Hailey

Justin

Ella

Trace

Marla

Joey

The young woman zipped up her duffle bag and smoothed out the wrinkles that could only be seen by her own eyes. She lifted her head and looked around the barren room. It feels like a lifetime of memories hitting her hard. Some she thinks of fondly but mostly she regrets ever having them.

She shouldered the black bag she walked from the now empty room. Her eyes sweeping the dingy apartment one last time before walking out the front door.

As she walked down the dirty staircase a door slams, followed by a man yelling. Clutching her bag tighter she quickened her pace. The man continues to yell but it is now accompanied by a woman yelling back. Just as she reached the end of the stairs, she's sure she heard something breaking against the door but she can't be sure.

She pushed the heavy metal door open, breathing in the fresh air. Around her she can hear the catcalls of the men sitting on the stoops beside the apartment building but she ignores them. She tosses her bag into the passenger seat of the small Honda before rounding the front of the car and climbing in.

As she nears the stop sign she takes a look in the review mirror. Trash in the streets, kids running around without shoes, people not even trying to hide the exchange of drugs and money.

She was leaving. And not a moment too soon.

 It's a brand new day

The sun is shinning

It's a brand new day

For the first time

In such a long long time

I know

I'll be ok

She didn't hear the soft knock on her door, the music playing too loudly for that. Playing too loudly to think as well. But that had been the plan.  She moved around the room, pulling items from boxes and moving from one end of the apartment to the other putting the items in homes that she will eventually move again.

It was when the person knocked for a third time that she heard it. Hands reaching for the remote to the outdated CD player, she pressed pause. She pulled her hair into a ponytail as she fought her way through the mess on the small apartment to the door.

She brushed a stray hair from her face before opening the door.

"I think this belongs to you." He smiled and held his hand out to her.

She looked down. In his hands were envelopes addressed to her. "Thanks." She reached out and took them from him. "I wonder how much longer this is going to keep happening before the mailman gets it right."

He grinned and shrugged. "Probably never. I've been here a year and I still have people dropping off my mail."

She laughed. "Well, thanks."

"Uh," He stepped closer when it appeared she was going to close the door. "I'm Justin by the way."

She cocked her head to the side.

Suddenly he felt very stupid. Standing here in the hallway, introducing himself to this girl. But he felt it was time. He saw her every day, in passing and on every Sunday afternoon for the last month. They both found themselves in the laundry room downstairs each weekend around the same time. They would always exchange pleasantries but never actually had a conversation. It had been ongoing for a month and this was the first time he ever told her his name.

"Hailey." She smiled at him. "But I'm sure you knew that already."

His eyebrows came together in confusion. "Huh?"

She lifted the envelopes. "You keep getting my mail."

"Oh, yea." He gave her a sheepish grin.  "Sorry."

She shrugged, slightly amused by him. True, this was the first time she had actually had a conversation with him but it was not the first time she had felt this way around him. At ease and comfortable. He had this sort of aura about him that calmed her. She didn't even know who he was but the brief seconds she saw him each day made being in a new town, completely alone, a little more bearable.

"Ok, well, I know this is kind of weird but um...a few of my friends are meeting up later for a little pickup game of softball and then we usually go out for pizza and beers afterwards." He scratched the back of his head. "I don't know if you have plans but you're more than welcome to join us."

"Oh." She was dumbfounded. This wasn't what she expected. Not to say that she wasn't a little pleased. It's hard being in a new place, completely different from anything else she's ever known. Without a single person to talk to. To confide in.

Not that she wanted to confide anything to anyone.

"I'm really sorry." He stammered out quickly, noticing her change in demeanor. "I didn't mean to freak out you or anything. I just thought since you're new to the area and I haven't seen you with anyone else. Not that I watch you or anything. I'm not a stalker or something," he stopped, face flushed.

She let out a giggle that she had been unable to hold back. Instantly she saw his shoulders relax.

"Yea, I think I can manage that." She smiled up at him. "Just grab me before you head out?"

"Alright, cool." He returned the smile. "So I'll pick you up in like an hour?"

"Sounds like a plan."

He took a step back and looked down the hallway. "So....I'll see you later."

She nodded. "Bye."

He brought his hand up and gave her a short wave before turning and heading towards the staircase and up to his apartment.

She closed the door at his retreating form, smiling slightly to herself. She needed this. A fresh start. That's why she moved across the country.  Hailey was determined to get her new start, beginning today.

When there was a knock on the door a little over an hour later, Hailey's stomach was fluttering with nerves. She was suddenly wondering what she was getting herself into. She didn't know this guy or his friends. She cringes when she thinks about a time when that wouldn't have mattered to her.

She shakes her head, as if to clear her thoughts before pulling the door open.  She smiles when she sees Justin standing there in black t-shirt and gray track pants, baseball cap atop his head.

"You ready?" He smiles at her, lifting the baseball bat. He notices, for the first time, how deeply brown her eyes are and the light splattering of freckles across her nose. Her hair waving over her shoulders, no longer in the ponytail she had earlier, only accentuating her deep brown eyes.

She nods, stepping into the hallway and closing the door behind her. "So, this is like a serious thing huh?" She points to the bat and glove he's holding.

They make their way down the staircase and he grins. "It kinda is for me." He reached out and opens the door for her, the cold air causing her to shiver. She still wasn't used to the Washington weather. Even thought it was September the weather was cold compared to the warmth of Georgia.

"I play shortstop for the Tacoma Rainiers." He said as they walk down the sidewalk. "It's the triple-A team for the Mariners."

She stopped walking and turned to him. "Are you serious right now?"

He ducked his head, slightly embarrassed. "Yea."

"Oh my God. That's amazing!" She smiled brightly at him.

He looked up at her and couldn't stop the smiled that pulled at his mouth. He knew his friends and his parents were proud of him but to see that same look he got from them, on the face of a stranger made him feel something he hadn't felt in a long time. It was different that the way little kids at the field looked at him. It was like she was proud of him.

"Really Justin. That's awesome." Her face held the smile as they continued to walk along. "I mean, it's the Mariners so I'm not sure if we can be friends after this but you're one amazing play from the big leagues."

He was a little surprised to hear that. "You're into baseball?" They turned the corner and she could see the park just up the block.

"Oh yea, my dad's from Boston so it's in my blood." Her whole face lit up as she answered him.  Her couldn't help but think of all the fun she had with her dad at baseball games growing up. They would spend the entire day together. Eating lunch before going to the ballpark and being there as soon as the gates open to make sure they didn't miss batting practice.  They'd spend the rest of the night enjoying the game. She loved it because it was such a huge part of him and he loved it that much more because she took an effort in learning it.

"Is that where you're from?" He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. Her hair blowing in the wind before she reached to pull it into a ponytail.

"No." She looked down at her feet.

He watched her for a second, again sensing a change in her. The quick one word answer was all he got and he knew that she probably won't say anything more if he asked.

That was sometimes a problem of his. He was pretty much an open book, always saying too much or asking too much if he felt he wasn't getting the truth or enough information from someone. It took people a long time to get used to the way he was and in return it took him a long time to realize when he was at the stage of a relationship where he could ask certain questions.

She tried to think of something to say to him as they walked along, the park getting closer with every step. She could see there were already several people there, mostly men but there were a few women as well.

"Dude! You brought a chick!?" A voice from the crowd yelled out. The group of people turned and looked in their direction. A few waved before turning around and that was when Hailey noticed that only the guy who yelled and a pretty redhead were looking at them.

She looked over at Justin in time to see him shaking his head, an amused smile on his face. "And that would be Trace." He looked at her. "My best friend since before I could walk."

She smiled at the mention of the length of the friendship. She didn't know what that was like, to have a relationship of any type last that long.

"He seems like a great guy." She giggled.

"For the most part." He laughed.

She laughed with him as they walked onto the field. Her eyes moved over the group of people in front of her.

"Guys, this is Hailey." Justin handed the bat over to Trace. "Hailey, this is the guys."

"We have names asshole." Trace rolled his eyes before looking at her. "I'm Trace. Single. Taurus. Account manager at a graphic design firm."

Hailey openly laughed at him and couldn't help but notice a look of annoyance on the pretty redheads' face. She watched her for a second before the girl looked at her. Embarrassed she had been caught staring, she looked away quickly.

"I thought you were going to bail." The girl gave a small smile to Justin as he walked past her and towards home plate.

"Nah." He grinned before throwing his arm over her shoulders. "I wouldn't miss a chance to destroy Trace."

Hailey watched as the girl looked up at him with adoring eyes. It was clear to her that this girl had something going on with Justin. She could understand why he would be attracted to her. The girl was stunning. Beautiful red hair, gorgeous face, her legs covered in tight black pants, showing her curves. The type of girl Hailey had always been intimidated by but secretly envied.

"Alright new girl, let's show Superstar how this is done." Trace grinned at her, handing her the bat. "Ladies first."

Hailey couldn't contain the grin as she reached for the bat.

~~

"I think I'm going to marry you." Trace leaned back in his chair and smiled at Hailey.

Everyone at the table laughed and Hailey blushed under the stares from the group. She wasn't used to any kind of attention on her. Not anymore at least. She had a hard time remember why she liked it all that time ago.

"It's not every day someone shows up our own Mr. October." He brought his beer to his lips.

"Yea, she's a regular Mr. Baseball." The pretty redhead, Ella, muttered.

Hailey chewed on her bottom lip, not meeting Ella's gaze. It was weird to hear her say things like this. They didn't know each other. They haven't even spoken in the last few hours they had spent together. But there was some friction coming from Ella. And Hailey couldn't figure it out.

"That last catch was pretty fucking amazing." Josh, another friend of Justin's grinned. "She robbed you man." He pointed his beer bottle at Justin.

"Yea, yea, yea. She got lucky." Justin shot a smile at her. "I'll get it next time."

Hailey returned the smile. "Not if you keep hitting weak like that."

A chorus of ‘ohhh's came from around the table and again Ella rolled her eyes.

"I'm going to be making pot roast tomorrow night." Hailey saw Ella say to Justin, her voice lowered. "I thought maybe you'd come by."

"Yea, I can do that." Justin gave her a soft smile. "I'll come by when I leave the gym."

"Good." Ella's face light up. Hailey saw her reach a hand out and place it on Justin's arm. He didn't shake it off.

Trace saw Hailey looking at the two of them. "Hailey, we're doing a BBQ this weekend at my place." She turned to look at him. "Don't let Justin forget to pick you up on his way. I need you to be there."

She blushed and dropped her head slightly in embarrassment. "I don't know."

"Bullshit! You have to be there. How am I supposed to get you to fall in love with me if we don't spend time together?" He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

Again, the table erupted in laughter.

"Dude, she's never gonna go for a guy like you." Justin shook his head, leaning back in his chair. Hailey saw Ella pursed her lips.

"And how the hell do you know what kinda guy she wants?" Trace playfully snapped at him. "I may be the one."

Hailey threw her head back and laughed again. It was right then that she realized this was the most fun she'd had in a long, long time. As happy as she was, it saddened her to think something as simple as beer and pizza could make her this happy.

"Alright boys and girls," Justin stood. "Some of us need to be up early in the morning, so I'm outta here."

"You sure?" Ella looked up at him, her eyes pleading with him to stay a little longer.

"Yea, one more beer." Josh slid his beer down the table to Justin.

"I really gotta go. Got a meeting with my agent in the morning and then some stuff at the clubhouse." He shrugged.

"I think I'm going to head out too." Hailey stood and giggled when Trace groaned.

Justin walked around the table and stood waiting for her, Ella's eyes never leaving him. "Later guys."

Hailey gave a wave to the group and turned to follow behind Justin.

"Hey!" Trace called out and they both turned around. "You never said if you were coming next weekend."

"Oh, um, yea, maybe." She gave him half a smile.

"That's a yes." He puffed his chest out and Ella rolled her eyes.

"Good night Trace." Justin laughed as they walked out the door.

The two of them walked silently down the sidewalk, neither feeling the need to say anything. She pulled her jacket tighter around her, crossing her arms across her chest. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eyes and smiled when he noticed she had a smudge of red dirt from the baseball field on her cheek.

"You should come next weekend." He said, breaking the silence.

She shrugged. "Maybe."

"Don't mind Trace. He's just messing with you."

"No, he's fine. Funny."

He nodded as they turned the corner onto the street where their apartment building is. "They all seemed to like you."

She shrugged again thinking of Ella's treatment towards her. "I guess."

For some reason, she couldn't understand why she cared so much what Ella thought of her. And if she was honest with herself that was what was holding her back from saying yes to the BBQ next weekend. She liked Justin's friends, especially Trace. He made her laugh all afternoon and it was a nice change to what she was used to.

"Think about and let me know." Justin reached out and pulled the door open for her.  "You know where I live."

She smiled and walked up the stairs to her door. "I promise."

"Good." They stopped outside her apartment. "I'm glad you came. And you're more than welcome to join us any time."

Her eyes darted down briefly. "Yea, I had a good time. Thanks."

"No problem." He shrugged and started walking backwards toward the stairs leading up to his apartment. "I could always use someone to keep my on my toes when we're playing."

"Anything I can do to help out." She laughed. "The last thing we need is for you to start acting like Manny or something."

She heard him laughing as she opened her door and then closed it behind her.

It was then, in the dark with boxes lining the floor, that she realized she was alone.

Well I was moving at the speed of sound

Head spinning, couldn't find my way around, and

Didn't know that I was going down

Yeah, yeah

Where's I've been, well it's all a blur

What I was looking for, I'm not sure

Too late and didn't see it coming

Yeah, yeah

And then I crashed into you

Justin looked around the backyard and smiled when he saw Hailey laughing with Trace and Gina. It was nice to see her fitting in so well with his friends. She had been living in the apartment building for almost two months and he never saw her with anyone. He had never seen anyone with such sadness in their eyes and even though he didn't know her but he knew he didn't like it. So it pleased him to see her laughing and having such a good time.

"Hey." Ella stepped close to him, beer in hand. "Brought you one."

"Thanks." He reached and taking the bottle for her hand. Her fingers grazed his. He had known she had always had a little crush on him, part of him thinks it's because it pissed her parents off. Her family was pretty well off and she never dated anyone they deemed acceptable. And maybe he did encourage it, taking her out to dinner that one time. But he quickly realized there was nothing there. Ella was a great girl, beautiful and funny but not what he was looking for. There was no spark.

"My parents are having this party in a few weeks," She tilted her head to the side a little. "And I was hoping you'd maybe go with me?"

He looked at her and could see a hint of fear in her eyes. Secretly he was pleased to know that she was worried he would say no to her. He bet no one had ever said no to her in her life. Ella was that girl in high school that everyone wanted to be. Homecoming queen, class president, prom queen, valedictorian, friends with everyone. She never paid him any mind until their junior year when he started having scouts coming to games to look at him play.

He licked his lips and glanced over at Hailey. "I'll have to see what's going on but I'll let you know, ok?"

Her eyes flickered in annoyance but she plastered a smile on her face. "No problem."

"Hey, I'm gonna go check in with Hailey." He moved pasted her, squeezing her shoulder on the way. "Make sure that Trace isn't corrupting her."

Ella forced the smile but gritted her teeth. She didn't understand what everyone's fascination with this girl was. Even more annoyed when Justin seemed to take her under his wing, inviting her places with them and making sure she wasn't left out of the conversation.

"Come find me when you're done." She flipped her hair over her shoulder.

"Yeah." He waved over his shoulder and walked across the yard.

Hailey looked up and smiled at Justin when he playfully shoved Trace. She was really finding herself drawn to his seemingly always playful nature. The few times she had spoke with him and spent time with them it always seemed like he was just wanting to have fun and laugh.

Trace looked over at Ella, now talking to a girl whose name Hailey couldn't remember. "How's it going with Ella?"

Hailey turned to look at Justin not really sure what Trace meant by that question but hoping Justin's answer would fill in the blanks.

He shrugged. "It was a onetime thing. I just don't think she gets it."

"You know that girl wants you." Gina smiled at him. "Give it another try."

"Maybe." He glanced over at Hailey, who was looking around the backyard. "How goes the job hunt?"

The other two heads turned to Hailey and she blinked. "Me?"

They chuckled. "Yes, you."

"Oh." She blushed before shrugging. "It's going."

"You know, I've got an aunt who might need some office help." Gina offered.  "She's a realtor and stays crazy busy. I can talk to her if you want."

"That'd be great. Thanks." While it wasn't a job offer the thought of a prospect was a huge relief to her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She stood outside the building, staring at the words ‘Jacobs Reality' painted in bright blue on the glass of the door. Gina had come through and got her aunt to meet with Hailey about a job. Gina had told her it wasn't guaranteed but at least she got her foot in the door.

After shaking off the butterflies she pushed the door open and walked into a bare room. There were some pictures on the wall and two folding chairs. In the middle of the room was a desk with a multi-phone line phone sitting in the center of it. The room gave off an uninviting feel and the butterflies had come back.

"I'll be with you in a moment." A female voice called out from the open door.

She nodded to no one and contemplated sitting in one of the chairs but thought better of it. She could hear the woman on the phone talking to someone, a client probably. The phone started to ring at the desk but goes unanswered as the woman is already on another call. 

It starts to ring again but the person doesn't hang up. It rings three times. Four time. Five times.

"Good Morning. Jacobs Reality." Hailey answered the phone without thinking. "How can I help you?"

The man on the line wanted to make an appointment with someone to go see a house. After faking her way through the phone call she hung up the phone to see a pretty brunette woman standing in the doorway, a slight look of shock and what she thinks is appreciation.

Hailey hung the phone up slowly. "Um...sorry about that." She swallowed hard. "It's just the phone was ringing and you were on the other line....yeah, I'm sorry."

The woman leaned against the door jamb. "You must be Hailey."

"Yes, ma'am." She reached out and shook hands. "Again, I'm really sorry."

"No worries." The woman turned and walked back into the office, motioning for her to follow. "Gina said you're looking for a job?"

"Yes, I just moved here about two months ago and while I had some money saved up for the move, it's quickly depleting." She gave her a sheepish grin. "I'm sorry, I didn't get your name."

"Oh!" The woman laughed. "Marla. Marla Jacobs. You'll have to forgive me. My mind is running a million miles a minute and I'm out of control. I think I'd forget my head if it wasn't attached."

She smiled at the older woman. "I understand that."

"So what type of skills do you have?" Marla sat back in the chair. "Apart from phone skills and thinking on your feet."

"Um, I'm really organized and I've got better than good computer skills." She tried to relax a little. Marla seemed to be relaxed and easy going.

"Better than good?" She grinned at her and Hailey shifted in her seat, worried that she botched this already. "That's better than me." A sigh of relief passed through her lips and Marla sat forward in the chair, elbows on the desk. "When can you start?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 "So you got the job?" Justin jumped up on the washer machine.

"I got the job." Hailey snapped out a shirt before folding it. "I'm going to have to call Gina tomorrow and thank her for that."

"So what's next on the list of things still needing to be done?"

She pondered that question for a minute. Now that she had a job and a place to live, the next thing on her list, in her mind at least, was to go back to school. Even if it was just a community college. She thought that sharpening up her computer skills would always be beneficial in the future.

"School maybe." She finally told him with a shrug.

"Really? I think that's a great idea."

She turned to him. "Yeah? It doesn't seem weird that I'd be going back so late?"

"Nah." He brought a leg up and rested his chin on his knee. "Besides, it never hurts to get smarter."

She laughed. "Speaking from experience?"

He gave her a mock look of hurt. "I just never did the whole college thing. Went right from high school to the minors."

"Which is working out well. So no need to feel like you missed out on anything."

"I guess so." He voice was filled with something. Concern maybe?

She turned to face him fully, resting against the folding table. "Everything ok?"

He looked at her. He could tell her. It wouldn't be the first time he'd told someone he hardly knew things about his life.

 But he felt like he knew her.

He rolled his neck before heaving a sigh. "It's just there are all these rumors going around now that the season's over." He confessed. "Trade talks."

"As in you?"

He nodded. "Yep. Tampa Bay's farm club and the Sox."

Her interest was perked. "Which Sox?"

He smiled at the look on her face. "The red kind."

"Well that's not so bad is it?" She laughed at him. "They're a winning team."

He shrugged again. "They are. It's a great club. Great players. I really respect Francona."

She could hear the struggle in his vice. "But it's not what you want."

He looked up at her. "I've been here my whole life." He rubbed his forehead. "Leaving everything I know. Everyone I know. Kinda scary."

She nodded, fully understanding that fear. It was one that she had to conquer not too long ago. It's one that still lingers with her on some days.

"Well," She turned back to the basket of clothes waiting to be folded. "Whatever happens, you're family and friends will still be here and still supporting you."

He smirked at her backside. "What about you?"

"What about me?" She could feel the blush on her face but refused to look at him.

"Would you still support me?"

"If you're a Red Sox, the answer is duh."

He laughed. "Good to know."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

That night as he lay in his bed, Justin couldn't help but think of the conversation he had with Hailey earlier that night. He felt a little weird having told her about the trade talk. He hadn't told anyone about that yet. Not his parents. Not Trace.

He couldn't place it but being around her made him comfortable. Like he had known her forever. The banter between them was easy going and fun. He found himself opening up to her unlike he had with anyone else and it was surprisingly nice.

It had taken him off guard how quickly he found himself connecting and opening up with her. He knew he had the tendency to be an open book with most people but the connection he felt when he was around her and the way he found himself unable to stop talking around her was one that he hadn't felt before. And a little part of him was scared of that. But a good kind of scared.  One that he was welcoming with open arms.

He just wished she opened up to him. She'd tell him about her day and the things she did. But any time he asked questions about her family or her past, she'd clam up and stumble over her words until he felt forced to change the subject.

He rolled over and closed his eyes. He was ok with not knowing her past. It was something she obviously didn't want to talk about for one reason or another. And while he was curious as to what happened to make her pack up and move across the county, he wasn't going to push her. He was just glad to a friend like her in his life.

Threw away my three piece

Threw away the tie

Can't even seem to try

Gave up on the love thang

Gave up on the game

They all let me down the same

Same ole...I'm feeling....20 something

Oooh, I'm feeling 20 something

The front door swung open and the cold air rushed into the small front office. Hailey looked up to see Marla rush in, hands full of paperwork and coffee.

Her head is down as she speaks, "I'm going to need you to come with me today-" She stopped midsentence when she looked up to see the once barren room now housing new office furniture and a little warmer with a new coat of paint.

Hailey stood behind the desk, wringing her hands in front of her. "I know you said not to overdo it but....come on, it looks great and you know it."

Marla looked around the room, an amused grin tugging at her lips. "I thought you'd just throw down a rug and get rid of the folding chairs."

"Yeah well, you gave me room to run and this is what happens." Hailey shrugged. "But don't worry. The furniture is rented from the office supply place downtown and the paint is just extra I had from when I moved into the apartment."

She had to admit, Hailey had done something in that room that she hadn't been able to do in the two years since she moved into that building. It now gave off a warm and inviting feel that would help any potential clients feel welcome. And that's what they wanted to see when they walked into a meeting with a realtor. That they knew what they were doing and what they were talking about when it came to purchasing a home.

"What was it you needed me to do today?" Hailey asked taking the cup of coffee from her hands so Marla could remove her jacket.

"I'm going to need some help today keeping my stuff organized and together." She walked into her office, Hailey following behind her. "I've got the Peterson's this morning and then-"

"Mr. Robinson this afternoon." Hailey interrupted her. "I've got two different folders ready for you. All the houses for both parties are in order based on how you're going to be visiting them.  I also spaced them out so that travel wouldn't be too much and everything is relatively close to one another. Should make for a shorter visit with each of them."

She just looked at her in slight wonderment. Since the day Hailey stepped into her office, she had been a Godsend. Always going above and beyond what any other receptionist would have done. In truth, she was more of an assistant to Marla, handling all the things that no other front desk would have done for her in the past.

"If you can make it back this afternoon, there's a family coming in with several small children and they're looking for a farm." Hailey went on. "Within a fifteen mile radius of the city."

Marla rolled her eyes. "I guess I'm going to add miracle worker to my list of characters today."

Laughing she turned back to the door. "I'll be here if you need anything."

"Thank you Hailey. For everything."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"So you're going on a date with her?" Trace smirked, his head turned a little to face him. "You asshole."

"It's not a date." Justin rolled his eyes, his hand moving the iron back and forth over the black slacks. "It's just some stupid fucking dinner party at her parents. They won't even know I'm there."

"Says the tool who's ironing pants."

He shook his head and cast his eyes back down at the pants. Ok, so maybe he was ironing a pair of pants but they needed it. Besides showing up at Ella's parents house with wrinkled pants is not the impression he wanted to make.

And despite what Trace thought, it was not a date. Ella needed someone to go with her, something about keeping the seating arrangement even, at least that's what she had told him. So he was being a friend and going with her. True, she probably viewed it as more but he just didn't look at her like that.

"Where's Hailey?" Trace's voice broke his train of thoughts.

"Um....working I guess?" He shrugged, a small smile painting his features when he pictures her face. "I don't really hang with her man."

"Why not? She's hot."

"You need to get laid." He chuckled.

"I do. How ‘bout you put a good word in for me with her?" Trace looked over at him.

"With who?"

"Hailey!" He threw his hands up in the air, like Justin should have known that. "Jesus man. Have you not listened to a word I said?"

He sort of hadn't been. His mind wrapped up in all the trade talk. He still hadn't been able to bring himself to tell anyone yet, kept hoping for something a little more set in stone than ‘it's just talk' to tell his parents and friends.

"Sorry. I've just got a lot going on." Justin confessed.

Trace turned to fully face him when he heard the tone of his friends' voice. Something was off. "You ok?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." He turned the iron off and shook out the pants. "Just dreading this thing tonight."

He looked at him, not believing it for a second. They'd been friends far too long for him to not know when something was bothering him. But not telling him it the part that's confusing Trace right now. Justin always spoke his mind. Never could seem to keep anything to himself. Which was a big part of their friendship, they both possessed the ability to just open their mouths and not stop talking.

"Ok." Trace gave him one last look before turning back to the TV. "Hey, bring home some of their desert! You know they're gonna have some bomb ass food."

He laughed. "I'm not bringing a doggy bag home from Ella's parents' house. That's just wrong."

"Come on. Do me a solid and bring something back. I'll even come by tomorrow and pick it up." He tried to plead. "I'm too fucking lazy to go to the grocery store and I need lunch tomorrow."

"Fuck off." He laughed again before walking down the hall to his bedroom.

XXXXXXXXXX

She shuffled her feet, waiting for the door to open. She closed her eyes when she felt a yawn coming on and was unable to suppress it.

"Sleep much?" Justin grinned at her.

"Took you long enough to open the door." She smiled at him. "Your mail sir."

He reached out and took the envelopes from her hands. "Thanks."

"No problem." She looked at him. "What's with the getup?"

He pushed the door open and walked back towards the kitchen, Hailey shutting the door behind him. It was the first time she had been in his apartment and she'd by lying if she said she hadn't been curious.

It was exactly like she pictured it. Beige walls, black leather couch and recliner. Plasma TV playing Sports Center quietly in the background. The walls were almost bare except for two things. Two picture frames. One of what had to be his family. And another of him with a young blonde girl who's smile matched his.

"My sister." He spoke when he caught where her eyes were looking. "She's sixteen."

"She's beautiful."

"She is." He smiled at the picture. She looked exactly like him, only prettier. The same blue eyes, same smile.  Most people could look at them and instantly tell they were related. "Damn it."

Hailey turned to him, finding him fumbling with the tie that had been hanging around his neck. "Want some help?"

"Nah, I'll get it sooner or later." He squatted some in front of the microwave and tried again with the fabric.

"Move." She pushed at his shoulder a little until he turned to face her. "Are you always this stubborn?"

He quirked an eyebrow. "Are you always this bossy?"

She stuck her tongue out at him and he felt a gentle tug around his neck. "You really wanna say that to me while I'm doing this? I could just pull and choke you out."

He laughed. "You'd never."

"You haven't known me long enough to assume that yet my friend." She slipped the silky fabric between her fingers and pulled. "And done."

He looked down and smiled. "Thanks."

"No problem." He took a step back and moved towards the door, grabbing his jacket off the back of the couch before turning to look at her. She suddenly realized why he was staring at her.  "Oh. Sorry. I'm leaving."

"It's fine. I don't mean to rush you but I've got this thing and being late sort of isn't an option." He held the door open for her.

"I'm gone, I'm gone." She rushed past him out the door. "Where you going anyways?"

They walked down the stairs together. He didn't know why but he didn't want to tell her that he was going to a dinner function at Ella's parents. With Ella.

"Just some stupid dinner thing." He shrugged. "I'm hoping to be in and out in just a few hours. It's not really my kind of crowd."

She nodded and stopped at her door. "Well, have fun. It'll go by fast enough."

He grinned and rounded the stairs. "Later!"

"Night!" She closed the door behind her.

The empty silence in the apartment was a sound that was deafening. And one that makes her a little stir crazy. She walked across the room and turned the TV on, not really caring what was playing just so long as it was noise.

Instead of taking a seat on the couch she walked into the kitchen and took a bowl from the cabinet and poured Lucky Charms into it. After picking out a few marshmallows and popping them into her mouth, she poured a glass of milk and made her way to the couch. Before she could get really comfortable the phone rang.

"Hello?" She answered.

"Hello to you too grump."

She smiled at her dad's voice. "Hi dad. And I'm not a grump, just eating."

"Yeah, ok. What's for dinner?"

She shifted on the couch, propping her feet up on the coffee table. "Lucky charms?"

He laughed and she couldn't help but laugh along with him. "So, aside from eating healthy, how's life? How's the job going?"

"It's good. Marla's really great and she seems really happy with everything I've been doing for her." She shrugged knowing he couldn't see her. "And I like her. She's sorta like my mom away from home or something like that."

"You better not let your mother hear you say that."

"How is she?"

"Busy. She's out with your aunt doing some early Christmas shopping." She knew her dad well enough to know that he was rolling his eyes.

"Dad, it's not early if it's after Thanksgiving. That is the normal time to do Christmas shopping."

"All you women say that. It's really just an excuse to spend my hard earned money." He paused. "You coming home?"

She chewed on her bottom lip. She wanted nothing more than to go home for Christmas but it's too soon to go back there.

"You know, he's out now." He starts. "Maybe you need to see him. Sort all this mess out."

"No." She said firmly. "No. And let's not talk about that. Ok."

He sighed deeply but didn't press the issue. He knew better than to rock the boat on this situation.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Justin shuffled around the room, looking for an exit. He just wanted to get outside and breathe. The atmosphere in this room was suffocating and he didn't understand these people. Money spoke and they listened.

He breathed in deeply, his hands resting on the railing in front of him.

"Want some company?"

He looked over his shoulder to see Ella standing in the doorway. In the light, he had to admit she looked beautiful. The white dress showing off her shape, her hair framing her face.

He smiled at her as she walked across the distance to stand next to him. "Sorry. It was getting to be a little...."

"Stuffy?" She grinned at him.

He laughed. "Yeah, stuffy."

"Well, I'm glad you came with me." She bumped her shoulder with his. "It's nice to have someone to make fun of these people with."

He looked at her as she stared out over the huge backyard. He didn't know why he was insisting on putting her off his radar. Ella was beautiful and funny and kind. Sort of. He knew she had the tendency to be a little catty but in his experience most women were. That's what made them women. Trace was always giving him a hard time about the way he was stringing her along; get close without getting too close.

And he didn't feel like he was getting anywhere on his own with women. He met them, he dated them, he ended it with them. He couldn't put a finger on it but there was always something that just didn't fit, didn't feel right.

"You free Saturday night?" He blurted without thinking.

Ella turned to look at him, surprise and bewilderment on her face. "As in tomorrow night?"

He nodded and straightened up. Clearing his throat, "Yeah, I was wondering if you wanted to grab some dinner."

He could tell by the look on her face that she was still confused and part of him felt guilty for asking her like this. Another part of him felt like he was settling for something. While he knows that he doesn't feel the way she feels for him, he's hoping that the feelings will grow into something more.

"Of course." She smiled brightly at him.

He returned the smile but couldn't ignore the feeling in the pit of his stomach.

A single lifetime lays behind her

As she tries to find her breath

Just behind the door he'll find her

Taking her hand, he softly says

For the first time you can open your eyes

And see the world without your sorrow

And no one knows the pain you left behind

All the peace you can never find

Just waiting there to hold you keep you

Welcome to the first day of your life

Just open up your eyes

Hailey shifted the laundry basket on her hip and pushed the door open with her foot, a small smile tugging on her lips when she see's Justin.

"Hey." She greeted him dropping her basket to the floor.

He turned. "Hey. I haven't seen you in a while."

"Yeah, I've been really busy with work and .....stuff." She shrugged it off. He watched her shake her head, as if to clear her thoughts.

There was nothing more he wanted than to ask her what that mysterious tone meant and what she was hiding but the look on her face, the distracted and sad look is what kept him from asking.

"So....you going home for Christmas?" He shifted to lean against the washer machine. "Where is home exactly?"

She could hear the softer tone of the second question and knew he was trying dig a little deeper into her past but she wasn't sure how much she was ready to share with him. What happened back in Georgia isn't something she's ready to talk about yet.

She lifted the lid to the washer machine and dumped her clothes inside. She shut the lid and turned to him, "Georgia. Roswell, actually."

He grinned at her. "Roswell? You got alien sightings there?"

"No." She laughed and threw a box of dyer sheets at him. He caught it easily and placed them beside him. "It's just this small podunk town outside of Atlanta."

He nodded. "Ok, so no aliens. Got it. Family?" She nodded and he could see how uncomfortable she was getting but he pressed on. "Friends?"

"No."

He watched her eyes dart around the room, looking anywhere but him. It was painfully clear to him that she was doing her best to avoid talking about this more but he just couldn't let it go. One of his character flaws.

"Hailey, relax." He chuckled. "I'm not asking if you committed murder, I'm just trying to get to know you. You know, be friends and all that jazz."

She rolled her eyes and smirked at him a little. "It just.....I don't like to talk about it. I left for a reason and it was a good enough reason for me. Can we just leave it at that?"

Her eyes were locked with his and his throat tightened a little. It was almost as if he was seeing her for the first time and he couldn't help but be struck at how pretty she was. Not one of those in your face pretty girls but more like a girl next door pretty.

"Can you please just leave it alone?" She asked him.

He could see the determination and maybe a little fear in her eyes. She really didn't want to talk about it and it only intrigued him more. But it was the fear that made him drop it

"Plans for Christmas?" He asked again as she jumped up on the washer machine.

"Nah, thought about going home but I'm just not ready for all of that." She sighed and he bit his tongue to keep questioning her. "So I'll be here. Alone. How pathetic am I?"

"You could always come to my parents." He suggested. "They have a big party every Christmas eve and everyone under the sun is invited. You should come."

"No, I don't want to impose." She shook her head.

"You won't. Trace'll be there. A few other people. You can't sit in your apartment alone on Christmas Eve. I'll even spike your eggnog."

She laughed, the idea sounding a little more appealing to her than her empty apartment on a night where she should be with loved ones. "You've said the magic words. Spiked eggnog. I'm in."

"Good."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

She stood at the front of her car, nervously clutching the bottle of red wine she brought as a thank you present. The lights from inside the house casting shadows through the window. She could hear laughter from where she was standing at the end of the driveway and suddenly felt very out of place.

"Hailey!" She looked up to see Trace walking towards her, a flash of headlights behind him as he locked his car. "I didn't think you'd actually make it."

She shot him a grin. "Better than being alone tonight."

He returned the grin before looking down at the bottle in her hands. "Well damn, now you've gone brought something. I'm gonna look like the bad guy walking in with you." She started to reply but he cut her off with laughter in his eyes. "Actually Lynn already knows I'm the bad guy. That night senior year with the slip'n'slide, light bulbs and the mannequin...."

He trailed off when she raised an eyebrow at him. "Never mind. That's another story for another night. One involving lots and lots of liquor."

She laughed as they walked up the paved driveway. She took a breath to steady her nerves as he opened the door and walked in.

Half an hour later, she wondered why she was ever nervous. Justin's family was open and inviting. She felt very comfortable around them, his mom especially. She possessed a very warm demeanor and it was reminded her of her own mother very much.

"Hailey, I want you to meet someone."

She turned to see Justin standing behind her, a glass of wine in her hand. It was a little surprising to see him drinking wine. It caught her off guard as she had grown accustom to seeing a beer in place of it but she found it to be adorable all the same.

"I'm ready to meet. So show me the way." She smiled at him.

He returned the smile before walking across the room and she stopped when she say a tall, very tall man with a shaggy blonde hair standing in front of her. A flash of memories hit her hard and she sucked in a breath.

Needles.

Liquor bottles.

Loud music.

A smell of sweat and sex and weed.

Before she could do anything, Justin reached out and clasped the man on the shoulder causing him to turn around.

The man turned around and her heart jumped to her throat, along with her hand. A small gasp escaped her lips.

Justin regarded her, his head tilted to the side at the look of pure terror on Hailey's face. He took a step towards her, scared of what might be wrong.

Hailey looked the man over, and closed her eyes when she noticed his eyes were a dark blue instead of a green that she had become so familiar with in a past life.  It wasn't him and she heaved a sigh of relief, her own body uncoiling the tension that had formed in a matter of seconds.

"You ok?" Justin reached out and ran a hand down her arm, noticing she was lightly shaking.

She nodded and swallowed before meeting his gaze. "Yeah, sorry. Spaced out for a second."

He narrowed his eyes and licked his lips, not believing her for a second. But when he saw her eyes dart to the man standing next to him he continued, "Alright. I just wanted you to meet my cousin Zach. He's sorta on the market looking for a new place and thought you could help him out."

He watched her force a smile on her face before she nodded at Zach. "Of course." She turned to Zach and started chatting with him about what he was looking for.

Justin stepped back and watched their interaction. He could tell that she wasn't comfortable with this. There was something off with her and he couldn't figure it out. She seemed very fidgety and unable to stop moving. Her hands wringing together, eyes bouncing off everyone in the room, feet shuffling back and forth.

Something was wrong and he was determined to find out. Soon.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

He stood against the doorframe to the kitchen, eyes looking around the room. Trace talking to both their dads, his hands moving wildly about in gesture. Ella talking to his mother on couch, both of them looking a little uncomfortable and he cringes inwardly. Maybe he could have given his mom some warning about the status of his relationship with Ella. But he had no idea she was going to call him her boyfriend. He didn't even feel like that's what he was. They were dating. No label.

His eyes started roaming again but stopped when he spotted Hailey through the backdoor window, on the back patio alone. He made his way to the door without drawing attention to himself and slipped out the door.

"Hey." He closed the door behind him. "The party's inside, you know that right?"

Her head snapped around and she jumped at the voice behind her. She smiled softly at Justin as he rubbed his hands up and down his arms, without a jacket the cold air giving him a chill.

"I just wanted to get some fresh air." She said. "Your parents are great."

"They're alright." He moved to the side of the door and leaned against the house.

She knew he wanted to ask her something, she could see it in his eyes when he stepped outside and she wasn't sure if she would have the ability to tell him ‘no' again. Especially after what had happened earlier.

They stood in the darkness for the longest time, neither speaking. Finally she turned to him.

"Ok, here's the thing-"

He shook his head. "You know, I don't really care anymore. You've got a past. Everyone does." He shrugged and watched her face. "Whatever happened, happened. And you have every right to not want to talk about it. And you moved out here to get away from it and start over. So start over. Just let it go."

She stood there listening to him and felt oddly comforted by his words. He didn't know anything about her past and what had happened to her. But she knew it bothered him for some reason. She can't blame him, if the roles were reversed, she'd probably feel the same way. But this was his truce. He was going to drop it and stop asking.

There was a tap on the door and they both turned to see Lynn standing there with a pleading look on her face as she mouthed ‘Ella'.

Justin laughed and pushed off the wall. "I better get back in there before my mom hurts her."

Then, without thinking, she blurted out, "What's your deal with her?"

He stopped moving, hand mid reach for the door handle. He licked his lips and turned to meet her eyes. "Um, we're dating. I guess. I mean, she's more into than I am, I think. But....yeah, it's just a casual dating thing."

The tightness in her chest that she hadn't noticed before disappeared when he winked at her before walking back into the house.