Array
(
[text] =>

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

Dedication: AcStreetlight for voting, commenting and sending me such a kind message! I really appreciate you taking the time and effort to support me. Thank you <3

Recap:

I gave him a flat stare. "You're a nerd."

"If you get all your work done, I'll buy you dinner. Pizza?"

Instantly, I perked up. "You know the way to my heart, Mr Cameron."

He let out a laugh, swinging his arm around my shoulder as we began to walk back to my house.

"I think I do, Miss Connaway."

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

It felt refreshingly normal to walk into school.

I have my long hair twisted up into a bun, praying that I did it messy enough that you can't notice my bald patch. As both Hayden and I are still exempt from swimming practise, we arrive at school at the same time most others did.

Eyes swivel our way as we walk down the corridor. Our fingers are linked together and it seems like every pair of eyes are drawn to them. I see the whispers on people's lips and the shocked stares. People probably still think Hayden attacked me. I haven't read what the local newspaper has reported. Or should I say, Harvey's father has reported. I like him even less now, broadcasting my story across the entire town, pinning Hayden as a filthy criminal. How he could be the father of one of the nicest and beautiful people I know, baffles me.

"I feel like a celebrity," I state with an eye roll as we reach my locker.

"At least people aren't looking at you like you're a criminal," Hayden mutters, fingering his hair agitatedly. 

"You're not a criminal. These people have known you for years. If they believe the rumours, then they're as stupid as they look. Why would I be dating someone who attacked me?"

He grins, glancing down the hall. "They do look pretty stupid, don't they?"

"They do," I agree loudly, glaring at a group of four girls who are watching eyes with wide eyes and their mouths hanging open.

"You're a mean girl," he teases as they hurry away from us.

I shrug, pulling out my Society and Culture textbook. "There's a fine line with being mean and standing up for yourself."

"Fair point."

"Good morning best friend and best friend's boyfriend," Harvey greets us, his messy hair flopping onto his forehead, his bag slung loosely over his left shoulder. "How's the gruesome twosome today?"

I let out an un-lady-like snort at Harvey's new nickname for us and Hayden frowns at him.

"Fine and yourself?"

"Never been better," he shoots back with a grin. "You know everyone is watching you two and talking, right?"

"I think I would have to be blind not to notice," I remark.

"Hi," a small voice squeaks. We all turn to see Caitlyn standing there with a shy smile. "Welcome back."

"Thanks Caitlyn," I reply with an easy smile. "Do you two know each other?"

Caitlyn nods but Hayden looks at her blankly.

"Hayden, Caitlyn, Caitlyn, Hayden," I wave between them lethargically.

"Nice to meet you," Hayden replies politely, still looking confused at who she is and why she is talking to us.

The bell buzzes overhead and Harvey loops his arm with Caitlyn as they walk in front of us. Hayden made a face at them behind their back, causing me to giggle as we follow them.

"He is so lame," Hayden groans.

"Shut up! We come as a package deal so you must be nice to him." 

"Fine," he sighs.

As we walk into the class, I hold my head up high as I feel the eyes of my peers burning holes into my skin. Hayden sits beside me at a desk near the back.

Harvey and Caitlyn sat at the desk in front of us. I watch Mia walk in and she surprisingly sends me a small smile. When her eyes meet Hayden's, her cheeks burn red and she averts her gaze, sitting at the opposite side of the classroom. After Mike came over to say hi to Hayden, he joins her.

"You should apologise to Mia," I whisper to Hayden.

He let out a sigh, playing with his pen. "I probably should."

People finally got over the fact that we were back at school and are together, eventually turning their attention to the substitute teacher we have for today. Hayden's warm fingers slide in between mine. I glance at him, letting out a breath, relieved that he is here with me.

"I love you," he mouths with a smile.

"I love you, too," I reply silently, grinning from ear to ear.

***

It feels weird entering the locker rooms and not seeing Ashton standing there with his clipboard gripped in his left hand.

"Hello," an unfamiliar lady greeted Hayden and me as we walk in. She is a sturdy woman with auburn hair, pulled back into a tight ponytail. She is tall, taller than I think Ashton might have been, with visible muscles tightly bulging underneath her shirt. "You must be Grace and Hayden. I have heard so much about you! I'm Coach Mitchell."

"Nice to meet you," I smile and Hayden nods at her.

"It's good to have the Captain back," she continues. "After practise, can we have a chat, Hayden?"

"Sure," replies Hayden.

"Are you two swimming with us today or just watching?"

"Swimming," I blurt. "I can't go another day without swimming."

She grins at me, wrinkles gathering at the corners of her eyes as she did. "That's what I like to hear. Just go easy, okay?"

I nod as I slip out the back to get dressed.

"Hey," I greet, seeing Mia already there. She is pulling her swim cap over her head.

"Hey."

Her hair swishes behind her as she quietly pads away.

"Hey, Mia?"

"Yeah?"

"Want to go for a run this afternoon?" I randomly ask.

"A run?" she repeats blankly.

"Or work out?"

She blinks at me. "Why?"

"Why not?" I ask.

She looks alarmed for a moment, before relaxing.

"Do you want to meet at the gym at four?"

"I'll be there."

She gives me a curt nod, before leaving me to finish getting changed. A ghost of a smile dances on my lips as I slide my swimsuit up my body.

We might not be exactly friends, but I no longer despise her. She had her reasons for acting the way she did. She still went about things wrong and handled situations badly, but she had her reasons. I've recently learnt that life is short--you need all the friends you can get.

It feels good to be back in my swimmers, standing in the cold, chlorine-stenched locker room, surrounded by my team. It hasn't been long but I have missed being here.

"Let's get to it," Coach Mitchell shouts as we follow her out.

It is good to be back.

***

The next day, Harvey and I decide to get ice cream after school.

Straight away, he asks if Caitlyn can come--saying there has been a 'weird, tense' vibe between them lately and I need to 'suss it out'--and soon after, it turned into a double-date-type-thing. We are perched on the bar stools near the counter as we wait for the lady to complete our order.

"Just going to be another minute or so with the milkshakes," she says to us as she passes us our ice creams.

Caitlyn and Harvey are getting a milkshake but I feel too full to have anything more than my ice cream. 

"We'll meet you outside," Hayden says to them, lightly guiding me to the door.

I wince slightly, my muscles still sore from my work out with Mia yesterday. As I am still recovering, I probably shouldn't have pushed myself the way I did. It turns out, Mia is possibly more competitive than me, which I didn't think was possible. We spent the entire two hours trying to out-do each other. I was regretting it now because my whole body is aching.

It was a good competition--it made me want to train harder. I should have waited until my body had recovered a bit more, though.

He opens the door for me and walks out. I turn, giving him a small peck on the cheek. He taps my nose lightly.

"You're cute."

"I know," I replies jokingly.

My phone vibrates against my leg and I reluctantly have to stop licking my ice cream.

"Can you hold this?" I ask him, sticking my ice cream into his hand before he can reply.

I fumble for my phone to see mum ringing. I was just about to answer when I watch in horror as Hayden dropped not only his but my ice cream onto the ground.

"What the hell!" I half-exclaim, half-whine as I stare down at the mess of ice cream near our feet, feeling devastated.

Suddenly, Hayden isn't in front of me anymore. Discarding my phone into my pocket, I hastily turn to see Hayden marching across the road. My heart skips a beat in my chest as I see a tall, familiar-looking man, heading out of the hardware shop, a plastic bag of goods in his left hand. He is dressed in dark jeans and a black hoodie, his hair looked unbrushed, his face unshaven.

Ashton.

My eyes widening in panic, I blindly run across the road, hardly checking for oncoming traffic as I try to reach Hayden before he gets to Ashton.

Why Ashton is still in town, is beyond me.

He is coming back for you... My mind whispers as I hurry over to the other side of the road.

Ashton looks up mere moments before Hayden's fist projects into his nose. I hear him grunt as he drops to the ground, blood spurting down his face. Ashton attempts to protect his face but Hayden is too quick.

He wraps his fingers around his throat.

"How does it feel!?" he screams, beginning to strangle him.

"Oh my God," I cry out, watching in horror as Hayden does the exact same thing to Ashton, as Ashton did to me.

Hayden throws his fist two more times into Ashton's face before he retaliates. Ashton shoves him back and soon he is the one over Hayden. His fist met Hayden's jaw and I scream.

They both begin rolling around on the cement, grunting like animals, as they fight relentlessly. Blood dirties their face, clothes and speckles the pavement beneath them as they continue to struggle against each other.

I am running towards them without thinking when suddenly, my arm is wrenched back.

"Don't," Harvey yells into my face, pushing me back further.

"Get out of my way!" I scream, trying to get around him.

He shoves me, with far more strength than I thought he had, back towards a parked car. He presses me roughly against it, holding me still, his fingers biting into my biceps.

"Don't go anywhere near them," he warns, his eyes holding authority as he stares at me. I breathlessly meet his eyes, surprised at his dominant position and seriousness. 

"Okay," I say weakly, looking over his shoulder.

I vaguely hear Caitlyn calling the police. It is hard to hear her words as she is crying hysterically.

"There's no stopping them," Harvey tells me firmly as I watch them continuously throw punches at each other, my eyes glued to the dark red smearing across both of their skins.

A few people have gathered now, watching, some had their phones to their ears while others have theirs out, recording.

Ashton staggers to his feet, his dark eyes meeting mine. "Hi, Grace."

My face pales as I stare back to him, Harvey's grip on me tightening protectively.

A growl-like sound emerges from Hayden as he launches from his spot on the ground, tackling Ashton down, the fight starting back up again. Ashton tries to get up a few times but Hayden successfully keeps him down by pinning his elbow into his neck.

"They're on their way," Caitlyn sniffles wiping her nose.

I think she expected Harvey to go comfort her, but he stays where he is, his hands gripping my arms as he presses me against the car.

His eyes meet mine.

"Are you okay?"

I shake my head silently as I watch Ashton and Hayden continue to fight aggressively.

Sirens began wailing sometime later, and Ashton shoots up to standing position. Hayden leaps to his feet, looking very bruised and battered, just as Ashton swung his arm out, smacking his elbow into Hayden's forehead. He collapses to the ground, out cold.

A strangled scream left my lips as I watch Hayden stop moving.

Suddenly, Ashton is running and so is Harvey. He sprints after Ashton and tackles him to the ground. I watch in horror as Ashton punches Harvey, trying to get him to let go. Harvey fought back and managed to get a punch in himself. A full-on brawl sparks between the two and my heart almost gives out. Watching Hayden, who is very strong and fit was nerve-wracking enough, let alone watching Harvey who's never worked out in his life, try to take Ashton on. They battle against each other and a sob tears from me when Harvey's head bangs against the cement. My eyes are blurry and tear-filled by the time the police reach them.

They yank Harvey off Ashton and Harvey stumbles back, blood soaking his shirt and his hands, looking disorientated. Ashton is in handcuffs, having his rights said to him in a matter of moments.

Harvey stumbles over to us, looking far too casual, considering the situation. The seriousness he had possessed moments earlier faded as he offers me a lop-sided grin.

"Well, this was an interesting double-date."

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

How bad ass was Harvey!? I really loved writing that! What are your thoughts? :)

[text_hash] => 6a42e2df
)