Broken Bad Boy novel Chapter 5

PERCIE

It had been a week since I met Hailey. I was not supposed to think about her, but I couldn’t just stop, and it was starting to get annoying. It was maybe because they somehow looked alike. 

I started looking at myself in the mirror, counting our similarities. 

She didn’t talk much, as if socially withdrawn. She only said five words during the entire dinner then she excused herself.

Keith mentioned that she would be starting her college at Hillston this semester. What a coincidence. My stupid inner-self somehow hoped for the possibility that we might bump with each other. 

As he promised, he took my number. Now, we were constantly exchanging texts. He even invited me for dinner again. I made an excuse that I couldn’t make it, which was the truth. I had to meet Grandpa every Saturday. 

But Keith didn’t buy my excuse. So I had to meet him again. Grandpa was relieved that I started talking to someone again. 

I took the flowers I bought on my way. After taking a huge breath, I knocked on the door. I could feel my palms sweating in nervousness. My pulses were throbbing everywhere. I squeezed my eyes shut as I waited for the door to open. 

“Percie,” someone just called my name, and the smell of apple cinnamon wafted my nose. 

I opened my eyes to see the beautiful Hailey before me. Her hair was braided. Her brown eyes were staring at me. She quickly dropped her gaze the moment she noticed I was staring back at her. Well, I was checking her out. 

 She was a sight to behold. I preferred girls with less makeup like Hailey. 

I could count the freckles on the bridge of her nose. She applied lipgloss. This time, she wore a sweater with skinny jeans and flats. 

Before I could go far checking her from head to toe, I cleared my throat. “Sorry.” Where are my manners?  ”Good evening, Hailey.” 

She smiled timidly. “Evening. Please, come in.” She stepped back, letting me in.

I closed the door behind us. I second thought of giving her the flowers or to Lillian. 

“Mom is in the kitchen. Dad is still on his way. He stops by at the grocery store to buy something Mom’s asked him to.” Well, those were the longest words she ever spoke. 

“Um. I-i um, I b-brought flowers,” I stuttered. This never happened before. What the fuck is wrong with me?  

I offered the flowers to her. She just stared at the bouquet in my hand, then looked up to me, then back to the flowers as if thinking twice to take them or not. Well, this was getting awkward.

“Um, okay.” Finally. “I’ll give them to Mom. Thanks,” she said quietly. That wasn’t so hard, was it?

I sat on the same couch. 

Lillian came out from the kitchen with a huge smile on her face. “Percie, glad you could make it. Come here and hug me,” she says, offering her arms for a hug. 

Before I could walk towards her, she almost launched herself into me. Her hug was so tight as if out of excitement. Sometimes I felt grateful that they’d treated me nicely. I still couldn’t find reasons why I deserved the treatment they gave to me. 

I was a horrible person. They didn’t have any idea who I was and what I did. I couldn’t allow them to get close to me like this. This was too much. When I started caring for people, they tended to get hurt because of me.

“Thank you for having me again, Lillian.” 

She pulled away. “Thank you for coming, dear. And for the flowers. So sweet of you.” 

The moment you find out who I was, you will never be able to say the sweet word again.

“I can’t just eat your food without bringing something for you, Lillian.” 

She giggled. “Oh, Percie, you really don’t have to bring anything but thank you again. Have a seat, dear. Keith is on his way.” She then looked at her daughter. “Hailey, sit with Percie for a while while I’m preparing the table.” 

Hailey gave her mom a nod.

Lillian strode back to the kitchen, leaving Hailey and me alone. My heart beat uncomfortably fast. 

I sat back on the couch. Hailey did the same across mine. 

The silence was killing me. I didn’t know if I should start the conversation or I should just admire Hailey’s beautiful face while she was dwelling on this awkward situation. 

I licked my lips and cleared my throat that caught her attention. Her eyes were enormous.

“You don’t say much, do you?” 

Her cheeks turned pink. She shook her head. 

“Me either. I don’t talk much.”

“Um, Dad said, you’re attending at Hillstons.” 

My mouth gaped as I stared at her. She really had an angelic voice that hit my heart painfully. 

If my heart beat faster, this time it was wild, making me almost breathless. I blinked to let myself be aware that I was still here in reality. This is so fucking strange. 

I licked my lips again. “Yeah. Sophomore next semester. I heard you’ll be attending at Hillston, too.” 

Her gaze flew up to me. “Yeah. I’m planning to take English Lit.” 

My heart fluttered. I never thought it was possible because I could see her writing or teaching Literature. 

“What book did you read today, Hailey?” I asked curiously. 

Her eyes widened again. Why did she always look at me with disbelief? “I um. I read The Identicals.” Interesting. 

I knew about that book.