Chapter Eight
2126 Words
Haisley sat at the kitchen table, staring at nothing. The funeral was over, and everyone was gone. Now they had a kitchen full of leftover food and covered dishes. Elliot had disappeared a while ago, before the guests had even started leaving. Haisley felt numb. Everything happened so fast but there was no going back. She couldn’t rewind time and change her choices that night.
Finn walked into the kitchen, loosening his tie. He walked over to the counter where all the platters with the remaining hors’ devaeurs were scattered. Haisley hadn’t had the will to put anything away yet. Finn threw his tie down on the end of the counter and started pulling out tupperware and storage bags.
“I leave in two days,” he said solemnly.
Haisley didn’t quite register his words at first, nodding her head robotically. When her brain finally caught up to him, she snapped her eyes onto him. “What?”
“I will be leaving in two days,” he repeated.
“What do you mean? You are still going?”
“Yes, Haisley. This is my job. I was already given extra time to sort things out here, but I am still a Marine,” he said, emptying finger tarts into a plastic container.
“How can you just leave?” Haisley asked.
“You will be fine. Elliot is officially in my custody, and you are 18, so you are an adult,” he replied. Finn wouldn’t make eye contact with his little sister; he hadn’t since he laid eyes on her in the hospital.
“So, what? we just fend for ourselves?” she asked incredulously.
Finn slammed the tray he just cleared onto the counter. “Yes. You grow up and take responsibility for your actions!” he yelled at her.
“I didn’t-”
“I don’t want your excuses!” he interrupted her. Finn was visibly breathing harder now, his chest rising and falling dramatically under his wrinkled dress shirt.
They were both silent for a minute. Haisley stared at her brother, trying to figure out just what he was thinking. Finn stared down at the empty serving tray, now cracked from the force of him slamming it.
“I have set up your checking account with enough money to last you and Elliot two months or so. You need to figure out how to pay the bills now. The house will get signed into my name, and I will take over the mortgage tomorrow morning when I go to the bank. That is the only help I will be giving you.” Finn’s tone was glacial. Haisley couldn’t believe how her brother was acting.
“And what about Elliot?” she asked.
“You took away his parents. You need to make sure he graduates high school now,” Finn said. He began putting away the leftover food once more.
“So that is just it? You leave us here to fend for ourselves, and it is all my job now? Finn, I haven’t even graduated high school! I am supposed to move to the other side of the country this summer!”
“Plans change now, don’t they? I was supposed to be on another continent days ago, but instead I buried my parents today!” Finn wasn’t relenting. He blamed Haisley, and he wasn’t going to change his mind.
“Please, you can’t just leave us!” Haisley was begging. She would rather have her brother here and hating her than far away.
“I don’t have a choice and neither do you,” he said. Finn grabbed all the food containers at once and turned to the fridge. After placing everything inside, he grabbed his tie and left the room without another word. A tear escaped Haisley's eyes as her new reality began to sink in.
-
Haisley shot up into a seated position in her bed, breathing erratically. She rubbed her eyes, desperately trying to rid herself of the two lingering, circular lights in her vision. She still had nightmares, and they were always the same. She hated the weight in the pit of her stomach that would settle as she calmed down after waking up so abruptly.
Haisley snatched her phone from the nightstand where it lay charging. It was only five in the morning. She sighed and closed her eyes, breathing in deeply. Haisley regretted that night more than anything else in her entire life. She would take it all back or make better choices if she could. But the simple truth was she couldn’t change the past; she could only do her best to give Elliot a bright future.
Haisley knew she wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep as her head began to ache. Headaches often followed her nightmares, so it was no surprise. She forced herself out of bed and down the hall to the bathroom. After a bit of rummaging in the cabinet, she found the medicine she was looking for.
After taking a couple of tablets, Haisley exited the bathroom and headed back to her room. She found Kai in the hallway, sleepily scratching his shirtless torso.
“I thought I heard someone awake,” he said through a yawn.
“Sorry, I didn’t think I was being loud at all,” Haisley said.
“You weren’t. Light sleeper,” he said.
“You didn’t used to be,” Haisley pointed out, raising an eyebrow in question. Kai shrugged, giving her no answer.
“Why are you up so early? Didn’t you just go to bed a couple of hours ago?” he asked.
“Why are you so worried?” Haisley answered. Kai gave her a half-smile.
“Fair point. You just look really tired. I doubt you get up early unless you have to with everything else you do,” he said.
Haisley sighed; if only he knew. “Since I am up, I am going to do some homework or something,” she said, stepping past Kai.
“Have you ever thought about not doing your homework?” he asked as she walked away. “Rebel, it feels good!” he whisper-yelled at her. Haisley raised a hand and waved him off before turning into her room. She snatched her laptop from her desk and got back in bed.
-
Despite her good intention, Haisley got absolutely nothing done before she had to get ready for the day. She managed to burn breakfast and her finger while cooking it. Addison texted her saying she wasn’t going to class today, but Haisley didn’t see her message. When she pulled up outside Addison’s apartment 15 minutes late, she went to call her best friend and finally saw the message. She tiredly cursed herself all the way to campus. The only luck she had that morning was her professor arriving later than she did.
Haisley struggled to keep herself awake during her classes and cursed herself once more for her terrible, half-written notes. All she wanted was a nap. Haisley longed to go home, pull on a comfy sweater, and crawl in between her sheets, but she had to work. With the promotion still hanging in the air and Finn’s presence at home, she knew she couldn’t even think of calling out sick today.
Before checking on customers, Haisley poured herself a small to-go cup of coffee and quickly stirred in some cream and sugar. She savored the warm, caffeinated liquid as it filled her stomach. “Okay, I can survive now,” she muttered to herself. Her bosses didn’t care if the waiters grabbed coffee as long as they didn’t abuse the privilege. It wasn’t anything special, but Haisley felt a bit perkier.
Haisley went to work behind the counter, taking over for the outgoing staff. When she exited the kitchen carrying a couple of sandwiches, a familiar face greeted her at the counter.
“Cinderella,” he smiled as she approached him after delivering the food.
“That’s me,” she said with a tight smile.
“Now, I am starting to think you aren’t even going to give me a chance at showing you the prince charming I can be,” he said.
Haisley frowned. “Are you stalking me or here to order something?”
The frustrating guy in front of her laughed. “This place is like five minutes outside of the campus we both attend classes on, and you think that is evidence of stalking?” Haisley knew he was just trying to joke with her, but her sleep-deprived body couldn’t muster a cheerful attitude.
“Okay, I give,” he said. “I am here for dinner.”
“What can I get you?” Haisley asked.
“Turkey and avocado club to go?” he said.
“Anything else?”
“Your phone number?” he bravely asked without missing a beat. Haisley gave him a wide-eyed look. “Okay, no phone number. But at least tell me your name. As cute as ‘Cinderella’ is, I would much rather call you by your real name.” Haisley just stared at him blankly weighing her options.
“Name for your order?” she asked finally, raising an eyebrow.
He let out a breathy chuckle. “Touché. It’s Jason, Jason Wesley.”
“I only need a first name,” she said with a half-grin. Haisley turned and headed to put his order in.
Haisley hid in the back until his food was done, wanting to avoid any extra interaction with Jason. She knew he was cute; she had eyes. He wasn’t exactly her type, but he still seemed nice. She knew this whole thing would be dangerous if she let herself get caught up in something. Haisley had to keep her focus on Elliot and her other responsibilities.
When his food was done, Haisley begrudgingly grabbed the container and packed it in a to-go bag with disposable utensils and napkins. When she came out of the kitchen, he was scrolling through his phone idly. Jason looked up and smiled at her as she approached him.
“That was quick….” he drug out the last word like he was waiting for her to tell him her name.
“I have your Turkey and Avocado Club, Jason,” she said. “That’ll be $10.38.” Jason reached into his pocket and handed Haisley a credit card.
“I’ll be right back with your receipt,” she smiled at him. Haisley took her time at the register and slowly brought his check over. She set down the receipt book with a pen. “Thank you. Enjoy your meal,” she said in a sweet voice before strutting away. Jason smiled after her. He liked when they played hard to get, and she was really making him work for it.
Jason signed the receipt and left Haisley a little note with his phone number, putting the ball in her court.
-
Haisley relaxed into the seat of her car. The day was finally over. She looked over at her bag in the passenger seat. Inside was that offending piece of receipt paper with Jason’s phone number scribbled on it. Haisley could have just thrown it away but something inside stopped her from doing it.
She pulled out her phone and texted her best friend
ME
| how you feeling ?
ADDS
| fine ?
ME
| ???
| you skipped class !
ADDS
| oh yea
| i just didn’t wanna go
Haisley rolled her eyes. Addison liked to do that. She probably woke up just to tell Haisley she wasn’t going to school then slept all day.
ME
| guess what happened today
Haisley snapped a picture of the receipt and sent it to Addison.
ADDS
| NO WAY
| gettin digits at work now ???
ME
| it’s the guy from school
ADDS
| the one that called you cinderella ??
ME
| yea
ADDS
| sext him !
| whens the last time you shaved ?!
ME
| no
ADDS
| hais
| come on
| your a ball of stress just waiting to implode
ME
| no
ADDS
| act your age
| its called a one night stand bc you stand him up after a night
| you have the ice queen thing down already
ME
| no
ADDS
| your impossible
ME
| you need to learn the difference between your and you're
| how are you in college
ADDS
| nerdy friends like you
| but seriously
| what is the harm ???
| just text him
ME
| im going to bed
ADDS
| you have 24 hours
| then i am doing it for you
- Writer
