Our Little Recap

I was frowning slightly. "You didn't answer my question. What did you mean by 'stay'?" I was still holding onto his shirt with one hand. I pulled it back quickly when I realized. "I-I'm sorry! Your shirt's wet..."

"I meant by live here, I'm assuming your living situation was bad?" I asked curiously.

My face began to burn up when he said that. "Um... a really old trailer." I shrugged. "I need new doors and bolts where a drunk guy thought my house was his and he kicked in the door. I was going today to try and find a job I could pay to replace the door. But it's not that bad of a place." It was a lie, but I was scared. But I felt a conviction for lying.

"But it's okay because since no one ever comes over, I can use my big pots for the roof leaks when it rains."

"Actually that's kind of unacceptable for me." I chuckled, "No more living there, you are a new person and that means leaving that place behind. I'd invite you to use the spare room at my apartment but I don't want you to be afraid of me so maybe live here, you can be around Keely and the other girls will take good care of you." I smiled, "I promise."

I looked up at him, surprised. "It is? I know it could be better... but it gives me somewhere to sleep at night." I rubbed my arms. "And... I'm not so sure that they want another person here. It's really crowded."

"Keely was overwhelmed by it too at first... but to get you used to it you'll come with me to pizza nights and other family get-together's. We actually have a birthday coming up!" I decided if she didn't want to be around the crowd I'd take her home, "Let me grab two more slices of that pizza and then we'll be on our way!"

"O-Okay..." I held tightly to my things and watched him go back inside. He didn't have any ulterior motives, did he? I couldn't see it if he did. Most men... I could spot their motives a mile away. But Hayden... it seemed all he wanted was friendship. I could be a friend, I guessed. Wasn't he being a friend to me? Wasn't this friendship? I really wanted it to be.

"Okay, pizza to take home!" I grinned and held up the box that Rhema had given me to take home a few slices in, the home made pizzas were always enormous. My apartment was not far from where they lived, it was more like a townhouse actually, something my uncle funded for me, though we both paid the rent.

I led her in and flipped on the lights, paint was on the walls and canvases were scattered about the den. "I'm sorry for the mess, I live alone..." I scrambled to clean up, "Um... the g-guest room is upstairs and to the left, you'll have your own bathroom!"

I nodded and located the stairs, walking up slowly. I found the guest room and gasped when I saw a furry creature glaring at me. "D-Don't eat me please..." I whispered. "I'm n-not going to take up too much of the bed. Just a little portion." I set my things in a corner of the room and pulled my Bible out of my purse and set it on the table by the bed. I felt of the cold leather cover and smiled. It was really sweet of that old woman to give it to me. What if she hadn't? I'd still be the same person I was three months ago.

I came up the steps and around the corner, "Matisse, there's food downstairs!" I watched my cat jump off the bed, glare at me and then walk out of the room in such a manner that said 'how dare you not bring it to me on a silver platter'. Spoiled cat. I chuckled and came further in, "That's Mati... she won't bit, she loves to lick fingers though." I walked into the bathroom and turned on the light to show her how to use the sink and shower.

"She's very pretty.." I commented softly. "W-What time do you normally get up in the morning? I can get up a little earlier and make breakfast. And maybe help clean up and d-do laundry. U-Unless you don't want me to touch anything... then I won't." I gulped. I wanted to earn my keep while staying here. I didn't want to live off of his earnings and do nothing. :(

"Umm... I actually can't think of anything I need done... but if you really want to help out we can take some time and clean out the den a little so maybe it can actually be used for hosting my own pizza nights instead of showing up randomly at my in-law's house... even though my sister lives there." I shrugged, "I don't think it'd be much fun to sit in a pile of canvases." I came out of the bathroom and put my hands in my pockets, "But really, you don't have to do anything... actually the girls might keep you busy tomorrow."

"B-Busy? With what?" I asked, softly. "Are they going to put me to work? What should I wear?" I gasped. "Those clothes you got me!! I need to get the paint out! H-How would you go about getting it out? I want them to get clean again!" Because you gave them to me and they look so nice and were so comfortable. :(

"I'll wash them over night, it may not come out completely... but the reason I got them for you was so you'd be comfortable and they were cheap enough to get dirty... except I didn't really anticipate the last part... um..." I walked out of the room and returned with some jeans and another tee shirt, "The jeans might be a little bit big... maybe I can have Katie bring something by..." I paced a bit, there had to be something to give her! D:

"They'll probably take you shopping in the morning if you want to wear that dress again..."

I took the clothes he was hesitating to offer me and smiled. "These will do nicely, thank you. I'm a bit.. tired of dresses."

"If you're sure!" I said, "If you are still hungry there's stuff in the fridge and bread is on top of it... pizza is down there, I have sodas and milk and juice if you are thirsty... and if you have any questions don't hesitate to come get me, okay?" I hoped she'd be okay up here... =( I was worried she'd not be able to sleep.

I smiled a little and nodded. "I will. I promise! T-Thank you so much for letting me stay here." I said softly. "I really appreciate it.."

*Keely*

Early the next morning we decided to kidnap Hayden's new friend and take her to Zeph's for breakfast and then head on out for a two hours long road trip! I packed a few bottles of ginger ale and some saltines to snack on during the trip in hopes that my stomach would settle at least for a little while.

But for the moment I was just fine.

"Wakey wakey!" Amanda called loudly as we entered the room.

"We're going on an adventure and you're coming!"

I was curled up in bed in Hayden's shirt he'd offered me. I sat up and squinted at them. "Huh...?" All I could make out were fuzzy little monsters. My contacts were in the bathroom and my glasses were at my house. "Who are you...?"

I thought I recognized one of the laughs, but I wasn't positive.

"Okay I'm Keely, there's Amanda... and Katie is here!" I said and dropped some jeans and a tee shirt on the bed for her, "Get dressed though, we're burning daylight!"

"We're taking you to breakfast!" Amanda added.

"Oh, okay then..." I got myself out of bed and realized a furball was laying on me. "Matisse...?" I scratched her head and she ran off. "Okay, I-I'm coming."

It must have been Katie who exclaimed loudly. "Okay then! We'll be waiting for you downstairs!!" Suddenly after that, I heard the door close.

I got up and felt my way to the bathroom and put my contacts in so I could actually see. My hair looked like a lion's mane. I frowned and struggled to tame it, but ended up just pulling it back with a ton of clips from my purse. I turned around and stared at the clothes they brought me. I didn't really want to take Hayden's shirt off though. I looked down at it. It was all wrinkled now. And it swallowed me up. I looked like a child in my father's shirt. Or a girlfriend in her boyfriend's shirt. I looked in the mirror and I blushed at the thought. I pulled the shirt off and folded it neatly, placing it on the table beside the bed and laying my Bible on top of it. I glanced at the jeans he'd given me the night before. I folded those too and set them on the chair in the room and made my bed before pulling on the clothes the girls brought and heading downstairs.

"I-I'm ready." I still had those blue converse on from the day before. I needed new shoes already...

"Yay!" I said wearily, Amanda was massaging my shoulders and asking if I was okay for the umpteenth time and I just waved my hand dismissively.

"You didn't have to come today..."

"Aw but I really wanted to!" I got up and slung my purse over my shoulder and held a cracker up between my fingers, "Breakfast!"

"That's not breakfast!"

"It is." I shoved it into my mouth, "Off we go then!" I led the way and Amanda ran after me calling Katie and Kassie! "Haha, Amanda you are the odd ball today! You really should have been given a K name!"

I smiled a little and Katie grabbed my hand, dragging me off. I caught a glimpse of Hayden and waved to him on the way out. "Uh- Th-Thank you! Bye Hay-" And the door slammed behind us. ._.

Katie was laughing. "Yeah! Poor Mandy! Not a single K in her name!"

"Bye!" I heard Hayden's voice call loudly from inside and I tossed Katie the keys to the car, she had been using Zack's car since they'd gotten married.

"Hey now, don't pick on me too much! My name has the very first letter of the alphabet!"

I pictured Amanda in kindergarten just then...

"What's a word that starts with the letter A? Oh Amanda?"

"AMANDA!"

I giggled. >w<

"Oh wow, Keely has that random look on her face when she's picturing something cute... watch out, she's about to squeal!"

I smiled a little, watching how they all got along so well. Katie let go of my hand and got in the driver's seat. I took a seat in the back.

"Mmm! I can't wait for Zeph's! I'm so hungry!" Katie exclaimed.