My Mistake, So Predictable

Alex’s POV

“He’s my boyfriend.” The words keep repeating themselves through my mind as if Hailey had kept saying them over and over. But she hadn’t. After dropping her face so she isn’t looking at me, she had said them once lowly so that I had to lean close to her to understand the mumbled words properly. I was hoping she would introduce the guy standing there as her long lost brother or for god’s sake, even if she would have introduced him as the guy who used to be her companion in an institution I wouldn’t have cared as much. Deep down though, I had a gut feeling she was going to reveal that they were in a relationship.

“Boyfriend?” I sputter, ignoring the sympathetic glances from my best friends as they subtly move closer to me just in case they need to either comfort me or hold me back from doing something I probably won’t regret later.

Hailey finally drags her eyes back to mine as I speak, and even though I want to be anywhere but back stage with everyone, I can’t help but want to hold her close as I notice her eyes grow wetter as tears start to gather in a puddle in the corners of her eyes.

“H-how long?” I finally manage to say, glancing over at her boyfriend who unlike his girlfriends, his eyes are hard, his grip around her shoulders tight enough to make her wince unhappily and move her feet away from him. “Two years.” The guy says, smiling down at her before pressing a kiss to the top of her hair.

“Oh, good for you guys, seriously, that’s awesome.” I say, glancing at Jack who immediately shuffles over to stand beside me, I feel his hand lightly touch my shoulder and I ignore his eyes trying to figure out what I’m feeling. “Zack wants to see his parents early tomorrow, so I think we should go.” I lie smoothly, trying to find the closest exit away from the couple standing in front of me.

Zack sends me a quizzical look and opens his mouth to retort that he has no idea what the hell I’m talking about, but Rian shuts him up with a swift elbow to the ribs. “Uh yeah, they’re pretty pissed I haven’t seen them since the tour ended.” He says, glaring at Rian. I look back to Hailey but don’t miss the kick that Rian gets to the shin as Zack retaliates, causing Rian to grunt before punching Zack’s bicep and running in the other direction; Zack following at a sprint to try and catch up. In the distance I hear cursing and then someone I assume being tackled as a loud thump echoes through the room.

“Oh, oh yeah definitely. Thank you for coming though” Hailey says biting her lip after watching the two of them run off. And then she steps out of the guys tight hold and walks over to me, wrapping me in a hug. She holds me for a second until she rises up onto her tiptoes and gently pulls on my hair until my ear is close enough to her, “I’m so sorry.” She whispers and then squeezes my hand before stepping back and letting me go.

I blink at her and wave with two fingers at Jason who nods in return. Jack grabs the back of my t-shirt and practically drags me back until we’re walking out of the venue, leaving Hailey and her friends behind.

“Dude.” Rian finally speaks breathlessly after catching up with us and sending me a look that I can’t read.

“If that’s what she wants, then I am happy for her.” I say firmly, digging my keys out of my pocket.

“What should we do now?” Jack changes the subject, leading me to the parking lot where our cars were. That’s why he’s my extra best friend. I love Rian and Zack, but no one has ever been able to read me the way Jack can. He knows exactly how to cheer me up and what I need when I’m down. Jack’s been able to do that since I first met him and I appreciate it.

I run my hand tiredly over my face before slipping my car key into the lock, “I dunno about you guys, but I sure as hell could go for a drink.”