Chapter 1

No no no no no NO!

NO!

 WHY!?

WHY DID ANY OF THIS HAPPEN!?

I banged on the floor as I tried to process... Everything.

My life was over, I'd lost everyone. There was nobody I could trust anymore. Everyone had left me or betrayed me or-

No.

I'd just lost my friends because my 'friends' decided to go behind my back and record things that should have been private. Do they think Hailey was using me as a tool? They're using me as fucking entertainment.

And the club didn't even let me talk. They just left me here, alone. Abandoned me at the very first excuse they could find. They probably never even trusted me.

Then Hailey said what she said? No. I couldn't process that.

She loves me? Well, at least she did before I said the STUPIDEST THING I'D EVER SAID IN MY WHOLE DAMN LIFE!

Breathe.

Once I finished wailing in despair, I picked myself up and looked at the clock. It was still lunch.

I couldn't deal with the rest of the day. I sprinted to my locker, grabbed my stuff, signed out at the office and ran out of school as fast as I could. 

Once I was out, I kept running, desperate to escape everyone and everything associated with that hellhole. There was nothing for me there anymore.

The second I'd got home, I plopped down on my bed and cried myself to sleep. Sure, my mom would give me hell for leaving school, but I didn't care. All I cared about was running away and trying to ignore the feeling of utter dread.

I dozed off to sleep, hoping to get a nice and peaceful rest, but I instead was plagued with nightmares.

I was in the music room again, crumpled on the floor, just as I was a few minutes ago. Hailey's last words to me rang in my ears.

"I loved you..."

I began crying in my dream, thinking about all the time I'd spent with her. How one day changed all that, how one day crushed me.

I heard her say again, "I loved you..." her face appearing this time. Her expression was sad as if she thought I would never love her.

"I love you." I blurted

"Yet you never told me." She retorted

I stayed silent at this.

"And now look at what's happened." She continuted

"I-"

"You really screwed up, people don't get third chances, Jake."

"I didn't mean it! I-"

"Show it then."

Just as she finished her sentence, the world melted around me.

I was at a park in our neighbourhood, Hailey and I sat on the picnic table and I observed from a third-person point of view.

Hailey looked so perfect in the shade. I sat across from her, looking utterly enchanted.

I began to float towards my body, eventually entering it and taking control of myself. I began feeling better. I felt like I was wanted for once. I felt like I didn't need anybody. I felt like everything was fine. 

I wasn't even thinking about anything, I was totally zen. The only thing I was thinking about was Hailey and how I hurt her and Zander and Milly and Sean and Luke with my stupidness.

"WAKE UP!" My mother yelled

"I'm up..." I said, sadly.

"Why did you skip school yesterday?" She asked angrily.

While I was formulating my response, I saw my dad standing behind my mom, he was clearly worried about something.

"It's a long story..."

"YOU BETTER EXPLAIN RIGHT NOW-" My mother started

"Sally, please... Now, Jake, could you please explain what happened?" My father interrupted

I immediately spilled everything that had happened over the last 36 hours.

My father remained attentive throughout, a look of concern flushing his face. My mother just looked less angry.

"Well, in that case, you better have a plan for fixing this..." My dad advised.

"Y-yeah I think I do..." I stuttered.

"Well, in that case, it's time for school!" My mother exclaimed.

My plan for apologizing was quite simple: do it publicly because they refuse to talk to me.

When I arrived at school that day, I immediately felt demoralized. I went to the office and asked the secretary if I could do the morning announcements, to which she accepted. I was handed the script for the announcements and began reading.

"Hey Thunderbirds! Today is Tuesday, May 3rd 2022. Time for morning announcements. There is a cross country meet today at 11:40, ensure you are there or else Ms. Joan and Mr. Harvey will cut you from the team. There is also the first swimming CLUB meet today. Not team, club. If you are interested, be there by 11:40. There is also a chess club meet at 12:40 today. Don't be late for that or else you'll be banned from using the basement apparently. On another note, I would like to personally apologize to certain people for being a complete douchebag. I-I shouldn't have said those things. I know it was too far, I just hope that you can give me another chance. On another other note... I just want to say... HAILEYAUSTINILOVEYOUGOODBYE!" I instantly turned off the microphone and tried to run upstairs to chemistry class. I couldn't make it up 6 steps before collapsing to the ground in despair yet again.

I curled up into a little ball on the stairwell, crying and crying and crying, knowing full well that I wouldn't get another chance. 

I eventually was able to regain my composure and slowly walk up to class.

"Jake Sterling, how nice of you to finally join us. Take your seat." The teacher said.

I sat down next to Drew, who refused to look at me and Hailey, who was writing in her notebook.

The teacher began his lesson about organic compounds, I didn't pay much attention. I scribbled down a few notes about what an organic whatever was, then just tried to sleep.

I thought I was going to fall asleep when Hailey put a folded piece of paper on my lap. I quickly stuffed it in my pocket for later, dreading the message.

Once chemistry ended, I walked to my locker and decided to check the message. The note read: 'Meet me on the roof when lunch starts.'

I contemplated whether to listen to Hailey's request or not. Sure, she wanted to talk to me, but on the other hand, I didn't think I was ready yet.

By lunchtime, I'd made up my mind. I walked upstairs to the rooftop, my nerves nearly dragging me back down.

I eventually reached the top and was greeted by Hailey sitting a short way from the door.

I nervously walked over to her and sat down next to her, ensuring that there was a sizeable gap between us.

"Hailey, I'm sorry-"

"Don't apologize... I'm sorry for asking you to choose between us or them and not giving you a chance to explain yourself, that wasn't fair to you."

"Hailey, I-"

"I'm not done. I was emotional when I heard what you said and I think that you're being genuine in your apology, so... I forgive you for being an idiot. Also, I like you too..."

"Hailey... Thank you so much!"

I impulsively threw my arms around her and thanked her profusely. I only realized how close we were when I opened my eyes.

"S-sorry." I eeked out.

"I-It's fine..." Hailey assured.

I pulled back and stared at her eyes. I got lost in the biological matrix, thinking about Hailey and how she could've possibly forgiven me for how shitty I'd been.

I came in closer, so did she. The gap between us closed as our lips collided.