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Dedication: xLovEtoLivEx for creating a playlist for this story! Thank you!

Recap:

She giggled, before stumbling back out.

"Hey guys, you won't believe what I just saw!" I heard her yell out but my mind was only occupied with one thing right now.

Hayden.

My mind was going to be occupied with him for a while.

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Mia's POV:

"Hey guys, you won't believe what I just saw!"

My head snaps up at the sound of Leisel's irritating, drunken voice. I want nothing more than to pour the rest of my drink down the front of her shirt. She knows how much Hayden meant to me and yet she still gave Hayden the dare to take Grace upstairs.

Traitorous bitch.

Not only had that transfer taken my #2 ranking in the team, but she has also stolen my friends and the one and only person I thought I loved. She has taken everything from me and she hardly had to try.

"Hayden and Grace are totally making out!" she gushes as if this news is life-changing.

I make a face at her words, feeling sick to my stomach. Getting to my feet and throwing my cup purposely to the floor, knowing the raspberry vodka will stain her carpet, I rush towards the bathroom and lock the door behind me.

Leaning heavily onto the sink, I grip the basin, my fingers trembling.

Carrie ruined my life. We started out as good friends. I told her everything--including how much I adored Hayden Cameron. Hayden and I had been friends for so long and we just worked. Then it all changed.

Carrie was everything Hayden wanted. She had the height, the muscle, the glamour, the dark hair, the long eyelashes, the deep eyes, the red lips, the curves that made every boy stop and stare as she walked past them in the hallway.

She had everything I didn't.

I would never have done what she did to Hayden. She took him from me and then betrayed him.

Of course, I had to get evidence. Of course, I had to show Hayden the monster he was dating.

The day Carrie left school was one of the best days of my life. The pure freedom I felt was exhilarating. I felt like I could finally come up for air. Although the entire ordeal with Carrie and Hayden's family changed him for the worse, he still had a huge spot in my heart.

I waited patiently through his struggles and the pain he was enduring. I was there for him when no one else was.

It was meant to be us. We were finally meant to get the ending we deserved.

And then along came Grace. The mirror-twin of Carrie. Not only did she look so similar to her, but my friends were drawn to her. The Coach wanted her. Hayden wanted her. It was a repeat of the torture and hell I had lived through already.

I hated her immediately, purely because she looked like Carrie. I had hoped she was smarter. That she was different.

She turned out to be the exact same.

When I confronted Grace about deleting the photos from my phone, she told me she was going to tell Hayden in her own time. She wanted to break the heart-wrenching news to him.

As much as I want to take her down and live out my revenge on Carrie, to Grace, I respect Hayden too much. I felt like I owed it to him. Life had dealt Hayden a shitty hand and I didn't want to make things worse.

I held off. Every night, I stare at those incriminating photos of Grace, wanting desperately to send them, but I didn't.

But tonight changed everything.

Hayden and Grace are getting in too deep. He is falling for her, just like he fell for Carrie.

He needed to know. He deserves to see her in her true colours.

My eyes lift and I stare at myself in the reflection, hardly recognising the dark, tortured eyes that stare back at me.

My pale, blonde hair is hanging around my face. My cheeks painted the red they always are. My lips were stained with alcohol.

Reaching towards the mirror, I run my fingers down the surface, watching as my upper lip curl.

I'm sending those photos to Hayden and there's no one that can stop me.

***

Grace's POV:

Tracing my fingertips gently over my lips, I replay the memories of last night over and over in my mind.

The feel of Hayden's hands against my skin, the taste of his tongue against my own, his breath mingling with mine. Kissing him was even more amazing than I thought it would be.

Finally getting myself out of bed, I beeline straight for the shower.

As the hot water runs down my back, I inhale a deep lungful of the steamy air around me, a dreamy smile lighting up my face.

Waking up with no hangover is amazing enough, but to still be able to feel Hayden's lips brushing against mine... Sighing, I lean back against the glass pane, closing my eyes, reliving one of the best moments of my life and we had only made out. I twirl a piece of my wet hair in my finger as I think about Hayden.

After getting dressed, I pad down the stairs and into the kitchen, expecting mum to be there. We had organised to do brunch together and I was going to meet Justin for the first time. I had tried to get her to wait until I didn't have a bruised lump on my forehead, but she insisted.

I found it hard to believe she could get yesterday afternoon for shopping off and this morning, but I hoped she would. I did really want to meet her boyfriend. I think I am ready to let someone new into our lives.

I am happy, she deserves to be as well.

I am just about ready when I see my phone flashing. Frowning, I check the voice message that has been left.

"Hey hun, it's me. I'm so sorry but I'm going to have to postpone brunch. I've had an emergency heart surgery come through. I'm really sorry. I'll let you know another day when I can. Love you!"

I put my phone back down and step out of my shoes. I can't feel disappointed she can't make it because she is literally saving lives.

Just as I was about to call Harvey and see what he was up to, there is a loud knock at the door.

As I swing the front door open, I am surprised to find Ashton standing there.

"Ashton," I greet in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"It's after ten," he replies flatly.

"What?"

"We were supposed to meet, remember?"

It was hard to think of anything else but Hayden's mouth against mine right now. I vaguely remember Ashton's name coming up on my phone last night. My memory has been tainted, Hayden overriding everything in my mind.

"Oh, shit, I forgot."

"Clearly," he frowns, his voice monotone. "Are you going to invite me in?"

"I guess," I sigh, stepping back. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Us."

"There is no 'us'," I gesture between our bodies as we walk into the kitchen. "You made that decision."

"What if I want to take it back?"

"Oh for God's sake," I groan, turning away from him and going to the fridge. "You only want me because I'm with someone else."

"You're not with Hayden."

"Doesn't matter if I'm not technically dating him," I snap, pouring myself a juice and not offering him one. "I'm still loyal to him."

"You had to settle because you couldn't get who you really wanted," Ashton insists, coming behind me.

I feel the hair on the back of my neck bristle.

"That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard you say."

"I still affect you," he murmurs. "Look at the goosebumps on your skin."

I whirl around and shove his chest, causing him to stumble back a few steps. Having him this close feels disrespectful to Hayden.

"You're giving me the creeps, that's why."

"Grace," he sighs. "I made some mistakes, okay? Give me a second chance. It's always been me and you. No one else stands a chance."

"You're, like, 110% wrong," I say, looking at him like he is on drugs. "I really like Hayden. More than I liked you."

"You're just saying that to try and hurt me."

"No, you're just making me be brutally honest," I snap, growing more frustrated by the second. "And besides, I don't even know anything about you because you refused to let me in. You just wanted to have sex with me. What Hayden and I have is real. You don't understand because you don't want real with me. You don't want to date."

He exhales deeply, sitting on the edge of the dining room table. He pinches the skin in between his eyes.

"How can I fix this?"

"You can't," I tell him honestly, hanging my head. "It's too late. I've fallen for Hayden."

"So what happened between us really meant nothing?" his eyes meet mine and I am surprised to see they hold moisture.

My stomach drops at the sad, hopeless look in his eyes. Considering I thought he was quite heartless, I am surprised he is showing this much emotion.

"Ashton," I whisper, taking a step forward. I feel like I need to comfort him but I don't want to cross any lines. "Look, of course, it meant a lot to me. But I've moved on now and you need to respect that."

"Is it because you don't know much about me? What do you want to know? I'll tell you anything."

"There's no point, Ashton."

"My name is Ashton Theodore Brennon. I'm 22 and have been the swim team captain of the Cobras for two years now. I have an older brother, I like to play the drums in my spare time, but only when I'm at my mate's house. My favourite colour is red and I love Italian food-"

"Ashton, stop!" I exclaim, throwing my hands up in the air. "Look, you had the chance to do this with me a long time ago and you blew it. You said we couldn't date and you were right. I was infatuated at the time because you're attractive, older... I would have been crazy not to fall for you. You showed me interest and it was really flattering. But all it was, was hormones and lust. We were attracted to each other physically and it was wrong. You're my Coach. You're practically a teacher to me and I should have known better. But honestly, you should have known better, too. You're the older one. It's wrong and you know it. I'm being mature and moving on. Please do the same."

"How can I, when I see you every day?"

I shrug, letting out a sigh. "That's something you have to work out on your own."

"Does he know?"

"What?"

"Does Hayden know?"

I open my mouth and close it several times, my mind stuck. I am frozen as I scramble to come up with a reply.

"I didn't think so," he remarks dryly, folding his well-built arms across his chest, the vulnerable look on his face transforming into something far more sinister. "What do you think he would do if he found out?"

"He would probably be devastated because of what happened with Carrie," I reply honestly, not liking the tone he is using. This is something that has been preoccupying my mind for some time now.

His eyes snap to mine. "You know about Carrie?"

"I do," I nod, planting my hand on my hip. "Is that why you like me? Because I look like her?"

"It is what drew me to you," he admits. "I'm very surprised he told you that."

"We communicate with each other, like normal people, that's why," I point out.

"But you haven't told him," he replies, a small smirk on his face. "Shame if he found out."

"Don't come into my home and threaten me," I snap, glaring at him. I can't believe the words coming out of his mouth right now.

He shrugs, pushing himself off the table, looking at me like he knows something I didn't. It is scary how fast his attitude changed.

"I just said it would be a shame if he found out," he strides over to me, before he places his finger under my chin, tilting my head back to meet his eyes. He smirks down at me and I sneer up at him, wanting nothing more but to wipe that sadistic smirk off his face.

"You do realise how pathetic you seem, right?"

"Yeah," he says in a low voice, his lips mere millimetres from mine. His hot breath blasted my face. "I'm the pathetic one."

I shove my chin out his hold and he grins as if he has won some sort of contest before he walks from me.

"Oh and you still owe me detention," he throws over his shoulder.

I stand there, breathless, my knees wobbling together as I hear the front door close.

My screw shut as I clutch my shirt in my hand, my chest aching.

This is it. Hayden is going to find out.

And we will be done.

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What do you think about seeing a bit of Mia's perspective?

And what do you think about Ashton's threat? Do you think he really would tell Hayden?

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