I'm not one to be friends with my exes. There's something inherently awkward about it, an elephant in the room that neither party can ignore. People often claim that they can be friends with their former partners, but I've never understood why they'd want to. For me, it's a line I won't cross. Once someone has broken you, the thought of being amicable feels like an exercise in futility.
It's not fear of reigniting old feelings that keeps me away; it's more about self-preservation. When someone betrays your trustâlike Levi didâwhy would you want to give them a second chance? The risk of falling back into old patterns is too great. I hold a grudge, maybe, but it's a protective mechanism.
I was lost in thought, mentally reinforcing my boundaries, when I spotted Levi in the hallway. He stood there, a smirk plastered on his face, and my heart sank.
"What are you doing here?" I blurted, trying to mask my surprise with irritation. "Are you following me?"
He rolled his eyes dramatically, his playful smirk lingering. "The real question is: Are you? I transferred here from Columbia a year ago," he said, his gaze sliding over me as if he were assessing my worth. "You look hotter than before."
I felt a wave of annoyance wash over me. "And you still look the same," I shot back, meeting his gaze with defiance. "You're still the same arrogant jerk you were back then." The way he smiled in response told me he was unfazed, his ego somehow buoyed by my words.
"How have you been? It's been... what? Two years? Three?" His tone dripped with faux concern.
"It's been three years since you cheated on meânot just with one girl but four," I snapped. His playful demeanor faltered, and for a moment, his mask slipped, revealing a hint of guilt. But it was fleeting.
"Why are you even here?" I pressed. "You don't belong in this school. Is it because you've run out of girls to toy with? Need me to find you a new one?"
"Hailey, babyâ"
"Don't call me that," I interrupted, disgust creeping into my voice. "That word coming from you makes my skin crawl."
He sighed heavily, glancing sideways, his frustration palpable. Cayden, who had been quietly observing, coughed awkwardly beside me, and I shot him a grateful look.
"And who are you?" Levi asked, finally noticing Cayden's presence.
Cayden, with a fire in his eyes, stood up straight and moved closer to me. "I'm the boyfriend of the girl you're talking to," he said firmly.
My heart raced, caught off guard by his boldness. Levi's expression soured as he turned his gaze back to me, an incredulous look in his eyes. "You chose this punk over me? You're wasting your time," he said, disdain dripping from his words.
"No, I'm not," I countered, annoyance bubbling inside me. "I know exactly what a waste of time you are."
"What do you want from me, Levi? You've already damaged me enough. When will you be done hurting me?" I demanded, feeling the tension in the air shift.
"I don't want to hurt youâ"
"I doubt that. That's exactly what you said last time, right before you were caught with Hannah, my ex-best friend." I watched his face darken.
"It's not my fault she finds me attractive," he muttered, and I could practically see his ego swelling.
"I just want you back in my life, Hailey. That's all I'm asking for. I know I messed up, but I've changed!" His hands were raised in surrender, desperation coloring his voice.
"I won't fall for that line again. Just leave me alone, please." I looked him dead in the eye, my resolve firm. "I'm happy with who I am with right now."
"No, you're just saying that to make me jealous. It doesn't work on me," he said, and I let out a frustrated breath.
"Leave my girlfriend alone," Cayden interjected, his tone a warning. I could feel the heat radiating off him, his fists clenched at his sides.
"Cayden, it's fineâ"
"No, it's not fine," he insisted, glaring at Levi. "If you don't want anything to happen to that ugly face of yours, I suggest you leave before you regret it."
Levi laughed bitterly, rolling his eyes. "Oh, please. As if you could actually do anything to me," he taunted, his bravado infuriating.
Cayden took a step forward, and I quickly stood between them, trying to diffuse the situation. "Stop it," I said firmly, pushing Levi back a step. Turning to Cayden, I softened. "I'm sorry," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.
"I let my anger get the best of me," he admitted, his gaze shifting to the floor.
Just then, the bell rang, breaking the tension. Levi shot us one last look, an expression that hinted we weren't done yet, before walking out.
I exhaled a sigh of relief. Finally, that nightmare was overâat least for now. But how did he even find me? My mind raced as I took my seat, hands trembling slightly as I organized my desk.
Cayden tapped my shoulder, bringing me back to the present. "Was that your ex?" he asked, his voice low.
I nodded, unable to find my voice. He didn't press further, understanding the unspoken rule that I wasn't ready to talk about it.
Mr. Brown started his lecture, but my thoughts wandered back to Levi's unexpected appearance. A mix of anger and anxiety churned in my stomach. I couldn't shake the feeling of being trapped in a bad dream, a nightmare I wanted to wake up from.
"Okay, that's it for today. Please do an advance reading on chapter 8 for tomorrow's meeting. You're dismissed," Mr. Brown announced, and I stood up, eager to escape the classroom.
I waited for the rest of the students to leave before heading out, avoiding the chaos of rushing bodies. As I stepped into the hallway, my heart sank again when I spotted Levi beside the vending machine. His eyes lit up when he saw me, and I rolled my eyes, instinctively moving to avoid him.
"What are you still doing here?" I asked, irritation lacing my voice.
"I was waiting for you to finish class. I want to drive you home and let your mom know I'm visiting," he said, and I felt a wave of nausea wash over me.
"Levi, can you just leave me alone? That's all I'm asking," I said, my voice growing strained.
He shook his head, a sad smile on his face that only fueled my frustration. Cayden stepped closer, putting his arm around me protectively.
"Let's go, babe?" Cayden said, and I nodded, grateful for his presence.
As we walked away, I could feel Levi's eyes boring into my back. Once we were out of his sight, Cayden removed his arm. I headed toward my locker, trying to gather my thoughts.
"What does he want from you?" Cayden asked, still close enough to feel his warmth.
"Honestly? I have no idea," I admitted. "If there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that I will never run back to him. I made that mistake before, and I refuse to do it again. I need to have respect for myself."
Cayden's expression softened as he placed a hand on my shoulder, halting me in my tracks. He turned me to face him, looking me dead in the eyes. "I may come off as cold or mean sometimes, but I want you to know you're not alone."
A flutter of warmth spread through my chest, and I suddenly felt very vulnerable. Why did it feel so safe when he looked at me like that?
"Just be safe, okay?" he said softly, and I couldn't help but nod, the weight of his concern wrapping around me like a warm blanket.
The day felt surreal. I didn't know whether things were about to get better or worse, but I did know that I had to tread carefully. The last thing I wanted was to complicate my friendship with Cayden, but there was something about him that made my heart race.
As I walked toward my next class, I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed to keep my distance from him, to protect both of us from whatever was brewing beneath the surface.
But despite my best intentions, I felt my heart fluttering every time he was near.
***
hello, another update. it's quite short but I hope you guys enjoy reading this chapter that I updated. I made a few changes and deleted some paragraphs but this version will be much better to read.
as always, carry on and happy reading!
-The Author