Chapter 24 – Look Who Finally Decided To Talk To Me

 

 

            “Hailey? Are you ok?” Billy asked me while poking his head in my bunk.

            “Yeah…I’m just tired.” I pulled the blanket over my head a little more.  “Anything I can help you with?”

            I laughed, “No…sorry.”

            “Womanly troubles?”

            “Unfortunately.”

            “Eww. Feel better!” Billy closed the curtain and continued on his way.

             I tried to fall asleep, but everyone was making too much noise and this past week—being on tour with Paul—I haven’t gotten much sleep. I hopped down from my bunk and stumbled into the back lounge.

            “Hey!” Maddie exclaimed while trying to beat Joel, Paul and Benji in a game of Mario Party.

            “Oy, don’t scream.”

            “Aww. Is it that time of the month again?” Joel snapped.

            “Shut up.” I mumbled

            Joel jumped around like a little kid while screaming, “HAHAHA!!! I BEAT YOU!!”

            “Ah…no…not the yelling!” I said

            “That’s only because I let you win!” Maddie cocked an eyebrow at Joel.

            “Hey Maddie, can I talk to you?”

            “Sure Hail...what’s wrong?” Maddie said while getting up.

            “Oh nothing…I just need you to help me sort things out.”

           

We walked into the front part of the bus and thankfully, no one was there. As soon as I sat on the couch, I put my face in my hands and started crying. Maddie tried to comfort me by hugging me and telling me everything was going to be ok, but I knew it wasn’t.

“Come on Hail…what’s wrong?” Maddie tried to calm me down but it wasn’t working.

I sniffled, blew my nose, wiped away my tears and finally stopped crying long enough to tell her what was wrong. “Do you remember last week when you guys were playing Uno and me and Benji went out into the hallway?”

Maddie sat there trying to think back, “Yeah, I think so. What happened?”

“Benji um, sorta kissed me.”

Maddie’s eyes widened, “What! What did you do?”

“Well at first, nothing. But then I had to be an idiot and say—”

“Say what? Say what?”

“That I liked it too. So then, he leaned in and kissed me again. But that time I kissed him back.”

“Oh man…is that why you two have been avoiding each other?”

“It was that obvious?”

“Of course.” Maddie saw the tears welling up in my eyes and handed me the box of tissues. “You’re gonna have to tell Paul you know.”

I nodded, “I know, I just…I think there’s something wrong with us.”

“What do you mean?” Maddie cocked an eyebrow at me.

“I haven’t been wearing Paul’s promise ring because of the thing with Benji. I feel so weird when I wear it. I think Paul noticed something was up with me and Benji or something because he’s been acting weird lately. I want to talk to him about it, but I just cant find the right time or words to tell him.”

“Aww…you’ll be ok. When the time is right you’ll know what to say.”

“Are you sure?” I blew my nose again.

“Positive. But for now, why don’t you just enjoy this time that you have together.”

“Good idea.”

 

We both stood up and gave one another a hug, and then went back into the back room. Everyone could see that I had been crying, but didn’t ask me what was wrong. I sat next to Paul and hugged him from side-to-side, leaning my head on his shoulder.

“Paul…can I talk to you?”

“Sure…”

Billy and Paul walked out into the front of the bus.

“What was that about?” I asked Joel.

“I have no clue. Are you ok?”

“Yeah…” I looked away at Benji who was looking at me and turned away when I saw him, “I’m better now.”

Joel patted my knee and smiled. I smiled back. My eyes wandered off to Benji again, but this time he didn’t look away when I saw him. He seemed to be in some sort of trance; he was ignoring everything Emily was saying.

“The bus stopped…” Were the only words Benji said.

“Yeah…we’re in St. Louis!” Emily screamed.

“What’s wrong?” Benji asked her.

“Nothing! I’ve just been trying to get you attention for the minute and you were off in some daydream.”

“Oh…” Benji shook his head, “Sorry. St. Louis…that’s the place with the giant arch…right?”

I laughed because Benji was having a stupid moment. “Yes Benji. It’s the place with the giant arch.” Those were the only words I said to him all this week.

He looked at me and smiled, “Look who decided to finally talk to me.”

I cocked an eyebrow at him, “Well if you weren’t so—” I realized who I was in front of and stopped my sentence.

“If I wasn’t so what?” Benji had a clueless look on his face.

“Nothing.” I got up and went to my bed to change. As I opened the curtain I remembered that Billy and Paul were talking. I stood by the curtain for a few seconds.

“Are you sure?” Paul asked Billy.

“I don’t know. It’s just what I think.”

“Wow…” Paul let out a sigh. “I never thought she would do this again.”

I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned around in shock.

“Relax. Don’t listen in, that’s wrong.” Benji whispered into my ear.

“Oh—oh” I stuttered, “ok...”

Benji smiled and then went to the front of the bus. “Hey guys!” he exclaimed. I carried on to my bunk to find my things. The one thing I hated about touring was the lack of private space that a person needs to get changed. I quickly changed my shirt and left the rest for the hotel room. Paul walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around my wait, hugging me and kissing me on my cheeks and neck. I giggled, and tried to walk away but Paul wouldn’t let go; so I dragged him into the hotel like that.