Page 2 of No Good Deed

“So how was last night?” I ask, referring to the party she went to with her roommate.

“It was fun,” she says, but her voice implies it wasn’t. She sounds different today, almost sad. Is it because we’re not together? It’s really hard being apart, especially on the weekends.

“Were you out late? I was going to call you when I got home, but I thought you might already be in bed.”

Haley wasn’t much of a partier in high school. If we went to one, she didn’t want to be out late. It’s another reason she was a good influence on me. If it weren’t for her, I would’ve always gotten home past curfew, which would’ve made Dean angry and caused us to fight. He should thank Haley for making his life easier the past few years.

“Jake, I can’t do this now,” Haley says, her voice weak and shaky.

Something’s wrong. Haley doesn’t sound right, and she isn’t acting like herself.

“Can’t dowhat?” I ask. “Talk to me?”

She doesn’t answer, but I can hear her on the other end, her breath hiccuping, like she’s silently crying.

“Haley, what’s wrong?”

“I have to go,” she says, rushing the words out.

“No! Haley, wait!”

“I… I can’t.” She breaks down crying.

What’s going on with her? Is she mad at me? What did I do?

“Haley, what is it? What happened?”

“Nothing. I just…”

“Just what?”

All I hear in response is her crying.

I get up and walk around, nerves eating away at my stomach. Why is she crying? Why isn’t she telling me what’s wrong? We talk about everything. I can’t think of a single time she hasn’t opened up to me, and I’m the same way with her. So what changed?

The answer hits me like a train slamming into a wall, jolting me into a reality that I don’t want to believe could exist. One in which Haley isn’t part of my life.

This can’t happen. I won’t let it. Whatever I did, I’ll fix it. I’ll do anything.

“I don’t want to do this now,” she says, sniffling. “I was going to call you tonight. I didn’t want to—”

“Just say it. I don’t want to wait.”

“Jake, I…” She takes a breath. “I love you. I really do. I just…I can’t do this for the next four years, and I don’t expect you to. It’s not fair to either of us.”

“Then I’ll move there,” I blurt out. “I can go to college anywhere. It doesn’t have to be here.”

“Jake, no. You’ve been talking about going to that college since I met you. And you were lucky enough to get a scholarship. It was a sign that you need to be there.”

“It wasn’t a sign. And it doesn’t matter. The only thing I care about is you. I’ll quit today. I’ll go to the admin office and—”

“Jake, stop. You’re not listening.” She sniffles. “It isn’t just about us being in different states or at different schools.”

“Then what’s it about?” I ask, but I don’t want the answer. I can change where I live or where I go to school. Other things I can’t change. Like if she doesn’t want to be with me anymore.

“It’s just that…” She pauses, like she’s trying to find a way to let me down easy. But nothing she could say would make this any easier. “I want to try new things. Be open to new experiences. Meet new people.”

“You mean new guys,” I say, hearing the anger in my voice.

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