Chapter 9 #2
“My dad used to work for Hayden’s family, and well I was the poor kid, so that’s all there is to that story.” I hate I’ve had to say that he hated me, because he never once made me feel like I was anything less than him.
“And Leo?” My body shivers remembering him and his friends.
“I don’t really know them, they came into the place I worked back then a few times.” I get off the bed and pick up the outfit she’s picked for me. “It’s cold, I’ll freeze.” I turn to her, but she walks away from me to the closest again.
“I know you’re trying to get out of going to the party,” she shouts at me, while I continue to look at my clothes.
A black mini skirt, and a black mini top which comes off the shoulder.
“These will keep you warm. You’re going to the party, even if I have to take you kicking and screaming.
” She hands me my black knee high boots, and leather jacket.
I could do a fake phone call and say that Mr. Cain needs me to come into work, but Abigail seems like the person who'd take the phone from me, and talk to him herself.
I take a deep breath, and take this as a losing battle, and get changed into the clothes. All the time I am also thinking of how I can stay out of sight from Hayden, and as far away from Leo as I can.
“Jen and the others will meet us there,” Abigail tells me, and I close my eyes. I don’t know them, but Jen is clearly with Hayden, which means he'll be close to me. Fucking great.
“So, if Hayden and Leo hate each other, how come you’re friends with them both?” Normally if a group hates people the rest of them normally follow, but not these girls.
“Well Linda is Jen’s best friend, and she’s dating Sam.
So, as long as we don’t mix the groups normally it’s peaceful.
Plus, Leo has been beat up by Hayden a few times over the last couple of years.
” Abigail turns to me, and smiles. “Leo only has to breathe his way, and Hayden punches him. No one knows why, and everyone is too scared to ask, myself included.” She turns around and moves her hair from her back. “Zip me up please.”
Zipping her up, I sit on the bed to put my boots on and get ready for what should be a fun party, but for me it’s the worst thing I can imagine.
I stand up and grab my jacket, but see Abigail isn’t wearing anything so I throw it back on the bed and look at her.
“You got some ink, it’s hot,” she says, her eyes running over my tattoos.
I look down at my arms, and waist, smiling at them. I never thought I was a tattoo girl. I don’t have anything big at all, they are tiny ones scattered around, but I like every single one of them.
“Let’s go. We both look hot, and we will both get laid. So, stop worrying about whatever it is, and let's have some fun.” She takes my hand and drags me out of my room.
We walk into the party house, the music is loud, and there's hardly any space to move, there are so many students here. My heart starts pounding when I see Hayden, he’s with Jen. Great.
“You know—”
“I know nothing, you’re coming.” Abigail pulls me to walk with her, and I stay behind her. Maybe if I can keep an arm's length and another human between us, I might get through the night.
“About time you get here!” Jen screams, hugging Abigail, and smiles at me. “I take it you’ve met Abigail who doesn't take no for an answer,” Jen jokes, and Abigail tells her to shut up. All I can do is smile because no words are coming to me.
I’ve not looked at Hayden yet, hell I’ve not looked at anyone but the floor, and now Jen.
“Hayden, does Mason plan on fucking every girl at school?” I hear one of the girls ask him and look over at the dance floor to look at Mason dancing with three girls.
I could never tell Mason and Miles apart, and even now I wouldn't know which one is which. The only reason I know that’s Mason is because I don’t see Miles over there.
When I saw them in the cafeteria, I didn’t know which one was which.
But now I know the one with glasses is Miles, It’s an easy way to tell the difference now I guess.
“Well, it’s not his fault the school is full of whores, we have a new one to add to the list.” My head snaps to him, Hayden. He's not even looking at me, but I know the comment was aimed at me.
Miles walks over to him, and stares at me for a moment, and if looks could kill I’d be dead right now. He whispers something to Hayden, and he starts laughing.
“Here.” Abigail hands me a drink, and I take a big sip of it because my throat has dried up.
Taking my eyes off Hayden, I lean on the counter and start playing with the label on the beer bottle. The girls are talking around me, about yet another party which is happening tomorrow. Does anyone study in this place? Will this be another party I get dragged into too?
I look up at the dance floor, and my body tenses up when I see Leo walking over to us, and on cue Hayden and Miles walk away. I try to walk away, but Leo cages me in, and brings his lip to my ear and whispers.
“We can have fun again.” He blows on my neck, and I push him away from me.
“You make me sick.” I slam my beer bottle on the counter behind me and walk away from him and go outside. It’s cold, and I regret leaving my jacket on the bed now. I’d rather be cold outside, than inside with Leo and Hayden.
Maybe I could call an uber, Abigail won’t even notice I’m missing now she’s with her friends.
Taking a deep breath, I look up at the night sky.
“You need to leave.” I don’t need to turn around because the voice is all I’ve ever heard every night, since I left this town.
Because I missed his voice. “Leave, or I’ll make it miserable for you.
” Finally turning around I see he’s still breathtakingly handsome, but the nice smile he used to have is more of a hatred one now.
“I’m—”
“Not interested in what you have to say.” He takes a step closer to me, and I take one step back, something else I never used to do around Hayden.
I used to love it when he put his arm over my shoulder and we walked to the car, the cinema, or anywhere.
I loved how if I was cold he'd give me his sweatshirt and wrap his arms around me.
But the Hayden in front of me, there's something dark in his eyes. “Leave or spend the next five months scared to leave your dorm room.” He takes a step closer to me, taking up any gap we had between us, and leans down a little to my ear. “Wouldn’t want anything to happen to the delicate little daisy now would we.” And with those words he walks away from me.
I close my eyes feeling the single tear drop on my cheek.
I lost my best friend, and there's no chance of me winning him back.