Love Heals All

by Addie McKenna

  “What would you like today?” she asked with a cheery voice. Her nametag read ANNIE.

  “Uh, can I have the, um, chocolate ice cream with sprinkles?” he managed to get out.

  “Cup or cone?”

  “C-cup, please.” Carter blushed.

  “What about y’all?” She turned to the rest of us while Carter stared googly eyes at her. We all told her what we wanted, and she bustled around preparing the treats, then handing them out to us.

  I noticed something scribbled on Carter’s cup and tapped him on the shoulder. He looked at me, and I pointed at the writing while sitting down next to Hayes. Then, using some napkins and ice water, I quickly cleaned up my wounds.

  When we were partway through our cones, I noticed Carter just staring at his ice cream with wide eyes.

  “What’s up with Carter?” I asked, waving my hand in front of his face.

  “He seems to be in love,” Tez smirked, looking at his cup.

  We all looked at him, confused. He turned Carter’s cup around, and we could then see it had Annie’s number on it.

  “Oooh! Cartah!” Jonah yelled. I smacked him upside his head and shushed him. Everyone was staring at him like he was on crack.

  Carter blushed and told him to shut up. Now, all the guys were teasing and making fun of him.

  “You guys! Shut up!” he whined. We all laughed and went back to eating our ice cream.

  I was looking around the shop when I noticed a very familiar-looking girl staring at Hayes. I thought I’d seen her around town before, but I wasn’t sure. She saw me looking and glared at me, then returned her attention to her friends. I was confused and kind of freaked out, so I asked Hayes why she was staring at him. Hopefully, she was just another fan.

  “Hayes, that girl keeps staring at you and glaring at me, and it’s freaking me out!” I whispered in his ear.

  He looked over at me with a confused face. “Who?”

  “Her. The girl at that table, sitting in the red chair.” I discreetly pointed.

  He looked over, and his face paled. Before I could say another word, he pulled me up by my hand and rushed me out of the ice-cream shop. Now I was really confused.

  “Who is that and why did we have to leave?” I asked, annoyed.

  “I’m his ex-girlfriend, Lainey. Who are you?” I heard a voice say right behind us. We turned around and I saw the same girl who had been in the ice-cream shop. Hayes wrapped an arm around my waist, and I crossed my arms.

  “I’m his girlfriend, Autumn,” I said, annoyed.

  “Well, Hayes, that was a downgrade.” She laughed.

  “Shut up, Lainey. She’s a way better girlfriend than you ever were. Now what do you want?” Hayes asked angrily.

  “I just want my boyfriend back. Is that too much to ask?” she said in a sickly sweet tone.

  “Yeah, it’s way too much to ask. One, you cheated on me with my best friend—twice! And two, I’m already off limits, so go away. I told you I never wanted you back, so get out of my life,” he told her as he walked away, dragging me with him.

  “What was that all about?” I asked Hayes after I texted Nash that we were going on a walk. We didn’t need a replay of last night’s events . . .

  “She’s my ex-girlfriend, and we dated for a while until she cheated on me with my best friend. Then I found out later that she’d cheated on me with him twice.”

  “Oh, Hayes, it’s okay. She doesn’t know what she’s missing. And all things happen for a reason, whether it’s for the good or for the bad. I mean, if you were still dating her, you wouldn’t have me,” I told him, lifting up his chin to look me in the eyes.

  “That’s the reason I’m happy we broke up. Because she wasn’t the one for me. You are.” I pecked him on the lips, and we started walking home, since we’d left our penny boards with the others.

  We walked silently, hand in hand. I was enjoying looking at the mountains and the trees, until we got to the Griers’ doorstep. We then realized that Nash still had the house keys. Darn.

  “Well, I guess we’ll sit here until they come back,” Hayes sighed, sitting down and pulling me onto his lap.

  I laid my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes, feeling a soft wind blow through my hair. I opened my eyes to see Hayes staring at me.

  “What?” I asked him, blushing.

  “Nothing, you’re just really beautiful.” He kissed my forehead.

  “Thank you. You’re not too bad yourself.” I giggled, kissing his nose.

  I laid my head back on his shoulder, and we waited for the others to come back. This could take a while.

  Autumn

  After about ten minutes, the others came back, evidently realizing that we didn’t have a key. Once they unlocked the door, I went upstairs to take a nap.

  When I lay down, I immediately fell into dreamland.

  After My Nap

  I woke up with Hayes’s arms wrapped tightly around me, and he was sleeping like a baby. I laid my head on his shoulder and played with the little hairs on his neck. I felt him stir, and in a moment his crystal blue eyes fluttered open. He smiled sleepily and stuffed his face in my hair.

  “C’mon, sleepyhead, let’s get up. I’m hungry,” I said, poking his bare chest.

  “But the kitchen is so far!” he whined.

  “But I need food!” I mocked him.

  “Whatever,” he lazily said, standing up.

  I held out my hands for him to pull me up. Hayes grabbed my hands and pulled me right into his chest for a hug. I giggled and wrapped my arms around his waist, resting my head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around me and rested his chin on the top of my head. We stood there for about five minutes, just hugging.

  You could hear the camera clicks from the doorway, but I was too comfortable in his arms to care. Just then, my stomach grumbled. I laughed and stepped away from the hug.

  “Shut up, I’ll feed you in a minute,” I scolded my stomach. It grumbled again.

  Hayes laughed. “I don’t think it can understand you, babe.”

  I glared at him. “Shut up,” I mumbled.

  He chuckled, grabbing my hand and pulling me out of the hallway. We ran down the stairs and into the kitchen, and I swear, I thought my arm was going to fall off. I opened the fridge and grabbed strawberries and whipped cream.

  “Little A, you know that ruins the healthiness of strawberries,” Bailey singsonged as she joined us in the kitchen.

  “It makes me happy to eat whipped cream and strawberries. Do you not want me to be happy?” I replied, squirting whipped cream all over my bowl of strawberries, and then squirting a little bit right in my mouth.

  “You’re always happy.” She rolled her eyes, grabbing the whipped cream out of my hands.

  Not always, I thought.

  “And anyway, you always eat whipped cream, so ha!” Childishly, I stuck my tongue out at her.

  “Whatever,” she mumbled, while I laughed and ate my strawberries.

  “I wanna do my nails already so I can watch a movie with the guys. They’re watching The Avengers!” I said excitedly as I put my empty bowl in the dishwasher.

  “Hon, sometimes I can’t even tell you’re a girl except for your looks; you act exactly like the guys,” she said, putting her hands on my shoulders.

  “I’m different.” I giggled, then rushed upstairs to help Alyssa.

  “I don’t know what to wear!” she screamed. You could hear her even through the closed bedroom door.

  Bailey and I walked in and saw the other girls were already trying to help her. We walked right over to the closet.

  “Calm down, sweetie, we got this,” I said in a professional tone. They laughed while Bailey and I picked out her outfit and Gabby did her hair. Ella did her makeup, and Aly and Shaelyn were just watching on the bed and talking.


  “Casual or dressy?” Bailey asked, looking over her shoulder.

  “Casual, duh. Do you not know Aaron?” Alyssa laughed.

  “You pick a pair of shorts, and I’ll find a cute top to match,” I instructed Bailey.

  She got out a pair of light-wash denim shorts with rips on them. I started sorting through her clothes and found a cute pink, yellow, and blue Aztec tank top. Then Bailey pulled out some tan sandals.

  “Oh my gosh, that’s perfect!” Alyssa cried, taking the outfit from Bailey’s hands and running to the bathroom to change.

  “Our work here is done,” I sighed, sitting down on the bed and laying my head on Aly’s lap. She started playing with my hair, curling it with her fingers and making little braids.

  “You guys ready to see?” Alyssa said a few minutes later from the bathroom. We all screamed yes, and she walked out, looking absolutely beautiful.

  Her hair was curled perfectly, and she wore a daisy-flower crown. She looked stunning. All of our jaws dropped to the floor, and Bailey, being Bailey, yelled out, “Oh, girl! You lookin’ fine! Am I right, ladies?” We all laughed and nodded.

  “Are you sure it’s not too casual?”

  We all shook our heads rapidly from side to side.

  “No, not at all. You look awesome!” Aly reassured her.

  “Okay, I trust you guys. Wish me luck,” she said nervously.

  “You got this, girl! Now go!” Gabby yelled, pushing her out the door.

  When she was gone, Ella said happily, “Now let’s do our nails!”

  We got out the nail polish, and I asked Bailey to do mine because I suck at putting on polish. Once she was done, I admired my now-black nails. I actually really liked them!

  “These are awesome! I love ’em, Bails!” I squealed.

  “You actually sound like a girl for a change.” Shaelyn laughed.

  I threw a pillow at her face, laughing. “Shut up! I’m gonna go watch a movie with the guys!” I said excitedly.

  “Which movie?” Ella asked.

  “The Avengers.” I clapped my hands together, ecstatic.

  They all rolled their eyes and laughed. “Have fun!”

  “Oh, I will.” I leapt out the door—literally. I was like a trucker ballerina. I could hear the girls laughing as I ran down the stairs.

  I jumped onto the basement couch, sprawling across the laps of four of the boys. They groaned, and I giggled.

  “Really, Auts? Really?” Jonah whispered in pain.

  “Yes, really. Now what did I miss?” I asked, sitting up and maneuvering my way next to Hayes.

  “Nothing yet. It’s still the previews. Did you paint your fingernails yet?” Alec asked.

  “Mmm-hmmm!” I said with a nod, then shoved my hand in his face.

  “That’s actually a really nice look for you, A,” Nash said.

  “Aww, thanks, Nashley.” I smiled, pinching his cheeks. He was leaning up against the couch where Hayes and I were sitting.

  Hayes grabbed my hand, with the hand that wasn’t around my shoulder, and started playing with my fingers. I grabbed his hand and started playing with his, it was like a little fight back and forth until he laced our fingers together and placed our hands on my lap.

  I rested my head on his shoulder, and lost myself in the movie.

  After the Movie

  Everyone was asleep except Nash and me. It was about ten-ish, and we weren’t even that tired. Hayes and I were still on the couch, his head resting on my shoulder and he was fast asleep.

  “Wanna watch Friends?” Nash asked.

  I nodded and got more comfortable, with the sleeping boys around me.

  We got through four episodes, and then I felt myself drifting to sleep, off to a land of perfection and happiness.

  Autumn

  I woke up with Hayes’s arms wrapped around me and with Jonah’s head resting on my shoulder. They were both asleep. I wriggled my way out from between them and tiptoed over to the back porch. I just needed some fresh air.

  I stepped outside and took a seat in one of the rocking chairs, then I leaned back and closed my eyes. These are the times when I’m happy to be alone. Sometimes I don’t like being around all these people. It’s too hectic, and I just need time by myself. No Hayes, no Ella, no Cameron, no Bailey, no Nash—no one else but me.

  I was thinking random thoughts, until I heard a crash from inside. Oh Lord, what did they do this time?

  I ran inside to the kitchen, where the crash seemed to come from, and saw broken pottery everywhere! The boys were standing there with shocked faces. I looked at the floor and saw probably seven plates had been shattered on the floor. There was so much broken dishware, the sharp fragments stretched from one end of the kitchen all the way to the doorway leading to the dining room.

  “All right, everyone, out of the kitchen, and be careful,” I huffed.

  They all scurried away, and I grabbed a pair of flip-flops by the mudroom and got to work. I grabbed the broom and dustpan from the pantry and started sweeping the kitchen floor. It took me ten minutes, but I was finally done!

  After I threw all the broken plates in the trash can, I went upstairs to change. Hayes wasn’t in our room, so I figured he must be with the rest of the guys or something.

  I shrugged and walked to the closet. I picked out my outfit for today and tomorrow, since tomorrow was the Fourth of July.

  My outfit for today consisted of a floral crop top that my mom got me once when she was out of the country, high-waisted white shorts, an oversize denim jacket, and ankle-length, brown crochet combat boots.

  I closed the bedroom door and changed into my outfit. I walked over to the mirror and did my hair in a waterfall braid. Then I went to the bathroom and did all that bathroom stuff, and headed down the stairs, carrying my shoes and socks.

  I tossed my shoes and socks next to the front door, since I didn’t feel like putting them on yet, and walked to the kitchen. I could smell something heavenly coming from the kitchen, and I walked in and saw Ella cooking.

  “Whatcha cooking, Ell—” I started, then screamed in pain and clutched at my foot.

  “What happened?” Ella whipped around and looked down at my foot. Her face paled.

  I looked down, too, and was astounded by what I saw.

  Autumn

  There was blood everywhere. I guess I missed a shard of pottery . . . I screamed a loud-pitched scream. I heard footsteps running through the house and quickly saw twelve faces staring at me. They all looked scared. Hayes rushed over to where I was standing and pulled me down onto the floor, in his lap. He started rocking back and forth, still shaken up.

  “What happened to her foot?” Cameron screamed, running his hands through his hair.

  “Oh, I don’t know, maybe the seven broken plates I found on the floor this morning!” I seethed in pain and anger.

  “Oh my gosh, this is all our fault,” I heard Tez and Alec whisper.

  “Can somebody just call an ambulance or something? I’m bleeding over here!” I screamed at the shocked people around me. Immediately, Nash pulled out his phone and dialed 911. I heard him hurriedly explain what was happening and recite the address. Then he put his phone back in his pocket, still looking freaked out.

  “They said they’re sending someone right away—they’ll be here in a minute. Shaelyn, can you go wake up Sky, please?” he said calmly. She nodded and headed upstairs.

  “But I can’t wait another minute, it hurts so bad.” And that’s when the tears came. I hid my face in Hayes’s shirt.

  “Oh, baby girl, it’s okay. They’ll be here in a minute and it will be all better,” Jonah soothed. He sat next to Hayes and me, rubbing my back comfortingly.

  “You got this, A. We all know how strong you are,” Bailey cooed.

  Everyone agreed, but I wasn’t in a beli
eving mood. “No I’m not,” I said. “If I were so strong, I wouldn’t be crying like a baby.” I shook my head, sniffling.

  “Oh, shut up. We all know that if it was Bart in your position, he would be bawling and whining like an infant.” Aly smirked. Bart pouted and crossed his arms.

  I smiled.

  “Now there’s that smile we all love to see,” Hayes spoke softly. He tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear and kissed my temple.

  Then there were sirens. Everyone scrambled up, and things got chaotic for a time. The medics came rushing in, and one of them carried me out to the ambulance. I didn’t get why he was being so careful, until something jostled my injured foot, and ouch, suddenly I understood! I closed my eyes, trying to make the pain go away, but it just wasn’t working.

  “All right, who’s riding with her?” one of the medics asked the others as they were loading me into the back.

  “We are!” Bailey rushed ahead, pushing Hayes, Cameron, and Ella in front of her. They all got in, and we were off!

  Hayes grabbed my hand and squeezed it soothingly as the medic cleaned away some of the blood. Then he took something out of a box and hooked it up to a pole-looking thing. Oh God, I knew what that was. An IV . . .

  “All right,” the medic said calmly. “You’ll feel a little stick as I put this in your arm, just in case we need to administer any drugs.” He held up the sharp-looking needle. My eyes widened, and my breathing quickened. I quickly started shaking my head back and forth, more tears flooding from my eyes.

  I was deathly afraid of needles. And spiders, too, but that wasn’t important at the moment. Hayes squeezed my hand and started whispering cute little nothings into my ear.

  I squeezed my eyes shut and turned away from the needle. The medic grabbed my arm while I pressed my head into Hayes’s shoulder. I felt someone’s hand rubbing my leg. It must have been Cameron because his hand was bigger than Ella and Bailey’s.

  “Is it over?” I whispered, tears still spilling out of my eyes. And that’s when I heard Bailey’s familiar giggling, the sound of which had gotten trapped in my head during the past few weeks. Then more laughter erupted from Cameron, Ella, Hayes, and even the medic. I was confused.