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Chapter 13
"Reunion with Dexter"
"Hales? Man, it's so good to hear from you. I've missed you like fucking crazy. I thought I better call and check up on you."
"Oh, yeah, well, everything's fine in out-in-the-middle-of-nowhere, North Carolina. So, how are things there?" I asked.
"Uh, fine. Charlotte is still like it was, but Aimee and me broke up. Yeah, turns out she was cheating on me with... drum roll please..."
"Just tell me Dex, I'm not in the mood to give you a drum roll right now," I sighed, knowing exactly what the drum roll beat was for.
"Your saint of a boyfriend," he said sourly. "You know, I can't fucking believe it. I can't believe they tried to pull that shit over our faces. Hales, are you even fucking surprised?"
"I'm surprised at Amy, Dex, but not in the least at Trent. I knew he was cheating on me, but I never put two and two together and came out with Aimee. Your Aimee. I'm really sorry, Dexter. You want me to come over there? Because I could really go for a bowl."
"Hales, your, like, 3 freaking hours away. You can't drive down here tonight, it's already 12:30. No, that's ok, I'm fine. I'll be fine, but you seem down. What's wrong, babe?"
"Just had a hard couple of days," I explained.
"Yeah. Hey, Hales, where did you say you lived again?"
"Tree Hill."
"Is that, like, close to ugh..." he paused a second. "Oakland?"
"Yeah, about 30 minutes away. Why?"
"That is where I'm actually at," he laughed. "Surprise! Yeah, I couldn't stay there and listen to them explain why they were screwing each other behind our backs so I fought with Trent a little while and started towards Tree Hill, North Carolina."
"You fought him? Did you win?"
"Heck yes I won," he reminded of Napoleon Dynamite for some reason the way that he said that. I wanted to laugh but I held it back. This was serious.
"Well, I'm actually glad your coming. I really want to see you, but, I'm sorry it's on these conditions," I gave him the directions to the house and hung up. I looked in the mirror. My hair looked a mess so I just brushed it and put it back in a pony tail and opened the door, going out into the hall.
To my surprise, Ryan was sitting back with his back to the wall right across from my door. I yelped and jumped back in surprise, then, suddenly realizing who it was, I started laughing and dropped to the floor beside him, my back to the wall. "You scared the shit out of me, Wright," I laughed.
"Yeah," he smiled faintly. "Listen, I wanna talk about what happened. I hate what I did and said to you back there and I really feel awful. And–"
"You feel awful? Because of what you did to me? Excuse me, but you didn't do anything to me that I regret. I don't regret kissing you, or pulling your shirt off and looking at your... never mind. I don't regret any of it. Why do you?"
"I don't," he sighed, looking at me. "I regret yelling at you and saying the things I said to you."
"Besides who my father is, would you seriously consider dating me?"
"But–"
I gently put a finger up to his lips, stopping him. "This is a yes or no question, and don't think you can pull a 'not really' over on me, cause it's just not gonna work this time."
He looked at me for a second and then back down. I was jumping up and down excitedly on the inside. There was hope yet. I reached over and pulled his head back up so that he was looking at me. "No," he finally said. My heart sank. Now Ryan was the one tilting my head up. "There would be no consideration. Of course I would date you, Haley James, in a heartbeat."
I smiled and leaned in. "Then let's let this be our little secret," I whispered and raised my lips to his. His lips were even sweeter than I remembered and I kissed him again, but this time it wasn't the same type of tear-your-clothes-off lust... it was something much sweeter. It sent butterflies fluttering through my stomach, just like before. I pulled back and looked into his eyes, licking my lips. "I could never get used to that," I smiled.
"Used to what?" he laughed, kissing me gently.
"That," I laughed. "Your kisses," I smiled and lifted myself up. "A friend of mine is on his way here and I really want you to meet him, Ryan. I think your gonna like him," I said excitedly, sticking out my hands for him to grab.
He grabbed them and I helped boost him up. Instantly, his arms were wrapped around me and he pulled me closer. "Oh yeah? And who would this friend be? Wouldn't happen to be that boyfriend you were telling me about, would it?"
I rolled my eyes. "Ex. We have discussed this already. Ex-boyfriend. No longer. Nada. Adios. Buh-bye. Whatever!" I laughed. "Anyways, no, this is my best friend! Dexter, remember, I told you about him."
"Ah," he nodded. "As in Dexter's Laboratory on Cartoon Network. Except this Dexter's Laboratory is full of of pot and he performs pot experimentations."
"That's not all he's about. He's a way better guy than what you let on as him being. He's really great and cool and funny and... your gonna like him, just give him a chance."
"Haley, are you going to take a hit tonight. I'm assuming he's bringing some, am I right?" I nodded my head, tucking a few fallen strands of hair and tucking them behind my ear. "Are you going to take a hit?"
I looked up at him, taking a deep breath and letting it out. "I don't... maybe. It's been a tough weak."
"Haley, I'm telling you, whenever he leaves, that urge in the week to go take a hit is going to be so great, your going to be going back to Charlotte every couple of days, but if you can control it and fight the cravings off for a few weeks, it's gone. You can kick the habit, Haley. I promise you," he said, squeezing my hands.
"Geez, You sound like somebody who knows," I laughed. "But is it really going to be that simple? I didn't think I was addicted, but... maybe I am," I shrugged. "Maybe I am..."
"You don't have to be."
"I don't want to be."
"Then let me help you help yourself," he grinned.
"Isn't that a line in a movie? Or what they say when you call one of those help things?"
"Yeah, I think so,"
"Yeah," I nodded, standing up on my tiptoes again. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him thoroughly. "Now, let's go," I grabbed his hand and made my way across the hall, down the stairs, and out the front door.