C h a p t e r   3 7

After class, I asked Hailey to meet me at the powder room. While I waited for her, I repeatedly swiped the red button on my phone, rejecting Chase's calls.

I never accepted apologies and explanations through phone calls and texts. It only made me feel as if I was cheap, and so was our relationship. Chase gave me a chance to know and grade him myself before giving the golden yes but, there were some things that just doesn't go well on a relationship.

Putting my phone back on my bag, I looked at my reflection on the mirror and released a heavy sigh. At the same time, Hailey walked in.

"Hey." She rushed to my side, putting her bag on top of the counter before leaning over to the mirror, checking her face for any retouches.

She looked at me through the the reflection when she noticed how silent I remained, "What's up?"

"Chase." I simple spoke.

Hailey raised her eyebrow and then directly stared at me, "What happened now?"

"He's being an idiot. He thought it helps a lot to hide something from me." I scoffed while I let my eyes roll.

Hailey groaned, "He cheated on you?! That stupid d*ckhead!"

"What? No. He did not. At least that's what I know..." I paused while Hailey waited for me to continue.

I sighed, staring back on the mirror. "He caught up in a fight and didn't even tell me about it. He said, the reason why he hid it to me earlier is because, "he didn't want me to worry about him"."  I quoted, before I tilted my head to meet Hailey's eyes. "The only message he sent me was the one this morning. After that.." I shook my head. "Nothing... Then suddenly, he decided to show up, with a bruise! How am I not suppose to worry about that? Oh, Nikki will understand. I mean, she's kind. She'll just aid my bruise. Is he even thinking straight??" I vented out.

"I understand, and don't worry. If he's really into this, he will figure out his flaws and educate himself to be a better one for you. Remember, don't let yourself do his work. He's courting you, so you better stay and be the Queen." Hailey genuinely spoke while painting up a smile of encouragement.

"...How I wish." I sighed.

"Let him learn from his mistakes. It'll be okay." She reassured with a smile.

I responded with a shrug and began changing the topic. "So, how about we go get a trip to the doctor?"

"Now?" Hailey lightly chuckled while slinging her bag on her shoulder.

"Yeah, come on." I grabbed my bag before we exited the powder room.

After a few minutes, we arrived to the nearest clinic. Entering in, we were welcomed by an empty waiting seats and an odorous smell of an alcohol. The wall was covered with a white wallpaper which has thin lines of black connecting from top to bottom and left the ceiling in all white for a clean finish. A few preventive posters for common ailments were also attached to the wall.

"Hello, I'm May. What are your concerns?" The doctor's assistant approached us in a pleasing manner.

"Uhm, we would like to see the doctor for a check up. My friend here haven't gotten her menstruation for a month now." I politely asked while motioning my hand to Hailey.

"Do you have an appointment?" She probed, facing Hailey.

Hailey shook her head, "No, ma'am."

"Okay. What's your name?" May asked, taking her pen.

"Hailey Cambridge."

May nodded and wrote the name on the book before handing it to Hailey, "Please fill the information below."

Hailey took the record book and fill down the form. Afterwards, May asked us to follow her through the doctor's office. She opened the door and a middle aged lady came on sight. May ushered us to a seat and handed the record book to the doctor.

"Okay, Hailey Cambridge. Seventeen years old. A student..." She read the information from the form aloud before lifting her head to look at us. "I'm Doctor Beth. So, Hailey you're having an irregular menstruation. Tell me, when did this happen?" She probed while she adjusted her oval glasses and glanced from me to my best friend.

She let out a hum while she began counting to herself. "Last year around October, my period due date was delayed for... A week or so."

"Okay but, do you have a boyfriend?" Doctor Beth inquired while she rested her head on her hands with her elbows on the table.

Hailey shook her head. "No."

"Have you had a boyfriend?" Doctor Beth, probed.

Hailey answered with a nod, "Yes."

"This may or may not be sensitive to you but, have you had an affair with him?"

I raised my eyebrows and intently waited for Hailey to answer, "No."

"Can you look up for me, please?" Doctor Beth leaned over the table, examining Hailey's eyes with her thumb as she gently pressed the delicate part of the skin under her eye down.

"You look kinda pale though." She reclined back on her chair and stroked her chin before writing down on a sheet of paper. "Okay so, for the meantime I'll be prescribing you to take ferrous sulfate, for anti-anemia. Once a day for two weeks... If you haven't had your menstruation within those said days, I want you to come back here." She scrabble down the prescription before handing it to Hailey.

The doctor also asked Hailey about her sleeping habit and then told her to sleep early and also discussed her diet to eat more green leafy vegetables. Afterwards, we both thanked her, and took the medicine from May.

"So, where to next?" Hailey jumped inside the car.

I tugged on my seatbelt and locked it, same time my phone dings. Grunting, I hooked it out from my pocket and swiped it open to read the message.

Chase: I'm in front of your house.

I sighed, sliding my phone on the dashboard before starting the engine and pulling the handbrake. "Somewhere."

Hailey sketched a concerned look on her face and curiously took my phone after glancing at it. She tilted her head to me and placed back my phone to where she took it.

"Aren't you gonna talk to him?" She casted a glimpse at me before she pulled her seatbelt.

I hummed before pressing the gas. "I don't feel like doing it right now."

"And if he waits?"

Hailey's question made me glance at her and let out a shrug. "Then he waits."

"Will you talk to him then?" Hailey asked while I turned the steering wheel, making a U-turn.

I hesitantly nodded, "Sure."

From my peripheral vision, I saw Hailey made out a smile. I knew then what she wants me to do, and what she wants to happen.

"So, how about we get an ice cream?" I crooked a smile while I peeped at her before focusing my eyes back on the road.

"Yes, please!" She shrilled enthusiastically as we made a stop on an ice cream shop.

Hailey hummed, "I'm giving that one, a four out of ten."

"Mine's a seven." I said before taking a spoonful of pistachio ice cream.

Hailey made a sound as she casted another glimpse at the rotund man on the front row of the line, "Nikki, are you freaking kidding me?? Open your eyes!"

"He looks cute." I snorted out a laugh seeing Hailey's face in absolute confusion before I thrusted another spoon of ice cream on my mouth.

Hailey and I spent a few minutes longer than expected inside the shop after she decided to rate each guy on the queue one to ten for a game she called, hot or not. Ten for hot, one for not.

"Okay, how about the next one?" She asked, pertaining to the guy before the one we just rated.

The next guy wore a formal suit, making him look neat and presentable, but why would he buy a cheap ice cream?

"Nine." I said, taking churros from the tray.

Hailey craned her neck, scanning the guy from top to bottom, "He's hot, but he doesn't look like he's still single. So, I'm going for a six out of ten..."

I blankly stared at her before speaking, "Really?"

"Yeah, I mean. He's a businessman, and a hundred percent taken... See? He bought two ice creams!" We followed him with our eyes as he sat down on a table with an elderly woman.

"Aww, he's so sweet. I guess it's her mom, Hailey." I poked Hailey's shoulder.

"Do you think I should ask his name or something?"

"Uh, I don't really know." I shook my head, unsure. "You might make a fool of yourself."

"Fine, nevermind." She sighed before she gave the spoon a lick.

I finished my food while Hailey tapped on her phone. For about a few minutes, she started telling me stuffs about Nathan and also browsed his account to show me a couple of his pictures.

"Listen, his status says single, but..." She kept scrolling on her phone while I chomped down the last churro. "Look here," Hailey pointed on her screen and lets me take a peek at Nathan on a picture with a girl on some beach. "And the caption says, 'Had fun with her.' Is that his girlfriend then?"

"How would I know?" I asked back, reaching for the bottle of water.

"Well, you should know it by now. You've been with Chase for quite some time."

I shook my head and took a sip of water before responding, "I'm with Chase. Not Nathan."

Hailey kept on arguing with me over and over. She kept on asking if Nathan was single when she knew I never talked to him as much as she does.

"You know what, you should have just told me that you want me to help you get to Nathan other than letting me see all of his half naked pictures and asking me if I know if he's single or not."

"Wait, so you're gonna help me?" She squealed joyfully while entwining her fingers all together.

"Well, duh? Unless, you pay for the additional ice creams we just ordered." I lightly chuckled.

Hailey grunts and hooked a bill in her wallet, pushing it to me. "Here."

"I'm not the cashier." I crossed my arm to my chest.

She rolled her eyes before she stood up to pay the ice creams on to the cashier. After a few minutes, Hailey sat back down and slid the receipt to mine.

I checked it out and then smiled. "Cool."

We were getting ready to leave, but before we even did, Hailey tapped me on my shoulder, pointing over to a guy on the waiting line.

I groaned, "Seriously? How many boys before you end the game?"

"Just look." She shifted on her seat and I looked at the person she meant whose built could compare to Chase.

My thoughts ran chaotically as to how I thought that might be Chase, wearing an unruly improvised wig as a disguise. Standing next to him was a girl with blackberry hair, tied up in a bun.

"You don't think that's..." Hailey trailed off.

I craned my neck and really taking a peek on what he looks, but I couldn't get any. He has his hair falling on his face while leaning over talking to the girl with him.

"Call his name."

I tilted my head to face Hailey and then asked, "What?"

"Yell Chase's name. If the guy panicked, you already know who he is." Hailey faintly shouted, as she pushed me to do it.

I furrowed my eyebrows, "What? No. I'm not doing it. You know what, let's just go."

Hailey groaned and ran a hand down her face before yelling, "Chase!"

Everyone inside the shop shifted their attention to us while I gradually lifted my bag to cover my face from embarrassement. Biting my lip, I began picturing everyone madly staring at us. The whole place went silent while the background music continuously sang, making the atmosphere be much more awkward. Lowering my bag, I peeked at Hailey who I didn't know was doing the same thing as me which just made everything perfect.

Note the sarcasm.

Grumbling, I put down my bag and sent everybody an apology. I don't know how we got out of the shop, but in a matter of minutes we were already driving away from there.

"Well, that went well." Hailey sighed while she reclined on her seat.

I grunted, hitting the signal light to enter the road. "Please, shut up. We look stupid in there. All thanks to you."

"Well, at least we found out that the guy is definitely not Chase. I mean, we should have just believed it wasn't him with that hair." She said, as we both laughed.

A/N: Yes, I know it's another long chapter, but I hope you liked it! 😝💃

👉New update, tomorrow!

*****VOTE & COMMENT*****