One Week Later

“Knock, knock!!!” Jennifer sang, creeping through Hailey’s door.

“You know saying knock, knock is not the same thing as actually knocking on a person’s door.” Hailey said peeping form behind her laptop. Hailey was hard at work on Monday morning working on a manuscript.

“And you complaining about intruders is not the same as you actually locking your door.” Jenn replied.

“Touché,” Hailey said.

“Any who, I come bearing gifts.” Jennifer said, holding out a white box in front of her.

Hailey looked up from her computer. “Oooh gimme!” Hailey urged, her eyes growing wide, she held her arms out, fingers wiggling.

“Ah, ah, ah. Not so fast.” Jennifer said, waving a finger. “There are conditions.”

“Ugghh.” Hailey groaned. “No fair, I’m your best friend; you’re supposed to love me unconditionally.”

“Oh, was that the bullshit they fed you in grammar school?” Jennifer asked sarcastically.

“Fine,” Hailey huffed. What are the conditions?”

“You go on a date wi-“

“I already said I would Jenn, now give me my cupcakes.” Hailey demanded, cutting Jennifer off.

“You didn’t let me finish.” Jenn said. “What I was going to say was that you go out on a date with one of Jay friends.” She proposed.

“Wait, you guys set me up?” Hailey asked. “That wasn’t part of the plan.”

“Just hear me out, okay?”

“Fine.”

“One of Jay’s really hot model friends is in town for New Years, and he’s newly single. He’s looking for someone, and you’re looking for someone. And trust me; this guy is hot enough to get you out of your funk.” Jennifer explained.

“How hot?”Hailey asked, tempted.

“Greek God, you’ll never find another one like him, hot.”

“He’s that hot?” Hailey asked a bit unsure.

“If I’m lying, let me be struck by lightning.” Jennifer looked up. “See, nothing.” She then sat at the end of the couch, setting the box of cupcakes on the coffee table.

“I hate blind dates.” Hailey said. “You never know what you’re getting.”

“I’m telling you what you’re getting!” Jennifer replied. She then reached into her purse, and pulled out an issue of Glamour magazine. She flipped to a page, and held it up to Hailey’s face. It was a Calvin Klein underwear ad. “This is Derek. He’s a good friend of Jay’s and he’s already agreed to go out with you.”

Okay he is hot. Hailey admitted to herself. Really hot. “So I guess I know what I’m getting then huh?” Hailey asked.

“What do you say?” Jennifer asked impatiently.

“This is really happening then huh?”  Hailey felt like all of this dating stuff was coming at her way too fast. Like she was starting high school all over again.

“Don’t worry, you’ll be just fine.” Jenn reassured her. It was as if she could read her mind.

“I will be just as soon as I have a cupcake. Now hand them over.” She demanded. But Hailey knew that it would take a lot more than cupcakes to prepare for what she was about to dive into.

“I’m coming, I’m coming!” Hailey called, as if the person on the other end of the ringing phone could actually hear her. It was later that Monday, and Hailey had just gotten out of the shower. With a towel wrapped around her, and soaking wet, she raced to the phone. “Hello?” She answered.

“Hailey, Sweetie, it’s Mom.” Kristen, Hailey’s mother replied.

“Oh hey Mom, what’s going on?” Hailey asked. She was glad to hear from her Mom, she desperately needed some advice.

“I have some news. “ Kristen announced. “You’re father and I have saved up enough money to go on that second Honeymoon that we’ve been talking about.”

“Oh, Mom, that’s really great. Where are you guys going?” Hailey asked. Hailey’s parents have been married since forever, and now that all of their children were out of the house, they’ve been planning trips, and working on getting their sexy back as Hailey’s father Bill, not so gracefully put it. She shuddered at the thought of those words coming from her dad’s mouth.

“Cancun!” Kristen said excitedly. “I was calling to let you know that your father and I will be leaving on Thursday, and with this being our busiest season of the year, and the resort being almost booked up, I was wondering if you could help Rebecca out at the resort.” Hailey’s parents owned the biggest ski resort in all of Colorado, Misty Mountains Ski Resort. Hailey and her younger sister Rebecca had practically grown up there, and now Rebecca worked part time for her parents while attending community college.

“So when is this again Mom?” Hailey asked.

“Well, we leave this Thursday, and we’ll be back next Friday, so we’ll be spending New Years there. Do you think you can do it?”

Hailey contemplated for a moment. The New Years Eve party was this Friday. But then again, she couldn’t say no to her mom. Her parents really deserved this second honeymoon. And from a selfish standpoint, if she did work at the resort, then this would be an easy out of the party, and the date that she had been dreading. “Sure Mom, no problem, I can do it.”

“What do you mean you’re not coming?” Jennifer asked in disbelief, from behind the counter. Hailey had decided to take a trip to Cookie Cutter to deliver her ‘bad news’ (cough, cough), and also because she had a major Key Lime Pie craving. It really did benefit her to have a baker as a best friend.

“Sorry Jenn, my parents need my help.” Hailey replied in faux-remorse.

“Yeah, they need your help just so that they can go and get their freak on in Cancun. I mean they’re like what 50? What 50 year olds go to Cancun? Cancun is for college spring breakers. You’re parents are totally sabotaging you.” Jennifer said, as she was putting the finishing touches on a caramel cake.

“And I was really looking forward to this weekend too.” Hailey lied. She pouted to try and give the whole disappointed effect.

“This sucks ass!” Jennifer exclaimed.

“Yeah it really, really sucks.” Hailey replied, though she couldn’t help but to feel relieved inside. “So, can you wrap up a piece of Key Lime Pie for me?”

“So you really don’t mind staying here with me?” Rebecca asked, helping Hailey pack her things into the resort.

“Of course not. Trust me, there’s nothing more that I’d rather do than cuddle on the couch, sipping hot chocolate by the fire place, watching the snow from the window, while watching Cameron Diaz movies with my baby sis.” Hailey reassured her. It was now Thursday and Hailey was moving some things into the mini apartment where Rebecca and her parents usually stayed whenever they had to pull overnighters on the really busy nights at the resort. As much as she loved her friends, she was just as happy get away from them for a little while. Even if it was only a few miles away from her apartment, Hailey was thankful for the getaway. Working at the Resort was a piece of caking, she grew up doing this; it was her high school job, and it wasn’t like working at all. Plus, she got paid to basically hang out with her sister, and practically do nothing. It was like her own mini vacation. What could be better?

As she got settled into one of the guest rooms, Hailey inhaled the familiar smells of home. “I could get used to this.” She said aloud. For the first time in a little while she actually felt relaxed. She heard a soft tap on her bedroom door, and Rebecca walked in. “Hey Sis, just wanted to let you know that you’re shift starts in the morning at seven.” She said before turning to leave

“Thanks.” Hailey replied. “Hey Becca,” she called, stopping her sister

“Yeah?”

“Do you ever wish that you could just stay up here forever?” Hailey asked.

“Sometimes, but then again, I think being here forever would drive me ape shit”! She laughed. “But whatever’s bothering you Hales, you just gotta let it go. You can’t hide from the world forever.”

Those words seemed to ring in Hailey’s ears. If everyone said it, then it must be true. “So what’s for dinner?” She asked, changing the subject, something that she had gotten so very good at.

“Dominoes.” Rebecca replied, tossing Hailey the cordless phone. “You may be back home, but that doesn’t mean you’re getting a home cooked meal too!”

Friday, New Years Eve

“Morning,” Hailey greeted her sister down at the front desk.

“Wow, you’re awful chipper this morning.” Rebecca said, as she was checking a family of four into the resort.

“Well I had a good night’s sleep.” Hailey replied, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

“Maybe it’s because you avoid all problems, and act as if they don’t exist.” Rebecca said.

“Excuse me?” Hailey asked.

“Oh, Honey you can’t fool me.”  Rebecca replied “So, I need to go take stock of supplies, so I’m gonna need you to run the front desk. Then I have to run errands all day, call the plumbers to fix the downstairs toilet, and call a technician to fix the chair lifts, so you’ll pretty much be here all day. Now don’t forget to-“

“Becca, I got it, I got it!” Hailey assured her. “Have you forgotten that I worked here long before you ever did? I’ll be fine. Go!”

“Thanks for visiting; I hope you enjoyed your stay!” Hailey waved to the couple, as Javier, the bellhop gathered their luggage. As the day went on, Hailey began to fall back into the old familiar routine, of greeting customers, and checking them in and out of the resort. Much to Hailey’s delight, the day had been pretty uneventful, and as evening approached, she was planning on shutting down soon. Since it was dark out, people were either going out to a New Years Eve Party, or safely bundled up in their suites. Now all Hailey had to do was relax, and enjoy the beautiful scenery outside the glass double doors. Or maybe not.

“Hey!” Jennifer called as she approached the front desk.

Oh no. Hailey thought. Jenn wore her red hair pulled back in a chignon. She wore a trench coat, with fishnet stockings, and stiletto heels, and a man on her arm.

“Hey, Jenn! What brings you here?” Hailey asked surprised. She looked closer at the hottie on her friends arm, and realized that he wasn’t just any hottie. He was the hottie. Derek, from Calvin Klein!

“I just wanted to stop by before we headed to Ice, and introduce you to Derek.” Wow, Jennifer never ceased to amaze her. She always had something up her sleeve.

“Derek, hi, I’m Hailey.” Hailey introduced herself, and extended her hand over the desk to shake Derek’s. He had a nice firm grip. As she shook his hand, she couldn’t help but to get lost in his deep green eyes. Maybe agreeing to work tonight was a mistake. “I’m really sorry about tonight, I didn’t mean for our plans to fall through.” Hailey said apologetically, this time she meant it. But she was sure that as attractive as he was, he would have no problem at all finding his first kiss of 2003. Hell, Jenn might even snatch him up herself.

“Don’t worry about it Sweetheart. I think it’s great that you put family first. Maybe we can talk sometime when you’re not so busy?” Derek asked.

Hailey’s heart fluttered. His voice was as smooth as butter, and the way he called her Sweetheart? Swoon. She just about melted right there on the spot. “Yeah, I’d really like that.” Hailey and Jenn exchanged glances. See, I told you it wouldn’t be that bad, Jennifer seemed to say.

“Well, we gotta get going.” Jenn spoke up. “Are you sure you can’t come?” She pleaded.

“Sorry, I’ve got my hands tied.” Hailey said regretfully. Maybe she was missing out.

10:30 pm

By this time, Hailey’s and Rebecca’s shift was almost over, and the lobby was completely quiet, with the exception of the mini television that Rebecca had set up on the front desk.

“I wish I were there.” Rebecca said. She was watching Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin’ Eve, Usher was performing.

“Hmm, New York doesn’t sound so bad.” Hailey stated. “I mean it’s cold here, it’s cold there. But there are a lot of people.”

“Yeah, I know and they’re not the nicest.” Rebecca replied.

As the night was winding down, and the girls were getting ready to shut down the front desk, they heard the sound of someone entering the resort. “Sorry, but were clos- Oh hey Jay, I didn’t realize it was you!” Rebecca said, as he approached the desk, with a friend trailing behind. “Hailey, look Jay’s here.”

Hailey turned around from what she was doing to meet face to face with her friend. “Hey, Jay!” And then she was suddenly looking at Jay’s friend. “Josh?” There stood Hailey face to face with her ex.