I jump, startled, emerging from my deep slumber.
Groggily, I reach for my alarm to turn it off. I hit the button several times, the loud sound not disappearing. Groaning, I peered through my eyelid, to see my phone screen lit up.
I answered it, closing my eyes again.
"Whoever this is, I want to kill you," I grumbled sleepily.
"Good morning beautiful, nice to hear your voice as well." A voice greeted me, causing my eyebrows to raise and my stomach to clench due to the compliment.
"Hayden? Why are you calling me?"
"Because I'm outside your house and you won't answer the door."
"Why? I'm asleep, obviously."
"Do you often answer the phone in your sleep?"
"Was asleep, you know what I mean," I muttered wearily. "Why are you here, again?"
"To pick you up, remember?" he queried in a duh tone. "I told you yesterday I would."
"For school?"
"Wow, someone is slow catching on today."
I rubbed my face roughly, slowly moving into sitting position. "What time is it?"
"Late enough that you should be ready for practice, not still in bed."
"Shit," I sighed, removing the warm, toasty blankets from my legs. "I must have forgot to set my alarm again."
"You're hopeless."
"Mm," I mumbled, swaying slightly as I got to my feet.
"Can you let me in? It's cold out here."
I hung up the phone and practically tripped down the stairs. My eyes were heavy with sleep as I stumbled to the door and opened it.
"Wow," he commented slowly, his eyes raking over my bed hair and sleep-deprived face. "This is a new side to you."
"Shut up," I grumbled, turning my back to him and dragging my feet up the stairs.
"Someone is clearly not a morning person."
After sending him a glare over my shoulder, I stomp into the bathroom and slam the door shut.
"You have 2 minutes!" I heard him call out and I made at face at him, even though I'm well aware he couldn't see it.
After having a much-too-quick shower, I toweled off and strolled into my bedroom, trying to find something to wear to practice.
"Oh baby, take it off," Hayden teased as I bent down to grab a shirt on the floor.
I turn, planting the hand that held the shirt against my hip, as the other one was holding my towel up.
"Your commentary isn't welcome."
"Ah, there she is," he grinned. "The Grace I know returns."
I roll my eyes and swipe a pair of shorts from my dresser, before stepping back into the bathroom. Considering how late we are, I really should have put my swimmers on straight away, to save getting changed when I get to school, but my mind is not functioning properly this early in the morning.
"Seriously, the Coach is going to kick our ass if you don't hurry up."
Flinging my bag over my shoulder, not even having checked if I had the right books for today, I trip after Hayden as he jogged down the stairs.
Once we got to the bottom, my bag slid off my shoulder, hitting the floor and one of my textbooks tumbled out of it.
"You're a mess," he sighed, scooping down to retrieve my stuff. "Go grab something to eat on the way, I'll get this."
"Thanks," I replied gratefully, hurrying into the kitchen.
I grabbed a banana, before following Hayden out and locking the front door behind me.
"You know what this means right?" he asked me as we both slid into our seats.
"What?"
"I have to do some serious driving to get us there," he smirked, before stomping down onto the accelerator.
I flew backwards into my seat, my head banging on the head rest.
"Ow," I complained, rubbing my head as the tires squealed on the bitumen road. "My neighbours are going to hate you."
"Doesn't bother me," he shrugged, hardly slowing down as we flew through a give-way intersection.
I squeezed my eyes shut and began to pray that we are going to make it to school alive.
Once the car stopped and the engine turned off, Hayden grabbed my bag for me and took off, at an impressively fast rate. I ran after him, hastily pushing back my messy hair from my forehead.
When we entered the locker room, no one was in there.
"You right?" he asked, placing my bag onto the bench.
"Yeah," I replied breathlessly, hearing splashing in the distance.
We are definitely late.
In one fluid movement, Hayden removed his shirt and my lips parted as I stared at his rippled body. I honestly could sit here and stare at him all day.
"See you out there," he told me, oblivious to my gawking.
I went through the doorway to the girls change rooms and began to wriggle out of my clothes, not bothering to go into a cubicle. I had just got my swim suit on, pushing the straps up my shoulder, when I heard a throat clear.
"Any reason why you're this late?" Ashton asked with a frown.
I spun on my heel, slapping my hand to my chest. "Were you... Did you see me get changed?"
"I just got here," he said dismissively, leaning against the door frame. Something about the way his eyes were possessively raking my body and the tone in his voice, made me believe otherwise. That fact, made me feel violated. I know he's seen my body before, but we're under complete different circumstances now. "And don't avoid my question."
"Can't stop to chat," I snapped, gripping my goggles a little too hard in the palm of my hand. "I have some catching up to do."
I storm passed him, furious that he thinks it's okay to just walk in on me getting changed. Technically, it is my fault not going into a cubicle, but if it had been anyone else in there, I doubt Ashton would just waltz in to the girls change room. I jumped into the pool, not bothering to dive from the mounting block and began to do my warm up laps.
I am in for a long day.
***
"What's wrong with you?"
"I stayed up all night watching Netflix," I explained, rubbing at my eyes, lifting my head from the table.
"It's addicting, isn't it?" Harvey replied with a nod of understanding, taking the empty seat beside me.
"Too addictive."
"Here, I bought you a pizza roll." he informed me matter-of-factly.
"You're my hero," I smiled, taking the roll from him. "Not only did I sleep in and was late for practice, I left my wallet at home. Talk about a bad day."
"Aw, poor baby," he teased.
"And what's worse, I'm not meant to have a double practice today, but because I was late, Ashton said I have to do laps of the oval this afternoon and then do weights."
"Ew," Harvey scrunched up his nose in disgust at the mention of exercise. "And Coach Brennon, don't you mean?"
"That's what I said."
"You really didn't."
"That's what I meant," I muttered, cursing myself for falling back into the habit of referring to the Coach by his first name. Last thing I want is for Hayden to get suspicious.
Or you can just tell him like you said you would... my subconscious reminded me.
"Mmhmm," he nodded. "Eat your pizza roll and think about what you have done."
"Oh hush," I laughed, taking a bite.
"I wish this day was over," Harvey suddenly said dramatically. "Double language philosophy."
"Should have stuck with P.E," I sang.
"You know exercise and I don't have a very stable relationship," he pointed out.
"Playing sport is much more fun. I can't understand why you would choose language philosophy over sport."
"Says the athlete to the nerd," he said with a laugh.
I roll my eyes and continue eating. Suddenly, a white, pink striped bag was placed on the table as Caitlyn sat down across from us. I gave her a polite smile but grew quiet as Harvey and her began to talk about their next class together (typical) and their plans of going to see the latest Fast and The Furious movie tonight (thanks for rubbing it in my face that I wasn't invited).
The end of lunch bell rang and I wipe my mouth on the back of my hand, before getting to my feet and throwing out my rubbish.
"Good luck this afternoon," Harvey smiled, patting me on the shoulder.
"I'll need it."
As I walked to the gym, one of the of rare occasion when I'm not going to swim, Hayden fell in step with me.
"I can't believe Coach practically gave us detention," Hayden remarked dryly, shaking his head. "He goes a bit over the top sometimes, don't you think?"
"Agreed," I replied. "It's not like we're an Olympic swim team."
"He's a twat."
I snorted with laughter as we walk into the brightly lit gym. Hayden and I part ways as I swap the hideous, school uniform to shorts and a loose, Nike shirt. I re-did my pony tail, making sure it was tight, before going back out.
After the P.E teacher, Mr Cross, told us that since we all aced our test last week, he is rewarding us with a double practical of a game of our choosing. I already knew everyone would vote for either Sit Down, Stand Up, which is a game similar to Dodge Ball, or futsal.
After a round of voting, futsal won. Hayden and Mike were elected team captains.
"Grace," Hayden said immediately.
I grin, pushing myself up from the spot on the floor and jogging over to where Hayden is standing. Mia's glare felt hot against my skin as her eyes drilled holes into me. I smirk at her, resisting the urge to stick my tongue out, taking in the fact that he didn't choose her at all.
Once the entire gym class is divided into two, ignoring two of Mia's friends that somehow got to "control the music", we all went to our assigned side of the gym. After one of the girl's phones was plugged into the speaker, it was hard to hear Mr Cross blow the whistle, but I followed Hayden's lead.
I played soccer, even though the rules are slightly different, when I was younger, so I was pretty good on my feet and maneuvering the ball.
Soon we were fifteen minutes in and we were up 3-2. Sweat had gathered on my forehead and I could feel that my cheeks were red from the exertion.
Time flew by and it was soon half-time. After a quick drink break, we swapped sides of the field and swapped out players. I couldn't help but laugh in amusement as Mia walked into the goal-keeper position.
"Why are you putting her as goal keeper?" I asked Mike, gesturing to Mia. "You're just asking to lose."
Mike replied with some witty remark that I didn't listen to, because I was too busy smirking at Mia. Her eyes darkened as she threw another glare at me. I gave her a sweet smile in return, jogging to the center of the field.
After me scoring once and Hayden the other, Mia swapped out. I smirked at her again, before passing the ball swiftly to Hayden. I watch as he dodged and weaved through the opposing team, before the ball flew over Grahem's hands (a random guy in our P.E class) and into the net.
As he ran back, we high-fived. We are on fire today. After running non-stop for several minutes, I quickly sent Hayden a time-out signal, stopping for a short drink break. After chugging down half my water bottle, I slowly walked back onto the field, hands on my hips.
"Hey Grace!" I heard Mia call.
Turning, I looked over to her, just as she sent the ball soaring towards me. It could not have been angled or timed any better. The ball slammed into my forehead, knocking me back almost a meter. I fell back onto the hard, wooden floor. My head smacked against it as the wind was knocked right out of me.
I gasped, unable to move. My skin burned from where the ball got me and my head was pulsing from the intensity of it.
"Stop!" Mr Cross yelled out. "Stop playing!"
He rushed over to me, dropping to his knees. I vaguely acknowledged Hayden hovering behind him, watching.
"Don't move," he instructed, gently grabbing my arm. "That was a solid hit. I'd say you have a concussion."
I tried to nod but the ache in my head prevented me from moving any more than an inch.
"Are you alright, Grace?" He asked.
"It fucking hurt, I'll tell you that much."
He frowned at my language and Hayden let out a snort of laughter.
"Are you right to get to your feet?"
"We'll soon see."
Slowly, I scramble into standing position. Black dots danced across my eyes and my vision began to blur.
"I'll take her to the nurse," Hayden offered, surprising everyone around us, including Mr Cross.
Considering he really wouldn't be missing anything important in class, Mr Cross dismissed us.
"Oops, sorry Grace," Mia smiled, unable to hide the glee behind her eyes.
I chose to ignore her, knowing the fact that Hayden having his arm around me and is taking me to the nurse, makes her the loser here, not me.
"Bitch," Hayden muttered as we exited.
"I know."
"Aimed it right at you."
"I know," I repeated with a sigh.
"You egg her on," he pointed out.
"I can't help myself."
He chuckled as we continued to walk towards the main office. I'm glad that not many people are around, seeing as it is class time.
The ache in my head was throbbing the entire time we walked.
I'm also glad that Hayden had hold of me, as the school corridor was spinning.
"Almost there," he murmured as we drew closer to the building.
After the nurse attended to me, she gave me a slip to skip school the rest of the day. After Hayden relentlessly argued with them about him being able to come too, saying I shouldn't be going home unsupervised, he somehow managed to get out of school for the rest of the day, too. Considering we only have a lesson and a half to go, I think they realised it wasn't much point.
When I waited in Hayden's Ute, as he went back to get our bags, I lay my head against the head rest, my eyes closed. My head ache was killing. Nurse Eisen prescribed me some pain relief, but it hasn't kicked in yet.
"Your face is swelling," Hayden commented as he threw our bags into the back.
"That's not surprising."
The loud sport exhaust on Hayden's Ute did not help minimise the ache in my head. I was relieved when we pulled to a stop at the front of my house.
As soon as I was inside, my shoes were off and I was lying on my bed, fighting the urge to close my eyes and sleep.
"You can't sleep," Hayden insisted, clicking his fingers in front of my face. "Remember what the nurse said? You have a concussion."
"Mmm," I mumbled.
"Let's watch a movie," he suggested, getting to his feet.
After setting up the first Transformers movie, he left the room to go make us noodles. My eyes were heavy as I tried to keep the open.
My phone began to vibrate beside me. Lethargically, I reached over and answered it.
"Yes?"
"Stay awake," Hayden instructed and I let out a soft laugh. "I'll be up in two minutes. Stay awake, okay?"
"Okay," I whispered sleepily.
True to his words, Hayden arrived back shortly after. He set our bowls to the side, to let them cool. He crawled into bed beside me before wrapping an arm around my shoulder, drawing me to him.
"You okay?" he asked, his warm breath fanning my face as he stared down at me.
"Yeah," I smiled.
I nestle my head into his arm, just as he leant down and pressed his lips softly to my forehead.
I lay my head against him, a goofy smile on my face, as I face the T.V.
If Mia knew this would happen, there is no doubt in my mind, she would not have kicked that ball at me.