When I woke on Monday, I groaned, wishing that I could have a repeat of my wonderful weekend.
I spent every moment I could with Hayden. He stayed over again Saturday night and I could feel myself growing increasingly attached to him. Now that I have experienced sleeping with him beside me twice, it's even harder to fall asleep alone now. I wish he could stay every night.
I went about my usual routine of showering, getting dressed whilst appearing somewhat zombie like. Grabbing a banana on my way out, I padded down the driveway, banana in one hand, my leather shoes in the other, my hair tied back into a messy braid.
Seeing Hayden's face through his tinted window, made me perk up considerably and by the time I opened the passenger side door, I was grinning.
"Good morning," I chirped, jumping into the car and pressing my lips to Hayden's soft, pink ones instantly. "How are you?"
"I like this happy, morning person," he grinned back, giving me his adorable, cheeky smile. "What or who, should I say, has made such an impact on you?"
I clear my throat, holding my banana up as though it a microphone. "Ladies and gentleman, I announce, Hayden Cameron."
"Aw," he smirked, giving me a playful wink, before pulling from the curb. "How was practice on Thursday? Did I miss anything important? I forgot to ask."
"Oh shit," I said slowly. "I got in a fight with Coach."
"A fight? What?"
"He was being a dick, as usual," I replied, feeling my good mood evaporate as I got closer and closer to where the Satan Reincarnation would be.
He's on my shit list, possibly taking over Mia's position as #1.
I bit into my banana savagely.
"When you're finished with your banana, do you want eat my-"
"Hayden!"
"What? I was going to say apple?" he finished innocently.
I roll my eyes theatrically at him. "Sure you were."
He sent me a teasing smile over his shoulder as he exited the Ute.
Hayden's warm hand engulfed mine as we walked through school, into the gymnasium and through to the locker rooms. When we walked in, eyes swiveled to us, before they dropped to our hands.
"Dude, you and Connaway official now?" Mike asked him as we parted.
"Yeah man."
Mike and Hayden exchanged the one-shoulder-hug thing that all guys do and I roll my eyes. Ashton's eyes narrow and I can feel the heat from his glare as I begin to unzip my bag.
"Our next comp is this coming Friday," Ashton announced, his voice deep and demanding. "There will be important people coming to the comp to watch you guys so you need to perform your best. Understood?"
"Yes Coach," we murmured.
"Excellent. Oh and Connaway," Ashton continued, latching his dark eyes to mine. "You're benched."
"What?" I exclaim, ignoring the satisfied grin that spread across Mia's face.
"After your little episode on Thursday, you've left me no choice."
"What the hell?" Hayden jumped in. "Coach, that's ridiculous. You know how important that comp could be for her."
"Maybe she should learn some manners," he snapped, his face reddening.
I feel my fists curl as I glower at Ashton, biting my tongue so hard that I can taste blood in my mouth.
Breathe Grace. Just breathe.
Hayden cursed under his breath, shaking his head, looking frustrated.
"What are you all waiting for? Hit the pool," he barked and everyone began shuffling out of the locker room, sending me sympathetic looks.
I stood where I was, folding my arms across my chest.
"Yes?" he asked, an arrogant smirk on his face.
His eyes held a dark, menacing look in them that almost made me want to shrink away from him. Instead, I straighten my back, meeting his eyes, staring at him as fiercely as I can.
"Immature move, yet again, Ashton." I said to him, my jaw clenched. "This is juvenile, even for you."
"Is it?" he shrugged.
I narrow my eyes as I study him. His eyes are blood shot and his chin unshaven. He looked like he had been out drinking last night or something along those lines.
"Don't you have anything better to do than play with my life?"
"Like you do? Running around with your new little boyfriend?" he asked, his tone mocking.
"You need help," I muttered, throwing my clothes onto the floor and striding past him.
"You'll be all alone soon, Grace," I heard him say in a low voice. "Then what will happen to you?"
The hairs on my arms bristled as I heard the threat loud and clear.
I storm out of the room and take my anger out on the water.
I am going to swim at the comp, whether he likes it or not.
***
"Calm down," Hayden said to me later that afternoon as he sprawled lazily on my bed, whereas I was pacing my bedroom floor relentlessly. "He's all talk."
"I hate that he has so much control over my life. Imagine if we both got scholarships, Hayden. We could be together after school."
"Babe, you can afford university with or without a scholarship. What are you even stressing about?"
My heart fluttered at his word choice, causing my pacing to slow down.
"I still need to get accepted into the swim program. I don't want to wait until next year to find out that I might not be with you."
"I might not get in either."
I gave him a deadpan stare. "Don't act dumb."
He shrugged, a lazy smile appearing on his face. "Just trying to be honest."
"Well, it's not helping."
"Come here," he said in a soothing voice, holding his hands out.
Taking in a deep breath as I walk over to him, letting him pull me down onto the mattress with him.
"I only have half an hour to spend with you before I have to get home. Isn't there anything else you would rather be doing?" he murmured softly, his soft fingers trailing down my cheek, a naughty smirk lighting up his face.
Biting my lip softly, I look up at him through my lashes. "What did you have in mind?"
I didn't have to ask him twice.
***
After Hayden left, I found myself wrapping my coat around my body, before I march out of the door. I began the short trek towards an apartment I told myself never to go back to.
I could have happily spent the afternoon in a blissful daze after being with Hayden, but my mind could not stop reeling about Ashton's words and the fact that he is playing with my future, like it is some game to him.
As I get closer to the building, warning bells ring inside my head.
I need Ashton to stop being such an asshole and treating me like this. I know I provoke him and I need to work on that as well, but there's no point trying if he won't.
I contemplate my decision to come here as I stand in the elevator, my own reflection staring back at me. My cheeks are flushed from my recent activities, my lips full and red, my eyes wide and bright.
The elevator doors dinged open and I hesitantly walked into the hallway.
I should let this go, but I can't.
Striding up to his door, impressing myself that I still remember which one it is, I knock loudly on his apartment door and wait impatiently for him to answer.
I was just about to turn and abandon my mission, when the door swung open.
"Holy shit," I breathed as I stared at the girl in front of me. "Carrie?"
Deep, dark brown eyes stared back at me.
I step back, shock slapping me in the face. No kidding everyone mistook me for her, she had such similar eyes, hair and skin that from a distance, we would pass as twins. Studying her face, I can see a clear distinction between us but that's because I obviously know my own face very well.
"Well, well, well," the girl drawled, her eyes dipping over me. "I was wondering when I was going to meet you."
I took a moment to stare at her. Her long, dark hair is wet, as if she'd only just come out of the shower. She had a black, silk robe on that is gathered at the waist. She looked rather glamourous, considering she clearly just showered.
I am taller than her, but not by much. Her body is more lean whereas mine held more curves and muscles due to my grueling swimming sessions. We look similar, there is no denying it, but I can clearly see the differences in just one glance.
"Likewise," I force out, my mind jumbling together as I try to calm down and act like a normal human being.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I came to wave the white flag between Ashton and I," I admitted honestly. "We're in war at the moment."
"So I've heard," she commented, clearly not caring about our feud at all. "How's Hayden?"
I scowl at her, not wanting to hear her say his name. "Fine."
"Oh," she smirked, her left eyebrow curving upwards. "Touchy subject?"
"Don't start with me Carrie," I warned, bunching my fists at my sides. "What the hell are you doing here? You're still seeing Ashton?"
"What's it to you? Going to run and report me to your boyfriend?"
"He wants nothing to do with you, he wouldn't even care." I replied a little too honestly.
Something flashed in her eyes, but it wasn't there long enough for me to work out what it was.
"Ouch," she replied in a faux, bored tone.
I folded my arms across my chest. "Did you know our parents are dating?"
"What?" she asked, her face mirroring shock, her voice low.
"I just found out. You didn't know?"
"No, I hardly see my father. I don't live with him anymore." she blinked a few times, her lips parting. Something in the air changed between us at the mention of our parents. "This is a messed up situation, isn't it?"
"You could say that," I replied.
"Babe, who's at the door?" I hear Ashton call and I feel my teeth grind together.
"You'll never believe who stopped by," she answered in a sickly sweet tone, opening the door wider so that he could see me standing there.
Ashton froze as his eyes went from me, to Carrie and back to me again.
"Grace? What are you doing here?"
"I was attempting to sort out the little issue we're having over the swim comp next Friday," I explained. "I didn't realise you had company."
"My decision is final," he asserted, his lips spread into a thin line. He is shirtless, his wet hair spilling across his forehead. The thought of them still hooking up made my blood boil. How long has this been happening? Even when I was with him? The thought made me feel sick. Thank God I never slept with the monster. My eyes drop to wear a joint is held in his hand. What the hell... Ashton is a stoner? That's bit ironic, considering he's my Coach. "You blew it, Connaway. You're disrespectful and until you learn your lesson, you're not swimming in that competition."
"Should have known you'd be an asshole about it." I said, my eyes still lingering on the joint. He moved his hand so that it went behind his back.
"Oh snap," I heard Carrie say under her breath.
"Besides, it will be fun watching you, watch Hayden get everything you want while you're stuck on the sidelines."
"Fuck Ashton," Carrie said, much to my surprise. "Don't be a condescending dick-wad. That's just cruel."
Both of us stared at her in shock.
"What?" she asked, flickering her eyes between us. "I may be a bitch and have made more than a few mistakes in my life, but even I think that is mean."
"Okay, this is just getting weird now," I stated, holding my hands in the air. "Think about it Ashton. I'm willing to change my ways, if you are."
"Don't hold your breath, Connaway."
As she shut the door behind me, I let out a silent scream.
This already messy situation, just got a whole lot worse.