Page 27 of Bring me Back

I tsked, “Were you always a perfectionist, Cricket?”

“Do you always call people by the wrong name? It’s Hallie.”

I chuckled. Watching her packing up, I was brave enough to ask.

“What’s between you and Delilah?”

She looked up at me, surprised. “I heard what you said about not caring,” I assured her. “But I’m still wondering what the hell is going on.”

“I don’t know Delilah.”

I lowered the flower down and stared at her. They seemed like they knew each other, but I didn’t want to call her a liar.

“You don’t believe me,” she called it out.

I rolled my shoulders and stood up higher, pocketing a flower of hers before she saw it. “I said nothing. I just think it’s odd.”

“People know about me.” It was the only thing she replied.

I scratched my cheek. How difficult was it to answer a question? Hallie must have tasted my exasperation in the air. In a flash, she turned to me, her eyes hard. “Ask what you really want to ask.”

There was a hint of demand in her tone and a storm in her dark eyes. I didn’t step back. I wanted to know.

“Is that anything to do with the people who bullied you?”

Hallie looked pissed. She didn’t need to answer, but I still needed to ask.

“You cower every time a teenager comes your way. Delilah was a little brat today and you…”

“I explained why!”

“I know, I know but…”

“And Sharon Campbell is the head of the PTA,” she added. “Why would I purposely piss her daughter off when we need Sharon?”

“That day in front of the theater,” I accused. “We didn’t need Sharon then, and I know I arrived when something was going on between you and Delilah. It’s not a big deal; I already think very little of them. I just want to know what else to expect.”

Her shoulders sagged as she shook her head. “I have no answers for you, Daniel.”

“I’m sorry.” I brushed my hair back with my fingers. “I was only curious.”

“Why does it matter, the reason she hates me?” she pressed. “Do you think I did something to deserve it?”

“No. Of course not.”

She took her backpack and placed a strap over her shoulder. I couldn’t shake the feeling we just had our first fight. “I shouldn’t have asked anything…” I shook my head.

“You’re not the first or the last person to ask me why,” she replied with a melancholic edge to her voice.

And right there, I felt like the biggest asshole in the world. I’d been asking myself a lot what happened for Hallie to be so reluctant to be around people, and most importantly, where were the adults when she was a teenager. And now I was doing the same. I was putting it all on her to understand something she hadn’t done.

I stepped closer and tried to not be offended when she stepped back. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s ok.”

“I’m sorry, anyway,” I insisted.

“You’re late for Sharon.”

---