Read You're the Closest to Heaven That I'll Ever Be Page 7
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Hayden sat in his room, listening to music and thinking about Lily; about how good of a time she must be having with Tyler. The sound of his phone ringing broke his thoughts. He already knew it was Lily because of the ring tone but he didn’t know why she was calling him. It was only nine-thirty. The dance didn’t end until eleven and Tyler would be bringing her home anyway. Maybe her phone was in her bag and hit something in it. But he answered anyway.
“Hello?” He said and waited for a response.
H-Hayden? Lily’s shaky voice responded.
“Lily? What’s wrong? Are you crying?” He could hear her sniffling.
Hayden, I-I need you to pick me u-up.
“At the school?” He asked.
She nodded but then realized he couldn’t see her. Y-Yeah…
“I’ll be there in five minutes.” And the line went flat.
Hayden grabbed his keys off his bedside table, slipped on his black and white checkered Vans and ran outside to get in his run down 1998 Toyota.
When he pulled up to the school, Lily sat on the two-foot wall surrounding the outside of the school beneath a street lamp. He pulled up next to the curb in front of her and she stood up when she recognized his car. She got in and slammed the door behind her, sinking down in her seat.
“He’s a damn cheater…” She muttered.
“Now you see why I didn’t go.” Hayden said and she looked over at him, confused. “Homecoming is for losers.” He said. “He’s the perfect example of that.”
Ch. 12
“Alright, dude. This time, you’re going to ask her out. This time will work, okay?” Tate squeezed Hayden’s shoulders from behind.
“Okay, okay.” Hayden said. “I’m ready.”
He heard the opening and closing of the door at the top of the stairs and the light patter of footsteps. This was it.
“Wait. What do I say again?” Hayden said nervously.
Tate just rolled his eyes and gave him an encouraging push toward the stairs.
“Guys!” Lily sang. “I got you another gig!” She hopped off the last step and looked around at the boys. “This is a good thing! This is the part where you all cheer and thank me. What’s going on? Why do you all look guilty of something? Oh, god, please don’t tell me you robbed a bank or something.”
“Hayden has something to ask you.” Tate announced.
Hayden glared at him and then looked back at Lily, his facial expression softening. “Uh, yeah, uh… Lily would you, um… Would you…” Hayden stumbled over his words.
“Jesus Christ, Hayden. This is painful. Just spit it out already!” Tate exclaimed.
“Go easy on the poor kid.” Jeremy advised. “We can’t all be as good with girls as you are, Tate.”
“What is it, Hayden? You know you can tell me anything.” Lily ignored the other boys and encouraged him to say what was on his mind.
Hayden took a deep breath. “Will you go out with me?” He said so fast she barely caught what he had said.
Lily looked even more confused. “Like…Like a date?” She asked.
Hayden nodded. “Y-Yeah.” He stuttered, looking down at his worn out, black and white checkered converse.
He waited for her to say something, though he knew the answer would be no. He was absolutely positive that she only thought of him as her friend. There was no way she would go for him. She deserved someone so much better than him. Someone like Tyler, minus the douche bag quality.
“Of course, Hayden. I’d love to go out on a date with you!” Lily threw her arms around his neck and held him close to her. “I thought you’d never ask.” She whispered in his ear and a huge smile spread across his face. He saw Tate give him a thumbs up from over her shoulder.
“SHE SAID YES!” Wes shouted, running over to them and wrapping his arms around Hayden and Lily. “Oh, guys. This is just so touching!”
“Group hug!” Ricky exclaimed and the other three guys joined in on the hug, trapping Lily and Hayden in the middle.
Everything was going so well. The boys had a new gig scheduled, Lily had agreed to go on the date with Hayden, and everyone was getting along. They were like on, big, dysfunctional family. At this rate, nothing could stop them.