Chapter Two- Blast from the Past

David drove up to the front of Angela's school. The words MULBERRY HOPE MIDDLE SCHOOL-1953 were engraved in stone above a pair of large oak doors. David smiled when he looked at the brick building. He had a lot of memories during his years in middle school, especially during the summer. He remembered all the summers he played baseball at the sandlot. He missed those days. He missed his friends.

Angela stepped out of the car. "You coming, or not?"

David stepped out of the car, smiling to himself as he recalled his friends—Johnnie, Tarquell, Saul, Sammy, Mac, Jenny, Penny, and…

Hailey Goodfairer. Her name still made his stomach sink. It had been about fourteen years, but he still cared about her. He always knew he would. She was his first and last love.

"Why are you smiling?" Angela asked David. "It's kinda creeping me out."

"I'm just remembering my middle school days," David replied, now following Angela through a maze of twists and turns within the school. "A lot happened during those years."

"Like what?"

"Baseball, friends"—David grinned—"my first girlfriend."

"Who?"

"Her name was Hailey, Hailey Goodfairer. She went on to do big things in softball." David sighed. "You know, I hate to admit it, but I still love her."

"Maybe you'll see her again." Angela shrugged. "If you two were really meant to be together, it could happen."

"Yeah," David said, half to himself. "It could happen."

Angela stopped and opened a wooden door. "Wait here. I'll get Mrs. Reynolds."

"I still don't get why I'm here," David declared, crossing his arms. "I could have called her like I said I would."

Angela didn't reply. She entered the room, closing the door behind her. She reappeared a few moments later with an old woman.

The old woman appeared to be in her early 60s. She was slim and taller than most people her age. Her face came across as unwelcoming, with a permanent expression of disgust, even when she smiled at David. Her teeth were white and beautiful, making them out of place on her sinister body.



"Hello, you must be Angela's guardian." The woman extended a wrinkled hand. "I'm Patricia Reynolds, the assistant principal."

"David Durango," David reluctantly shook the assistant principal's hand. "Pleasure to meet you," he lied.

"I understand that you are here to discuss Angela's behavior," Mrs. Reynolds continued. "I assure you that the children are okay. Angela has learned her lesson. I made sure that she knows she was wrong."

"She was wrong?" David was trying his hardest not to raise his voice. "Mrs. Reynolds, those children were the ones causing trouble. Did you not bother to ask why she hurt those children?"

"I didn't see any reason to. There injuries gave me a story."

"Well, you should have!" David heard his voice rising again, but he let it this time. His booming voice echoed through the empty halls. The three of them were alone. "It's your job!"

"Mr. Durango, I do not appreciate your tone."

"I do not appreciate your methods of punishment, nor do I approve your finger pointed accusingly at Angela." David cleared his throat and calmed down. "I demand that you repeal Angela's punishments, or should I have the school board involved?"

Mrs. Reynolds seemed astonished at David's behavior. Her mouth hung from her jaw, a gasp echoing in the empty hallway. Then she softened, realizing that, if the school board did get involved, she could lose her job.

Angela, on the other hand, seemed very pleased. She had a good feeling that she would be going to baseball practice tomorrow after all.

"Well, I cannot repeal her punishment entirely," Mrs. Reynolds replied when she closed her mouth. "The children's parents would get involved. However, I can lessen it." After a nod of approval from David, she continued, "Angela will give a tour of the city to our guest appearance model for the fashion show on Sunday. I will also need her to finalize her reservations at the Shining Stream Hotel."

"Then it's settled," David declared.

"I suppose so," Mrs. Reynolds replied. "Now, Angela, you're late for class as it is."

"But, Mrs. Reynolds, who is the guest model?" Angela asked.

"Hailey Goodfairer."



David went the rest of the week greatly anticipating the arrival of Hailey Goodfairer. He would have to wait, though. The day she came, she would go to the Shining Stream Hotel. From there, she would tour the city with Angela. They would go back to the hotel at seven, where David would pick up Angela. David had every event memorized.

As David drove to the hotel that evening, his hand trembled on the steering wheel of his 1956 Chevy Bel-Air. He was nervous, very nervous. He entered the hotel parking lot with a knotted stomach. He rubbed his mother's old engagement ring, which he carried with him always, in his jacket pocket for luck. He jumped out of fright when he felt his cell phone vibrate. He parked in an empty parking space and checked his new text message. It was from Angela.

"Hey, David. Me nd Hailey r waitin the front doors."

David felt like he was going to puke. He checked his hair in the rearview mirror. It took hours to get his blond locks just right. His clothes took even longer. He smoothed his tight, black polo shirt. He checked the zipper on his dark blue jeans before adjusting his tan, leather jacket.

He was ready. He had been waiting for this moment for a very long time. Now it was here, and he was fully prepared.

He approached the front doors slowly. Angela spotted him, and he saw her. He looked around for a moment before he found Hailey.

She looked as beautiful as she ever had. Her brown hair was still long, but it was now straight and darker. Her greenish-bluish eyes sparkled when she spotted him back. Her right hand, which rested beside her skinny jeans, was risen and now waving. A smile formed on her face.

David was hypnotized by her beauty. He didn't even realize that he had reached them.

"Hey, Dave," Angela said. When he did not reply, she sighed. "I'm fine. It's really good to see you too. Sure, I'll give you two a moment to chat." She took his car keys and began walking away backwards, waiting for some sort of reply from him. When none came, she rolled her eyes and continued walking correctly back to the car.

David and Hailey were alone.

"Hi, David," Hailey said with a 500-watt smile. "I love your daughter, she's wonderful. You and your wife are really lucky to have her. Who is the lucky woman, anyway?"

David was stuck in the 1970s on the same day he first spoke to Hailey. He stood still, staring at Hailey. He was speechless, releasing his 12-year-old self. He couldn't believe that Hailey thought he was married. He didn't want her to think that. With all his strength, he tried to speak.

Two words came out: "Single…adopted."



"Oh, so you're single?" she asked. She seemed a little…ecstatic? "Me too." She sighed. "I have been since we broke up all those years ago. I just never met had the time, you know, with softball and then modeling. I guess no man ever understood me like you did. I realized how lucky I was to have you after we separated. It was one of the biggest mistakes of my life."

David did not reply. He couldn't believe the words coming out of Hailey's mouth. If only words would come out of his mouth. He nodded, not knowing what he was saying yes to. He felt stupid, and he was more than certain that he looked it, too.

"David, I still care about you," Hailey said softly. "I know you care about me still, too. Angela told me that you said so." She took a step toward David. "David, I'm still in love with you…more than ever before."

David's thoughts were racing in his mind. It was true love, and they both knew it. She felt it too. Nothing else could have kept their love alive for so long. They were meant to be together.

Now, if only he could speak!

"You haven't changed," Hailey stated with a smile. "Must we do this again?" She sighed and giggled. "You're supposed to say, 'I'm still in love with you, too.'"

No words came out of David's mouth. He was trying to say something, but his mouth remained glued shut. Maybe it was for the best. If he spoke, something stupid might come out. It was totally ruin the moment. He knew what he wanted to say, he just couldn't get the strength to do it. Maybe if Hailey wanted him to…

Then it came. "You're supposed to say, 'Will you marry me?'"

David grinned and bent down on one knee. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his mother's engagement ring. He hadn't planned on using it, let alone proposing to her tonight, but it felt right. What he was doing was good for him, and he knew his mother wouldn't mind. She'd want him to be happy, and Hailey being his wife would certainly make him the happiest man in the world.

"Hailey Goodfairer, will you marry me?"

Hailey laughed, tears forming in her eyes. She lunged at him, hugging him tightly. "Yes!" she exclaimed. "A million times yes!"

David smiled widely. He stood, grabbing Hailey's left hand. He slid the ring on her ring finger. A tear formed in his own eyes, but he made sure to not let it fall. David kissed Hailey for the first time in about fourteen years. It was by far the most passionate kiss they ever shared.

David Durango had it all: the perfect life, the perfect career, the perfect daughter, and the perfect fiancée.



A/N- I know that you guys are reading my story, so please review! It gives me more reason to update often. I need to know what you think about the story! PLEASE REVIEW!!