Array
(
[text] =>

----------------------

Dedication: Apostasies for voting for all the chapters of this story! I really appreciate it. :)

Recap:

"Wasn't planning on it," I sassed back, before glancing at Carrie. "I'm sure I'll see you soon."

"Oh yeah," she agreed with a nod. "You bet your ass you will."

As she shut the door behind me, I let out a silent scream.

This already messy situation, just got a whole lot worse.

----------------------

After trying to call Harvey, he doesn't answer my calls or texts.

After overthinking things far too much, I finally fell into an uncomfortable sleep.

Things don't get better by the next morning.

I wait on my front porch for fifteen minutes and Hayden never arrives. He too ignores my calls and texts. Letting out an exasperated sigh, I hurry to school, knowing that I was late for practise.

Walking into the locker room, I poke my head through the door to see the team lined up at the deep end of the pool. I'm not sure if I feel relieved or not when I notice Hayden isn't there. I guess I would have been confused if he was and hadn't picked me up.

Deciding to skip practise, considering Coach would either harass the crap out of me or ignore my presence anyway, I head back out to the lockers, trying to call Hayden again.

With no luck, I take the time to go for a walk around the school to clear my head before lessons start.

An hour or so later, I was on my way to my locker, when I hear him.

"You fucking bitch," I hear Hayden growl.

My mouth fell open as I see him stride up to Mia.

"What?" she shrieks, her eyes widening as she stares up at Hayden. I am surprised to see the usual cold look her eyes often held have been exchanged with fear.

I have never seen Hayden look so tense in his life. The veins in his arms are protruding from his skin and his jaw clenching and unclenching. I edge towards the scene, curious to know what this was about.

A small crowd has gathered to watch.

"You think you can mess with me and get away with it?" he snarls, his fists balling at his sides. "It is bad enough you sent me photos the first time but now that I'm happy with Grace, you're trying to manipulate me again?"

"I'm trying to help you!" she hisses and I feel my heart clench inside my chest.

"It's clearly not Grace in those photos," he snaps, his voice thick with venom as he has her pinned against the lockers. She looks so small and innocent, against his 6ft and well-built frame.

The photos... She sent him the photos.

I place a hand on my chest, feeling light-headed.

She sent him the photos.

Thinking back to them, my dark hair covered most of my face. To me, it was beyond obvious that it was Ashton and me in the photos... but to someone else, they could mistake me for Carrie.

I'm guessing that Hayden has done exactly that.

Guilt grips me so intensely that I feel sick to my core.

I should have just told him. I should have ignored what he said and just told him. I was lying to myself thinking he would be better off not knowing. Too many people know my secret.

I am so stupid.

"They're her Hayden!" she screams. "She has been lying to you! When are you going to get it?"

"When are you going to get it?" he screams even louder, before projecting his fist into the locker beside her head.

I cringe away at the sound as I see genuine fear in her eyes. I have never heard or seen Hayden act like this. I feel compelled to help her but I am frozen to the ground. A massive dent now lays in the locker, in line with Mia's face.

"I fucking hate your guts, Mia."

Tears stream down her face. "I'm trying to help you, you ass!"

She is sobbing. An enraged growl tore from his throat as he raises his hand to hit the locker again. As I see this, I rush forward and push Hayden back, standing between him and Mia.

"Put your hand down," I snap at him, trying to get him to see how much he is scaring her. When he stands stock-still, his hand still trembling, I continue. "Hayden, you're scaring the crap out of her."

He blinks slowly as if coming out of a trance. His hand falls limply to his side as he steps back.

"She's trying to get between us, Grace."

"She's telling the truth," I tell him quietly, my voice coming out stronger than I thought it would. "Just calm down, okay? I need to explain something to you."

"No," he gasps hoarsely, his eyes glistening. "You better not say what I think you're going to."

Swallowing, I move so that Mia osn't pinned anymore.

"Mia, go," I tell her and she scurries away as fast as she can, throwing herself at Leisel as cries.

Turning my attention back to Hayden, I look into his eyes, feeling like the worst person in the world.

"I tried to tell you, Hayden," I whisper, my eyes burning with unshed tears. "You told me not to say-"

"Don't," he snarls, his jaw clenching, a muscle in his cheek twitching. "Don't try and turn this back on me. I thought it was a student. Hell, I thought it was Ryan!"

Swallowing down the lump in my throat, I hold my hands out. "Let me explain-"

"Fuck you," he snaps, before stalking away from me.

A gasp left my lips at his words and watch him retreat from school. I lean back on the lockers, blinking back tears as everyone is silent, watching me.

"The show is over," I shout, throwing my hands in the air as everyone continues to stand, gawking at me like I am an ancient artefact in a museum. They are probably trying to figure out who he is talking about.

They all look between each other, before going about their day. Leisel sends me a small, sympathetic smile as she leads a sobbing Mia away.

Pushing myself from the lockers, I bolt out the doors, seeing Hayden getting into his ute.

"Hayden!" I call out, my voice thick with tears as they pour down my face.

As fast as he got in the car, he gets out again, his face a dark red as he turns to face me. Tears stain his cheeks and I feel my heart skip a beat.

"I hate you," he spits, voice poised with venom. "You're worse than Carrie. You lied to my face, made me fall for you, acted like you were different-"

"Listen to me! The thing with Ashton was only brief and nothing serious happened. A few kisses and make-out sessions. Nothing more! I didn't cheat on you because if you don't remember, you hated me then! You and all your "friends" were cruel to me and I had no one but him. So don't you dare act like the victim here."

A scream-like sound tears from his throat as he spins, sending his fist into the passenger side window, cracking the glass.

"You're driving me fucking mental Grace!" he screams, tugging at his hair. "You made me fall for you. You made me... Fuck!"

Horrible sobs leave my lips as I watch him blindly hit his car. I shake as I stand there uselessly while his anger implodes.

"I didn't lie to you, Hayden," I choke out. "I tried to tell you, you asked me not to."

"You should have told me, Grace," he whispers, his voice changing so drastically, so quickly. I hardly hear him as he looks at me, a pained expression on his face. "You were meant to be different."

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know anything about Carrie at that point. It was just a stupid, freaking coincidence. I promise I didn't sleep with him - what we had is over. I want you, Hayden. I want only you."

"It's a bit late now, don't you think?" he bit out.

"No," I plead, approaching him cautiously. "Despite finding out this way, we still have such strong feelings for each other. Don't let this change that. I can't change the mistakes I've made in the past. I can't help that he is here every day. I was dumb and stupid but you're helping me make better decisions. You're making me a better, happier person, Hayden."

He rubs his hands over his face roughly, leaning back against his car.

I reach out, running my hands down his bruised and bloody knuckles. Surprisingly, he doesn't jerk away.

"I know Carrie hurt you and I don't want to be like her. I'm not like her. I would never cheat on you. You have to know how sorry I am."

"How do I know you're not like Carrie?" he asks, his voice making my heart drop into my stomach. "You look like her, have the same taste in guys..."

"I wouldn't do to you what she did."

"Why are you so sure?" he asks, his voice thick with emotion.

"Because..." I say softly, my eyes pleading as I wait for him to look back at me. "I think I'm in love with you."

He peers through the gaps of his fingers.

"What?"

"I think I'm in love with you," I whisper, wiping my cheeks. "That's why I was so scared to tell you. I got to see how great things are being with you. I didn't want to lose that."

I watch his Adam's apple bob up and down as he drops his hands to his side.

We stare at each other, for an excruciatingly long time, before he speaks.

"This is too much," he whispers. "I have to go."

"Hayden," I sob, reaching for him. "Please, don't."

He shakes off my hand, before sliding into his car.

"You made your bed," he says to me in a quiet, sad tone that left me breathless. "Now you have to lie in it."

With that, he tears out of the school car park, leaving me alone.

Which is exactly what Ashton said would happen.

--------------------

Shit just went down! Thoughts on Hayden's reaction? Grace's confession? I want to hear what you're all thinking! (P.S don't hate me).

[text_hash] => cabbdaef
)