Two days have passed by of exhausting classes. My parents are constantly on my neck about college applications after that. Graduation's near and I'm trying to ensure I excel in all of my classes.Dean is back at school for a few more days, just until his parents arrive. It's the end of the day and we're both sitting on the back of his car sharing french fries. "So, you're not going to graduate here?" I ask him."I want to. I have to. It's near year-end, no one's going to take me now." He says.I swallow what's in my mouth. "Actually, you'd be surprised." Dean shakes his head."No, I'll convince my parents to stay." He sighs. "But knowing my dad, who's likely not changed, he'll utilise his connections for me to graduate in Chicago."I bite on the inside of my lip. "Yeah." Dean's phone pings. He takes it out of his pocket and momentarily stares at the screen before putting it back. "Let's go to my place, yeah?" He jumps down from the car and opens his arms to help me down. I place my
I haven't been able to sleep well, my last conversation with Dean constantly replaying itself in my head along with my apparently crumbling relationship with Lisa. I can't seem to pinpoint where exactly it all went wrong. I pull my covers to my neck, curling my body closer to my chest. The doorbell starts to go off. I ignore it, assuming someone else will get it. It continues to sound. I groan and get out of bed to attend to it. "I'm coming!" I yell as I run down the stairs. I pull the door open to an unexpected face and immediately close it but he pushes his foot in the gap, preventing the door from completely shutting. I roll my eyes and take a seat on the couch. Dean follows me inside. "Hailee, I'm sorry about the things I said yesterday. I just got into my head a little too much." I cross my arms. "If that is your attempt at an apology, it's not accepted. It's not enough, just like my hope in us." Dean exhales and sits down next to me. "Hailee, I'm here because I don't want
Three months later"Hailee, make sure that you don't leave anything behind. You don't know when you'll be back home again." My mom says for the fifth time today out of the other hundred times this week. I roll my eyes and nod. It is finally D day! I'm off to Chicago for college and Dean will be here soon.A car hoot sounds outside. Mom claps her hands together. "That must be Dean." I follow mom to the door with my luggage. We step outside where Dean is opening his trunk, preparing to fill it with my stuff. We both smile at the sight of each other before he walks towards me and squeezes me in his arms."I've missed you." I snuggle my nose into his chest. "Me too." Dean and I let it each other go so he can greet my parents. My mom decides it the perfect time to take photos considering they won't be coming along. I bite on the inside of my cheek. "Where's Halsey?" "She's probably still inside, sulking. I don't understand what's wrong with her. She won't see you for some time." Mom answ
It’s early Tuesday morning and I get up to look outside my window. I gasp as I take note of the weather outside. “No, it’s raining.” I rushed out of my bedroom and down the stairs as I had left my school project outside. I find it covered with a plastic bag by the pool bench. I sigh in relief, grateful for whoever thought to do so. I open the sliding door and fetch it. “Morning.” My younger sister, Halsey, greets me. “Hey, what’s up with the big smile so early in the morning?” I ask while drying my shoes on the doormat. “You, wanna know?” She asks with surprised eyes. “Yeah. I mean, why not?” I ask, looking at her with a confused expression. She glares back at me as if not knowing what to say. “I’ll tell you later.” She answers as she walks away. I roll my eyes and scoff as I watch her make her way upstairs. I follow behind and head to the bathroom. >>>After taking a shower, I look at the time on my phone and start to get dressed. I put on a black crop top, a high-waist jean a
Dean and I drive to the park with our own cars. I park next to him and we both jump out at the same time. He hurriedly walks to the cafe whereas, I’m doing the complete opposite. “Can you perhaps walk faster?” He says to me, pulling me by my hand. I look at our hands together, not noticing that we’ve already made it to the cafe. “This coffee is too strong.” I hear a familiar voice say. I look up from our intertwined hands and see Halsey spilling coffee onto the ground. I pull away from Dean’s hold and rush to her. I grab her by the arm, stopping her from spilling any more. Halsey tries to escape it but I tighten my grip.“What are you doing?! Leave me alone!” She shouts. “Help!” She adds. “Shut up!” I yell back. My face goes red from anger. Dean keeps his distance. “What is this? What are you doing, Halsey? I let you out thinking I could trust you. I shouldn’t even be here, you’re grown up. Now, do me a favour and stop fighting and let’s go home.” Halsey starts looking sorry but I d
It’s finally Friday and I wake up feeling very good about it. It’s the end of the week. I connect to my speaker and take it to the bathroom with me. After my simple morning routine, I head back to my room and look for an outfit to wear. I put on dark blue shorts, a black vest accompanied by a scotch flannel and my favourite Vans sneakers. I look at my phone and find messages from Dean.Dean: Are you up yet?Dean: When you get my messages, please respond.Dean: We really need to talk.Dean: Hailee?I roll my eyes and toss my phone onto my bed. “Hailee?” My mom calls from my door. “Lisa is here.” “Okay, thanks mom.” Lisa comes in smiling from ear to ear. “Feeling happy too?” I chuckle and nod at her. Friday is inevitably the best day of the week. I pick up my phone and respond back to Dean. Me: We’ll talk later.Dean: Sure thing.I slide my phone into my back pocket and smile at Lisa who’s shaking her head to the music still playing in the background. “Let’s go.” I say before switchi
The following morning, I wake up in the bed of the guest room that Dean and I were in next to Lisa and surprisingly, Halsey too. I get up and rub my temples. “Argh.” I groan, shuffling around, careful not to wake the others. I slowly walk to the door with one hand still rubbing my right temple which hurts the most. I open it and hear chatter downstairs along with music. I walk down and see Dean on the phone, shirtless while tidying up. I stop rubbing at my temple and stare at him. He turns and smiles at me once he notices me. I smile back. He ends the call and walks towards me. I stand still, frozen like an idiot. “Morning, beautiful.” He leans into me and kisses me on the cheek. I nervously reply with my hands on his bare chest, trying to push him away. “May I…?” I ask, trying to escape the heat between us. He smiles and nods, making space for me to pass. I then ask him for painkillers. He gets them for me along with a glass of water. “Thanks.” I drink the whole glass of water wh
I wake up at one the next afternoon. I gasp as I jump out of bed realising that I only have two hours to prepare before the game. I check my phone and find two missed calls from Dean. He probably wanted to know if I was awake yet. I quickly take a shower and put my pyjamas back on before heading downstairs for ‘breakfast’. “Morning, Hailee.” Dad greets me with a warm smile. I envelop him with a hug from behind with a smile. “Morning, dad.”“You look like you’re glowing.” My mom says, laughing. I roll my eyes, trying to shift everyone’s focus from the mere blush growing on my cheeks. I sit down next to my sister who then seems irritated by it. My mom hands me a plate with cheese and bacon sandwich. “Don’t get used to oversleeping.” I smile at her as a thank you. I turn to Halsey. “Hey.” She only gives me a short smile and continues to eat. “Okay.” I take a bite of my sandwich, refraining from taking my phone out because I’m afraid Dean might call or text me. After eating, I go back
Three months later"Hailee, make sure that you don't leave anything behind. You don't know when you'll be back home again." My mom says for the fifth time today out of the other hundred times this week. I roll my eyes and nod. It is finally D day! I'm off to Chicago for college and Dean will be here soon.A car hoot sounds outside. Mom claps her hands together. "That must be Dean." I follow mom to the door with my luggage. We step outside where Dean is opening his trunk, preparing to fill it with my stuff. We both smile at the sight of each other before he walks towards me and squeezes me in his arms."I've missed you." I snuggle my nose into his chest. "Me too." Dean and I let it each other go so he can greet my parents. My mom decides it the perfect time to take photos considering they won't be coming along. I bite on the inside of my cheek. "Where's Halsey?" "She's probably still inside, sulking. I don't understand what's wrong with her. She won't see you for some time." Mom answ
I haven't been able to sleep well, my last conversation with Dean constantly replaying itself in my head along with my apparently crumbling relationship with Lisa. I can't seem to pinpoint where exactly it all went wrong. I pull my covers to my neck, curling my body closer to my chest. The doorbell starts to go off. I ignore it, assuming someone else will get it. It continues to sound. I groan and get out of bed to attend to it. "I'm coming!" I yell as I run down the stairs. I pull the door open to an unexpected face and immediately close it but he pushes his foot in the gap, preventing the door from completely shutting. I roll my eyes and take a seat on the couch. Dean follows me inside. "Hailee, I'm sorry about the things I said yesterday. I just got into my head a little too much." I cross my arms. "If that is your attempt at an apology, it's not accepted. It's not enough, just like my hope in us." Dean exhales and sits down next to me. "Hailee, I'm here because I don't want
Two days have passed by of exhausting classes. My parents are constantly on my neck about college applications after that. Graduation's near and I'm trying to ensure I excel in all of my classes.Dean is back at school for a few more days, just until his parents arrive. It's the end of the day and we're both sitting on the back of his car sharing french fries. "So, you're not going to graduate here?" I ask him."I want to. I have to. It's near year-end, no one's going to take me now." He says.I swallow what's in my mouth. "Actually, you'd be surprised." Dean shakes his head."No, I'll convince my parents to stay." He sighs. "But knowing my dad, who's likely not changed, he'll utilise his connections for me to graduate in Chicago."I bite on the inside of my lip. "Yeah." Dean's phone pings. He takes it out of his pocket and momentarily stares at the screen before putting it back. "Let's go to my place, yeah?" He jumps down from the car and opens his arms to help me down. I place my
It's Sunday morning and I wake up next to a softly snoring Hailee. I contently sigh before lifting her head slowly as to remove my arm from under her. After successfully doing so, I stand up, but my arm is grabbed. "Don't go yet. Please, just another hour." She pleas half asleep. I slide back under the covers and she envelops herself in my arms. I kiss her forehead. She looks up at me and smiles with her eyes closed. She then rubs her hand against my bare chest. "You have such smooth skin." I smile. "So do you." I say as I glide my hand down her side. Hailee's eyes slowly open. I look into her chocolate brown eyes. I lean into her and kiss her. She cups my cheek. I lift her leg and place it onto my hip. "I think we should brush our teeth first." I whisper into her mouth. She swats my shoulder with the back of her hand. "Are you trying to say I have bad breath?" I chuckle and nuzzle my head into her neck. "Although, that would be a good idea." We both giggle. I sit up. "Come on. Y
Having spent the night at Dean's, I text my mom first thing in the morning and let her know I'll be home by noon. Dean shifts next to me in his bed. I lie on my arms and watch him as he sleeps. I think back on what he said last night. "Good morning to you too." He croakily lets out before opening his eyes and smiling at me. "Good morning." I say. He winces a bit as he chuckles. "You hungry?" I nod. He gets up, putting a shirt and shorts on. "Well, I haven't done any groceries so I hope your up for some takeaway food for breakfast." I laugh. "I don't mind."I get up too and get into yesterday's clothes. We head downstairs together and wait for our food to arrive. "Thank you, for staying the night." He says. I smile, brushing the hair on the back of his neck. "I always love spending time with you, Dean. You don't have to thank me." A knock sounds at the door. Dean collects our food before we both dig in. "Halsey came by yesterday." Dean says, halfway through chewing. I look at him
Hailee's P.O.V.I haven't seen Dean the whole week, trying to catch up on school work. Now that the weekend has arrived, I finally can. When I get to his front door, I knock once and let myself in. I find him staring at a family photo on the wall. My excitement dies down. Maybe this wasn't the best time. "Hey, you okay?" I walk towards him, standing next to him. He doesn't look at me, only faintly smiles."You know, sometimes I wonder if my parents actually care about me. They left me here, all alone before I even finished the eighth grade. I don't understand why they couldn't take me with. My mom, who I haven't seen for at least three years, finally cares to pop up days after I get into an accident only to disappear again." He scoffs. "I don't even want to start about my father. Always so serious all the time. I bet it was his idea to leave me behind. And now-" He looks down at his feet and then up at me. He turns in my direction, stroking my cheek before pulling me in for a hug. "I'
"I..." "Just leave it, Mom. I'll be fine. With or without you." I turn away from her. "Can I please be alone?" She nods and slowly walks out of the room, closing the door behind her.Hailee's P.O.V.It's Monday morning and Dean still doesn't feel ready to come back to school. He won't let me drive him considering that he isn't okay to do so. I think maybe the whole arrival of his mother affected him more than he lets on. I lazily throw on a hoodie and a pair of jeans before heading to school, not bothering to do my hair."Hey." Lisa greets me as I get out of my car. I smile and pull her in for a hug. I can still see the guilt in her eyes even though it wasn't entirely her fault. I rpobably would've reacted the same way."You alright?" I ask her. She nods. "I'm worried about you. It's so hot yet you're wearing a hoodie." I roll my eyes. We walk together towards the school entrance. "Is the cafeteria open yet? I didn't eat anything." "I think so. We can go check it out." Lisa answers
Dean's PO.V.Time has been passing slowly since Hailee left. I can't help but feel a peak of anxiousness as I try to remember what happened on the night of my car accident, only remembering fragments. I sigh, pressing my body into the couch as my head starts to throb. My phone pings with a notification.Dani: Hey Dean. You're my only hope right now. I'm at the park and I need your help. Please hurry.I furrow my eyebrows. Why's she at the park at this time of the night?Dean: What's wrong?I don't get a response. I get up and put a shirt on before driving to the park. I'm not even a mile from home when I step on the brakes. My heart rate suddenly picks up and my headache gets worse. I don't think I'm ready to drive so late again. I pick up my phone and call Jake to help Dani out before letting her know. I drive back to the house and call Hailee. "Hey." She greets. "Hey, are you busy?" I ask. "No, not really. What's up?" I sigh into the phone. "Maybe I'm overthinking things, but I h
Lisa and I decided to stay behind while everyone else went home. She wouldn't let me stay alone despite her needing to rest. It's morning and I've been worried sick about Dean. His doctor passes by us. I stand up and touch his arm politely. "Excuse me. Hi, I'm Hailee, Dean Howard's girlfriend. Is it possible by any chance to see him?"The middle aged man smiles at me. "Sure. Go right ahead." I thank him and jog to Dean's room, pausing at the door when I find him and Dani kissing. They pull away from one another. Dani quickly spots me and clears her throat. She brushes Dean cheek "Get well. I'll see you soon." Dani walks past me with a smirk on her face. Dean immediately sits up straight after noticing me at the door."Hailee. It's not what it looks like." He quickly defends himself. I scoff in disbelief as I slowly enter the room, maintaining great distance between us. "What's it like then, Dean?" He opens his mouth but no words come out. I shake my head. "What a waste of my time." I