"Look Natalie-It shouldn't have happened." Richard told him sitting in the arm chair across the room. This was at least a safe distance.
"Your right it shouldn't have. But, thank you for taking care of me last night. I hope I didn't say or do anything too stupid." Natalie said as she went to grab her clothing from off the floor.
"Do you have any idea how ridiculous that sounds? Nothing too stupid, Natalie do you even remember what we did?" Richard yelled angrily getting up from his position. "God I don't want to do this anymore. Natalie I'm happy, I'm sober. You have a new boyfriend! Just because something goes wrong doesn't mean that you should run back to me!"
"I know that Richard." Natalie said now moving to put on her shoes. "And I'm sorry if this messing things up for you and Haley."
"You leave Haley out of this. If anyone's going to tell her it's going to be me!" Richard moved, out into his living room. "Now why don't I give you a ride home." Richard fell onto the couch frustrated with the whole situation. Why couldn't he think with the right head?
"You ready?" Natalie said emerging from the guestroom. Richard stood up without a sound and made his way to his car.
The drive home was silent. Pulling up to Natalie's dorm Richard waited for her to leave, before getting out of the car himself and heading over to West Chester Hall. Standing outside the door to 410 Richard finally gathered the courage to knock. Waiting a few minutes for the rustling inside, Haley opened the door standing in a pair of cheerleading shorts and tank top. "Richard, um what are you doing here?" Haley said grabbing a sweater from the table next to her.
"I was just dropping Natalie off at her dorm and thought that I would drop by. I didn't wake you, did I?" Richard asked by her appearance.
"Um, not really. It's a Saturday I usually just lay around and do homework." Haley said. "Um do you want to come in?" stepping aside from the door. Richard walked into sitting down on her bed waiting for her to follow suit. When she did Richard took her hands scaring Haley. "Richard are you okay?"
Richard took a deep breath before opening his mouth. "Haley I have to tell you something. I don't know where to start but I want to be honest with you."
"Just say whatever it is. I'm pretty good at understanding people." Haley said, almost scared at what would come out of Richard's mouth next.
"Natalie and I used to date, at least up until she-she's one of the people who jumped off Levinson Hall last year. And after that we just stopped seeing each other. It was too weird. But now we have a class together, and after last night." Richard hesitated on his next words.
"You want to get back together, right?" Haley said looking down at her hands in his.
"No, I don't want that. And I'm pretty sure that Natalie doesn't either. But last night we. Haley I don't know how to explain what happened except to just say it."
"You slept together?" Haley answered for him looking him in the eye. "Richard you don't have to explain yourself to me. We went on one date, it's not like we have a relationship." She said standing and walking over to the door. "I think you should go."
"Haley don't do this. We had fun last night. We had a really good time." Richard said moving over to her.
"I thought we did too. But Natalie was drunk Richard, not you. I think we should just be friends." Haley said not being able to look him in the eye.
"Haley I know that I messed up and I know that I can't change it, but I want to be different for you. God this could be something amazing just please give me another chance!" Richard pleaded, right now he didn't care who heard him.
"I think you should go." Haley said a little more firmly this time. Richard left still not convinced that things were over. Haley although she didn't really have a reason too, she cried. For all that it was worth.