Because Of Him

When we read together

I gripped onto my seat tighter, feeling like I could melt into my seat. The man was still kissing my mom and I was still unaware of who he was exactly. My hands were jittery as I moved in slow motion in everything I did. Hayes covered my hand and the warmth of his hand coated mine quickly as he turned to me. "It'll be fine. Let's go." I nodded in reply as I chewed on my bottom lip. I wasn't sure why I was afraid to walk inside In my own house. Maybe it was because there was a stranger in MY house who was practically trying to swallow up my mom. Hayes and I walked towards the front porch and I rung the doorbell as my fingers hesitated to press it. I saw my mother pull away from the unknown man and cautiously came to the door. She opened the door and it looked like a breath of relief escaped her mouth as she took me into a warm embrace. "My god, I was starting to get worried! Neither you nor your sister called! How was the school trip?" She asked. The man came over and stood a fair distance away from us. "The trip?," I asked then it came to my realization that my sister had lied so we wouldn't get caught of sneaking off with the Grier's and everyone else. "Oh, it's good. It's still going on, but I'm just not feeling well, they said I should return home if I wasn't well." "Is that so? Where are your things?" I gazed around the room with my mouth stuttering. "Uh-um- Rachel! Yeah! Rachel, she uh, has them. She'll drop them off for me. The um teachers needed her help around the trip. So it's just me."

"...and this young man right here." My mom said as she referred to Hayes. The last time I had seen my mom was probably a long while ago. I had last seen her exhausted from work as dark circles took over her eyes. But today, she looked wide awake and she was smiling more than often. And a part of me wondered if the man beside her who she was lip locking with, was the reason behind her happiness at the moment.

"Uh, mom this is-"

"Hayes Grier," Hayes interrupted me. He extended his hand out to shake hands with my mother "please to meet you ma'am"

"Well, I do know you. But you're not exactly how I thought you would be like" my mother said as she crossed her arms and eyed Hayes like she was trying to read a hidden lie through hayes's movements.

"I wanted to drop her off because she wasn't feeling well. And don't worry ma'am. And uh sir?," Hayes referred to the stranger beside my mother. "I made sure to have her return home safe."

"Why thank you Hayes. That's very kind of you."

"The pleasure was all mine." Hayes smiled and it was a smile I had never seen. Not a smirk or a scowl, but a smile that had true kindness beneath it.

"Mom, who's that?" I said as I eyed the man beside her. The man stared back at me and then back at my mother. "Well...never thought id say this, but, say hi to your father." She said as she gestured to the man beside her. Correction, my father beside her.

My father?

My?

Father?

"I thought you-"

"Listen,sweetie, we'll talk about this at dinner later. Your father and I will tell you everything then." The word father sent chills down my back. I had never seen my father. And this was an utter surprise. My fingers felt numb as I played with the sides of my jeans that stuck to my skin. "I better get going now. Nice to meet you-"

"No Hayes, stay for dinner." My mother insisted. My eyes bulged out of my head like Hayes's. "Are you-?"

"Yes Hayes. I'm sure."

"Well, thank you."

"No problem. Now, you two go find something to do. Your father and I will talk things out and get dinner ready." My mother said indirect to me. She gestured to Hayes and I before shooing of to the kitchen with my...father.

I went upstairs into my bedroom and Hayes followed. He shut the door behind him as I exhaled loudly and collapsed onto my own bed that I had dearly missed. "Your father?" Hayes said confused. "My reaction exactly." I replied. "I thought you said you didn't know what your father looked like or who he was?"

"I don't! Up until now." My father was nothing how I expected him to be. I expected an old aged man who had no life whatsoever, all because he had left my beautiful mom. My actual father was far from what I had thought. He had a built body and broad shoulders. Brown hair that was fixed to perfection. And dimples at the corners of his mouth. He didn't even look like an age over 30. Now I understand why my mother had kissed him, or, was happy that he came back. Why did he come back?

I shut my eyes as my body stiffened as I laid down. Hayes sat beside me and I could feel his stare beaming the side of my face. "Hey, its great that he came back" Hayes said

"No. No it's not."

"How come?"

"He left my life. So why should I welcome him back?"

"Because he's your father."

"So?"

"So," Hayes said "he cares."

"And why are you so sure that he cares?"

"Because if he didn't care. Why would he make such an effort to talk to you? Why would he make such an effort to be here?"

"I suppose you're right..."

"Well. Of course I'm right, I'm Hayes. I'm like, the Augustus to your hazel"

"You've seen the fault in our stars?" I said surprised

"Well obviously. When the movie came out, that was all the population of girls ever talked about. So how could I not hear?"

"That's all you know? The movie?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"There's a book you know."

"There is?" He said as his voice perked up.

"God Hayes, you're such an idiot."

"Shut up. I don't read."

"You should."

"Why?"

"Because reading is like a hospital for the mind. It's like music, but instead of listening to the words you really have to look at it and try and understand it."

"That's too much work. I'll just stick to the movie."

"Are you ever going to read? At all? in your life time?"

"I suppose not."

"What if I make a book one day?"

"Okay. I'd read that, but only if it's about me." Hayes smirked.

"Id never write a book about you" I hissed back at Hayes.

"Of course hun" he said sarcastically

"Well whatever. And, you're not the Augustus to my hazel. You're practically the tom to my jerry. Because if we were like a cartoon, we'd probably be trying to kill each other."

"Id kill you out of love"

"Id rather choke"

"Choke on what?" Hayes said as the corners of his mouth turned upwards into a devious smirk at his own s****l innuendo remark.

"You're disgusting"

"And you love that."

"Gross"

"You didn't deny it"

"Denied."

"I love you"

"I hate you"

"Playing hard to get?"

"And you love that" I said as I impersonated him.

"Touché" Hayes said.

**

Hayes and I spent most of the time in my room talking about whatever was on our minds, whatever we thought, we said it. Without any hesitation. And every time he said something from the top of his head, I would fall for him even more. I wasn't sure if it was because he trusted me with so much or how we could be around one another and just speak whatever it was. Something that I could never do with anyone else besides Dante or harmony. My phone vibrated which caused Hayes to look up towards me as he was face planted into one of my pillows. I could already sense his scent transferring onto my pillow. I stuck my tongue out at him as I checked the message. It was from my sister.

From: Rachel

Where the hell are you?

To Rachel:

Home. Did you know apparently "dad" is here

From: Rachel

Dad?! What are you even talking about?! What dad? And why aren't you here!?Everyone wants to go do more stuff on the 10 destinations list!

To: Rachel

Do some stuff without Hayes and I. I'll be back in a few days. Just continue on, don't get pregnant by Nash.

From: Rachel

Don't get pregnant by Hayes ;)

To: Rachel

Is that a challenge?

From: Rachel

Don't b***h with me little sis