weird encounters

Who: Christer and Hayley
Where: Annabell’s house
When: morning

Things probably could have gone better with Annabell the day before and though she seemed to eventually come to terms with what had been said, what had been discovered, Christer still thought it was important to follow up, just to let her know he’d meant what he said. Nothing changed for him, not in finding out what she was nor at hinting at what he was.

So he opted for his usual morning drop in, before he headed to continue the clean up job he was doing in the park. Maybe there would be time for breakfast and a reassuring chat, just to keep things where they were without moving backwards. After knocking on her door he waited, hands tucked into the back of his pants though his shirt was short-sleeved, revealing the artwork that decorated his arms.

Her aunt and uncle were out that morning, talking to her parents, which left Hayley the one to answer the door. She'd heard it from back in the sun room, not difficult with her hearing how it was now. She dragged herself to the door, not looking particularly awake, or possibly alive. When she opened it, she saw someone she'd not seen before. "Can I help you?" she asked first, because she didn't recognize him. Though after a few long moments she realized his scent was familiar, and it was the one she'd caught off of Annabell. It took all she had not to add on 'Annabell isn't here right now'. Because that would be creepy.

Christer expected Annabell, but got someone else entirely and couldn’t shake the confused look on his features. It took a moment before he could place who the younger girl was, certain that Annabell didn’t have a sister because she would have mentioned her, but eventually he pieced together it was her cousin, the one who’d been at the hospital. Or that was the closest guess he had. “Hayley?” he ventured, not sure he had the right girl, but hoping he did. “Looking for Annabell.”

"She isn't here." Hayley said, glad she could get that out of her system now. At her name, though, she frowned, stepping back, an unconsciously wary posture adopted immediately. It even included sort of half moving behind the door. "And yes, Hayley. Her cousin. Which I guess you already know. But yeah, she isn't here. I don't know when she'll be back, I'm sorry."

Christer looked slightly disappointed that Annabell wasn’t home, but let it go when Hayley went from opening the door to hiding behind it. “I’m Christer,” he told her taking his hands out of his pockets in a sign of surrender. Nothing to hide, nothing for her to be afraid of. “I sat with your cousin while you were in the hospital,” he added, explaining how he was able to guess who she was. “Glad you’re doing better.” The comment wasn’t something said because it was the right thing to say, but a genuine statement. Christer wasn’t the type to waste words on what should be said, and in this case, he was glad that Hayley was better.

Not sure 'better' is the right term. she thought. "Thank you." she said, both for his sitting with Annabell and for his being happy she was better. He sounded like he was telling the truth, she bought it. "Do you want me to leave her a message?" she asked.

Did he have a message for Annabell? That had Christer thinking, looking at the ground for a moment while he rubbed the back of his neck. Was there a message he could leave that would say what he was feeling? That he was terrified that what happened yesterday was going to have her pulling away, but he didn’t regret things coming out they way they did? That seemed to long to leave as a message and it would be painful to remember if it even made sense. “I wanted to make sure she wasn’t upset with me,” he said finally, frowning because that wasn’t right. That sounded more like they got in a fight, when it hadn’t been a fight.

That had Hayley arching a brow at him. "....um...okay? Look, if you're here to be a creepy stalker or something? Go home." she told him immediately. "Annabell doesn't need people in her life who upset her then show up at her house forcing a confrontation or something. That's what texting is for."

Christer’s eyes went wide and then he shook his head. “No, not like that. We’re...” he trailed off and frowned. He wasn’t the type to speak before he had the right words, but coming up with what he and Annabell were left him fumbling for the right one. “Dating, I think.” That aside he took a breath to compose himself before starting again. “Our conversation yesterday was one she’d planned, but not so soon. I was worried about her.”

Not having the context for pretty much anything he was saying wasn't helping matters. "You just said a second ago that you were wondering if she was upset with you." she said. "...I recommend texting. If she is upset with you, and if she isn't okay, then you can just do that in a non-in-your-face manner." Annabell did better with things that weren't pushy. "If she wants to get back to you she can in her own time."

“Annabell likes her lists and her plans and I don’t fit into them,” Christer explained but he wound up frowning. Maybe just coming by was too much. It didn’t seem to bother her too much before but the day before had been pretty intense. But he made more sense face to face, not forced with words. He was horrid on the phone. Rubbing at his neck again he looked up at Hayley and nodded.

Hayley wasn't quite sure why Christer had said that to her. It seemed like a little too much information, it wasn't her business unless Annabell wanted to share it with her, right? Was he trying to get her on his side? Gain sympathy? God, she didn't know. She just knew her cousin, and she didn't do well with anything so abrupt or unavoidable. In the end she looked at him with as much confusion and wariness as she was feeling, totally unable to mask anything at this point, not that she'd ever been adept at it in the first place. "...um. Okay." she said, knowing she needed to say something, but not knowing what the appropriate response was. "...if you don't fit into her plans maybe it isn't meant to be?" she suggested, thinking maybe they'd broken up, and that was the reason. Or something.

Christer shook his head, not feeling like that was the case. It wasn’t a not meant to be thing, it was just Christer needing to better understand her boundaries and how to approach them. He glanced back at Hayley to tell her that, but let it go, features creasing in concern. “Are you alright?” he asked, genuine tone still in his voice. She didn’t look it.

"Fine." she answered, even if it was a bald faced lie. Which really, was kind of apparent. She wasn't any good at masking that either. "You're just...kinda being really weird." she said, because it was true, even if it wasn't her reason for looking like she'd just been told she had cancer.

That Christer didn’t believe she was fine was obvious. Nor was hearing that he was weird. That he was actually used to and when she said it he took it well, shrugging one shoulder as if it was likely the truth. “Can I help? Do you need something?”

"No, I'm okay. I just need some sleep." Which probably wasn't the case as she'd been making a whole lot of an attempt to become fully comatose, and it hadn't worked yet. But if she kept trying... "I'll tell her you came by when I see her." she told him.

Christer stepped slightly closer, watching Hayley for a moment. “If you’re sure,” he said still feeling like he should be helping in some way. Tired might be what she was, but it looked deeper than that. “Thanks.”

Hayley immediately stepped back when he stepped closer, an automatic reaction. "I'm sure, thanks." she said, nodding. "See you some other time." Maybe, if Annabell wasn't mad at him or whatever was happening there. She still didn't know and the entire encounter had her confused. "Have a good rest of the day."

When she moved back Christer didn’t fight her, hands out in surrender again before stepping back. “Another time,” he agreed, tucking his hands in his pockets so they were out of the way. “If you do need something let me know.” He would do what he could to help, that was just how he was. “You too,” he added, hoping her day did get better than weird encounters from the likes of him. He offered her just the ghost of a smile before stepping back and starting down the drive again.