Chapter Seventeen
T he next morning, Kelsey arrives and I don’t know if it’s the pent-up feelings lingering fresh from the day before but I burst into tears when I see her. She pulls me into a tight hug, and I feel the weight of the last twenty-four hours start to lift, just a little.
“We’re going to have a great few days, Hailey,” she says, her voice full of determination. “Just you wait.”
I sit on the edge of the bed in the hotel room, staring out the window watching the city below us. The hotel is nice. I sit there patiently as Kelsey unpacks an armful of snacks for us and her things for the next few days. “You really went all out,” I say, giving her a small smile.
“Of course I did. We’re going to make the most of this time,” she says, setting down the goodies on the bed. “First things first, I got us some snacks for tonight.”
I look through the assortment of chips, chocolates, and drinks she brought. “You didn’t have to go to all this trouble. Did you clear out a Target?”
She waves her hand dismissively. “It’s nothing. Now, let’s make a plan. We have all of Chicago to explore. I’ve only left campus a handful of times since we came here and now I’m determined to see it all with you.”
We spend the next half hour plotting out our itinerary. I’m thankful for the busy work of looking up places, tickets, prices, and hours. The mundane of trying to organize our first excursion from the hotel. Anything really, to take my mind off of my other problems. First up will be Navy Pier. I get dressed in jeans and my thickest sweater. The city has embraced the cold and down by the waterfront it will feel even more cold with the wind. It’s a short Uber ride away so instead of walking in the cold we hop in and zip over. As soon as we step out of the car, the fresh lake air and the lively area lift my spirits. The smell of popcorn and cotton candy fills the air, and the sounds of laughter and conversation surround us.
From our research online, we make our way straight for the Ferris wheel, a massive structure that offers stunning views of the city. As we wait in line, Kelsey talks about all the things we have planned to see and do. Luckily, we don’t have to stand in line too long before it’s our turn to ride. The Ferris wheel is huge. Each bucket is a brightly lit cabin that slowly rotates against the clear blue sky. Kelsey and I sit opposite each other so we face each other and get the best views of the waterfront and the city.
Once the attendant secures our door, the Ferris wheel begins its slow ascent, and I feel a calmness wash over me. The view from the top is breathtaking, with the city skyline and the view of Lake Michigan. The water sparkles in the sunlight, and I can see tiny boats sailing in the distance. It might be freezing outside but you’d never know it from here. The sun shines on the water, making it seem like the perfect summer day.
“This is amazing,” I say to Kelsey.
“It really is,” she agrees. She looks at me with a gentle smile. “I’m glad we’re doing this.”
All too quickly our descent begins, but I find myself feeling lighter, as if the weight of the past few days is starting to lift. We wander around Navy Pier, taking in the sights and sounds. We stroll the small shops inside the pier where I buy a magnet of the Ferris Wheel to remember the day. Street performers entertain the crowds, and we stop to watch a magician perform tricks that leave us both in awe. We grab some lunch at one of the restaurants attached to the pier, enjoying the waterfront view and taking advantage of the people watching.
After lunch, we make our way to our next stop—the Shedd Aquarium. Inside, the vibrant marine life captivates us. We move from tank to tank, marveling at the colorful fish and majestic sea creatures. The jellyfish exhibit is particularly mesmerizing, their translucent bodies glowing softly in the dim light. We sit and watch them slowly floating in the water.
Kelsey takes dozens of pictures with her phone, capturing every moment. “This is going to be the best photo album ever,” she says, snapping a shot of a playful sea otter as we make our way out of the exhibit.
As we sit down for a break in front of the giant oceanarium window, watching dolphins swim gracefully by, Kelsey turns to me with a serious expression. “Ok, now seems as good a time as any.”
I nod, feeling a bit apprehensive. “Okay…” I trail off not knowing what to expect.
She hesitates for a moment before speaking. “Let’s talk about… Ryan.”
I feel my heart tighten at the mention of his name. “What about him?” I can feel myself already getting defensive and I try to stop and remember that Kelsey is my friend and she’s only trying to help me.
“I know you’re hurt and upset,” she says gently. “But do you think you might have been a bit unfair? By not taking his calls or listening to his voicemails? What if he didn’t do anything wrong?”
I look down at my hands, fidgeting with the hem of my sweater. “I don’t know, Kelsey. He told me he wasn’t involved in anything illegal, and then I saw that text. It seemed very straightforward to me.”
“Maybe there’s more to the story,” she suggests. “It could all just be a misunderstanding.”
I sigh, feeling torn. “I just don’t know if I can trust him. I mean, you know the saying fool me once…”
Kelsey puts a hand on my shoulder. “I understand. Just think about it, okay? Maybe give him a chance to explain or at least listen to the voicemails.”
My phone feels heavy in my pocket. Ryan has left me so many voicemails my inbox is full. I nod, appreciating her concern. “I’ll think about it.”
Kelsey doesn’t bring up Ryan again, but the conversation stays in the back of my mind as we continue with our day of exploring Chicago’s attractions. It lingers in my mind, adding a layer of doubt. But for now, I try to focus on enjoying the time with my best friend, grateful for her support and understanding and the fact that she flew all the way from home early to spend this time with me.
As the day turns into evening, we head back to our hotel room, tired but happy. The city’s lights twinkle outside our window and the sounds of the traffic create a soothing background hum. We order room service for dinner and settle in for a night of movies and snacks. The room service menu offers a mix of delicious options, and we indulge ourselves with gourmet burgers, truffle fries, and lava cake for dessert.
Kelsey curls up on her bed with a bowl of popcorn. “Today was fun,” she says, smiling at me.
“Hell yeah, it was,” I tell her with a big smile on my face. “I’m so happy you came back to town to do this with me.”
“Only for you, Hailey.”
“Okay,” I say, feeling a renewed sense of happiness and hope. As we watch the classic rom-com 10 Things I Hate About You , laughing at the dialogue and swooning over the romantic moments, I feel a sense of normalcy returning. The reassurance of Kelsey’s presence, the comfort of knowing I have my best friend in my corner, and the promise of a new day tomorrow, help me believe that everything will be alright.
After a while, I turn to Kelsey, curiosity and concern bubbling up inside me. She hasn’t mentioned anything about her time at home, so while I want to hope that it was good, I have the feeling that it wasn’t.
“Kelsey?”
“Yeah?”
“We haven’t talked about your parents. Did you tell them?”
She doesn’t do anything for a long time, but eventually, she picks up the remote and turns off the television. “Yeah, I told them.” She doesn’t sound happy.
“What happened?”
“They were very clear that changing my major to something trivial like drama wasn’t going to happen. I’m sure if I wanted to be a doctor they’d be fine, but an actor over a lawyer? Not happening.” She rolls her eyes.
“Kels-” I get up off my bed and move over to hers, cuddling close. “You should have told me.”
“You were already despondent,” she reminds me. “I didn’t want to burden you when you’re already spiraling over Ryan.”
“Ryan is a boy,” I tell her sternly. “We’re best friends. That means we tell each other stuff. I want to be there for you, too, you know.”
She leans further into me. “I know. I just thought maybe if I didn’t talk about it it wouldn’t be true. They said if I change my major they aren’t going to pay tuition anymore.”
“So make it your minor,” I suggest.
“I mean yeah…” she sighs, and it sounds like she’s trying to stop herself from crying. “I don’t want to, though. Maybe I don’t want to be a lawyer just because I’ve been told my whole life I’d be one. I understand it isn’t exactly practical—but I love it so much.” She puts her face in her hands and takes a deep breath. “I said I would double major. Keep law, you know? And I reminded them that your major doesn’t matter. You can go to law school having majored in whatever you want.”
“And?”
“They still said no. I think they’re afraid I’ll run off to Hollywood and be a starving artist or something. I don’t know.”
I squeeze her hand reassuringly. “We’ll figure something out. If you want to be a drama major we’ll figure it out. There’s a whole office dedicated to student loans for a reason.”
She gives me a weak smile. “Thanks, Hailey.”
I hug her close as she restarts the movie, and after it ends she’s quiet as we clean up and get ready for bed. As I lay in bed, I stare at the ceiling unable to turn off my brain. Ryan and Kelsey swirling around as two equations I’m desperate to solve.