Chapter Twenty-Five - Hayley Seeks Help

Hayley waited for Ashton’s message all evening, but he didn’t contact her. Had he forgotten about their date? She called him many times, but his phone kept on ringing. Why wasn’t he accepting her calls? Last night she had waited till he drove away but had to face her mom immediately afterwards. By the time she went up to the terrace to check up on Ashton, he had already left. Her house being the last on the street, she couldn’t see the crossing even from the terrace.

After a restless night, she woke up on Monday morning to get ready for college. It was the usual scene at the breakfast table. Her parents kept on harping about her lack of interest in her studies. Hayley was too annoyed to sit through breakfast. Picking up an apple, she got up to leave.

“Have your breakfast before you go, Hayley,” said her mom.

“I lost my appetite. You can eat my share.” Picking up her car keys, she stomped out of the house to the garage, ignoring her grumbling parents. With everything going against h