Hailey:
I watched as I was suddenly transported back to that room. The beeping of machines, doctors running around. My parents were standing in the corner, my mom with a hand over her mouth. “It’s gonna be okay,” I tried to say, but I couldn’t get the words out knowing they were not true.
I suddenly woke up in a cold sweat. I lay in my bed staring at the same dent in the ceiling that I had stared at so many times before. Ever since my sister died a couple months ago I’ve been having these nightmares, constantly reminding me of what happened. I let myself drift deeper into my thoughts until I’m startled awake by the ringing of my alarm clock.
Drew:
I’m grateful to hear the sound of my phone waking me up in the morning. The house is an eerie quiet as I roll out of bed and walk outside to the bus. I walk to the back of the bus trying to find somewhere to sit. I see a girl sitting alone with her head resting on the window listening to music.
“This seat taken?” She shakes her head in response.
I know it’s creepy to stare but I can’t help myself. There’s something about her that makes me want to get to know her.
Hailey:
I can feel him staring at me. I feel his eyes piercing into my back, daring me to turn around. I ignore him and I soon start drifting off from my lack of sleep.
“Hey!” I can feel someone shaking me. “We’re here now, you gotta wake up.” I open my eyes to see him staring down at me. His eyes are filled with question, probably wondering why I was sleeping. I push his hands off my shoulders standing up quickly.
“Thanks.” I push past him, walking quickly into the aisle.
“I’m Drew, by the way,” I hear him call after me. I just keep walking.

Drew:
For the last few days I’ve been looking for her on the bus. I didn’t see her again until this morning. I walked over to her, asking if I could sit. She nodded. “Where were you these last few days?” I immediately regretted it. Great, she probably thinks I’m stalking her now, I think to myself.
“What?” She took out an airpod and stared at me; her eyes never leaving mine. I repeated my question and, with a smile, she replied, “I drove, why did you miss me?”
“No, just trying to make conversation.”
“Definitely,” she replied, putting her airpod back in.
“Hey!” I exclaimed, wanting the conversation to last. She looked back at me, questioning in her eyes. “What’s your name?”
“Hailey.”
Hailey:
Everyday at exactly 7:43 the bus pulls into his neighborhood and I watch his face light up when he sees me. Today was not different.
“Hey.” He sat down in the seat next to me. “So I was wondering if I could maybe possibly get your number?” I look up seeing him staring at me with a terrified expression on his face.
“Sure,” I smile, reaching my hand out to take his phone.

Drew:
I text her around seven when I couldn’t force myself to wait any longer. We end up on the phone for hours talking about life. I don’t know if I’ve ever gone to bed happier. I felt like a kid on Christmas Eve.

Hailey:
We’ve been talking for a few weeks now and he really makes me happy. I can feel myself smiling every time we get to talk.

I practically jump out of bed jolting awake from another nightmare. This one felt worse than the other ones, somehow more real. No matter how hard I try I can’t seem to calm down. I feel a panic attack coming on. In a rush I grab my phone calling the first number I see, not caring who it is. “Hello?” I hear a half asleep voice say.
Crap, I think to myself realizing I had just called Drew. As I felt the panic rising farther up in me I tried to speak but all that came out was a gasp for air.
“Are you ok?” I look down at my phone and realize that he is trying to Facetime me. I accept the call and look down to see him staring back at me. “What’s wrong?” he asks again.
“I don’t know what to do,” I whisper out in response.
“I’m coming over.” I instantly think he’s going to hang up.
“Don’t leave,” I say, trying to control my breathing.

Drew:
“I’m not going anywhere.” I stay on the phone while I run out to my car. I start driving toward her house glancing over at my phone every few seconds to make sure she’s okay.
“I’m here; can you let me in?” I wait till I see the front door open. She’s standing there with tears streaming down her face.

Hailey:
I open the door to see him standing there, his face filled with worry. As he steps inside I collapse into his arms. He picks me up and carries me to my bedroom laying us down on my bed. I cling to him sobbing, not knowing what else to do. He starts helping me breathe better making sure I’m alright.
I soon lay down with my head in his lap. I hear him whisper sweet things into my ear as he rubs my back and I start to calm down. As I’m drifting off, I realize just how much he means to me. In the little time I’ve known him, I’ve become so attached; I can’t see myself being with anyone else.

Drew:
I look down at her sleeping peacefully in my arms. It was at this moment that I realized I wanted to be the one there to comfort her through everything. It was right then that I decided I would do whatever it took in order for us to be together forever.