Right In Front of Me (Finished)

Chapter 12: Hayden Gets a Good Idea

"Okay, I totally love the idea of Greyson and Hallie being together, but... I don't know. I always feel awkward when they're kissing. Like, okay, here I am talking with my friends and all of a sudden, they're making out! They're standing there, kissing, and I'm just standing there uncomfortably. It would make it weird for them if I watched, which I don't want to, and I feel weird just standing there next to them trying to decide what to do! Like, should I go talk to someone else? What if they're offended that I just walk away? Should I say, Get a room! or Um, weren't we just having a conversation? or should I just take out my iPod and act like I didn't even notice that they stopped talking to swallow each other? I have no idea!" I rant to Hayden. He laughs, and says, "I know! Like, I say, 'We should all hang out this weekend! Maybe Saturday? I'll check to see if I have anything going on...' and I stop to check my phone, and they're standing there, kissing! I look back up and I'm like, 'Okay, so, Saturday is- oh, okay... um, I'll just...' And I walk away 'cause I don't know what to do! Maybe if I had a girlfriend, it wouldn't feel so awkward!" He replies. It's been about a two and a half weeks or so since Greyson 'kissed' me and my sister and mom walked in, and Hayden and I have gotten to know each other really well. We are sitting on the edge of my bed, talking. He is so amazing, but I just wish we were dating already!
        Cleverly, I say, "Yeah! I don't see why you don't have a girlfriend. You could get one whenever you wanted to! Like, just walk up to a girl, ask them out, and you have a girlfriend! If it's so easy for you... why are you still single?" He grows a little quiet, and I add, "Well, I mean, you are just so funny and fun to be around, that I just don't see why someone like you could be single!" He laughs, and, I swear, I saw him blush. He says, "I could say the same about you." I blush and look down, then up at him in disbelief. "No, seriously! Look at you! You show up out of nowhere, and all of a sudden you're one of the most popular girls in school! Plus, you're gorgeous, hilarious, and... real! Ya'know? You're not like other girls. More importantly, you're one of my best..." He trails off, because he doesn't want to say 'friend' and friend zone me. This is good, right? I laugh a tiny bit and say, "Yeah. You too. And are you single because you want to be or...?" He shakes his head, "Nah, no, I- I just..." I ask him, "You got anyone special in mind?" He smiles, "Yeah, I have a pretty good idea of who I want." I say back, "And who might that be?" We smile flirtatiously, and he says, "Now, that, my dear, remains a secret." I smack his arm.

        "Anything?" Greyson asks me that night. "No... well, he kissed me on the cheek when he left... if that counts for anything." I answer. "That's great! But did you guys talk about anything that hinted for him to ask you out?" I squint a little, "Kinda. We talked about why he's single, and he said he had someone in mind all flirty-like, so...it could have been me." He says, "Sounds like it." I beam.

        The next day dragged on, and on, and on, until I got to see Hayden. We stood next to Greyson's truck, where we all meet at the end of the day, and Hallie and Greyson stood against the truck, kissing, of course, while Hayden and I talked. Greyson, I guess, came up for air or something, because they stopped kissing and peacefully watched us talk. "Yeah. I know! Can you believe that the Spanish teacher is leaving for surgery?" Hayden asks me. "I know! I heard she'll be out from teaching for 6-8 weeks." He laughs, "When she told us that, I was like 'Yay-yah!' And Then she told us that this Puerto Rican lady is gonna be teaching us, and I was like, 'Oh....'"
"Sucker! I don't have to take a foreign language this year. I took Spanish in 8th grade, Freshman year, and Sophomore year." I boasted. "I should've done that! Then this year I could be taking, I don't know, Chorus... or something..." Hayden trails off. "You wanna be in chorus?" I ask and he nods, embarrassed. "That's awesome!" His head snaps up and he asks, "Really?" I say, "Yeah! I'm in chorus! If only you could be in my class. That would be amazing."
        "Yeah. Well, anyway, I gotta go..." He says and I nod. He adds, "And... so does Hallie!" He grabs Hallie's arm and she looks confused, yelling goodbyes at Greyson.

***Hayden's POV***


        Hallie and I run to my Jeep and I pull out of the school parking lot as fast as I can. She asks, once we're on the main road, "Okay, what was that about? And where are we going?" I answer, "I'll tell you when we get there." When we do get there, about eight minutes later, I park off to the side of the road next to a forest. "Okay, Hallie my dear, here we are." I open her door for her and act very proper by taking her hand as she gets out of the Jeep. "Thank you kind sir." She says in a phony British accent. "You are ever so welcome." I return the accent and she giggles when I bow for her. I drop her hand and say, "But seriously. I need to talk to you about something. It's about Avalon." Her face lights up. We begin to venture into the woods, and she says, "What is it? What is it? What is it!?" I tell her to calm down. We find a campfire pit with logs around the unlit flame and sit down. "Okay, " I begin, "So, I think I want to ask Avalon to be my girlfriend." She widens her eyes and her smile and she squeals, "YESYESYESYES! Do it! Do it! Oh, please, do it!"
        "Good, you're happy about it. I just wanted to ask your permission because you're her best friend, besides Greyson, but I can't really ask Greyson, 'cause he's dating you. If I asked him if it was okay, he might think that I think he doesn't like you. Which he does, right?" She looks at me like I'm stupid. "Of course he does, silly! I mean, we haven't said the 'L' word yet, but... we've only been dating for, what, like three weeks?" I get all serious and ask, "Do you love him?" She drops her smile and thinks. "I think so. It's just a little early to know for sure." I nod.
        She beams and says, "You're gonna have to ask Avalon really big. You have to try to beat what Greyson did when he asked me." Oh, no. I think. What am I gonna do?!