Finals � � Chapter Twenty-Four � �śSmall white chocolate mocha with a pitch of love for Wayne,” called the hipster barista, as I approached the bar to grab my drink. � I wasn’t much for hot drinks outside of red cup season at Starbucks, but the blended mocha with fair trade, locally grown organic coffee sounded too risky to a conservative coffee addict such as myself. � I took a sip as I sat down on an old-fashioned wicker chair. Not half bad. Not as excellent as my usual blended treat, but since I was still trying to hide in the shadows for a few more days this would suffice. � My plan to go incognito seemed to be working rather well. Dunn and his buddies hadn’t pounded on my door yet, so that was a good thing. Then again, I was purposely never home. I was visiting various restaurants or coffee bars, and getting in some quality study time at my friends’ quarters in The Village. The constant concern for Professor Nolan’s cumulative final was enough to allow me to spend several hours a day on Lexie’s couch. Prior to our final, I was basically Lexie’s sixth roommate. I was only at my house to sleep for a quick five hours before I was dressed, showered and continued avoiding imprisonment. � The lack of sleep in additional to my unsettled nerves was starting to take a toll, but thankfully, by the time Thursday rolled around all of my finals were over. My final for Professor Nolan’s class had gone especially well and surprising in spite of constantly worrying about getting get snatched by the coppers, I had managed to get A’s and B’s on all of my other tests. Unfortunately, with finals over, I didn’t have much of a reason to stop by Lexie’s place unless I wanted to worship pseudo celebs like the Kardashians, which was why I soon began spending more time at folksy coffee shops. � My folks were arriving on Saturday and the graduation ceremony was occurring Sunday. I’d hit up the senior party, pack my belongings with my parents and a killer hangover Monday morning, then my flight back home departed at approximately 4:45 p.m. that afternoon. Once in the air, that’d be all she wrote. The police wouldn’t catch me and I’d dissolve in the dusky horizon, never to be heard from again. � Until that blissful moment when my plane touched down, my worries would continue. I still needed to figure out a game plan for the next few days. As I began contemplating possible hideout locations, a familiar ringtone I had heard oodles of times over the past two years started up again. � �śI want your ugly, I want your disease. I want your everything as long as it’s free. I want your love. Love, love, love, I want your�Ś.”� �śHey you,” I said as I answered the call from my now not-so-hated ex. � �śHey!” chirped the peppy voice on the opposite end. �śI’m finished with my finals, can you believe it? I’m about to be a senior!” Hayley said, giggling girlishly. � �śCongrats,” I replied. �śHow did your finals go?” � In her normal Hayleyesque fashion, she described a rather frightful scenario in which she may have received a B on her French essay for using an incorrect tense; however, she assured me that all was well in the world after having a brief powwow with her professor later during her office hours. Following this longwinded tale she gave a concise synopsis of her other finals before asking about how my grades ended up. � �śIt was smooth sailing,” I replied. �śA’s and B’s as usual.” � �śThat’s wonderful news,” said Hayley enthusiastically. �śI haven’t seen you for some time now, so I knew you must have been a rather studious boy.” � To the untrained ear, Hayley’s comment might pass as mere observation, but to a well-trained expert this was a subtle hint, like how your mother reminds you that tomorrow is garbage day as you enjoy a rousing game of Wii tennis. The information she provided is not merely a news bulletin. Like my mother, hinting about the accumulating trash pile in my room that needed to be taken out, Hayley wanted to see me. She was never going to say she did, but I knew it. The invitation to coffee was completely against our normal ritual and had taken every ounce of courage the girl possessed. Asking me out twice was out of the question. Although I hadn’t given the girl much thought since the car bombing, I did want to see her. Plus Hayley’s apartment was an ideal hideout location seeing as that no one knew of my rekindled interest in the beautiful blonde. � �śMy scholarly run has come to a close so perhaps I could come see you, since I sensed your attempt at subtlety was in essence a desperate plea for me to come visit you,” I said playfully. � �śOh, is that so?” Hayley said, trying to sound defiant against my claim but failing as a snicker escaped. � �śIt is so,” I replied slyly. � �śI really don’t know where you come up with these wild notions Mr. York, but suppose if I did want you to come over, how would five-thirty sound?” � �śSure, in this hypothetical situation, five-thirty would work.” � �śPerfect!” Hayley squealed elatedly. �śI will see you then.” � �śAlrighty, bye” � �śByeeee!” � Placing my phone back in my pocket, I grabbed the one magazine in my vicinity, Bitch, the local favorite of dreadlock granolas like my current baristas, and began flipping through the pages. I had two hours to waste until a new chapter in my bad romance began so why not read about Justin Bieber’s influence on lesbian hairstyles? �