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HAYLEY: YESTERDAY
(The Past)
Cambridge, Massachusetts
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I DIDN’T HAVE A SMOOTHtransition out of foster care, not that I was complaining. One moment I was sitting in the middle of the living room while my foster parents yelled at me about not doing my fair share, and the next I was on a plane to spend the remainder of my high school years with Jonathan.
He hugged me tightly when he saw me at the airport, apologized for “taking so long,” but I told him that was unnecessary. He’d kept his promise, and that was all that mattered.
Within weeks, he enrolled me in high school and helped me shop for all the things I needed for my new life in Cambridge. Done with Harvard, he was creating a new computer with his former professor, and Corey had moved in with him as well.
We didn’t talk as much as we once did, since he and my brother were always holed up in the living room—working all hours of the night, but I still considered him to be my friend.
“I need your help.” I paced his bedroom floor as he stared at his computer screen. “It’s an emergency.”
I waited for him to look up at me, but he never did. He continued staring at the codes on the screen, not paying me any attention.
“Corey,” I said, my voice firm. “I said it’s an emergency.”
“It better be.” He spun around in his chair and glared at me. “What is it?”
“I got invited to the senior prom. I’m probably one of the only sophomores that’ll be there.”
He gave me a blank stare.
“Senior prom. Me. This is serious.”
“Could you kindly pick up that dictionary to your right and look up the word, emergency?” He rolled his eyes. “I can’t believe you interrupted my coding session for that.”
“What if he expects a kiss from me at the end of the night?
Another blank stare. Then a long sigh.
“He probably will expect a kiss, Hales,” he said. “So, surprise. You’ll just kiss him.”
“I don’t know how.” The words rushed out of my mouth before I could think them through.
“What do you mean?” He crossed his arms.
“Kissing,” I said. “I’ve never kissed anyone, so I’ll probably make a fool out of myself.”
“Probably, but everyone has to learn some way or another.” He shrugged. “Is that all? Or do you need me to help you pick out a dress, too?”
“You know,” I said, shaking my head, “I’m well aware that you’re busy trying to hack systems and get into all types of super important stuff, but could you pretend to be my friend for like five minutes? I promise I’ll leave you alone after that and I won’t bother you for the rest of the month.”
“No, don’t.” He turned off his computer, and his expression shifted from annoyed to concerned. “You’re not bothering me. Congratulations on your first real date.”
“Thank you.” I stopped pacing the floor. “Do you think I’ll make a fool out of myself?”
“Not at all. Kissing is easy, and I’m sure he might be just as nervous as you.”
“How? He’s a senior.”
“He’s also on the chess team.” He smiled. “I doubt he has that much more experience than you.”
I tried not to laugh, but I couldn’t help it. “Okay, okay, fine. Maybe I’m blowing this out of proportion.”
