08. matthew

I wake up the next morning, feeling better than I was the day before. It did not take time for me to get up. I woke up at 6:25, before Hailey. I headed to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and went to go change into a t-shirt and sweats. After spending more time than I should've, I decided on wearing grey sweatpants and a plain blue t-shirt. It fit slightly tight on me, but I thought that it looked good.

When I went back into the bathroom, Hailey was in there.

"Go away I'm about to shower." She says.

"Fine, just let me grab my hairbrush." I respond, opening the drawer that separates my sister and my sinks. I head back to my room and look into my phone camera, creating a middle part in my hair.

When I go downstairs for breakfast, my mom looks surprised to see me.

"Good morning." I say.

"Good morning Matty. You're up early this morning."

I chuckle quietly before saying, "Yeah. I was going to make some scrambled eggs and toast. You want some?"

"Yes, please."

I open the fridge and grab out four eggs. I put them in a bowl and start mixing. My mom used to call me "her little chef" when I was younger since all I used to do was make her snacks. Her favourite has always been crackers and cheese with grape juice.

While I am putting the eggs on the fryer, I hear Hailey come down the stairs.

"Why didn't you offer me any?" She asks sarcastically, with a fake frown on her face.

"Real funny," I reply, "I know you're allergic to eggs."

The first time Hailey tried eggs, she had an allergic reaction to them. She's always been upset whenever she would see someone eating something with eggs, since she felt like she was missing out. That's something I've always known about her, she's afraid of missing out on something.

I put the eggs on a plate and butter the toast. I bring the plates and two glasses of milk over to the couch where my mom is sitting.

"Thanks, Matty." She says.

"Of course." I reply.

We eat in silence for a while until my sister comes over with the extra toast I left. She decided to drown them in the crunchy peanut butter that only she likes. She sits down with us and my mother discusses with her about if she's put any thought to college.

"I mean yeah, but I'm not sure where I want to go. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna stay local, though." She says.

"That's great sweetie. It will be nice to have one of my children local. I'm so sad my boy is leaving us!" My mom says, starting to fake cry as she comes in for a hug.

"Hey, mom. It's okay." I reassure her, "I'll be back over Thanksgiving."

I am moving to Cambridge in August to attend Harvard. It's quite far from Colorado, so I'd really be on my own for the first time. I don't know how my mom will hold back her tears the day I move out. It's always been me, my mom, and my sister. My dad left when I was ten. We've gotten over it by now, but I still hate him for what he did to my mother.

He left her feeling alone for the majority of their marriage. He would sometimes come home late, super drunk. I would hear him yell at her while I sat at the top of the stairs, with the house phone in my hand, in case if she needed help. That's when I started to get angry with him, and myself for letting this go on and not telling anyone, but I didn't know what to do. I was just a kid.

"Hailey, have you seen my AirPods?" I ask.

"No. You probably left them in your room." She replies.

After finishing my breakfast, I go upstairs to look for them.

They're not there.

I try to think about when I last used them.

School?

No, I had them after school.

Then it hits me.

They're at Morgan's house.

I drop my head and take a deep breath. I must have put them down on a table or something.

I need to go get them.

I turn on my phone and send Morgan a text.

Text sent at 7:00 AM: Hey Morgan

I put my phone down and my sister walks by.

"You good?" She asks.

"Yeah, all good." I reply.

"Did you find your AirPods?"

"No, but I think I know where they are."

"Good. Mom would've killed you."

I smile and she giggles. My mom is the nicest lady I've ever met. She would be upset if I ended up losing my AirPods, but she's never mad.

I decide to pick up some clothes on my floor to pass time. My room is sometimes messy, but it's never a disaster.

"Oh, Matt" My sister pops back at my door.

"Yeah?"

"Justin's having a party tonight, are you going?"

I heard about the party Justin was throwing. I didn't know if I wanted to go, though.

"I don't know. Are you?"

"Yeah. Morgan and Riley are coming over before to get ready."

Shivers fell down my back when I heard Morgan's name.

"Oh." I paused.

"Is that okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, it's fine. I might tag along. I don't know."

"Okay, I can drive you if you want."

"Mom let you take her car?"

"I'm staying sober tonight."

"Okay, Hailey" I tease her. Hailey's not the type of person to let everyone but her have a good time.

"Hey, I mean it. Sober Hailey will be at the party tonight."

"Hey, I was being serious too." I wasn't; but, Hailey seems to sound firm about her decision.

"Okay, perfect. Do you want a ride to school?" She asks.

"Yes please." I respond.

"Okay, meet me outside in five"

She leaves and I grab my bag. Today is only to get grade updates, it's going to be chill.

I grab my phone and notice a text.

Text from "Morgan" at 7:32 AM: Hi

Text sent at 7:35 AM: Did I leave my AirPods at your house?

I put my phone in my pocket and head downstairs. I go to see my mom.

"Have a good day, Matty." She says.

"Thanks mom. Love you." I reply.

"Love you to the moon and back" She blows kisses at me.

My phone buzzes in my pocket.

Text from "Morgan" at 7:39 AM: Yeah. They're on my bedside table. Do you want me to bring them to school for you?

Text sent at 7:40 AM: Yes please. Meet me between period 1 and 2 at room 13

A car honking startles me. I run outside and get into the car.

"I said five minutes, Matt." She said, looking annoyed.

"My bad" I respond.

She turns on the car and pulls out of the driveway. She then turns and drives in the wrong direction.

"What are you doing? School's that way." I say, pointing in the direction she was supposed to drive.

"Stop backseat driver." She hits my hand down.

"I'm in the front seat." I mumble under my breath.

We pull up to someones house. I don't recognize who until she opens her door. It's Riley.

Riley and Hailey have been friends since they were in the third grade. They have been close friends since.

"Hi Hails," she says before turning to see me "hi Matthew."

"Hey Riley."

"Riley, did you hear about Oliver and Georgia?" My sister asks.

"No, did something happen between them?"

"Yeah. Apparently she cheated on him at Ledger's party last week."

I'm guessing that she's talking about Austin Ledger.

"That means you have a chance with him-" Riley begins to say, before being cut off by the loudest shh from Hailey.

"Ohh my bad." She says, giggling.

"No way, Oliver Pierce." I look at my sister.

"Shut up." She says, her cheeks are flushed.

We stop at another house.

Morgan's house.

I watch her come out of her house. She's wearing a navy blue hoodie and grey sweatpants. Her hair is done up in a high ponytail.

She opens the door to my seat.

"Oh, uh-" She says, looking embarrassed.

"Oh, I can move if you like." I say.

I get out of the seat before she can respond.

I hold her shoulders in place firmly once I got out. She turns to look at me. I smile at her.

She looks like she's about to explode.

"Oh, thanks. Uh, how are you, Hails?" She asks, getting into the seat.

I open the other door and sit beside Riley.

My sister gives me a weird look before sighing and putting the car in reverse. She pulls out of Morgan's driveway and we go to school.

"It's too early in the morning for this." Hailey says.