It Happened Last Year

I gave Daniel my phone number, thinking that we could text each other or call if needed. It wasn’t an odd thing to bring up as he has kissed me four times now without my permission-not that I mind, but he doesn’t have to know that.

ME: I was eating chocolate in the class before, that’s why.

DANIEL: And you had so much chocolate because?

ME: Because I bought a lot of junk food the night before. I was home alone and decided to give myself a few cavities.

DANIEL: You were home alone the entire night? When those kids TP’d you?

ME: Yeah, my mom was working overnight.

DANIEL: Why didn’t you have Jana stay with you?

ME: Because I’m not 5 years old.

DANIEL: Well, you eat like one.

I roll my eyes, but before I can reply, I hear the front door opening. My mom must be home. It’s a little later than usual. Usually, I would be asleep by now, but time goes by too fast when I am texting Daniel.

My ears perk up like a dog’s when sounds of laughter and hushed voices sound from downstairs. Immediately, I panic, thinking it’s intruders.

ME: If I don’t answer in 5 minutes call the police.

I shove my phone in my pocket and tiptoe to my bedroom door, pushing it open a crack. The hallway light downstairs turns on, and I hear people coming up the steps. I swallow.

My bedroom lights are off, so hopefully, they suspect no one to be in here right away.

My heart jolts at the sight of an unfamiliar man appearing in the hall. Thinking of the quickest escape, I struggle to come up with any ideas. Then my mother appears behind him, and my eyes grow wide.

Oh dear God, my mother has brought a man home.

“Sh,” she whispers, “my daughter is asleep.”

The two hurry into her bedroom, gently shutting the door behind them, leaving me in a state of shock. I slowly shut my door and blink a few times before really considering what I had just witnessed.

My phone starts to ring, and I notice that it’s Daniel. I bring the device up to my ear. “Hello?” I say quietly, not wanting my mother to know that I am awake and that I had just caught her.

“What’s happening? Why am I calling the police?” Daniel asks in a worried tone.

“Oh my God,” I breathe out.

“What, Hailey?”

I sit down on my bed, completely grossed out. “My mother is hooking up with a man. She thinks I’m asleep. I-I thought someone was breaking in-but it’s her, and a man.”

A sigh of relief sounds through the phone, but I do not feel the same. “Thank God,” Daniel mutters.

“No, no, thank God. What am I supposed to do? Lay here knowing that they’re. . .” I get a shiver. “What if they’re loud? What if I can hear it?”

“I’ll come get you,” he says.

My heart picks up pace again. “Wait. Really? I don’t know. Aren’t you busy? Don’t you have to sleep or something?”

I can hear him laugh a little. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.” Then he hangs up.

I stare at my phone for a minute or two, trying to process the fact that Daniel is going to be here in eight minutes from now. Eight minutes. I peer down at my polka dot pajamas, the same ones I wore when we shared our secrets at the cabin. It’s not big deal, he’s already seen them.

It’s twelve o’clock, he’s probably in pajamas as well.

Quickly, I grab a hoodie and slip it on before shoving pillows under my blankets and sneaking out of my room. My mother will be too preoccupied to tell that I am gone, and from the giggles and other noises, I can tell that’s she won’t be able to hear me leave either.

Once downstairs, I slip on a pair of shoes and glance at my phone.

DANIEL: I’m outside.

I take a deep breath before slinking through the front door.

Nervously, I hurry to his car and bravely get inside without thinking too much. I don’t look at him until my seat belt is buckled, and when I do, my cheeks flush red. “Hi,” I mumble. He seems to be wearing normal clothes, which makes me feel silly.

“I remember those,” he says, looking down at my polka dot shorts.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“I am in my pajamas,” I try and explain, “it is twelve o’clock.”

Daniel gives me a charming smile, something slick, something that would make the girls swoon. “Don’t worry, I think they’re cute.”

“Just drive.”

When we get onto the main road, every street light we pass lights up Daniels face for a brief moment, and he looks handsome. He looks handsome in an ‘I don’t care’ kind of way. This isn’t like at school, but this reminds me of the cabin. I am seeing him in that after hours kind of way, and I like it.

He catches me staring, so I swiftly look forward out at the road. “Where are we going?”

“To my house,” he says casually.

I nod, messing with my hands in my lap, “do you live with both your parents or?”

“I live with my Dad. My mother lives in Florida and so does my sister. They’ve been divorced for ten years.”

I nod again. “So it’s just you and your Dad?”

“Well, Mike is over a lot.”

“Who’s Mike?”

Daniel glances at me. “My Dads partner. We stayed at Mikes cabin.”

“Oh, okay.”

“They’re pretty relaxed. Mike is actually over now. They were watching a movie before I left,” he says.

I look at him. “They’re awake? They’re going to see me like this,” I gesture to my pajamas and lame high school hoodie. “Your Dad’s going to think I’m insane.”

Daniel shakes his head. “No, he won’t. You look cute, like a five-year-old.”

I glare at him.

I notice that we have pulled into a modern-style neighborhood, new and beautiful homes surrounding us. My eyes are very pleased and engrossed, enjoying the scenery. “What does your Dad do?”

“He’s a software architect, creating computer programs and whatnot. He’s explained it to me a few times in depth, but after a couple of minutes my mind wanders.”

He pulls into the driveway of a large, dark-colored house, one with large windows and simplistic details. I unbuckle my seatbelt and we both get out of the car. “Wow, it’s a beautiful house,” I tell Daniel as he walks around the car to meet me.

“Come on.”

I follow him to the door, and he walks right in. My nerves skyrocket and I stay close to him, worried about my appearance and how I may come off.

“I’m back,” he calls into the house, and from what I can see, it is just as beautiful on the inside. His Dad has great taste. Simple, sleek, modern, all positive things.

When I finish yanking off my hoodie, a man walks out into the open area, and I immediately know that he is Daniels father.

My fingers fiddle with the end of my polka dot shirt.