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Chapter 7 - "Thank You"
I walked into the small, two bedroom room we'd gotten. I threw the keys onto the counter and rubbed my neck, trying to ease some of the strain. It wasn't working. "Hales?" Drew called.
"Yeah?" I asked, stopping in my tracks.
"Come in the kitchen for a sec, huh."
I groaned, but obediently walked into the small kitchen where Drew was making a grilled ham and cheese sandwich. "Sir?"
"I have great news," he winked. I tried to brighten up, but I couldn't. I was so worn out, all I wanted to do was take a warm bath and then fall into the bed. "I found us a house," he beamed.
"That's great," I said, sans-emotion.
His smiled faded, "is something wrong?"
I shook my head, barely getting out a weak smile, "long day."
he nodded his head, "how was your day?"
"About this house..." I laughed.
"Oh! Yes, yes," he nodded, "well, it's in a neighborhood quite like the one we lived in in Charlotte. It's a very nice neighborhood, and the house is a relatively large two story."
"Two story?"
he nodded, "I figured we needed room. After Hayden marries Megan, they were planning on moving in and staying until after he gets through with his last year of college. Just until they can find themselves a place, of course, and he's going to be working in the nearby hospital. I also found a job in the same town the hospital is. It's about 30 miles away. Anyways..."
"That sounds great," I nodded.
"Yeah, you think so?" I nodded again. "We're going to move in tomorrow. As soon as possible... what I'd hoped for. Anyways, what do you think?"
"Sounds great."
"Second time you've said that, Hales. Is there something up or are you just tired?"
"Just tired," I smiled.
"Then go on," he carelessly threw his hand towards the door, signaling to get out, "we'll talk tomorrow morning."
"Thanks. I'm just gonna take a bath and then crash. It has been pretty hectic today, after all."
"Yes," he nodded, "I know."
I smiled and turned to walk out the door, "Hales?" Drew's voice stopped me.
"Sir?" I asked, not turning around.
"Hales, do you think–in time, mind you... that... that... well..." he stammered.
"What?" I asked, turning around to face him.
"Do you think that–in time, ok–that you might ever grow to like this place? To be happy again? Because I want you to, Hales, I really, really do. Your mother would have wanted that, too. She had such a vibrant spirit, and whenever someone was unhappy she would always do her best to cheer them up," he smiled, recalling my mom.
I sighed, looking up at the ceiling, "I don't know, Dad. To be honest... I just... I just don't know."
The buzzer on my alarm clock sounded like a freight train. I screamed, trying to distinguish reality from dreams. I had been having a horrible nightmare, but the thing was... I couldn't remember what it had been about. It had just been scary. Really, really scary, "dammit," I muttered as I–with much force–pulled myself out of bed and into the kitchen where Drew was drinking orange juice and doing a crossword.
"I hate that damn alarm clock," I mumbled, ambulating sleepily over to the mini-frig. I wrenched it open and grabbed the orange juice jug, shaking it forcefully.
"You mean an alarm clock actually got you up?" he said in a mock-shocked tone. "I'll be sure to pack that up."
I rolled my eyes, smiling, "not funny. I get up."
"Haley, you wouldn't wake up if a natural disaster were to rip the house to shreds. You are the deepest sleeper I think I've ever known.
I laughed, pouring myself a glass, and then taking a seat across from Drew, "your so mean to me. I don't know why I put up with you."
"Simple," he said, lifting his gaze up from the paper for a second, and then dropping it back down, "you love me."
"Ah... that's it. But if not for that teensy, tiny, itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny little fact, I would be so gone."
"And your income would come from where?"
"Wal-Mart. I would get a job at Wal-Mart," I nodded matter-of-fact-ly. Drew just laughed. I drained the rest of my orange juice and jumped up, stretching and yawning dramatically.
"Dammit, Haley, you sound like a damn cow," I laughed, tousling his hair, and then threw my glass in the sink.
"I'll be getting dressed if you need me. Ta-ta for now," I laughed, going back to my room to get dressed.
I went with the sarcastic look today. Well... I don't know if you would call it 'sarcastic' but, anyway. No. Definitely not sarcastic. That sounded stupid. Calling my ensemble 'sarcastic.' I was losing it. I put on a pair of shorts, a tee that displayed a quote from Napoleon Dynamite as well as a picture of the sexy guy, Napoleon, himself–I laughed at myself for thinking this–a pair of grey new balances with baby blue shoe-strings to match the shirt, and I straightened my hair, putting half of it back in a barrette. I finished off my look with blue eye-shadow, blue eyeliner, and blue mascara. I didn't think I could've taken blue lipstick, though, so I left that out.
I slung my backpack over my shoulder and headed into the kitchen where Drew was waiting with his laptop case and a cup of cereal. Not a bowl, a cup. Like a drinking cup, but it was filled with cereal. I rolled my eyes and laughed at him. "Your crazy, you know that? Dude, your supposed to eat cereal in a bowl."
"Ah," he shook his head, "bowls are for people with time on their hands. I'm a drink-the-cereal-on-the-run guy. I like my cereal dranken, not eaten."
"Dranken is not a word, genius," I busted out laughing. "Dad! Your supposed to be a nerd! Nerds are supposedly way smart! I cheat off nerds!"
"Haley Elizabeth James, how dare you cheat off nerds?" he exclaimed. "Not all nerds are smart. You of all people should know that. Cheat off the high kids, Haley. It's the high kids that do the best on tests. Have I not taught you anything?"
I rolled my eyes, "let's go, Wilson, before I have to kick your ass."
"Haley!" Drew hissed.
"Let's go," I ignored him, opening the door and walking through it, but when I got outside I stopped dead in my tracks. Sitting in front of me was a black 2005 Ford Mustang. I gasped, taking a step back and running right into Drew.
"Woah, woah, woah. What do you think your doing?" he laughed.
"What is that?"
"Oh..." he chuckled, "you like-y?"
"I love-y."
"You love... even better. Well, this, my dear girl, is your new ride. No way am I going to be carting you everywhere you wanna go. I've got things to do, other nerds to see, houses to move into..." he felt around in his pockets and brought out a set of keys hanging from a Napoleon Dynamite key-chain.
I squealed, jumping up and down, "no way!"
"Yes way," he laughed.
"It's so purty!"
"It's even 'purtier' inside."
"What do you mean?" I asked, laughing.
"What's your favorite color?"
"Lime green. Duh," I rolled my eyes. "You knew that."
Drew nodded, "I did."
"Then why ask?"
"Just to make sure?"
"Why?" I raised my eyebrow and stared at Drew.
"Well, when I was getting the neon under glow lights installed underneath the car, I tried to remember what color you might like and... when I was getting the custom Napoleon Dynamite, lime green seats, I thought you liked that color. And then the lime green headlights..."
"No f-in way!" I squealed, throwing my arms around his neck.
"I figured you'd like spinners, so I got those, too."
"Shut the f up!"
"Stop saying f like that," he laughed. "Now go. Your going to be late."
"Dad! Your awesome! I love you so so so so so so MUCH! You don't even know. This is totally sweet. It's flippin' awesome."
"I'm glad to know. Listen, I gotta run. get to school, Hales. Oh! And I'll send you a text giving you the address to the place, ok?"
"Ok," I nodded, not able to take my eyes off of the gleaming car.
"Bye, baby. I hope you like it. Love you"
I snapped out of my elated state of happiness and looked at Drew. A pleased smile was plastered across his face, "I love you, too, Dad," I said, tears forming in my eyes.
"Just call it an early birthday present, ok."
"My birthday isn't until September."
"I know," he nodded, "but you needed a car now. Why wait? Besides, I can't take you everywhere you want to go. I have things to do," he joked.
"Thank you, Dad."
"Anytime, babe. I love you so much."
"I love you, too," I leaned in to hug him. "So much."
"Me, too," he pulled away and looked at me, "have fun. I've got to get to work."
"Thank you," I called again, my happiness surging back to me as I beamed at my new car. I looked at my key chain and then up into the sky. "thank you," I repeated, this time softer... up at the sky. "I just wish you were here with me," I sighed.
