I thought I heard someone say my name, but I ignored it. Then I heard it again. I saw Parker standing at the end of the sneaker aisle. I had no choice but to speak to him, because he worked there.
“Hi, Hailey,” he said, coming closer toward me.
I looked at him like he had twelve heads. Was he really talking to me? He was the second most popular guy at school, right behind his best friend, Chase.
“Oh, hi,” I said with confusion.
“Can I help you with something?” he asked.
“No thanks, I’m just looking.” I just wanted to end the conversation quickly.
“I work here, so if you need anything, just ask.”
“Thanks.”
He didn’t walk away… Great. That was me being sarcastic. He looked like he wanted to speak, but I opened my mouth first.
“Well, I better go find my dad.”
“Do you like Chase?” he blurted out.
“He’s a nice person if that’s what you mean.” Where was he going with this?
“I meant like him as in date him.”
“No. Where did that come from?”
“I just know about the encounters that you’ve had.”
“And…,” I said.
“He doesn’t have time for distractions. He loves Carrie. We also have a big game coming up. He doesn’t have time to go around being a hero.”
“What are you saying, Parker?” He was starting to piss me off big time.
“I think you should steer clear of Chase. You’re both different, and I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
I folded my arms over my chest. “Now you care about me. I don't need your sympathy or Chase's, for that matter. I can take care of myself.”
“So you’re saying your tears are all an act?” he asked with an attitude.
I was on the verge of tears. He had the situation all wrong. Was Chase saying all these things about me? He had to be. Where else would Parker get this information?
“No, not at all.”
“I think you like Chase and want him to yourself, but it’s not going to work.”
I had had enough. I ran away from Parker and went out the door to get air. I had to keep telling myself that I would be out of school in four months.
My dad peeked his head out the door. “Are you okay? I was looking for you. I saw you pacing back and forth.”
“I'm good. I’m just waiting out here.”
“Was it that boy you were talking to? Did he say something? Do you want me to beat him up?”
“No, Dad. Pay for the stuff. You can't beat up every guy that bothers me.”
“Yes I can! I'm your father. Nobody hurts my daughter and makes her pace out here like a lunatic. Maybe you'll marry him one day,” he said, laughing.
“Ewwww, Dad.” I rolled my eyes and he went back in the store. I stood outside, calmed down, and tried to forget about yet another encounter I’d have to tell my therapist about when I got older…
***
“Hello? Did you hang up on me? Hello, I hear you breathing,” Parker says impatiently into the phone.
“I'm still here,” I respond, not interested in the conversation.
“I'll be there to pick you up. We can talk about you and Chase if you want.”
“There is no me and Chase. I'm a single independent woman, and I'm no longer seventeen. Do you have something legitimate to talk about?” After thinking back to our encounter, I felt annoyed.
“Yes, I do.”
“Fine. I'll give you five minutes at one o'clock.”
“You got it. I'll stop by. Maybe I can talk you into lunch.”
“No lunch. I'm busy.”
“We'll see how the five minutes goes,” he insists.
***
The air outside is frigid, but my office is nice and toasty. I start dozing off, reading a manuscript at my desk. It is very interesting, but I have been so tired lately. I’ve been staying up late at night, working. I need a cup of coffee to revive me. I call to the reception desk.
“Mel, is there any coffee made?”
“I'm not sure. I'll check.”
“It's okay, I may just go to Dunkin’ to get a cup.”
“You have someone coming at one o'clock, right?”
“I forgot about him. I'll be right back.”
I grab some money and put it in the pocket of my suit jacket then grab my phone. I don't go anywhere without it. I walk down the street in my winter gear. The threat of snow is in the air. I'm all about the snow. Thankfully I have the kind of job where I can work from my home if I get snowed in.
The line to the donut shop is out the door. I am going to wait patiently because I need my coffee. It’s like a drug. As I get closer to the counter, I stare at the donuts. I could probably take them all out in one sitting. I brush away that thought from my mind.
“One large coffee with cream and extra sugar.”
“You're sweet enough,” I hear someone say from the back of the line. I quickly turn around and see Parker standing in the back of the line. I grab my drug and head to the back.
“I stopped in to get us coffee for our meeting.”
“That was nice of you.”
“Since you already have yours, we can go,” he says.
“What about you?”
“I'm okay.”
I feel nervous. What could he possibly want with me? He clearly knows what happened with me and Chase. We walk in silence for a minute or so.
“Why won't you give me the time of day?” he asks.
“I'm just not interested. I have too much on my plate right now, and Chase is your friend.”
“Chase is in love with Megan whether he wants to admit it or not.”
“Well, that's his business. I could care less.”
“But I'm here.”
“Listen, I know what kind of guy you are,” I say, waving my hand.
“You have me all wrong.”
“Do I?” I raise my eyebrow in question.
“You do. I really like you.”
I don't know what to say to him. I don't want to get involved with anyone right now, and he won't take no for an answer.
“Well, since we had our little meeting, we don't have to meet upstairs,” I say, trying to give him a hint.
“You're not gonna let me walk you up?”
“Fine, but that's it. Then you go.”
He smirks. “You're feisty.”
“You’re thick-headed,” I quip back.
“That's okay. I'll break you.”
“I doubt it.”
My cell phone starts vibrating. It’s Melanie. “Where are you?” she whispers.
“On the elevator.”
“Hurry up and get up here. I can't say. You're going to be pissed.”
“Oh Lord, I'm almost there.”
What the hell is going on? Parker is with me so can't be about him. “Parker, maybe you should go. There's some business I have to tend to in my office.”
Not listening to me, he steps off the elevator.
Through the double glass doors, I see a woman throwing her arms in the air while she yells at Melanie.
“What in the world is going on in there?” I say out loud.