Why would Hayden do that? Is this gift a goodbye gift?
I see Dad nodding, and Hayden puts out his hand to shake, and he does.
Hayden walks back over to me, and before he can tell me what that was about, I start talking.
“If my reading out loud is annoying you, I’ll stop, or if you hate me talking so much, I promise I’ll try to talk less?—
“Olivia, what are you talking about?” Hayden cuts me off and takes his half of the cupcake and eats it in one go.
“You're telling my dad not to bring me anymore.” I look over at my dad watching us, but then I turn to Hayden, who bursts out laughing, shaking his head.
“That’s not what I was talking to your dad about.” He tells me through laughter, and I tilt my head to the side.
“Oh, that’s good, because I don’t want to lose my best friend.” I smile at him.
“I don’t plan on losing my best friend either. Before I asked you, I wanted to ask your dad.” He looks behind him at my dad. “Olivia Banks, would you like to go with me to my dance next week?”
I stare at him, and then at my dad with a small hint of a smile. I know I won’t be able to get a new dress to go, but for some reason, my dad has said yes to Hayden.
“Really?” Is the only word coming out of my mouth.
“I’m going to have more fun there with my best friend than anyone else. So?” Hayden asks again.
“Yes, this is going to be so much fun.” I wrap my arms around him, and he pulls me in for a hug. “We're going to have so much fun.”
Present Day
I lay in bed looking up at the ceiling in my bedroom, never thinking I would be back in this town, but we had no choice. It hurt so much to leave. I never wanted to, but Mom and Dad both said we have to.
“Olivia, do you need anything for school?” Dad asks, popping his head into my bedroom. I turn to face him, and I can see the worry in his eyes. I’ve tried everything to make it appear that I’m okay, but I’m not. I’m nowhere close to being okay.
“No, I have everything. I could’ve gone to a different college, Dad, we didn’t need to go to this one,” I try to plead with him again, which seems like all I’m doing at the moment.
“I know, but it’s the best private college in the state, and getting you to finish your law degree there will give you so many opportunities.” Dad walks into the bedroom and sits on the edge of the bed. “He might not even?—”
“I know, but—” I shake my head and say nothing.
I understand why Dad is doing it, five months. I just have to push through five months, and then I'll be free from everything.
There's no way we could afford the college, but dad got a job there as the janitor, and my grades were so good from my old college, which helped get me in here, and if the situation was different, it would be the best thing to happen to me, but not now.
Because every single person who ruined my life will be there, and I’m all alone.
Four
Hayden
13 yearsold - 8th Grade dance
I wanted to pick Olivia up from her place, actually I wanted dad to drive me, but her dad said no. I was just happy he was letting her come with me, so I didn't want to push the topic.
Mom said I need to wear a suit, but I was not going to do that, the best she was getting from me was a pair of trousers and a buttoned up shirt. She wasn’t too happy, but dad told her to leave me alone.
“She’ll be her, will you stop bouncing your leg.” My dad places his hand on my leg to stop me. “I have a question; well your mother has a question.” I look across to the kitchen at mom leaning on the counter. “You and Olivia?—”
“Just friends dad. Best friends, and that’s it.” I hadn’t thought about anything like that, I’m thirteen why would they think anything else. “Plus, she thinks unicorns are real, and she reads so much, which is boring.” I stand up when the doorbell sounds, and mom goes to get the door.
“Olivia, you look beautiful.” I hear my mom and wipe my hands over my trousers.
