“Hayden.” The look on her face is full of worry, before I can ask her what's wrong she walks away and I follow her inside. The trailer isn’t that big, so I stay by the door to give her some space, plus every time I’m here no one can really walk around me because I take up a lot of space.
“Mom, you’re scaring me.” Olivia shouts at the door, and I walk over to her.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” I ask her and stop her slamming her hand on the door. She starts biting her lower lip as she looks at the door.
“Mom went to have a shower, that was a while ago. Now she’s not answering me, she wasn’t feeling well this morning, and I’m a little worried.” She knocks on the door again. “Mom, just say something so I know you’re not dead.”
“I’m not dead,” her mom replies, but there's something in her tone which makes me worry about her, too. I’ve only met her a few times, but the tone in her voice is enough to know something is wrong.
“Then can you come out?” Olivia asks.
“I can’t, I fell.” Before her mom can finish what she was saying, Olivia starts running into the door trying to break it down, and I start laughing when she rubs her upper arm.
“Move out of the way, I don’t want my delicate flower to break.” I move her out the way, and with my back to the door, I kick it hard and it opens first time. Olivia runs in, and I keep my back to the bathroom, and wait for Olivia to help her mom.
“Hayden, can you help me please. I can’t pick her up. I’ve covered her.” I hear the choke in her voice. Turning around I go into the bathroom.
“Hey Mrs. B, you’ve got yourself in a pickle here.” She smiles at me, and tells me to shut up, I kneel and tell her to wrap her arm around my shoulder. “You know Mrs. B, if you wanted me to pick you up, all you had to do was ask.”
“Well, I had to make sure you’re as strong as you look.” I laugh picking her up from the shower and following Olivia out to the bedroom.
“I think I pass,” I joke, and Mrs. B starts laughing. “So, what happened? And you know me, I’m not going to stop asking until you tell me.” I lie her on the bed, and Olivia quickly puts the covers over her.
“I got lightheaded and fell.” Olivia gives her some water, and I watch her looking after her mom.
This girl goes to school, works some crazy hours, then comes home to look after her mom. Her dad works mornings, comes home to look after Mrs. B, then works a night shift. And there's me, who asks for anything from Dad and gets it. I haven't seen a bad day in my life. It makes me respect this family a whole lot more.
“Right, you get your mom sorted, I’ll go grab us a pizza, popcorn, ice cream, and movie night.” I point to Olivia, but she shakes her head. “What?”
“We don’t have a TV, sorry.” Olivia doesn't even look at me.
“I have my laptop in the car, Netflix it is. What do you say Mrs. B, date night?” I ask her, and she looks at Olivia, then back to me.
“I would love a date with you.” I start laughing, as I walk to the door.
“Right, I’ll be back with treats, and pizza.” I wink at Mrs. B, then get to the car, and stop before I can get in when Olivia calls my name.
“You don’t have to do this?—”
“I’m going to stop you right there. I want to do this, you’re my best friend, and I’m going to help you whenever I can. Plus, your mom likes me, and because of me she’ll never like any of your future boyfriends. I’m setting very high standards.” I stop when she starts laughing, pushing me a little. “You deserve a break, you work hard, and I’m going to make sure I’m here to help you when I can. So, get your mom ready for the best date of her life.”
Olivia wraps her arms around my waist, and I hug her back. The crazy thing, this feels so natural with her. I could hold her every second of the day if I could, but I’m not fucking up this friendship, not when she needs me the most.
17 years old
“You think I’ll be single forever. I’m seventeen, and I haven’t had a boyfriend.” I turn to Olivia reading her book, as I finish off my school work. The corner of my lip curls, and l look back down at my work before Olivia sees the smile. “I mean there was this boy, but he stopped talking to me.”
“Because I told him to stay away, he was a creep. You can do so much better than him?—”
“Hayden!” she snaps at me.
“Plus, your book boyfriends have made your standards very high. No guy is going to come close.” I lean forward and grab her book and start reading the page she’s on. “Oh, it’s sex time.” Resting my back on the wall behind me, I start reading some of it out loud. Olivia tries to get the book back. “I’m so wet for him, I want him, I need?—”
“Hayden, stop reading it,” Olivia shouts, and throws her hand over my mouth as she climbs on top of me, trying to grab the book out of my hand. Quickly placing my hand on her lower back, I turn her over, slamming her back on the tree house floor, and sitting on top of her. I trap her arms beneath my legs.
“By the looks of it, you like some fun things.” I turn the page, and fuck she likes to read some rough sex. I might need to start reading some of these to get an idea of what girls are liking.
“Hayden!” My mom yells up to the treehouse. “Olivia’s dad’s here.”
