a few curls around my face before cleaning up my stuff and putting it all in the cabinet. I left my hair down, my curls somewhat tamed. I’m wearing a black deep v-neck long sleeved shirt tucked into high waisted dark jeans. I slip my feet into black heeled ankle booties.
“Is he picking you up?” Maddie asks, following me around my bedroom as I pack a few things into my purse.
“No, I didn’t want to give him our address yet. In case he’s the bad type of weirdo,” I say.
Maddie grunts. “Well that’s good at least. I’m tempted to follow you. He might try something suspicious or creepy and you need to be saved.”
I laugh at that. “Maddie, I love you with my whole heart, but what are you going to do, pollito?” I pinch her tiny arms and wiggle them a little bit.
Maddie scoffs, “That’s offensive, Ana. Mothers can lift cars off their children in emergencies, don’t underestimate how strong I can be if I needed to save you.”
I throw my head back in laughter. I turn to face her, grabbing her face between my hands. “Te adoro, pollito.”
She swats my hands away and turns, walking out of my bedroom and back into our shared living room.
“I’ll be fine, I’ll call you if I need anything,” I promise her. It takes a bit more coercing and convincing that I will return safe and alive in a few hours, but she lets me go eventually.
Hayden and I agreed to meet at the restaurant where I work. I thought at first that we would stay there to eat, which I thought was lame. But he said, ‘we’ll meet there first then drive together to the next spot.’ What does that mean? I have no idea.
But just a few minutes later I pull into the parking lot of my job and I see Hayden leaning against a surprisingly nice sleek black car. He’s wearing a dark gray button down untucked, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, black jeans sans rips and a nice looking pair of maroon skate shoes. I park and walk over to meet him. His eyes roam over me, not in a creepy way, but in happiness and admiration. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make my chest tighten.
I keep my gaze on him as I get closer and his smile is perfectly in place, wide and genuine, looking back at me.
“Ana,” he says softly but firmly. Once again, my name feels like a prayer on his lips.
“Hayden,” I smirk at him and he grins more. I put a hand on my hip before continuing, “You’ve been super vague and weird about what you’re planning on doing with me tonight.”
“I wanted to keep you guessing.” He grins. “I have a lot I want to do with you tonight.”
I raise my eyebrow at him, and his eyes widen as he laughs nervously. “Not like that! Well, I mean, no seriously, that’s not what I meant.” His face turns red but his smile remains on his face. I laugh.
After sighing, he continues, “I figured leaving your car here, at a place that is familiar to you, would make you feel better about maybe driving with me now?”
I narrow my eyes. “Give me your license.” He quirks an eyebrow, but reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a worn black leather wallet. He takes out the flat card and hands it to me.
I look at it. Hayden’s face stares back at me. His hair was a bit shorter than it is now—just past his ears and curling at the ends. “Hayden Albrecht.”
“That’s me,” he says and I look up at him, bringing the license up next to him, comparing the faces. He makes his face serious and solemn just like he was in the photo.
I bring it back down and chuckle, then I pull my phone out and take a picture of his license, and send it to Maddie so she will know who to tell the cops about if I go missing.
“Did you send that to a friend?” he asks, amused.
