The Boy Next Door

Chapter 12

⠀⠀⠀Wyatt is awoken that same night by a ringing sound coming from the laptop sitting on his bedside table. He grabs it and opens it groggily, seeing it's Hayden requesting a Skype video call.

⠀⠀⠀"Hey, Hay," he says while yawning.

⠀⠀⠀"Are you awake?" she asks.

⠀⠀⠀He smiles. "No, I'm just sleep talkin'."

⠀⠀⠀She giggles. "Sorry for waking you up."

⠀⠀⠀"No problem," he mumbles. "So, what's up?"

⠀⠀⠀She lifts her finger to her mouth and chews down on one of her nails. "Brandon and I broke up today."

⠀⠀⠀This catches Wyatt's attention and immediately makes him more awake. He sits up in his bed, propping himself up against his headboard with pillows.

⠀⠀⠀"What? Why?" he asks, trying to hide his excitement. He's sad for her because she clearly loves Brandon, but at the same time, Wyatt loves her, so knowing that she's single gives him hope that maybe they can happen.

⠀⠀⠀She shrugs. "He just said that the long distance thing wasn't working, and we're both different people now. Him coming here was just the proof he needed I guess."

⠀⠀⠀It's a blatant lie, but she can't let Wyatt know the real reason. She doesn't think that Wyatt loves her back, so for her to tell him that Brandon broke up with her so she could be with him would just ruin their friendship.

⠀⠀⠀Wyatt frowns. "Well, I'm sorry to hear that," he lies.

⠀⠀⠀"It's whatever," she says.

⠀⠀⠀"Are you okay? Y'all were together for a long time," he asks.

⠀⠀⠀She nods slowly. "I mean, it feels weird because he's been my boyfriend for so long, but I saw it coming. Long distance never works out. And Honey certainly is happy he's gone because now she gets to sleep on my bed again."

⠀⠀⠀Wyatt laughs as Hayden shifts her camera towards the small yellow lab curled up in a ball on one of her pillows.

⠀⠀⠀"If Honey is happy, that's all that truly matters," he jokes.

⠀⠀⠀Hayden lifts a hand to cover her mouth as she yawns. "I should probably get some sleep and let you get back to yours."

⠀⠀⠀He nods.

⠀⠀⠀"Goodnight, Wyatt."

⠀⠀⠀"Goodnight, Hay."