Breathe For Love

This was going to be just 2 parts, but I want to re-write the very end bit, but I also wanted to post something for you to read, so here's part 2. Part 3 should be up maaaaaaaaybe tonight, but probably tomorrow.

Huge thanks to Katie for helping me out with this by the way! Forgot to say that  last time, haha.

When You Live (Part 2)

“This is ridiculous!” I complained for the thousandth time.

“You picked it out.” Hayley reminded.

“Yeah, well I figured a movie called “My Best Friend’s Wedding” would be slightly more interesting.” I sighed. “I mean, seriously, who does this? Who actually tries to crash a wedding like this?”

“Josh, it’s a movie.” Hayley said shortly. I knew I was getting on her nerves by talking so much, but I was bored out of my mind.

“This guy is so freaking ignorant. It’s obvious that whatsername likes him. How does he not see that?” I pointed to the screen. “Come on! Even the fiancée sees it! That guy is an idiot.”

“Josh, shut the fuck up. It’s a movie, it doesn’t have to make sense.” Hayley snapped. “Besides, there are a lot of guys who are completely oblivious to the fact that girls like them.”

I snorted. “If I ever act that oblivious, slap me.” I muttered under my breath. Hayley laughed a bit, turned to look at me from her spot on my bed, and slapped me playfully.

“Hey! No far! What was that for?” I complained. She rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to the movie. I zoned out for the rest of the movie, focusing instead on the day’s events.

Today had been a good day. Today, we were almost back to what we had been up until a few weeks ago. I still had no idea what changed between us, or what I could possibly have done to her to make her avoid me like she had been, but maybe today was a sign that we were on our way back to normal. I certainly hoped so, I don’t know what I would do if Hayley wasn’t a part of my life anymore.

“Phone’s beepin’ again.” I muttered as Hayley’s phone went off for what seemed like the hundredth time.

“Give it!” She laughed, holding out her hand for the phone.

“It’s from Jeremy.” I yawned, handing over the phone. She opened the text and shook her head. I peaked over her shoulder to see what it said and frowned. It was one simple word.

“Nike?” I asked curiously. She quickly typed 'stfu! lol' as a reply and sent it off to Jeremy’s phone.

“Yep.” She replied.“Why nike?” I asked. Was it some new acronym that everyone was using that I didn’t know yet?

“Nike! Just do it. You know?” She said. Now I was beyond confused.

“Uh, no. I have to say I don’t know.” I said.

“Nike’s tagline is ‘Just do it.’” She sighed. I blinked, still confused. “Never mind. Inside joke.” She mumbled.

Now whatever interest I had left in the movie was completely gone as I tried to figure out the mysterious text.

“Oh!” I said, moments later. Jeremy was telling Hayley to “just do it”!

“Do what?” I asked.

“Would you shut up and watch the movie already?” Hayley glared at me. I raised my hands in the air innocently and pretended to zip my mouth shut. She laughed and turned back to the television.

I pulled out a sheet of paper and started doodling away. Might as well do something to keep myself entertained while Hayley finished the movie. I needed a distraction anyway. I was doing too much thinking about Jeremy’s text.

Maybe I was just pulling things out of my ass, but I was beginning to think that his text might be related to why she had been avoiding me.

•  •  •  •  •

“Finally!” I sighed happily and leaned back onto my bed as the credits rolled.

“Shut up.” Hayley giggled. She let herself fall back onto the bed, next to me and, after a few minutes of silence, held a strand of her hair in front of her face.

“I think I might dye my hair.” She mused.

“No surprise there.” I laughed.

“Something other than red I mean.” She clarified. I frowned, trying to imagine her with anything other than red hair.

“I like the red.” I decided. “It brings out your eyes.” I added with a smile. Hayley laughed quietly and… was that a blush? Or was she just wearing make up? Holy crap, I think Hayley actually blushed. What the hell was going on?

“But uh, you know, your eyes always kinda pop out of your head anyway. They’re pretty cartoon-ish.” I teased.

“Wow, you really know how to screw up a compliment.” She laughed.

“I try.” I shrugged. Phew, awkwardness avoided. “Seriously though, dye it whatever color you want. But I do like it red.”

“I’ll keep it red then.” She said after a brief pause.

“Oh! Right, I almost forgot.” She said suddenly, hopping off the bed. She dug around in her bag for a bit before turning to face me.

“I got the drugs.” She said in a low, raspy whisper. “You bring the money?”

“Show me the goods and I’ll show you the money.” I said, raising an eyebrow challengingly. Hayley giggled, breaking character, and pulled a box of Cap’n Crunch out from her bag.

“Sweet!” I grinned, holing my hand out for the box.

“Hmm, I dunno, you’ve been awfully mean lately…” She teased. She raised her hand to her chin, debating whether or not to facilitate my nightly cereal fix.

“I’ll just go get some from downstairs if you don’t hand it over.” I pointed out.

“Geez, let a girl have some fun.” She grumbled before handing over the box.

“Yum!” I grinned, tearing open the box. It was mostly for show, I could wait to have my cereal, but I knew it made Hayley laugh and I loved hearing her laugh.

And, sure enough, there it was. Her sweet giggle. I smiled as the sound filled the room and I looked up at her.

“You really are an awesome friend.” I smiled. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”

Great, there was that stupid blush again, high on Hayley’s cheeks.

“You’d die.” She yawned, hiding her blush. “Plain and simple.”

“I need milk.” I said, pushing the cereal box away. One of these days I was going to have to get myself a mini-fridge for my room. It would always be full of milk so I would never have to go downstairs for my cereal.

“Go get it yourself.” Hayley said.

“Too lazy.” I replied. “I can wait for now.” Hayley shrugged and headed for the television.

“You really think this movie was that bad?” She asked as she took the DVD out of the player and placed it in its case. I nodded and reached for the cereal box. It was calling out to me, saying ‘eat me Josh!’ I grabbed it and opted to eat it dry.

“Juss proves tha guys an grls cann-t juss be friens” I replied through a mouthful of artificially berry-flavored goodness.

“What about us?” Hayley pointed out. She grabbed a handful of the cereal and threw it in her mouth like popcorn.

“I guess we’re the exception to the rule.” I replied after swallowing. 

“Are we?” She asked quietly. Hm, we were getting into potentially dangerous territory here.

“What do you mean?” I asked. “Of course we’re friends.”

“Are we though?” She said.

I don’t think I had ever been part of a conversation that went from happy and joking to completely serious this quickly before. To be honest, I really didn’t like it.

“What are you talking about, Hayley?” I asked hesitantly. I didn’t think I wanted to hear the answer. Suddenly everything made sense. I knew why she had been acting so distant. She was going to say we were getting too close, that she was starting to hate me because we spent so much time together. She was sick of me. It would certainly explain most of her odd behavior.

“Talk about oblivious men.” She mumbled.

“What?” I asked. I was completely confused now. She bit her lip and began picking at the skin around her fingernails. She was nervous.

“Hayley, what is it?” I asked, taking a step forward. She instantly took a step back, keeping distance between us.

“What did I do?” I asked.

“Nothing.” She mumbled.

“Then what’s going on?” I asked in as soothing a voice as I could muster. “You can tell me.” I waited, trying to be patient as she opened and closed her mouth in an attempt to speak.

“Fuck, this is hard.” She frowned. I opened my mouth to comfort her but she spoke before I had a chance.

“Josh, I – I love you.” She said quietly.

*gasp* :)