Day Seven, Page 2

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  On the way to school, Robert sat in the passenger seat of the car his parent’s bought him. It served as a bribe for him to be a good older brother and to watch his little sister while they were out of town for the week. He was teaching her the main things she needed to know about driving. She complained with every piece of advice that came out of his mouth, saying he was being too overprotective, but he knew she would thank him one day. Her G2 license test was coming up next week and Robert told her that she could use his car to go for it.

  Robert and his sister, Rosie, just moved to Collingwood a week ago so she had to get used to the streets and the different speed limits. Rosie wanted to memorize them by the time she went for her test so she had no surprises to come her way.

  Rosie was the smallest person that Robert had ever met and he wondered everyday how he was actually related to her. Robert and both his parents were very tall, but Rosie came out this small little thing that could barely see over the steering wheel. She stood about 4’11 on her good days. She was so adamant on proving everyone that one day she would be able to drive and have a license of her own. Everyone made fun of her saying she was too small to drive so she wanted to prove them wrong. She had dark brown hair and light green eyes. She had dyed her hair many times before that; even she doesn’t know what her natural hair colour was anymore. At one point she even had purple hair. Robert thought it looked kind of cool, but he never told her that.

  With his eyes barely on the road, Robert didn’t have much to say to Rosie today about her driving skills. Rosie thought something was up but didn’t complain since she thought for once that Robert was accepting her as a good driver. That wasn’t the case. Robert couldn’t say anything about her horrible driving since he already had way too much on his mind. Like, who was that girl from last night? He learned her name was Hailey. When he first saw her at the grocery store he hid from her view. He really didn’t know why he did that. She made the hairs on his arms stick up. At first he thought that she was dangerous until he followed her home. Why did he have the urge to go and see her and follow her like that? He didn’t know. The moment they locked eyes he felt something intimate between them. Why did they have that connection? It was a certain connection that Robert had never felt before in his life. It was very eerie.

  After ruling out the possibilities, Robert knew there was something special about Hailey. He had to see her again. He would go to her house again if it meant seeing her one more time. That was out of character for Robert. He was normally a guy who kept to himself and didn’t go stalking people at their homes. He put on a fake personality to mask the nerves were seizing up with each step he took into her house. It may have come out cocky hut it worked in the heat of the moment. He didn’t like the way he treated her, but he could always make up for that after.

  There was another thing bugging him. Robert couldn’t get over the feeling he had in his chest when he walked into Hailey’s living room. He noticed that he made her nervous, but as soon as he walked into that room, his throat tightened and his chest burned. Something was telling him not to go in that room. He looked to Hailey and noticed her eyes were closed as if she was making him feel those things. He couldn’t explain it and that was why he needed to know more.

  He remembered seeing her the other day at Rosie’s school so he figured that would be a good starting place to look for her. Robert didn’t even realize, but Rosie was calling his name.

  “Earth to Robert. Hello Robert? Anyone there?” Rosie waved her hand in front of Robert’s face as he blankly stared at the dashboard in his car.

  “Huh?” Robert looked over to Rosie, only to realize that they were at her school and she was getting out of the car. He opened his door and got out. Rosie walked around the car and handed the keys to Robert who appreciatively accepted them. He was thankful that she got them there in one piece.

  Rosie walked away, annoyed that her brother wasn’t even paying attention to her. Robert felt something vibrating in his chest. He realized that it really wasn’t vibrating; it was just his heart beating exceptionally fast. He had this same feeling twice before - yesterday and Sunday, at the grocery store. Robert stiffened.

  Robert turned around and there she was. Her clothes fit her perfectly. The way her thin blue sweater hugged her body was nothing less than perfection. Her black hair hung over her shoulders as it swayed in the wind. He stared as he counted the seconds it took for her to walk up to him. Seven… Eight… Nine…Ten. He held his breath. She was standing right in front of him. He had to act cool and control his shaking hands.

  He let his tense muscles relax. He spoke as if everything was fine and his insides didn’t want to stretch out to grab her and never let go. “Hello Hailey,” he finally said. He could never forget her name. He decided to go with normal Robert this time instead of cocky Robert.

  “Hi. Robert, was it?” Hailey was so nervous. She could hear her insecurity coming through her words. She hoped that Robert couldn’t notice them. She bit her bottom lip and played with the strap of her bag which she held in her fingertips. She couldn’t stop fidgeting. As much as she tried to keep her composure, nothing was working.

  Robert noticed everything about her. The corner of his mouth rose to a smile. That didn’t help Hailey’s situation one bit. He turned to open the passenger door of his car. He held it open for Hailey. “Get in,” he said. Not taking his eyes off her once, he waited for her response, hoping she didn’t decline.

  As she stared, mesmerized into his eyes, Hailey got in. Her body moved by itself. “But what about school?” she asked as she sat down in the seat which was still warm. Hailey wasn’t too sure if he heard since he was in front of the car, walking over to his side.

  Robert got in the driver seat and smiled again at her, ignoring her question. He knew she didn’t want to go to school.

  “Where are we going?”

  “To my house,” Robert answered.

  “No. I don’t want to go to your house. Take me to mine.” Hailey sat in the passenger seat as she felt her tension move to every single part of her body. She was so stiff she could barely move her head to look at him. Hailey couldn’t believe she just got into this stranger's car! It was too late to get out. At least she knew they were going to her home. It was better than going to his unknown house.

  Robert obeyed. Her house was on the way to his, so he didn’t have to change direction.

  They got to Hailey’s house and he pulled into her driveway. She drummed her fingers on her bag which was sitting on her lap. She sat there debating on what to do. They both sat there in what felt like hours. Hailey didn’t know what else to do so she acted on impulse. She opened the door and walked out not saying one word. She walked to her front door, key in hand.

  A few seconds later, Robert got out of the car and followed her. Hailey waited for him in front of her stairs. “Wait here,” she said to him when he finally walked in.