Saturday was Hailey's last day at Brian's house. He tried hard to tell Hailey everything.But he didn't. He hadn't told her about his nightmares about the nights the Boys had been at the hospital. They replayed the arguments. They replayed the screams, the moans and the dead silence.
Saturday night, Hailey lie on her side on Brian's bed, her arm propping her head up. Brian did the same.
"I wish I was you," she confessed.
"Why?" he asked.
"You got this house...you've gotten so many memories to keep. I hate my past."
"Why?"
"I just wish I didn't do things that I did. If I could do it all over again, I wouldn't do any of the shit I do now. People think that I'm some kind of slut, but I'm not."
"You are grown-up now. You can find ways to make things perfect. You're not a slut. Anyone who thinks that has bad judgement." He made a weird face, making her smile.
Hailey noticed Brian's scar again. She brushed her hand against it. He shivered at the coldness of her fingertips.
"Your hands are so cold," he commented. He sat up and rubbed one of her hands with his. He did the same with the other too.
"I have to wake up early, don't I?" she asked him.
"Yeah, you have to be up at 5:30."
She rolled her eyes and climbed under the covers.
"Hey!" Brian cried like a toddler. "Your bed's down the hall."
"So?"
Brian got under the covers and started to tickle her. Unable escape his grasp, she shrieked, laughing and squirming. She caught his lips and kissed them. He stopped and pulled back a stray piece of brown hair. His fingers slid across her tanned face.
"I can't go to sleep with a big lug like you." She kissed him again and turned off the light. She crawled up closer to him and fell asleep in his embrace.
"What you said to Fatima was an all-time low, Nick!" he said to the back of Nick's blonde head.
"She was being a b-"
"No, Nick, she wasn't!" AJ interrupted. "You crossed the line, man."
Nick looked out the tourus window. It was raining like hell. Maybe they should have waited it out.
"Nick, you acted like a real asshole back there. Learn some damned manners! As soon as we get to practice next, you're apologizing," he said.
"No, I will not. I had every right to do it and I don't care what you or AJ think, Brian! All of you are so damned sensitive. Just leave me -" Suddenly the bus tilted and flipped.
"Brian. Wake up," Hailey's voice begged. "You were screaming in your sleep."
Brian looked at her, ashamed. "Nightmares about the crash." He sat up and put his head in his hands. "I have had the same ones every night since the accident.
The clock read 5:59, but Hailey didn't bother to move. She watched him, again unable to do anything for him.
"You've got to get ready," Brian whispered, his words slightly muffled between his hands.
She nodded and walked out, only once looking back. She couldn't help wondering what happened to the playful joker she researched. All the little pranks...it was gone, replaced with guilt and remorse. Rarely did she see the faint ghost of a joke or a sweet memory. Hopefully that would change.
Hailey showered, dressed and packed. Edna, a thin brunette came to her room and informed Hailey that a cab was on its way before disappearing behind the door again.
Hailey walked to Brian's room and the door slipped open an inch. Brian was asleep again. She sneaked in and crouched at the side of the bed. She traced a finger down his jawline a last time and left.
Home was calling her.