Mia's POV:
"Hey guys, you won't believe what I just saw!"
My head snapped 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 knew 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, she has 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 gushed as if this news is life changing.
I made 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. He was perfect. 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 lashes, 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 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 wanted to take her down and live out my revenge on Carrie, to Grace, I respected 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 haven’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 lifted and I stared 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 are painted the red, my lips stained with alcohol.
Reaching towards the mirror, I ran my fingers down the surface, watching as my upper lip curled.
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 against mine. Kissing him was even more amazing than I thought it would be.
Finally getting myself out of bed, I went straight into the shower.
As the hot water ran down my back, I inhaled a deep, lungful of the steamy air around me, a dreamy smile lighting up my face.
Waking up with no hangover, was 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 twirled a piece of my wet hair in my finger as I thought 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 was practically ready, when I saw my phone flashing. Frowning, I check the voice message that was left.
"Hey Hun, it's me. I'm so sorry but I'm going to have to post pone 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 stepped out of my shoes. I can't feel disappointed she couldn't make it because she was out saving lives. This is something I have to accept.
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 swung the front door open, I amsurprised to find Ashton standing there.
"Ashton," I greeted in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"It's after ten," he replied 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 frowned, his voice monotone. "Are you going to invite me in?"
"I guess," I sighed, stepping back. "What did you want to talk about?"
"Us."
"There is no us," I told him, gesturing between our bodies as we walked into the kitchen. "You made that decision."
"What if I want to take it back?"
"Oh for God sake," I groaned, 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 snapped, 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 insisted, coming behind me.
I felt 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 murmured. "Look at the goose bumps on your skin."
I whirl around and shove his chest, causing him to stumble back a few steps. Having him the close, felt disrespectful to Hayden.
"You're giving me the creeps, that's why."
"Grace," he sighed. "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 told him flatly, 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 honest." I snapped, growing more frustrated by the second. "And besides, I don't even know anything about you because you refused to let me in. You only 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 exhaled deeply, sitting on the edge of the dining room table. He pinched the skin in between his eyes.
"How can I fix this?"
"You can't," I told him honestly, hanging my head. "It's too late. I've fallen for Hayden."
"So what happened between us really meant nothing?" his eyes met mine and I am surprised to see they held moisture.
My stomach dropped 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 whispered, taking a step forward. I felt like I needed to comfort him but I didn'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 exclaimed, 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 to 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, youshould 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 shrugged, letting out a sigh. "It's just 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 feel frozen as I scramble to come up with a reply.
"I didn't think so." he said 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 hurt because of what happened with Carrie." I replied honestly, not liking the tone he is using. This is something that had been preoccupying my mind for some time now.
His eyes snapped to mine. "You know about Carrie?"
"I do," I nodded, 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 admitted. "I'm very surprised he told you that."
"We communicate with each other, like normal people, that's why." I pointed out.
"But you haven't told him," he replied, a small smirk on his face. "Shame if he found out."
"Don't come into my home and threaten me," I snapped, glaring at him. I can't believe the words coming out of his mouth right now.
He shrugged, pushing himself off the table, looking at me like he knew 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 strode over to me, before he placed his finger under my chin, tilting my head back to meet his eyes. He smirked down at me and I sneered 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 said in a low voice, his lips mere millimeters from mine, his hot breath blasting my face. "I'm the pathetic one."
I shove my chin out his hold and he grinned, as if he had won some sort of contest, before he walked from me.
"Oh and you still owe me detention," he threw over his shoulder.
I stood there, breathless, my knees wobbling together as I heard the front door closed.
I feel my eyes screw shut as I clutch my shirt in my hand, my chest aching.
This is it. Hayden is going to find out.
We are done.