Hailey

I was surprised the red marks remained in my wrist as minutes went by. This Ryan guy hadn't really hurt me that bad, shouldn't they be gone by now? Were they gonna leave bruises?

"How is it?" Nate stood before me in a second and took my hand from me, frowning at the faint unwilling to disappear red spots. "Fucking idiot." he put the cold can he just took from the fridge over it and I almost hissed at the coldness but held it down afraid he might mistook it for pain. It was such a tense enviroment already. "I'm gonna kill him."

My heart pounded harder, "I told you I'm fine." I sighed taking the can from him and sliding out his hold, immediately missing the warmth of his palms on my skin. But considering our current situation... "I can't even feel it." which was true as much as he refused to believe it the first five times I'd said it.

The can was a treatment Nate'd insisted on. Not really necessary but it seemed to mather to him so...

I was touched he cared, and couldn't deny that my heart fluttered at his concern, but at the same time it was awkward that our first encounter after the 'discussion' started with me being nursed on Trish's Palmer's kitchen, sitting on the marble counter and with the baffling beat of the party around us and a group of hammered schoolmates not that far -they were busy playing spin the bottle or something like that but

still.

"Who was that?" I mumbled curiously, also not sure how to approach the other topics hanging over us with so much weight I might choke just mentioning them. I mean, I'd came with the idea of opening up or whatever... but not anymore. So I took the easiest one and met his gaze just in time to see his jaw thicking.

"Ryan..." he started rigidly and shook his head, stopping himself from further information.

I furrowed my brows at the rather vague answer. "But how do you know him?" I moved the can to see the light marks finally fading now. Nate took my arm again, extra carefully, and after frowning at it he lifted it to press his lips there, making my heart jolted at the unexpected sweet action.

"He's no good, Hailey. Stay away."

"I-I would had." I rushed out, taken aback by the agressiveness in his tone, contradicting his actions, and lowered my gaze again. "But he was making Kimberly uncomfortable and-"

"I know. Just... Don't mess with him, okay?"

I nodded, not really knowing what to do next and I hated it. It was as if all the confidence I'd been having lately with Nate was now all gone. At once. Not even at the start of the course when we made the interview I felt this conflicted about him, this nervous. And majorly I think it was because even back then, with all my anger, I knew what to feel for him. Anger, displeasure, whatever. But then we started this deal and now... Now I didn't know what I was supposed to feel.

On one hand I couldn't deny anymore this attraction I felt for him, nor how I missed him even if we'd just taken a break for a few days... but at the same time, it was this whatever I'd grown to feel that made his detatchment hurt all the more. He confused me to no end and what I'd told Kimberly was true: I wasn't sure if I could accept it and move on with his uncommitement vow. Not when he'd been unbothered by the time I was taking from this and enjoying his sweet time with others...

Ignoring the burning chill his touch was spreading everywhere I slid my arm out his grip, only realizing how close we were when he instead placed his hands on the counter beside my legs. "I didn't think I would be seeing you here." he mumbled and I could feel his breath on my forehead, minty and with a hint of alcohol too. I rose my head and yes, he was really near, in my personal space and with that look on his eyes that drives me numb.

"I thought you said I didn't needed a writted permission." I scoffed in hopes not to melt for him and stood my ground.

"And I thought you said you will think of it. In my world, when a girl says that it's always a nice way to say she's gonna do what she pleases."

Yeah, he knows because of all the girls he's messed with. Let's not forget he'd been ignoring me since I asked for a break and probably less than an hour ago he was all over Trish. My guts crumbled in that way that made me feel like about to cry, but I refused to create another drama scene like the one out the bar. He didn't want me, no like I want him; and he'd proven this enough. I was aiming for the impossible. And now he didn't want me here after all?

"Well, I'm sorry if it bothers you." I gritted out but he shook his head, looking amused. Amused!

"I never said that." his hand cupped my face, brusing his thumb over my cheek and igniting those chills that caressed my spine down alluringly. Still sitting on top of the counter our faces were leveled and I hold my breath when he shifted even closer, our noses almost touching and thousands of shudders ignited from my stomach. I had to fight the urge to pull him closer and remind myself I was mad at him. Hard to do when he was looking at me like that, his eyes roaming over my face. I felt as if he'd missed me as much as I had. "You look so pretty tonight..."

"Tonight?"

A smirk tugged the hem of his mouth as he leaned even closer, I felt his breath franning my lips, almost touching them with his. "Always."

My heart threatened to burst out but my mind drifted back to Trish and that fresh hickey she was proudly showing. I stopped his advancing pressing one palm on his chest and straightening my back to creat some kind of space, his warmth tickling me but I pushed it down. "Go tell that to your other friend."

"What are you talking about?" his cute baffled expression only tightened my guts further.

"Trish. Are there more?" My heart dipped and I pushed his hands so they fall at my sides but he only used this chance to closed them around my hips and inched me closer to the edge, my knees now hanging on either side of him.

"Are we still going on with that?" he pouted and in any other circumstances it would had been rather adorable but I forced myself to remember my determination in this. It hurt too much to keep neglecting it. Extemly self-concious, my eyes darded to the group gathered on the kitchen's table a few feet from us, relieved that they were too busy with their games to notice our discussion. Guess the darkness and their boozed state helped. Nate tilted his head demanding my attention again. "Haven't you change your mind?"

"Have you?" I fired back, but he was too close and it came out more breathless than I intended.

I blushed at my own anticipation at his nearness and Nate smiled softly, proving he'd noticed too and was well aware of his effect on me.

"Not really." he hummed and used his grip on my hips to slid me closer, so I sat on the very edge and my body pressed against his. A wave of heat spread everywhere, matching the intensity in his eyes. I shouldn't be touching him while trying to keep up a conversation. I really shouldn't allow such a intimacy yet I couldn't help it, it was almost magnetic.

I gulped, willing myself to lower my gaze to his chest instead, where I my fingers were absently fiddling with the collar of his shirt. I willed them to drop, stiffly settling in my thighs on either side of his waist and avoiding his attemps to make eyes contact again.

This is pointless. If neither of us had changed their mind, we still in the same step as the other day. My heart throbbed loudly on every corner of my body as realization sunk in me. I should had accepted it since the other day, but the hopeless romantic in me was waiting for him to actually want me back... and as something more than a side girl to mess with between others.

But apparently that was asking for too much.

I shook my head, pushing at his chest so he let me down and out. "Then you can keep your other 'friends' because I... I'm done."

"Uh, really?" I pushed again when he didn't make any attempt to move but instead he hugged me tighter, turning my muscles into jelly and messing once more my thought process. "You..." The group in the table erupted in another burst of loud laughs and snapped his attention there, frowning irritated, as if realizing we weren't alone for the first time, before looking back at me. "Let's not talk here."

He finally backed so I could get down the counter but immediately took my hand and guided me out the kitchen and through the sea of people. My heart thundered harshly. Now what? Were we to have this conversation? I didn't think I was ready for more rejection. For another 'I don't want to date you'. It hurted just to remember his words.

Either way, I let him guide us through the crowd, seeing from affar Kimberly and Seth and spotted Olly too at the other end of the room, even tho he didn't saw me. But Nate wasn't staying there. To my surprised he walk pass the party, greeting his team members as we pass them but headed straight to the front door.

What?

"Nate, hold on-" but before I could end the sentence there was someone standing in our way, forcing him to halt and me with him if I didn't want to collide with his back. I could felt his hold around my hand tightening.

"How many times do I have to tell you to fuck off for it to stick on your mind?" Nate hissed and the blond before us but Ryan just perked one brow mockingly.

"You're the one that keeps coming to me, Herond."

"Whatever." Nate's arm closed around my waist and pulled me to him, moving to sidestep him. "We're going now."

But he wasn't done and blocked the path, purposely this time. "New girlfriend, uh?" he smiled at me, that whicked smile from before and I got the worst feeling about his intentions. "We haven't been properly introduced. You are?"

"Someone." snarled Nate bitterly and I tried not be hurt that once again. "Now move."

"No need to get all defensive, man." Ryan rose his hands but instead of pacifying it felt mocking. "I just want some chit chat. You know, since we're half-" but he didn't even get to end whatever he was saying because Nate let go of me and was shoving him. But as my heart dropped in startlement Ryan only smirked at his glare. "Hit a nerve, haven't I?"

"Shut up, you-"

"What's going on here?" a nother guy appeared by Ryan's side, someone I'd never seen before so I guess he was from the same school as him. He eyed the blond and turned his scowl at Nate, who was clenching and unclenching his fists. "We don't want problems, Herond. Leave us alone."

He's not the one provoking! I wanted to scream at them, but instead shock freezed me in place, my loud heart beat drumming in my ears. Even from behind I could see Nate's shoulders heaveling raggedly as he struggled to control his breathing... and he was failing.

I didn't know what was the deal with this Ryan, but they were already attracting the attentions of the people around and I could tell by the tension in Nate that he was a breath away from exploding.

As another unknown guy made his way backing Ryan I finally snapped out my daze, stepping forward and reaching for his arm. His mucles tensed under my palms as I gently tugged him towards the door. "We don't want problems either."

Nate tore his gaze from them to me and I mouthed him 'please'. His jaw clanched and fury ignited in his eyes. I'd never seen him so enreaged, and it was clear he was holding back. My guts clenched, waiting for him to push me away and start a fight with them... a fight I wasn't so sure he could win. Maybe I should go find Seth and Olly?

To strike the fire even further, Ryan let out another nasty chuckle. "Tamed, are we?"

Nate took a step forward, his arm bent back for momentum but I hooked his elbow and yanked him with my heart up my throat. I stepped in front of him and pushed his chest back but Nate was still staring at Ryan, like in trance.

I pushed harder, my pulse racing and blood roaring in my ears. "I-It's not worth it. Let's go. Nate... Nate?" He finally lowered his eyes to mine, but his jaw was still clenched. I took an abrupt breath. Yeah, I'd never seen him so furious. "Please." I begged and something in my voice seemed to make him react.

He nodded slowly and stiffly but he let me take him away from those people who kept provoking him.

"What is this, Herond?" Ryan's smile made my stomach twitched uncomfortably. "Do you let this girl control you?"

I felt him tense up but he surprised me by returning his smile, just as sour as the blond's. "She's right," he said with a sigh, "It's not worth it. None of you are."

I felt the anger of that group emanating in waves from their bodies and my hair stood on end. Nate took my hand again and smiled one last time at them before turning and walking away from them. Our fingers were intertwined and that heat helped me to shelter myself from the angry looks that that group was giving us.

I only breathed easier when we were finally outside the house and with no fight been pulled. I still didn't know what to think about him, about this sudden departure, but I was so relief nothing too dramatic had happened I agreed silently to go with him, letting him get us in Letty and out to the road. Only then it occurred me to ask about where were we going.

"I'm not gonna have this conversation with those morons around." he scoffed, focused on the sight before him and I could tell he wasn't all over whatever just happened back there. My stomach churned once more knowing the hances of avoiding the topic of 'us' were getting thiner, but instead focused on my fiddling hands on my lap. "How's your wrist?"

I was thrown out by the sudden question. I had already forgotten about it. "Fine. I told you, it doesn't hurt me in the slightest." he hummed, but I couldn't be sure if he bought it or not. I was speaking the truth, tho. "Nate?"

"Mhm?"

I hesitated, afraid it might be crossing the line, but then again, we were already crossing too many lines. "Are you gonna tell me who is this Ryan?"

For some seconds the heaviest of silences fell upong that cabin. My breath hitched as I saw his knuckles went white from his grip on the wheel. Maybe I did take it too far indeed? But just as I thought he wouldn't be responding at all he exhaled tensedly and mumbled:

"His father left his mom for mine." my eyes grew wide at the unexpected answer and turned to see he shifted int he seat, gaze still focused on the road before us. "He's not over it."

"But... but that not your fault."

"Of course it's not! But try tell that to that moron."

"I think he's just jealous."

He scoffed at that. "He really shouldn't."

I frowned, my heart stirring at something in his undertone. What did he mean? But before I could pry further, he slowly pull out the road and I realized we were once more in the viewpoint. Where we'd came that first night so long ago, where I opened up about my family drama some weeks ago. And now he drove us back?

The memories made my chest clenched, getting emotional again. "What are we doing here?"

"Hailey." my head snapped from view to him as he shut down the engine.

The lights over us shut with the engine and summed us in a soft darkness. The radio gone as well and only the view of the town lights and the starling night before us. It would be rather romantic if we weren't we and I just hadn't made up my mind about ending this deal. However, when I met his gaze, now a lot softer that desition kinda didn't seem that strong.

"We were good, weren't we?" his tone was gentle, not alluringly hoarse with some indecent purpose or upset like before... just soft. Our eyes were connected in our small bubbled of intimacy, our bodies half angled sideways towards the other in the darkness of the cabin. "What happen?"

"I'm not sure about this anymore." I confessed in a small voice, dreading every word but this was for the best. "And you're not involved with anyone."

"Oh, come on. You know I didn't mean that."

"You keep pushing me away and- and it's getting harder to fight for something that's not even there."

"No, you- Don't end this."

The pleading in his tone pinched my heart more than I thought. But I shook my head again, looking straight ahead and determinate not to bend this time. "You can have Trish, and Nadia, and whoever else you want but I don't want this anymore."

"Fuck. There's nobody else. It hasn't been anybody else for a long time now."

How could he lie like this? I glowered at him when he again refused to let go. Why has he to make it this difficult. "I just bumbed into Trish! She told me."

"Told you?" he frowned even more confused. "Told you what?"

My blood boiled. Why was he making it this difficult? "That you were together."

"What?"

I nodded, still refusing to meet his gaze, knowing I would release this pitiful tears once I did. It was already hard enough to fight the painful throb of my heart as I recalled my interaction with the perfect it-girl. "She told me you were together. She told me you were... involved before we bump. And I told you, it's fine. But I'm not doing this anymore-"

"Hailey," I felt his fingers taking my chin right before I was looking at him again. Nate was lightly leaning over the gear stick, and even in the dim moonlight his eyes still manage to swirl in green and emotion. An emotion that made me wanna give in. "In what lenguage do you want me to say it? There hasn't been anyone else. I haven't been with Trish, and especially not tonight."

"But she has this hickey-"

"So what? I haven't seen her ever since she let us in. Why would I, either way?"

Oh, I can think of a reason or two. I folded my arms, stubbornily. "I don't know. But you ignored me, everyone is talking about you two and then she came and starts to..." I grimaced at the memory of her hickey and how proud and content she looked. Could it be that she was lying? But why would she? It didn't suit her. But neither the stressed expression Nate was wearing at the moment.

"You cut things, Hailey. What did you wanted me to do? We've said it before, neither of us will change our mind. I've always been clear: I don't want to date." my stomach squeezed achingly, but he wasn't done. "But not you, it's just I don't date. I don't do dates."