Provoked

by S. Donahue

  “I'm good. I’m just waiting out here.”

  “Was it that boy you were talking to? Did he say something? Do you want me to beat him up?”

  “No, Dad. Pay for the stuff. You can't beat up every guy that bothers me.”

  “Yes I can! I'm your father. Nobody hurts my daughter and makes her pace out here like a lunatic. Maybe you'll marry him one day,” he said, laughing.

  “Ewwww, Dad.” I rolled my eyes and he went back in the store. I stood outside, calmed down, and tried to forget about yet another encounter I’d have to tell my therapist about when I got older…

  ***

  “Hello? Did you hang up on me? Hello, I hear you breathing,” Parker says impatiently into the phone.

  “I'm still here,” I respond, not interested in the conversation.

  “I'll be there to pick you up. We can talk about you and Chase if you want.”

  “There is no me and Chase. I'm a single independent woman, and I'm no longer seventeen. Do you have something legitimate to talk about?” After thinking back to our encounter, I felt annoyed.

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Fine. I'll give you five minutes at one o'clock.”

  “You got it. I'll stop by. Maybe I can talk you into lunch.”

  “No lunch. I'm busy.”

  “We'll see how the five minutes goes,” he insists.

  ***

  The air outside is frigid, but my office is nice and toasty. I start dozing off, reading a manuscript at my desk. It is very interesting, but I have been so tired lately. I’ve been staying up late at night, working. I need a cup of coffee to revive me. I call to the reception desk.

  “Mel, is there any coffee made?”

  “I'm not sure. I'll check.”

  “It's okay, I may just go to Dunkin’ to get a cup.”

  “You have someone coming at one o'clock, right?”

  “I forgot about him. I'll be right back.”

  I grab some money and put it in the pocket of my suit jacket then grab my phone. I don't go anywhere without it. I walk down the street in my winter gear. The threat of snow is in the air. I'm all about the snow. Thankfully I have the kind of job where I can work from my home if I get snowed in.

  The line to the donut shop is out the door. I am going to wait patiently because I need my coffee. It’s like a drug. As I get closer to the counter, I stare at the donuts. I could probably take them all out in one sitting. I brush away that thought from my mind.

  “One large coffee with cream and extra sugar.”

  “You're sweet enough,” I hear someone say from the back of the line. I quickly turn around and see Parker standing in the back of the line. I grab my drug and head to the back.

  “I stopped in to get us coffee for our meeting.”

  “That was nice of you.”

  “Since you already have yours, we can go,” he says.

  “What about you?”

  “I'm okay.”

  I feel nervous. What could he possibly want with me? He clearly knows what happened with me and Chase. We walk in silence for a minute or so.

  “Why won't you give me the time of day?” he asks.

  “I'm just not interested. I have too much on my plate right now, and Chase is your friend.”

  “Chase is in love with Megan whether he wants to admit it or not.”

  “Well, that's his business. I could care less.”

  “But I'm here.”

  “Listen, I know what kind of guy you are,” I say, waving my hand.

  “You have me all wrong.”

  “Do I?” I raise my eyebrow in question.

  “You do. I really like you.”

  I don't know what to say to him. I don't want to get involved with anyone right now, and he won't take no for an answer.

  “Well, since we had our little meeting, we don't have to meet upstairs,” I say, trying to give him a hint.

  “You're not gonna let me walk you up?”

  “Fine, but that's it. Then you go.”

  He smirks. “You're feisty.”

  “You’re thick-headed,” I quip back.

  “That's okay. I'll break you.”

  “I doubt it.”

  My cell phone starts vibrating. It’s Melanie. “Where are you?” she whispers.

  “On the elevator.”

  “Hurry up and get up here. I can't say. You're going to be pissed.”

  “Oh Lord, I'm almost there.”

  What the hell is going on? Parker is with me so can't be about him. “Parker, maybe you should go. There's some business I have to tend to in my office.”

  Not listening to me, he steps off the elevator.

  Through the double glass doors, I see a woman throwing her arms in the air while she yells at Melanie.

  “What in the world is going on in there?” I say out loud.

  “Oh no,” he says out loud.

  “What?”

  “Let's go inside,” he says, ushering me through the door.

  “You know her?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Great, after you.”

  CHAPTER 23

  Parker

  AS I EXIT THE ELEVATOR, I see Megan through the double doors going off on the receptionist. She really has serious issues. Hailey has no idea at this point who she is. I enter the office first, but Megan heads straight for Hailey, who is behind me.

  “You,” she says, pointing in Hailey’s direction. “You home-wrecker. You tried stealing my man. You better keep your grimy little hands to yourself,” she yells at the top of her lungs. She can be heard throughout the office, causing people to come out to see what is going on.

  “Who the hell are you?” Hailey snaps back.

  “I’m Chase’s fiancée, Megan, and I know all about you.”

  “There’s nothing to know.”

  “That’s what you think. I saw your car at his house, and I had someone run your license plate and got all of your info,” Megan confirmed, acting like a crazy-ass stalker. “I was debating about coming up here, but then I saw P getting out of his car before he disappeared. So! What is it? Are you fucking both of them?”

  Hailey has a perplexed look on her face. I’m also confused, because I lied to Megan about Hailey. Why would she all of a sudden think Hailey wanted Chase? God only knows, but I have to intervene because this could get ugly.

  “Meg, you have this all wrong… completely,” I say, trying to calm her.

  “How am I wrong? I know what I see.”

  “Hailey isn’t with me or Chase. We went to school with her. She’s just a friend. We met back up with her at the reunion.”

  I don’t dare say that Chase thought he had found his mystery woman. She would flip the fuck out right here. I look at Hailey, trying to catch her eye, but she won’t look at me. I know she probably thinks I’m involved in this somehow. I really like her and have nothing to do with Megan’s craziness.

  “Parker, just get out of here and take your trash with you,” Hailey says with an even tone.

  “Hailey, you have it all wrong,” I plead.

  Megan is about to go off because Hailey called her trash, and I need Hailey to know how wrong she is.

  CHAPTER 24

  Hailey

  THIS GIRL NEEDS to go somewhere. I don’t know who she thinks she is, coming into my place of business and acting like an animal. I’m sure Parker and Chase set this whole thing up. I plan to call Chase and tell him off, too. He and Megan can live happily ever after for all I care. I’m so angry.

  “Why don’t you leave and take your trash with you,” I say to Parker as he stands there with a blank expression on his face.

  Before I know it, Parker’s hands are on my face, and he kisses me. Shocked, I kiss him back. The feel of his lips to mine does something to me, but at the moment, I’m not really sure what it is. It is definitely different than when Chase and I kissed at his house. I am conflicted. Reality sets in, and I push him away. He stands there, staring at me for a brief second
.

  “Parker, get out.”

  “Hailey, you can't deny it,” he whispers.

  “Get over yourself,” I snap. He is right I can’t deny that the kiss was great, but I'll never admit that.

  Megan interrupts, “It's all so touching. Really it is, but I know the truth. You can't fool me. I'll have my eyes on you, hoe.”

  “What did you just call me?” I take two steps forward.

  “You heard me,” she says, not stepping down.

  Parker gets between us. “We're leaving. Come on, Megan… now! Hailey, I'll call you,” he yells, dragging Megan out the door.

  “Don't bother,” I shout back. I am fuming. Why do I always get put in unfortunate situations?

  I walk into my office and slam the door. I am in kill mode—not literally, but I'm close. I dial Chase’s number. There's no answer. I dial three times. I don't even care. I'm sure he's nearby, laughing with the others. It wouldn't be the first time I've been laughed at. Finally he picks up the phone.

  “Hailey, is that you?”

  “Yes, you have some nerve, sending your girlfriend and your so-called best friend to my place of business to make an ass out of me. One wants to call me home-wrecker... the nerve. She's the cheating bitch,” I yell into the phone. “Then the other one, he has the balls to kiss me in front of everyone. What does he think, he's gonna get me in bed?”

  “He kissed you?” Chase asks.

  “Yes! Don't act like you're not involved in this. I'm the laughing stock.”

  “Hailey, you're wrong. I'm in California on the road. I don't know anything about what happened.” He sounds upset and concerned, but I could give two shits right now.

  “Well, I am livid right now.”

  “I'll call you back when I get to my hotel room. I'm going to get to the bottom of what's going on.”

  “I don't care, actually. I just want you all out of my life,” I snap into the phone.

  “Hailey, it will be okay. I'm going to figure it out,” Chase promises before hanging up.

  “I gotta go, Chase. Stay away from me,” I warn, but he has already disconnected the call.

  CHAPTER 25

  Parker

  I DRAG MEGAN out of the office by her arm.

  “What is your problem?” she asks, prying herself out of my grip.

  “Are you trying to ruin this for me?”

  “I wanted to confront the bitch.”

  “There's nothing to confront. I told you about her for your own sanity. You're acting like a crazy lunatic. Now Chase is going to be pissed, because Hailey is probably going to call him. Why would you show up here like this?” I ask, continuing to give her hell.

  “I want Chase back, and I don't want anyone else standing in my way.”

  “Well, the way you’re acting, he's not going to take you back. Remember, you cheated on him. Now I'm going to have to explain all this shit to him.

  “Can you tell him I'm sorry? He won't answer my calls.”

  Like I really want to do anything for her right now. She may have ruined all chances I have with Hailey.

  “Just go home. I'm going to talk to him. I'll catch you later.”

  We take the elevator down in silence. I need to get away from her and go my separate way to my car. I have nothing further to say to her. This whole situation just pushed Hailey back to Chase…

  ***

  It was May 2005, and I’d climbed the ladder to get a pair of the new Nike Air Maxes that we’d just gotten in stock. As I fumbled through the boxes, I noticed someone standing at the bottom of the ladder. I’d always gotten freaked out when I was all the way up high and someone was right below me. I grabbed the box I’d been looking for and made my way down.

  “Hi, Parker.”

  “Hi, Mr. McCormick. Can I help you with something?”

  Mr. McCormick was Hailey's dad. He was a regular at the sporting goods store since he coached several different sporting teams. He also used to be assistant coach for the boys’ lacrosse team at my school.

  “I want to talk to you about the other day, when I was in the store.”

  “Did someone not help you? I can let my manager know.” He looked upset. I knew he was going to bring up Hailey.

  “Actually, it's about my daughter Hailey. I noticed you two were arguing or something, and she looked really upset. I think you’re a really nice guy. I would hope that you weren't bothering or upsetting my girl.”

  “Mr. McCormick, it was a misunderstanding. I'm sorry Hailey was upset. She's a great person.”

  “I hope you mean that. She wouldn't hurt a soul.”

  “I do. I'll apologize to her.”

  “No, don't let her know that I talked to you. Just don't let it happen again.”

  “I won’t. I promise.”

  Mr. McCormick meant business. That was one dude I didn't want to mess around with.

  I probably shouldn’t have been so hard on Hailey the other day. Oh well, I'll just say hi and bye next time I see her.

  ***

  I feel like I’ve let her down again. I need to talk to Chase and let him know how I feel about the situation.

  My phone rings while I drive away. It’s Chase. I normally don't answer—it's against the law—but I put my phone on speaker.

  “What’s up, bro?” I say into the speaker.

  “Dude, seriously, you kissed her? Why? I like her. A lot.”

  “I know you're probably upset, but I told you I was going to contact her. You told me the name of her business.”

  “I know. I just don't want you to hurt her. And what in the world is Megan doing, going up there like a mad woman? Hailey called me screaming, saying that Megan is the home-wrecker and how dare she call her that since she's the one who’s the cheater. As we ended the conversation, she said she never wants to see any of us again.”

  Chase’s words hurt me. “Damn shit! I really like her and want to hang out with her more,” I say, hoping he doesn't get more upset. “Can you call Megan before she starts boiling rabbits?”

  “I don't know if I want to be with Megan. I was thinking about calling Hailey, but you kissing her changes things big time.”

  “In what way? I like her. You could care less.”

  “I do care. I like her, too,” he says with an attitude.

  “Well, this is a problem. So, what are you saying? May the best man win?” I ask.

  “I guess Hailey should decide who she wants, but right now it's neither of us,” Chase reminds me.

  Chase and I have never run into this situation before. We have never wanted the same woman. I hope this doesn't cause a rift in our friendship. I can already feel the tension.

  CHAPTER 26

  Chase

  I DON'T KNOW if I'm going to fight with my best friend over a woman, even though I was interested in her first and then he came in and made a move. Hailey and I had something, but there's just so much going on with me right now, I don't really want to involve her with my situation. The problem is that she came along again at the wrong time in my life. But then again, when is there actually a right time? Also, there's Megan... I think I'll always love her, but is that enough to forgive her?

  As I lie here alone in my hotel room watching the hockey game, I realize that tough decisions need to be made. I dial Megan's number.

  “Hello,” she says groggily.

  “It’s me. We need to talk.”

  “Chase, it's midnight.”

  “I couldn't sleep. I'm coming home tomorrow. We need to talk. I'll pick you up when I leave the airport. My plane arrives at three.”

  “Okay, I'll be ready. And Chase... I miss you.”

  I pause. “Me, too,” I say to avoid any unnecessary prolonged conversations.

  I hang up the phone. I check my Facebook page to pass the time but end up falling asleep.

  A few hours later, I wake to the music from Sports Center blaring on my television. It's six a.m. My flight leaves at nine.

  I shower then rush around and p
ack my belongings. I have to get to the airport early to check in and head home to my future.

  CHAPTER 27

  Hailey

  I OPEN THE SLIDING glass door to my balcony then sit in the chair with my coffee and iPad. I have a gazillion Facebook messages to check on my publisher page. I'm not even going to get into them right now. I have a friend request and a message from Parker. I don't even know if I should accept him. I'm still upset over what happened yesterday. I was taken aback by his kiss, but I can't stop thinking about it. His profile picture is kind of cute, too. He has on sunglasses and a Hawaiian lei without a shirt, and he's holding up a beer. I’m not going to deny that he is extremely hot. I hit confirm friend, even though I am still unsure. I hope I'm not going to regret this. I open the message; I actually have butterflies in my stomach, which is strange.

  It reads:

  Hi, Hailey. I'm really sorry about yesterday. I was going to call you, but I was afraid you would hang up on me, so I decided to message you on here instead. I would say that I'm sorry about kissing you, but I'm not. I would actually do it again, if you would let me. Say, maybe, tonight? Do you want to go to dinner with me? If not, I understand. Hope to hear from you soon… P

  Is he for real? How do I even respond to this…?

  ***

  It was June 2005, and I heard my name called. A sensation of relief came over me as I walked up to the stage to receive my high school diploma. I shook the principal’s hand and returned to my seat. My last task was to walk the final procession with Chase as my partner—since our last names were close, I got stuck with him.

  When we got in line the first time around, no words were spoken between us. Once everyone had their diplomas, Pomp and Circumstance started to play, and I nearly ran out the door as I waited impatiently for our turn. We met in the middle aisle and walked directly out the gym doors. I looked for my parents because I just wanted to leave. Leave that place, those people, and never return again. I saw my mom, dad, grandparents, and younger brother waving me over from a distance. I walked up to them, and they all kissed and congratulated me. We took a few pictures, but I tried to get out of that part, as usual. I hated taking pictures. My confidence level wasn’t exactly high, and I thought I looked gigantic in every picture.