Chapter 11
Eleven
Jaclyn
It’s been a week since I last saw Hayden.
He has been avoiding me, I know it.
Last time I saw him was in class where he said he wasn’t going to do the project with me. Since then I haven’t seen him in class or the diner. I see Natalia and the boys come in and sit at their usual table but never Hayden.
When I asked Natalia where Hayden has been she told me that he hasn’t left the apartment other to go to the club.
After I realized he was avoiding me I went to go and talk to the professor to see if she could do something but that was no help.
“You aren’t the first one to come to me about this project, Jaclyn,” she told me. “I have had a lot of people come to me and it’s understandable. This project is uncomfortable but that's the point. I’ve seen your files and you’re a journalism major. You are going to have to ask uncomfortable questions in the broadcasting field. This is only the first step,” she explained while looking at me sympathetically.
“I understand your reasoning but it’s hard to work on a project when your partner isn’t willing. Can’t I have a different partner?”
She nodded her head, understanding. “I know Mr. Night isn’t the easiest to work with but I have no one else for you to switch with. But with Mr. Night, if he won’t comply with this project then you’re going to have to figure it out. As long as the assignment is completed and meets the rubric requirements. If not then I’m going to have to mark you and your partner down. In the real world you won’t get options. You get demands and those demands have to be met.”
The rest of the conversation was me arguing with her, begging her to do something but she just shook her head and sent me away.
So this past week I have been trying to figure out how to get a hold of Hayden and I was thinking about going to Natalia and his apartment but I didn’t want to intrude.
I finish pouring the coffee in a small cup. I place it on a plate and then take that and a single donut on another plate.
Max is in the middle of talking to Kayden while Kayden writes in his journal as I walk up to their table and place the plates on the table.
Max pauses and smiles when he sees the donut he ordered.
“Thanks, sweetheart,” Max says before taking a bite of the donut.
“I don’t think she likes being called that,” Kayden mutters as he continues writing in his journal.
“That’s a lie, she loves it.” Max looks away from Kayden and up at me. “Don’t you, sweetheart?”
I don’t but it makes him smile so I don’t mind. “Sure.” I look at Kayden who is still writing. “What are you writing in there?”
“A story,” he says bluntly.
“About what?” I ask, making Kayden look up at me and I see that same sadness in his eyes that I saw when he was talking about his girlfriend who isn’t his girlfriend.
“A girl.”
“See he says it’s always about a girl but he never explains,” Max says with an annoyed and teasing tone. “Who’s the lucky girl who caught Kayden Black’s attention?”
“I don’t tell you anything because it’s none of your business. Maybe if you’re around long enough you can read what I’ve been writing but until then stay out of it.”
Max sighs. “So grumpy. Who pissed in your candles?”
“Cereal,” I correct .
Max shakes his head as if I’m the silly one. “Same thing.”
I laugh because how could I not?
Max is entertaining.
I leave their table and go behind the bar where Andy is on her phone. It’s super dead in the middle of the day on Thursdays. I was supposed to have class today but it got canceled so I picked up a shift because I had nothing else to do for the rest of the day. I do have homework but I can do that later.
“I can’t wait to go home,” I say as I lean against the counter next to Andy.
She has two tables while I only have one. It should get busier later on because it’s Thursday and college kids don’t have classes on Fridays.
“Same. I have to take my cat to the vet early tomorrow morning so I’m going to need as much sleep as possible tonight.
“What happened to her?”
“I don’t know. She just has been pooping blood since last night. I asked James to take her to the vet today but he works.”
James is Andy’s boyfriend. They have been together for six years and met in college. James is a lawyer while Andy is a small business owner plus waitress on the side.
“And Lisa couldn’t take her?”
“I didn’t want to ask her. ”
The sound of the doorbell catches my attention and I see Hayden walk in. He has that blank dark stare on his face that screams ‘leave me alone!’. He’s wearing black jeans and a white sweater with a design in the front.
Hayden avoids my glare as he walks towards the end of the diner where Kayden and Max are sitting.
“Mmm.” I hear Andy say, making me look at her.
She has a smirk on her face and I furrow my eyebrows at her. “What?”
Her smirk changes into a scheming smile. “You know what.”
I shake my head, already knowing what she is going to assume. “Whatever.”
I walk past her to go back to the table at the end of the diner. I need to talk to Hayden about this project. The faster we get it done the better.
As I get closer to their table I see Max talking to Hayden and Kayden’s notebook is closed on the table as he listens to Max while drinking his coffee.
“And next thing I know, the bitch starts using teeth as my dick goes down her throat.” I hear Max say as I sit next to Kayden. “She even started laughing when I told her to stop, no shit. Fucking cuckoo in the head.”
“That’s your fault for not listening to her ex when he told you about her. Why do you think he broke up with her?” Kayden says, which makes Max roll his eyes .
“I didn’t think he was serious,” Max exclaims, making me chuckle lightly.
Kayden shakes his head lightly before taking a sip of his coffee. I move my eyes to Hayden who is looking everywhere but at me.
“Hayden,” I say, trying to make him look at me.
“Tell her to leave,” Hayden says, looking at Kayden.
“Tell her yourself,” Kayden says in a bored tone.
“Why have you been avoiding me?”
This time Hayden looks at me. “Avoiding you would mean I care and quite frankly, I don’t.”
“Then why haven’t you left your apartment? Your sister told me you have been stuck up there or going to the club.”
Hayden smirks, making butterflies swarm in my stomach. “You’ve been asking about me, princess?’
I roll my eyes. “No.”
Hayden’s jaw ticks. “Sure.”
“Hayden, you know I need your help with this project. Just help me.”
He furrows his eyebrows and leans forward. “Why would I help you? What do I get out of it?”
“Getting a good grade?”
By the look on Hayden’s face I can tell he doesn’t give a single fuck. “I don’t care.”
“Then how about being a decent person and helping me? ”
“I can help you out by doing a lot of other things.”
Max starts laughing. “Jesus, Hayden. I called dibs first. She’s mine.”
I shake my head and look at Kayden. “Wanna help me out?”
Kayden doesn’t look at me, instead he keeps his eyes on Hayden.
Hayden looks away from me and looks at Kayden. “Why would he help you?”
Kayden doesn’t answer him, he just keeps his eyes on Hayden, as if they are having a silent conversation that none of us can hear. Hayden’s gaze darkens and he looks at me before looking at Kayden.
“Are they about to kiss?” Max says and I can’t help but smile.
He definitely knows how to lighten the mood.
“You know how you’ve been wanting me to do that tune-up for your car?” Kayden says and tilts his head as if mocking Hayden.
I look at Hayden and his jaw clenches.
“Oh shit,” Max says while smiling and looking between them.
“I’ll do it for you if you help her,” Kayden says, tilting his head towards me.
“Seriously?” Hayden raises an eyebrow. Kayden nods his head. Hayden looks at me and he has that dark look in his eyes that makes me feel uneasy. He looks at Kayden. “Why are you helping her?”
“I like her. I have a feeling she is going to make things interesting.” Kayden smirks.
Seeing him like this is out of the ordinary because since I met him, he has never talked this much or has been this teasing and daring, towards Hayden out of all people.
Hayden looks at me. “Fine. I’ll help her,” he says with his jaw clenched.
I can’t help but smile and look at Kayden who is keeping his gaze on Hayden with an unknown stare. Almost like he is curious about something.
But what?