Caleb stepped forward, a bouquet of roses in hand. "I got you these. I hope you like them."
I accepted the bouquet, inhaling the sweet scent of the blooms and smiling at him. "Thank you so muchâ"
Before I could finish, he leaned in and kissed me, catching me completely off guard. My mind raced, but I instinctively pulled back. I didn't want to encourage any misinterpretation of our relationship, especially with everything swirling around in my head.
"I like you, Hailey," Caleb said, his voice earnest.
My heart sank as I heard a loud thud. I turned to see Cayden standing frozen in the doorway, his expression a mix of shock and hurt. He dropped the bouquet of roses he had brought for me, petals scattering across the floor. So that's what his message had been about.
"It's not what it looks like," I stammered, desperation creeping into my voice as I looked at Cayden. His lips pressed into a thin line, and I saw him swallow hard, fighting to keep his composure.
"Yeah, it's not," he echoed sarcastically, his eyes darkening as he turned on his heel and stormed out of Amelia's house.
"Cayden, wait!" I shouted, urgency pushing me to follow him. I cast a quick glance back at Amelia, who stood wide-eyed, her face a mixture of confusion and concern. She pointed toward the door, silently urging me to chase after him.
Caleb reached out, grabbing my arm to hold me back. "Hailey, waitâ"
"Let go of me!" I pulled away from him, disappointment and anger simmering beneath the surface.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean toâ" he started, but I cut him off.
"I don't care right now. I have to talk to him!" I ran out the front door, calling out to Cayden as he made his way toward his car. "Cayden, please! Just listen!"
He turned to face me, but his expression was cold, hurt flickering in his eyes. "I... We... He... I didn't kiss him. He kissed me," I rushed, trying to explain myself.
"Clearly, you were enjoying it," he shot back, sarcasm dripping from his words. "Thanks for ruining what could have been a good moment. Now I feel like a complete idiot."
I stepped closer, my frustration boiling over. "You think this is easy for me? You were the one who decided to throw yourself at Katie when I suggested we end things! You were with her the next day!" My voice rose with each word, the heat of the moment clouding my judgment as I poked his chest, my anger giving way to desperation.
"At least I didn't kiss anyone else!" he shouted, fists clenched at his sides.
"What the hell, Cayden? I didn't even kiss him! I don't like Caleb! You need to get over it!" I insisted, my voice cracking with emotion. I wanted him to see reason, to understand how everything spiraled out of control.
"Yeah, I'll get over it once I'm done getting over you!" he yelled back, his words hitting me like a punch to the gut.
I inhaled sharply, the weight of his statement hanging between us. I could feel my heart racing as he unlocked his car, the engine purring as he opened the door.
"Cayden, listen to me," I said, my voice softer now as I reached out to caress his cheek, hoping to break through his anger. "I love you. It was just a kiss. Stop making it such a big deal."
He rolled his eyes, frustration etched on his face. "A kiss that was about to escalate! What would you do if you caught me kissing another girl? Would you be okay with that?"
"Okay, that's it! At least I didn't lose my head in the moment! I'm not the type to jump into bed with someone the day after a breakup!" I shot back, anger and hurt spilling over.
His eyes narrowed, and before I could process his next words, he yelled, "Oh, sure! As if you didn't do that after you and Levi broke up! Or maybe that's why he left you because you were never good in bed!"
The slap was instinctual, a fiery response to the pain he had just inflicted. My hand stung as it connected with his cheek, but it was nothing compared to the devastation building in my chest. Tears pricked at my eyes, and before I could hold them back, they spilled over, turning into sobs that echoed in the quiet night.
"Maybe this is wrong. Everything I said... it's all wrong," I whispered, my voice trembling. "You're not worth fighting for, and maybe it's time I stood by that choice."
I turned away from him, my heart shattering as I walked toward the street. I felt a part of me breaking, the moment when everything I thought I could rebuild collapsed again.
"Hailey, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to say those things!" Cayden called after me, his footsteps quickening to catch up. He grabbed my wrist, but I pulled away, desperate to escape the emotional cage I felt trapped in.
"But you did! You chose to say it!" I cried, tears flowing freely now. "Well, I guess the game's over for us."
In a fit of anger, I kicked off my heels, throwing them onto the grass, feeling the cool earth beneath my bare feet. I turned and walked away from him, from Amelia's house, heading toward home. It wasn't the safest place to be, but I couldn't bear the thought of staying any longer.
I heard my sobs echoing in the darkness, the weight of my emotions pressing down on me. My phone buzzed, breaking through the haze of my thoughts. I pulled it out, seeing a message from Amelia.
Amelia: I'm ditching Noah. Tell me where you are, I'm coming for you.
Another message popped up right after.
Amelia: I'm sorry about my brother. I'll kill him for you, just say the word!
I smiled faintly through my tears, grateful for her support.
Me: As much as I'd love to kill someone (me), I'd rather not. It's okay; maybe your brother just got caught up in the moment.
I locked my phone and shoved it into my pocket, continuing to walk through the eerily quiet neighborhood. The silence felt oppressive, making my mind race with thoughts of what might happen next. The darkness seemed to close in around me, and I quickened my pace, paranoia creeping in.
When I finally reached my house, I walked up the front porch, moving a plant aside to retrieve the emergency key hidden underneath. I took a deep breath, bracing myself as I unlocked the door and stepped inside, closing it firmly behind me.
The house felt empty and hollow. I flicked on the lights, then sank into the couch, exhaling a long, shaky breath. I needed to calm down. I reached for the remote, but after flipping through the channels without finding anything that caught my interest, I switched the TV off.
I stood and made my way to the kitchen, filling a glass with cold water. As I drank, I let the cool liquid soothe my throat, trying to wash away the remnants of my tears. Once the glass was empty, I set it down in the sink and climbed the stairs to my room.
I knew all of my clothes were at Cayden's place, but I kept a small stash hidden away. I pulled the box from under my bed, rummaging through it until I found an old pair of black leggings and a white hoodie. The fabric was soft against my skin as I changed out of the dress that felt more like a burden than a celebration.
Just as I finished getting dressed, my phone vibrated again. I glanced at the screen, seeing messages from both Cayden and Amelia. With a sigh, I unlocked my phone.
Cayden: I messed up, Hailey. Can we talk?
I didn't even bother to read the rest. I deleted the message, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. He didn't deserve my attention right now.
I opened Amelia's message instead.
Amelia: Where are you?
Me: At home, alone.
Amelia: That's what I figured.
Me: The front door is open for you. I was too lazy to lock it. Just call me when you get here.
Amelia: You and your lazy ass. Alright, I'm 3 minutes away from your house.
I left her message on seen, tossing my phone onto my bedside table. I lay back on my bed, letting my mind drift as I tried to calm down, but suddenly I heard noises coming from downstairs.
I sat up, my heart racing again. I slipped on some slippers and crept toward the door, the dark hallway stretching out before me.
"Amelia?" I called, trying to sound brave, even though anxiety gnawed at my stomach. "Is that you?" I took cautious steps down the stairs, expecting her to jump out and surprise me.
I stepped into the living room first, fully expecting Amelia to jump out from one of the numerous hiding spots in the room. Our living room had plenty of nooksâbehind the couch, under the coffee table, and even in the shadows cast by the tall lamp in the corner. I knew her well enough to guess she'd picked the best hiding place, waiting to scare the life out of me.
"I'm really not in the mood for your jumpscares," I called out, forcing a lightness into my voice that I didn't quite feel. "But I hope you brought pizza with you."
Just as I turned to scan the room, a faint noise caught my attention, coming from the kitchen. My brow furrowed, and I rolled my eyes, thinking Amelia must have gotten impatient. I walked slowly toward the kitchen, half-expecting her to pop out at any moment.
"Amelia, didn't I tell you to call meâ"
Before I could finish, an arm snaked around my neck, pulling me back against a hard body. I froze, my breath catching in my throat as I felt something cold and sharp press against my skin. Panic surged through me, my heart racing as I tried to remain calm.
"Surprise," a low, rough voice whispered in my ear. It was a voice I recognized all too wellâone that haunted my thoughts and nightmares. My mind raced, instantly recalling the memories tied to it, memories I wished I could forget.
I turned my head slightly, just enough to see the figure looming behind me, but not enough to make any sudden moves. The adrenaline coursed through my veins, and I fought to keep my breathing steady, hoping that my instinct to run wouldn't kick in.
"We meet again, Hailey Jones."