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Dedication: Charcoal_face_paint for the awesome cover! Thank you!

Recap:

No... This could not be happening.

Unknown: I own you now. Love, Mia.

Letting out a groan, I throw my phone onto the ground.

I'm screwed.

Do any of you have songs that remind you of this story? Interested in making myself a playlist of songs to listen to when I write. If you have any songs you love or any that you remind you of the story/any of the characters, please comment here! [Insert Here].

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I have never walked to school so fast in my life.

I storm from my house, slamming the door behind me. I left extra early to go pay Mia a visit. She always has to be the first one at practise. Today, I was thankful for the annoying trait.

Stalking into the gym and out into the locker room, I see her blonde hair draped in a high ponytail. I stomp over to her, grabbing a fistful of her hair and reefing her head back.

A scream leaves her lips as she staggers back, whirling around to face me.

"You think you can threaten me?" I sneer, stepping closer to her. "You don't want to start a war with me, Mia," I threaten, my eyes narrowing.

Her cheeks burn crimson, revealing her true emotions, but her eyes cloud over as she takes a step back from me, folding her arms across her chest.

"I'm looking out for him."

"Hayden?" I let out a humourless laugh. "Don't you think you would be with him if he wanted you?"

She opens her mouth to retort but I continue, hardly drawing breath.

"You're a psychopath! He's not yours to claim. You blackmailing me is pathetic and shows what kind of person you really are."

"Yeah, and you," she points out with a shrug. "I'm sure Hayden would love to hear the stories about you sleeping with the Coach."

"One, we never did. The thing that happened between us is long over, so it isn't even worthy of blackmail, really," I laugh, shaking my head. "Why have you been sitting on this? Why not try and expose me when you first stalked me?"

She made a face at the 'stalk' comment but doesn't say anything on the matter. "I wasn't sure what way you would go--the Coach or Hayden. You chose Hayden," she narrows her eyes. "So, I decided to use the photos. Turns out, you're not like Carrie as much as I thought."

My stomach clenches at the mention of Hayden's infamous ex who seems to be so much like me. I don't take the bait, however, and roll my eyes.

"So what, you can't have Hayden so no one else can, either?"

"I will have him," she breathes, stepping closer to me. "It's so close to happening and you're getting in the way."

"Oh God, you're delusional," I laugh and the sound is harsh. "Do you know what he says about you behind your back?"

She stiffens. That was a bluff, but a good one. It got her attention.

"You're lying."

"I think your name saved in his phone proves it."

"You're a fucking bitch, Grace. You shouldn't speak to me like that when I have-"

"I know what you have," I snap. "You have nothing except your smart mouth. I'm not scared of you."

"You should be," she warns in a low voice, just as the rest of the swim team began to enter the locker, most yawning from being up so early.

The glare between us his fiery hot as we step back and begin to get changed.

"Morning Hayden," I greet as he trudges in.

He nods in greeting, beelining to the bench and dumping his bag.

I shoot a sweet smile towards Mia, before sauntering into one of the change rooms.

Game on, bitch.

***

"You little bastard," I mutter as I wriggle the lock and have zero success getting it open.

"No need to name call here," Harvey comments as he materialises beside me. "What's wrong?"

"My locker is being dumb," I mutter with a sigh. "I can't get it open."

"Move over, amateur," he rolls his eyes, playfully shoving me out of the way.

Swiftly, he punches his fist against the door and twists the lock simultaneously. My locker door pops open and my lips part as I stare at him.

"You're welcome," he winkes, stepping back. "I'm not just a pretty face, you know."

"Clearly," I grin. "Thanks."

Folding his arms over his chest, he leans against the next locker as I withdraw my English book.

"Hey, do you think you could break into any locker?" I ask, suddenly having a genius idea.

"I've only ever broken into mine, and yours now, but I suppose so. Why?"

Running my tongue over my bottom lip and slamming my locker door shut, I follow his movement of leaning on the locker.

"Mia is threatening me."

"Mia? Why?" he asks, a hint of surprise evident in his tone. He shouldn't be surprised, honestly. It is Mia we're talking about.

"Because she's jealous and insecure."

"Rightfully so," he agrees.

My cheeks warm at his words. I look away from his piercing eyes. 

"Er- Thanks," I stammer idiotically.

"What has she got on you?"

"Photos."

"Of?" he presses.

"The Coach," I groan, covering my face. "Don't judge. Please."

"Clothes on?"

"Yes," I snap, looking at him between my fingers. "I told you we didn't have-"

"Okay, okay," he quickly holding his hands up. "You want me to break into her locker and steal her phone or something?"

"Just delete the photos, if you can," I nod. "While we're swimming or something?"

He shakes his head, the corners of his mouth tugging upwards as he fought the smile trying to form on his face. "The things I do for you, Grace."

"I know, you love me, right?" I grin, looping my arm through his as the bell sings.

"Of course."

"I keep your life interesting," I tease, sticking out my tongue.

"That's for sure," he agrees with a soft laugh.

The rest of the school day goes quickly and not long later, I am climbing out of Harvey's car and waving to him over my shoulder.

"Do you have swim practise tomorrow before school?" he asks as I haul my bag from the floor of his car.

"Yeah, I need to squeeze in one more session before the comp," I tell him, letting out a slight sigh. "I've been waiting for this for so long and now it's here, I'm kind of worried."

"Don't be, you will knock them out of the water," he assures me with a warm, smile. The smile that makes me smile in return. The smile that can make my worry cease and my chest feel lighter. "I have no doubt in my mind, that you will."

"Really?"

"Yes, Grace," he smiles.

This is why Harvey is my best friend. He is so supportive of me, even though he despises the swim team for the way they have treated him in the past. Mainly Mike, but the others haven't gone out of their way to be nice to him, either.

"I'll see you tomorrow. Have fun at the movies!"

"Will do!"

I shut the door and walk to my front door, a little disappointed Harvey can't hang tonight. We usually try and do dinner together a couple times during the week, despite his mum's opinion, so that I don't eat alone all the time. However, now that he is "hanging out" with Caitlyn, his time with me has been halved. I'm more than happy for him to have found someone, but I can't help the selfish thoughts that invade my mind.

Grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl, I shred the hideous school uniform and swap it for a loose dress. I sprawled onto the lounge and began to flick through Netflix. After settling on one of the new releases, I let my eyes closed.

This morning during my laps, I had told myself to do a gym session after practise but now I couldn't be bothered. I had been dozing in and out of sleep for an hour or so before a loud knock brought me out of my daze.

Rubbing my eyes, I reach for my phone to check the time. The person knocks again before I hear the door swing open.

I stay, lying on the lounge as I heard the footsteps ascend towards me.

"Sure, just come on in," I state sarcastically.

"Get up."

"No. Go away."

Hayden rolls his eyes dramatically and sits at the end of the lounge, causing me to draw my legs up. I scowl at him.

"Considering your first comp is tomorrow, I thought you would be preparing for it."

"I thought about it," I admit. "But I couldn't be bothered."

"Come on, let's go for a run."

"Why are you here?" I question, reeling into sitting position. "You made it clear that you didn't want to be friends."

He props his elbow on the armrest and swivels his bright, green eyes to mine. "I take that back."

"You take it back?" I ask, surprised. "I thought you said-"

"I know what I said, but I've changed my mind."

I can't stop the grin forming on my face. "You realised you can't live without me, right?"

He scoffs unnecessarily loudly. "Don't let it go to your head."

Mia's face flashes in my mind but I quickly pushed all thoughts of her away. She is not winning this.

"Fine, let me go get dressed," I pretend to groan, although I'm embarrassingly delighted that he is here.

I fly up the stairs two at a time and am embarrassed when I realise he followed me, seeing my practically sprinting up them. 

"So this is your room," he states, more to himself than me, as we walk in.

"Mm yeah," I mumble, rummaging through my drawers for my tights.

He plops onto my bed and flicks through one of the swim magazines I have. I shove my tights on and pull the dress over my head. I am looking for my Nike singlet when I feel my skin heat up. I glance over to see Hayden staring at me. He quickly looks back to the page and I smirk. I shove the singlet over my body and throw my hair into a bun, before grabbing my Nike runners.

"Ready?" he asks.

"Yep."

I follow him down the stairs and out to the front. He picks up a jog and I fall in step with him.

"Thanks for making me do this," I grunt as we run down the street, heading in the direction of the beach.

He doesn't reply. 

Our breathing is heavy. Sweat glistens on my forehead as we make our way down the cracked pavement. I let him go in front as he jogs down the wooden steps and onto the yellow sand.

After gawking at Hayden from behind, I force my eyes from him and watched the sun begin to sink into the horizon. That was one of the best things about living so close to the beach, we got to witness the most amazing sunsets. I breathlessly watch as the sky transformed into vibrant colours of pink and orange.

Even though the majority of the run had been silent, it was still nice. It was fun to do something with Hayden. No awkwardness, no tension, no pressure. Just two people, doing something they enjoy.

We slow to a walk when we reach my street. My heart is hammering inside my chest. I plant my hands on my hips as we walk back. My cheeks are red and clammy from the exertion with my hair sticking to my forehead.

"Do you want to come inside?" I ask him as he came to a stop at my driveway.

"Nah, I have to get back to mum," he replies, looking at his feet and I nod.

"Okay, sure."

He turns, beginning to walk from me. I bite my lip as I watch him. That's it?

He pauses, looking back, his eyes finally meeting mine. "This was cool."

I smile at him. "Yeah."

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yep."

"I'll pick you up," he offers, looking back down at the ground as if the pavement has become quite fascinating. I bite the inside of my cheek, hard, to stop myself smiling at his evident nervousness.

"Sounds great," I reply, attempting to appear nonchalant.

He nods, before continuing. As I walk into the house, a smile dances on my lips.

That was an unexpected surprise.

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Thoughts? :)

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