Chapter 36: Evan

School had let out, and for the first time in a long while, since I was in middle school probably, I headed straight home right after.

I'd just arrived when I got a message. My phone was in my pocket, and I felt it vibrate as I got out of the car. I paused with the door open and pulled the phone out to see who was texting me. The name that came up on my screen surprised me.

Hayley?

I frowned and tried to think of who Hayley was. It took me a minute, but I did remember, and I straightened my back out, opening the text to read it.

"Hey, Evan. Are you free?"

"This is weird," I muttered, frowning at my phone. I sent a quick text back.

"What's up?"

"Can you come to my place?"

Her reply was just as quick and left me shocked for a second time.

Why would Hayley be texting me at all? I didn't remember when I even gave her my number, though she could just as easily have gotten it from someone else. I'd seen her in parties before, so I vaguely knew her. Now, though, I also knew