Page 26 of Run Away Home: Tempered

“Because they repeatedly tried to throw the ball all the way down the field and kept getting intercepted.”

“Well, if someone would fucking catch it... They just suck. I’m rooting for a different team from now on.”

“You would.” He laughs.

“What?”

“Where’s your loyalty, dude?”

“It’s football. Fuck off.”

He’s being a real dick today. I don’t want to talk to him, not even about football.

I close my eyes and clench my hands. It probably looks like I’m making a fist, but really I’m imagining Hayley, and me, and the key to our very own apartment in my grasp.

Chapter Five

Hayley

I’M SITTING IN THEliving room. It’s been a whole day, and I still haven’t said much to Peter, but he’s still cooking all of my meals, so I don’t care.

The door opens. Danny runs up the stairs.

“Peter! Peter!”

“What’s up, bud?” Peter asks as he enters the living room from the kitchen.

“I made the lacrosse team!”

“What? That’s brilliant! I’m so proud of you!”

“I need to get a bunch of gear! Oh! I have something in my backpack!” He puts his bag on the ground, pulls out a folder, and hands Peter a paper from it.

“We’ll go to the store this weekend, okay?” Peter says as he examines the sheet.

“Matt made the cut too. He’s going to have a party at his apartment Saturday night for a few of us on the team!”

“Wow. That sounds like a lot of fun. We’ll go shopping in the morning, then.”

“I already looked online and found a bunch of gear I like. Let me show you.” Danny pulls his phone out of his pocket. Peter’s face drops just a little as he stares at the screen.

“What, it’s too expensive for you?” I ask. I’m being a total bitch, but he deserves it. He’s such a little weasel fuck.

Peter’s mouth props open, his eyes focusing on me.

“Is it, Peter?” Danny looks very sad, all of a sudden. “Matt’s getting the best gear. His mom—”

“Nope. It’s not too expensive. I’ll make it happen. I have room on my credit card.” Peter nods at Danny, then confidently sets the paper on the dining room table.

“You’re the best!” Danny yells and hugs him.

“Yeah. He’s wonderful,” I add.

“You know what, Hayley? Just remember what I said yesterday,” Peter says.

“What did you say?” Danny asks.

Peter looks back over at him. “I said that I’ll always be here for you.Always. No matter what.”

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