Page 15 of Bending Under Pressure

“Haley,” he starts, but I’m already turning away and running to my car.

He doesn’t even try to stop me. He stands on the porch and watches me drive away; the tears are streaming down my face.

It took me a few days and more conversations with my parents, but I decided to meet with Natalie. To prolong the process, I wrote back instead of calling. One meeting can’t be too bad. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.

“Keelan!” Mom calls out.

I leave my room and follow the sound of her voice to the kitchen. She’s in the middle of baking some dessert. “What’s up?”

“I’m out of eggs and sugar.” She shakes her head at herself. “Will you run to the store for me? That way I can keep working on this.” She waves her hands at the messy counter.

“Sure thing.”

“Grab my card from my wallet. Thank you.”

“Welcome.”

Cam is out with Jess, and Dad is out helping one of their friends do something, so I’m her only option. Even though Mom is expecting me to come right back, something makes me take the long way. I slow down on the road by the tennis courts when I spot Haley’s car. I could have sworn she told me she would be at her dad’s this weekend. Instead, she’s standing in front of the large cement wall, rallying by herself; it is the reason for the wall.

I stop, parking next to her car, and get out. Her body seems rigid, even though her movements are fluid. Her body language screams fury. An angry, throaty grunt leaves her mouth as she swings with all her power. A soft sniffle follows it.

“Hales?”

“What?” Her voice breaks on that one word, but she doesn’t turn to face me.

“Everything okay?”

“No.”

Something must have happened with her dad. If she went to visit him, that is. Maybe something happened with her mom before she could leave.

Haley releases a heavy sigh, missing the ball as it returns, and she turns and faces me. A laugh tumbles from her lips. I tilt my head, wondering what caused the laugh. She lifts a finger, pointing at my chest. I glance down to see my blue and orange shirt, proudly showcasing that I’m a fan of the University of Virginia. Grinning, I lift my head, but her laughter dies, the sadness overwhelming her.

I close the distance between us until I’m close enough to wrap my arms around her. I feel like she needs a hug. Her arms hang by her sides, but she nuzzles her face into my neck.

“What are you doing here?” she asks, her breath tickling my skin.

“I saw your car, so I stopped. Want to talk?”

“Not yet.”

“Okay. How about running with me to the grocery store? Mom sent me out for a few things.”

Haley is quiet for a moment before she agrees. She grabs her things, puts them in her car. I open the door to my car for her. “What do you have to pick up?” she asks once we’re on the road.

“Sugar and eggs. Mom likes to bake desserts, and she ran out.”

“Do you know what she’s making today?”

I shrug. “Not sure yet. Something with strawberries and blueberries, I think.”

We ride in silence until we reach the grocery store. If she doesn’t want to talk, then I want to make her smile and forget about whatever is bothering her. We’re almost to the baking aisle when she speaks before I’ve gotten the chance to.

“While I am not a fan of your chosen university, I am a fan of the blue on you,” she says with a shy and quick glance at me.

I grin. “Are you recycling the compliment I gave you last night? You only get brownie points if it’s an original.” I’m desperate to touch her, to feel that soft skin again; I hold my breath as I casually reach over and interlock our fingers.

“Well, darn,” she replies, making no verbal show of me holding her hand. She gives it a gentle squeeze and looks over at me. “You don’t want to make an exception for me? I did for you, with Hales.”

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