You Saved Me Once Book 1

Before we leave, I run over to Hayes’s house to talk to Rochelle. Cu-riosity was going to eat me alive, if I didn’t know the truth.

I haven’t been inside Hayes’s house, in years. I’m too afraid my se-crets and lies will consume me.

I’m afraid I’ll see Ms. Kristen, I’m afraid of what she’ll say. I almost backed down entirely.

Hayes waits in the car.

I look at the ground mostly, I avoid pictures, things from the past as I walk through the house. I didn’t want to interact with the sad memories of Timmy, Hayes, truthfully all of the Bartley’s.

Right next to Hayes’s room, is Timmy’s room. Timmy’s door is closed.

This hurt more than I’d expected. I want to turn back around and leave, right now. I can’t stop staring at Timmy’s door. My hands are shaking now, I’m trying to comfort myself.

Memories are coming back; a lot was coming back.

I hear Rochelle groaning in Hayes’s room, this is enough to wake me from my memories. I walk into his room and close the door behind me.

The same blue he had since he was a boy, paint his walls. The plain desk that sit in the corner of the room, and the astrology décor that decorates his desk.

They were all in the exact same spot.

Then there’s Rochelle. She’s stretched out on his bed, asleep. Now she’s half asleep.

“Alex is that you?” She mumbles.

I walk over to the bed and stand next to her.

“Hey Rochelle, how are you feeling?” I ask.

“Worse than you, that’s for sure.” She laughs, I smile to hide the fear I felt.

Everything in this house was starting to affect me.

“Rochelle, I need to ask you something.” I say.

I hug myself and squeeze my jacket sleeves. Rochelle’s face is still buried in the blankets.

“Is it about last night?” Rochelle yawns.

I felt very uncomfortable for many reasons. I needed to leave.

“I think I had sex, last night.” I say.

Rochelle laughs. I squeeze my jacket sleeve more.

“Great for you Al, how was it?” She asks.

My stomach drops. I sit down on the floor next to the bed.

“I can’t remember it, Rochelle.” I mumble. I’m embarrassed by my words.

“If you can’t remember it Alex, and you feel okay. Well, you didn’t have sex.” She turns to me.

“You’d know if you’d had sex for the first time.” She says.

Rochelle goes back to hugging Hayes’s covers. I hug my stomach, and bite down on my lip. It felt like, if I looked at anything in the room for too long, it would crumble.

“So, you don’t know what happened either?” I ask.

“Maybe you fooled around with Jeff, or the DJ.” She says. I look away.

“Look, I’m sure we all did stupid stuff last night. It’s totally fine Alex.” Rochelle’s says.

This stuff matters

T on the wood

we talk when I’m sober. I just don’t feel up for talking. I’m sorry if I’m being,

this another time.” I mumble. I move my

get my phone, from the nightstand.” She asks. I

silently, but the floor squeaks, it brings back memories. I wipe the tears the farther I’d get

open the nightstand;

see a letter in Hayes’s nightstand. My letter. I pick it

open it,

it myself.”

for the nightstand closest to

follow her. I’m quickly

are picking up

know. I told him to

my secrets I might’ve let loose last night. I feel stupid. I feel like

nails tap on the

If you had sex last night. Well, there’s usually

in my stomach goes

words. I leave his room, staring at

I don’t bother to wipe the

go?” He

and we’re off to Rogers

~~~~

our local bakery store, where a lot of memories

to lighten

and rainy day. The entire car ride was silent, and I avoided looking at

sure if I did anything yesterday. But my lies, and secrets, made me

decide to wait

I didn’t want to ruin the happy memories of this place, with the sad ones I thought

car, watch the rain, lis-ten to Hayes’s music, and think

to, my past

~~~~

Orca Manchester Care, it’s the

was only 14. I

into the room. He’s

acquired by many, and you must understand the health

~~~~

Knocking on the window scares me, wakes me from the past. It’s

okay?” Hayes shouts through

He

I’m just cold.”

takes off his jacket and gives

“Thanks.” I say.

Silence pours in the car, again. Then Hayes offers to

hungry.” I

it’s breakfast.” He

or eggs.” I turn to

bakers? These three are for you. No cow

eat it. I could barely chew, I’m trying to

was going to be my

stay silent, Hayes hasn’t

did something stupid last night.”

lips, made them sweet when I licked them. It was comforting in a

He asks. I shake

The rain is heavy.

the entire