“That’s the best part, not only is it in California, it’s in five days.”
“But that’s your birthday, Haley. Hold that thought; I’m coming over.”
I held the phone in my hand, excited to have Matt so close by that he could be here in minutes. It was hard to believe I had forgotten my birthday was right around the corner and even harder to believe that Matt would remember it so readily. I wondered if he had planned some surprise for me and now I’d messed it up with my grandpa’s news. That was probably it.
Before I imagined it could be possible, I heard Matt’s car pull into our driveway. Usually, he would just jog over, but he must’ve wanted to get here even faster.
He usually came into my room first thing, so I found it odd that he stopped in the kitchen to talk with my mom and Grandpa instead. I could hear him animatedly talking until they noticed me coming. Something didn’t seem quite right, but I didn’t want any discord right now, so I opted to let it go.
Matt came over and kissed me a on the cheek in greeting. He seemed more distant than usual, something I didn’t like much. “I can’t stay, Haley. I’ll call you later, okay?”
He led me outside before I even had a chance to object. “What? I don’t understand. What happened with my mom and Grandpa?”
“Nothing, Haley. I’ve got an idea, but I don’t want to say anything in case I can’t get it to work out. Since your trial is in five days, we don’t have a minute to spare in getting everything in order. I gotta go.” He hugged me faster than he normally would before he left me standing alone and terribly confused.
I turned around and marched back into the house, my scowl a clear indication I wasn’t happy. Based on the sound of their voices, my family hadn’t moved from the kitchen, so I marched back in there. “What did you say to him?”
“Look, Haley, we can’t wait around for Matt to clear his schedule. If he can’t come with us, then we’ll just have to make arrangements for you to call him once we’re there. It’s pretty simple, really.”
“Easy for you to say. I need him there, Mom. That’s a non-negotiable.” I stomped back to my room, slamming the door behind me. I hated it when people were making decisions for me behind my back, then having the audacity to tell me it was for my own good. I’m pretty sure I know what’s good for me.
Not wanting to hear anything more anyone might have to say to me, I grabbed up my earbuds and shoved them into my ears. I turned up my music louder than normal and sat down on the floor next to my bed where Charlie had taken up residence. He snuck his muzzle onto my lap, and I absently began stroking his back. Charlie always knew exactly what I needed, and I loved him more for it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Happy birthday, Haley,” Matt said as he entered my room. He seemed pretty cheerful for someone who had a whole day of traveling ahead of him. But that was just how he was all the time.
After planting a smoking hot kiss on my lips which left me nearly speechless, Matt refused to give me any details of our day, but he did assure me that he was coming with me on this trip. He probably noticed my stubborn streak setting in and decided he better share that point or else I’d refuse to go at all.
My packed bag stood next to my bedroom door, and a bout of nerves struck me out of the blue. Charlie pressed up against my side as if he knew I was starting to panic. Automatically, my fingers pressed into his thick hair until I could feel his flesh beneath. I massaged him and relaxed myself at the same time.
“Okay, we’re ready to go, Haley,” Matt announced as he came back to my room. I heard the snapping of the handle being extended on my bag and knew that Matt had decided to take it for me. “All we’re missing is you. Are you okay?”
“Sure; I guess. This’s going to be a huge change in my life, and I’m just a little nervous.”
Matt’s hand found mine, his fingers twining with mine and giving me a little squeeze. “You’ll do great. Besides, I’ve got something really special planned, so think about that instead. Okay?”
“What is it?” I pressed, hoping he’d accidentally tell me something.
“Nice try. Now, quit stalling. We’ve got a plane to catch.”
“I hate the long drive to the airport. I think that’s possibly worse than the flight itself.” I knew I was complaining, but it was just how I deflected from feeling nervous.
About ten minutes later, the car came to a stop, and the engine turned off. “What’s going on? Why did we stop?” I asked. I turned my head to try to identify our location. None of the blurry shapes around me looked familiar.
“You ask too many questions, Haley. Just trust me on this, okay? In a few minutes, you’ll have your first surprise,” Matt said as he opened my door and helped me out.
He was talking away from me, and it made me suspicious. “Are you filming this?”
“Of course. We want everyone to enjoy this journey with you. I thought you wanted that, too.”
“Well, yes. But please tell me you’re not using a selfie-stick.”
Matt chuckled, purposely not answering me.
“You are using one. Oh, Matt, we’re going to make such a spectacle of ourselves.”
“Since when have you ever cared about that? What we’re doing is more important than anything these onlookers are doing. Besides, I got a special selfie-stick. This one doesn’t show up in the video footage.”
“Ah, I guess that should make all the difference. Okay, fine. Take me to my first surprise. Like you kept telling me all morning; we don’t have time to mess around.”
“Now you’re talking. Your chariot awaits.”
He led me across a hard, flat surface. The scents around me were unlike anything I’d smelled before. Maybe we were in a parking garage? Although, I didn’t know of one this close to our house. A parking lot, maybe?
“Did you plan a different car for us to drive in?”
“Nope. Even better.”
“Hmm.” Matt knew I liked playing guessing games, but this one was really stumping me.
“Okay, step up now,” Matt advised. “There’re three steps slightly taller than normal and then a platform at the top.”
As soon as I reached the platform, I still had no idea where I was. Then my mother’s voice came from my right-hand side. “Isn’t this amazing, Haley? Matt arranged for us to fly to San Francisco in a private jet. Now we won’t have to worry about airport security or any issues with getting Charlie onto the flight.”
My eyebrows must have risen to my hairline. I did not expect anything this cool. I turned around just in time to bump into Matt as Charlie pushed past me to lead me into the airplane cabin. “How did you do this, Matt?”
“It’s my aunt’s airplane. She was thrilled to offer it to us.”
“That’s pretty epic. Where do I sit?” This was turning into quite the adventure, much better than anything I could have imagined.
“Just over here,” he answered, taking my hand and pulling me forward.
He settled me in an oversized, leather chair, unlike any airline seat I’d ever experienced. Charlie took up his spot at my feet, his stomach resting over the tips of my toes. Matt reached over and helped to get me buckled up before he sat down in the seat next to me.
I still couldn’t believe we were actually taking a trip together. This was one of my secret desires, but now it was becoming a reality. Of course, I couldn’t say anything to Matt about what this meant to me without sounding completely stupid, so I kept my mouth shut.
“When do we leave?” I asked instead.
“Just as soon as the crew gets our bags into the luggage compartment.”
“It sounds like you know all about how this goes. This isn’t your first time; is it?”
“No, but this will definitely be my favorite time.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because I’ve never traveled with a girlfriend before. You’re what makes this trip special.”
“Is that how you think of me? As your girlfriend?”
&n
bsp; “Uh, duh. I thought we’d already established that before. I don’t go around kissing random girls, you know.”
I bit my bottom lip as my cheeks heated up. Turning my head, I grinned at his admission. Since we were being so honest right now, I thought I’d ask the question which had been bothering me for so long. “If that’s how you feel about me, then why did you spend so much time away from me while I had pneumonia?”
“Maybe because you wouldn’t have been sick in the first place if it hadn’t been for me. I pushed you too hard and tired you out. I should’ve been taking better care of you, and I almost lost you like I lost my brother. I stayed away because I thought it would help.”
“I swear, boys can be so stupid sometimes. My getting sick didn’t have anything to do with you, well not directly anyway. I chose to go out; I knew I was pushing myself. But I was doing it for me, not for you. Promise me that you won’t leave me like that again. It was the worst time of my life.”
Matt reached over and held my face between his hands. In the most sincere voice I’d ever heard him use, he said, “Haley, I promise to be everything you need from now on. I’ll be by your side whenever you want me there because I love you.”
“You love me?”
“Couldn’t you tell?”
Rather than make more of a fool of myself than I already had, I pressed forward until my lips met his. I’m pretty sure my reaction startled him, but he kissed me back for a split second before pulling away. I was about to protest when someone spoke from the front of the plane.
“Everyone, please make sure your seatbelts are fastened. We’ve closed the cabin door and are prepared for takeoff.”
“This is it!” I announced into the silence. My family laughed at my enthusiasm as the engines fired up and the airplane began moving. We were really on our way.
So much had changed in such a short amount of time. My predictions for the perfect summer were coming true. Matt squeezed my hand as we started rolling faster up the runway.
Here I was, traveling with my boyfriend who had just declared his love for me. I’d found romance, and he had created the most special memories for me, even better than I could have imagined on my own. My life couldn’t get any better than this moment right now.
Chapter Fifteen
“THIS MUST BE your Haley,” a woman said as soon as Matt, and I stepped off the airplane. I felt Matt leave my side and wondered who this woman could be. Matt’s next words clued me in.
“Yes, Aunt Chrissy. Let me introduce you,” he answered.
Matt returned to my side and pulled me forward. He took my hand and offered it to his aunt. “Haley, this’s my Aunt Chrissy who arranged the airplane and a place for all of us to stay.”
I firmly grasped her hand, simply because I detested a wimpy handshake, and smiled in her direction. “It was an amazing surprise. I can’t thank you enough for your thoughtfulness.”
“Oh, that’s okay, honey. Don’t think anything of it. We also donate our flight time with Angel Flights West, so this was actually just a routine flight for us. But I am glad you enjoyed the flight.
“You’re going to love my condominium in Mission Bay. It’s right on the waterfront, and it’s so close to where your research study is being held; I couldn’t have planned it any better if I’d tried!”
“Wow, I had no idea.” I turned and scowled in Matt’s direction. “Someone hasn’t shared any details with me, so I find I’m at quite the disadvantage!”
“Oops,” Chrissy said, her tone playful. “I guess I won’t say anything about tonight’s plans then.”
“No, we won’t be discussing that right now,” Matt interjected quickly. “Let’s get Haley and Charlie settled in the car and then we can be on our way.”
I got the distinct impression Matt was trying to keep something from me, but if he wanted to surprise me, then I decided not to put up too much of a fuss. As soon as I sat down in the car with Charlie sitting up on the seat beside me, his panting in my ear made it more difficult for me to hear Matt speaking with his aunt.
“Were you able to arrange the special event tonight?”
“Yes, dear. Oh, good. I see you brought…”
“Shh. Don’t say anything. She may not admit it, but I’m convinced Haley’s hearing is amazing, and I don’t want to give anything away.”
“My lips are sealed then. It’s going to be so much fun, though!”
Chrissy’s gentle laughter made a smile come to my own lips. Whatever Matt had planned for me tonight also included something else from my house. What that could be, I had no clue. At least I wouldn’t have to wait too long to find out.
A few minutes later, everyone was in the vehicle, and we were on our way. According to Matt, his Aunt Chrissy had many houses in the area which she used depending on what was happening in her various businesses. One thing kept coming back to my mind, so I decided to ask about it.
“What was she saying about Angel Flight West? What’s that all about?”
“Oh, it’s a dream of mine to work with them one day when I’m old enough and have my pilot’s license. It’s an organization which arranges flights for medical patients who might not have the means to get the proper treatment without free transportation.”
“But I’m sure my parents could’ve afforded our flights, though,” I insisted, although I imagined this might have actually been a blessing considering the fights I’d recently heard about paying for the medical bills.
“Oh, no. She did this just because I asked for a favor. She knows how much I love flying and she was more than happy to help. Besides, I think she really wanted to meet you.”
“Why? Do you talk about me all the time or something?”
“Of course.”
That response gave me a reason to pause. It never occurred to me that people would be talking about me. I mean, I was just an ordinary girl. Blind, but still ordinary. What could he have possibly talked about which would cause his aunt to want to meet me?
“You should see the look on your face, Haley. Why is it so hard to believe I’d talk about you with my family? After all, we did spend an amazing summer together. Also, Aunt Chrissy has watched all of our adventures on the YouTube channel. She’s quite impressed with how brave you are.”
“What am I supposed to say to that?”
“Nothing.”
“Okay,” I whispered to myself. “So, what’s the plan for today?”
Mom turned around from the front seat and said, “You’ve got your initial appointment with the doctor at one. After that, you’ve got the rest of the night free. If everything goes as planned, then your first dose will be administered tomorrow.”
“Ah,” I answered. I wondered how much research my mom had done on all of this. Probably more than I cared to know. I turned to face Matt and said, “So, you’ve got something planned for me this evening, right?”
“I knew you’d hear us. Yes. And I’m going to need you to wear something nice.”
“What if I didn’t pack anything appropriate? After all, I was only expecting to be visiting the doctor.”
“Oh, I made sure your mom had something appropriate for you.”
“So Mom’s in on this, too, huh?”
“Don’t try it, Haley. You’re not wheedling any information out of us, so you might as well give up now. Just enjoy the journey.”
Matt slung his arm across my shoulders and pulled me into his side. Charlie’s head popped up from where he’d been resting on the seat between us. I gave him several pats on the head before he settled back down for the rest of the ride.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
After a quick tour of our accommodations, Matt took me to check out the greenspace area as well as the waterfront. As soon as we stepped outside, I could smell the water nearby. It definitely smelled different than when we were on the Oregon coast, but I still enjoyed the variance.
We sat down on one of the benches near the water and listened to the birds. For such a busy city, this seemed like
a small piece of paradise. “I didn’t know you wanted to learn how to fly.”
“Yeah, ever since I was little. One of my aunt’s businesses involves rescue flights with both airplanes and helicopters. I’ve been out with them on lots of flights. It was easier when we lived closer, though.”
“Do you think your family will move back here, then?” Just saying it out loud made my heart thud darkly in my chest. I hated the idea of him leaving, but I also didn’t want to be the cause of him losing his dream. I’d just have to be fine with whatever he decided.
“We talked about it, but we decided I’d finish out my senior year before we made any decisions. After all, my dad just got transferred to his job, so they wanted to give it a chance.”
“Oh, well, that’s good. I’m glad you’ll be hanging around for a while.”
“Hanging around? Haley, don’t you get it by now? I told you I loved you on the airplane and you think I’m just hanging around? Even if my parents moved back to California today, I’d figure out a way to stay in Oregon to be near you.”
“Oh.” What could I say to that? I really needed help with this whole romance thing. The books I listened to made it sound so easy to fall in love where everything became sunshine and roses. Nobody ever talked about the awkward conversations and the confusion over how to react during times like this. Maybe I should find the Romance for Dummies book and listen to that!
“We should head back so you can get ready for your appointment,” Matt suggested as he stood up and pulled Charlie and me along with him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The waiting room had the same antiseptic smell as any hospital I’d ever visited. It didn’t do anything for my nerves, but at least I had Matt and Charlie sitting beside me this time. My mom had left us to go fill out the paperwork at the receptionist’s desk.
I could feel the time drawing closer as I heard snippets of conversation from the receptionist. My hand automatically rose for my fingers to play with my pendant. It had been with me at every doctor’s appointment, and I just knew it brought me luck so far.
The Rift In Our Reality: A Sweet Young Adult Romance Page 10
