Unexpected Friendship

Chapter 10: Who?

A Saturday in October

I decided to be the better person and ask Hailey to meet me at the park. I want to apologize for thinking of her wrongfully.
I walk to the kitchen to tell my mom I'm leaving. She is looking down at the floor with a worried look. I can see her wrinkles even more now.
I tap her shoulder and she jumps.
I calm her down. I sign, "I'm  going to see Hailey."
She nods. "Okay, be careful."
I nod. I ask her if she is fine.
"Yeah," she says. She walks away towards her room. Maybe she is just tired.
I walk out of the apartment complex and start walking towards the park. I don't see her but I know I'm 10 minutes early. I fix my jeans before siting on a bench. It is a nice day, it is a bit chilly though.
I look to my right and see her walking. She looks so cute with her boots and dress. She looks like a cowgirl.
She sits next to me. "Hi."
I nod. "Hi."
"So," she says. She puts a strand of her hair behind her ear. It is loose.
I take my phone out and text her the message I had saved.
(I KNOW WHY YOU KISSED ME AND LIED. YOU WANTED TO HELP OUT A FRIEND AND WELL YOU DIDN'T WANT TO BE EMBARRASSED. I JUST WISHED YOU WERE HONEST. BUT YOU DID COME THROUGH AFTER ALL WHICH IS NICE. I WANTED TO APOLOGIZE FOR THINKING VERY BADLY OF YOU. I'M GLAD I WAS WRONG.)
Hailey finishes reading and shakes her head. She closes her eyes and look up to the sky. I see she is having a hard time breathing. Is she getting nervous? Scared?
I tap her shoulder and she looks at me. Her eyes are watery. "Sorry," she says.
"It's okay," I say.
She looks down at her phone and types fast.
I get the text.
(I'M SO SORRY. I SWEAR I DIDN'T WANT TO HURT YOU. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I WAS MESSING AROUND WITH JORDAN SINCE SHE WAS MAKING JOKES ABOUT JULIET. BUT THEN JULIET WANTED ME TO GO FURTHER WITH YOU AND REALLY HURT JORDAN. I HAD A BOYFRIEND WHICH I STILL LIKE VERY MUCH...AND I DIDN'T WANT TO ANYMORE. I SAW THAT YOU WERE SUCH A NICE GUY AND YOU DIDN'T DESERVE TO GET HURT BY ANYONE. I'M SORRY FOR BEING STUPID. I'M PAYING FOR IT.)

So the guy did broke up with her. Should I talk to him? Maybe Jordan can talk to him and explain everything. I don't like seeing Hailey this way.
I touch her hand which is placed on her phone's screen.  Hailey turns to me.
I give her a smile. "Accepted," I say.
"Really?" She asks.
I nod.
She chuckles while letting out tears. She hugs me. She cries but I don't know if out of happiness or sadness. I just hold her. I might not be able to do this anymore.
Hailey pulls back and cleans her tears. "I'm happy."
"Good," I say.
She texts me. (WANT TO EAT? I NEED A REALLY FATTY BURGER RIGHT NOW.)
I say yes.
....
JORDAN POV

"Did you fix everything?" Dad asks as we walk to Jacob's apartment door. His mom wants to talk to my dad and invited me for lunch.
"Yeah, I'll bet Jacob is talking to Hailey. I'm sorry for not telling you earlier, " I say.
He looks down at me. "Well, I'm glad you said it anyway. See, this is how I like us. We are communicating and calm."
I nod. "Me too."
He knocks on the door and rings the door bell.
The door opens and it is Ms. Ruby. "Come in," she says. We walk to the living room and sit.
I look at Ms. Ruby and she looks so tired. Though, she looks more like worried-some and defeated.
"What's going on?" Dad asks her.
They have been very good friends since we moved in. I sometimes think they like each other but my dad doesn't seem to make his move or vise versa.
Ms. Ruby sighs, "I need your support Vincent."
Dad looks at me. "Do you mind?"
"Um, no, but why can't I stay?" I ask.
Ms. Ruby sighs, "I just prefer your father to hear for now. Don't worry, it just stupid adult stuff."
"So if it's stupid, then wh-" Dad cuts me off. "Jordan, please?"
I stand. "Fine. Can I go in Jacob's room?"
Ms. Ruby nods. So I walk into his room and lay in his bed. It smells like cologne and vanilla. I lay my head on his pillow. I wonder if he is kissing Hailey right now. Did she give him a chance?
"I can't!" I hear Ms. Ruby yell. What the hell? I walk to the door and put my ear on it. I can hear my dad trying to calm her down. Why is she so upset? I quietly open the door and sneak into the small hallway. I dodge and see my dad holding Jacob's mom.
She is crying.
"He won't take him," Dad says.
"He's out Vincent. I'm afraid," she whimpers.
"Don't worry, I won't allow it."
"I'm so scared."
Who's going to take who? My phone rings. Oh man! Dad immediately turns to me. Oh snap. Oh man.
I stand straight and get my phone. It is Thomas.
"Did you hear?" Ms. Ruby suddenly gets me. She is holding my upper arms tightly.
"No!" I say.
"Ruby let her go," Dad pulls her away. "What did you hear?"
"Nothing. I barely walked in and my phone rang. Did I need to hear something?"
Dad says no.
Ms. Ruby walks to the kitchen. "Let's eat. Don't worry Jordan," she exclaims from the kitchen.
Dad pats my arm. "Let's eat."
"Okay, but let me just return the call."
"Is it Jacob?" He asks.
"No."
"Who?"
"Dad, you don't have to know everything!" I walk back to Jacob's room. I dial Thomas.
"Hey, were you busy?" He asks.
"No, sorry, I was in the ladies room," I slap my head. Did I just say I was taking a crap?
"Well, I was just calling to hang out in my party, if you want," he says.
"Thomas, I can't," I slide down to the floor.
"Why? I want to know you better. The more friends the merrier. Besides you are attending a senior party, any junior will love to go,"
I sigh. I don't want more crap from Juliet. She likes him to the point where she just wants him to herself and will kill anyone who gets in her way.
"Hello? Earth to J," Thomas says.
I shake my head. "I'm sorry. My dad won't allow me."
"Aw come on, you are the nice girl now?" He chuckles.
I roll my eyes. "I am nice."
"Yeah but you just don't follow the rules,"
"Look, I can't, but if you do have the good intention of getting a friend, we can hang out tomorrow or Monday."
"Fine. Monday I take you out for lunch," he says.
"Cool then,"
"Cool," his voice lowers even more. I bite my lip. I love it when he talks like that.
"Bye," he hangs up.
My heart beats fast that I can feel it hit my ribs. He really does like me.
"Jordan!" Dad yells.
I stand and run to the dinner table and sit.
"Hope you like it," Ms. Ruby says.
I nod. "Thanks."
As I am eating, I can't stop to wonder who is the person Ms. Ruby was worried about. Is it Jacob? Should I tell Jacob about this?
We finished the lunch and my dad and I go back to our place. It is his day off so he kicks back on the couch and puts the sports channel. I go to my room and sit on the window's ledge and look out to Jacob's close window. The curtains are close so I can't see anything.
What if someone is after Jacob? His mom isn't married or has a boyfriend, I don't see any family members either. I don't think they have anyone else, so who can take Jacob away?