Prologue
Hailey
It’s beyond frustrating to have no date, especially for one of the most important dances of a senior’s life, the prom.
At first, I was embarrassed, but then I realized not everyone was asked out.
According to my parents, at my age, it took a lot of guts to ask a girl out.
I was told teenagers weren’t good with failure or being turned down.
It would cause many issues, issues that stemmed from the ideas of not being good enough, but my parents explained that as an adult, you realize it’s not the case.
So, instead of worrying, my best friend and I made a pact.
If no one asked us to prom a week before the dance, we would go together.
It was the most logical thing to do. Why not, considering we did so much together already, it only made sense.
Besides, I would rather go with my best friend than with someone who didn’t want to be my date.
“Earth to Hailey,” Zayne said, snapping his fingers in front of my eyes.
We were standing in front of the row of lockers attached to the school’s wall.
People around us were milling about, hanging in the hallways and talking.
We had decided to share a locker since becoming friends and spending all our time together.
It was easier that way. We agree we didn’t want to end up stuck with someone we didn’t know or trust.
I blinked rapidly. “Huh? I’m sorry. I kinda spaced out.”
I wasn’t lying, technically, I just didn’t feel comfortable explaining myself to Zayne.
I had the hots for someone I shouldn’t, and I knew one day those feelings would burn me.
His name was Adrian. He was athletic, and the captain of our school’s football team.
His medium-brown hair was long enough to cover one of his eyes, which meant he had to flick his head back to constantly remove the annoying piece.
He might seem annoyed by the movement, but I thought it was adorable.
One day, he handed me a book that I’d dropped when hurrying to my next class.
Up close, I noticed he had the darkest brown eyes.
They were so dark they almost seemed obsidian.
I fell in lust with someone off-limits and totally out of my league in that timeframe.
I was the lone girl, the one who wasn’t seen by the social elite.
So, each time I’d see Adrian around school or meandering about in the hallway, my eyes would zero in on him as if I had an Adrian radar.
It was silly, really, but apparently girls were known to have many crushes during their teenage years.
I hated the feeling and hoped it’d disappear one day, but, so far, that wasn’t my luck.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts about Adrian and focused on my best friend. “’Hello? Are ya gonna answer me? I asked whatcha said,” I questioned once again.
Zayne stared at me as if I had something stuck on my face. He did that a lot, especially within the last two years. I wasn’t sure what his deal was, but it didn’t seem to change our dynamic, so I never brought it up.
“I asked if we’re gonna go to the prom together,” Zayne mentioned, “We made a pact that if we didn’t have dates a week before the dance, we’d go together.”
“Well, I would, if…,” I trailed off.
“If what?” Zayne asked, seemingly impatient to hear my answer.
He started to tap his left foot furiously and almost had a look of worry as his eyes shifted, trying to read what I was going to say next.
“If ya asked me properly,” I said, “Just ‘cause we made a pact didn’t mean ya should get off that easily. We’d technically still be on a date, even though we’re friends. A friendship date,” I said, giggling.
“A friendship date?” Zayne asked.
He rolled his eyes as if he weren’t too happy about my last statement. After all, we were friends. I called it as I saw it.
“Of course. We’re friends, after all. So why not call it as such?” I responded, not wanting to delve into the ‘friendship’ date awkwardness. “What time should I be ready? And are we wearin’ anything to match, or should I wear what I find?”
Zayne thought for a moment and then replied, “Wear whatcha find. I’ll get a corset to match what I’m wearin’ so that ya match me. I think six would be a good time. ‘Course, I have to make sure with my parents, but that seems good. Oh, and Hailey?”
“Yes, Zayne,” I asked.
“Would ya officially like to go to prom with me?” Zayne asked, smiling. He acted gentlemanly, all prim and proper with his question. But you could tell by the way he huffed that he wasn’t too happy with me dodging the ‘friendship’ aspect of our date.
I clapped my hands in excitement. “Yes, I’ll go with ya. It looks like I’ll be goin’ dress shoppin’ with my mom. I’m sure she’d be excited since she been askin’ me recently if someone has asked me to the prom. Everyday my response was a resoundin’ no, but not today. Thanks, Zayne.”
“No problem. Ya know I wouldn’t leave ya hangin’,” Zayne said as his lips curved into a smile.
I was stoked to be going to the dance. Surprisingly, even though I hadn’t been asked by anyone else, I was still happy to go.
I would rather be with my best friend than be alone during that night.
What was even weirder was the fact that I’d gotten a flutter when Zayne and I made plans.
He was my best friend. Flutters weren’t part of the deal.
After discussing our plans, Zayne walked me to my first period.
He had a habit of making sure I made it to class.
It was sweet of him, and made me feel special.
We didn’t have many subjects together, just Science and Exploratory, an extra-credit course.
Then, we’d meet up after school before getting into our parents’ vehicle to go home.
Some days, he’d ride home with me, and others, I’d go to his.
Our relationship was fantastic and one I cherished.
* * *
Zayne
“EARTH TO HAILEY,” I SAID, snapping my thumb and forefingers in front of her eyes.
She was zoned out, and I wasn’t sure where her eyes rested. I glanced across the hallway where she was staring, and noticed a group of boys. Upon further inspection, I realized it was the football team. Go figure.
They were all jocks and mostly hung out around where we did, which made it easier for Hailey to lock into her zone.
About five guys were surrounding the head of the team.
They were laughing and cracking jokes. It was more than evident they were having a good time by the hooting and hollering from the group.
It appeared Hailey had a sudden fascination with the head of the team, Adrian.
One day, out of the blue, I noticed her constant staring.
I mentioned it a few times to Hailey, but she would shrug her shoulders and pretend as if I didn’t ask her about him.
Since she never made it a big deal of it, neither did I.
Although sometimes I feel as if it was a big deal, considering her moments of zoning out of the conversation.
I hated the crush she had on him because of my feelings I shouldn’t have for her.
I also wished she’d confide in me. After all, we’re best friends.
As soon as I got her undivided attention, I reiterated my question about prom and if she wanted to go with me.
I expected an answer right away, but instead, she made me ask her properly as a date should.
I should’ve been annoyed by that comment, but I chuckled internally.
Hailey knew we were going to go together, but she also knew that by picking on me, I’d get riled up.
It was something she enjoyed doing. Sometimes it irked me, but often I’d be excited she spent time focusing on me, even if it was just teasing.
And she was - my girl. Unfortunately, Hailey didn’t know the true feelings that lay beneath the surface, waiting to come out, but that would end soon.
After solidifying our date, I started to come up with a plan, a plan that would reveal the true nature of our so-called friendship.
Bah to just being friends. What guy wanted to be kept in the friend zone?
I knew I didn’t, and I knew I had to make a move before it was too late.
Especially since she’d taken a liking to Adrian.
Hailey was a one-of-a-kind girl, all beauty, all brains, the entire package.
Adrian was sure to come to his senses and swipe her from me.
I couldn’t let that happen. From the moment I laid eyes on Hailey, I knew she was the other part of my heart, the one that seemed lost for a long time.
She accepted me and all my nerdy traits, and I accepted her and all her book-loving nerdy traits as well.
When I formally asked her to prom, she sounded more excited than I expected, especially after her proclamation a friendship date. It caused a tingle to ignite in my chest.
I smiled; my lips curved upwards. “No problem, Hailey. Ya know I wouldn’t leave ya hangin’.”
And that’s an oath I would stand by until I was forced to break it, considering she had an amazing fascination with running. But, by all means, Hailey was no runner… until she was. By that, I meant running away from her problems.