Chapter Eleven

When it comes to feeling Lily's emotions, I'm not as skilled as Lily. She has no problem reaching out to me through our bond and knowing exactly how I feel. She was better at forming connections too last summer as we tried to figure out the missing pieces to finish the puzzle known as our hidden lives.

I think it's because I lack concentration. My mind can never focus on one thing it always drifts off to other things that I shouldn't be focusing on. A majority of it is thinking my about my extremely and unearthly forbidden boyfriend. I can't help myself. It's hard to not think about him. It doesn't matter if I was mad at him or not. He would constantly be on my mind.

A perfect example is right now. It's the last class of the day and we're in our assigned groups working on our song. At the beginning, I've been talkative giving out my suggestions but now I've gone quiet. My eyes keeps going to where Hayes is casually standing, watching over me.

It's been three days since I had told him he wasn't allowed to sneak into my room anymore and I can see the improvements. He doesn't look tired anymore. The dark circles under his eyes are fading and I'm glad he's getting the sleep he needs.

But that's not why I'm staring at him. This morning when we got to school, Mrs. Kovok wanted to see Hayes. She didn't need me to be there in her office so I went to class with Lily and Reid wondering why she needed to see him alone. I got my answer, fifteen minutes later when Hayes walked into my class but he wasn't alone. Right behind him, was a girl about my age with long blond hair that she had in a tight ponytail and blue eyes. She was really gorgeous and I wasn't the only one who noticed her looks. Every guy, expect Lucas, stared at her as if she was a goddess. Aphrodite had nothing on her.

By the time lunch came, everyone was curious about the new girl, the new guardian. We all wondered why she was here and why she was following Hayes around? Well, the second question was mainly me but still I wanted answers. Why did Mrs. Kovok assigned Hayes with another partner when he already had Reid?

Most of my questions, I won't get until I'm alone with Hayes. I stare at Hayes because Maya, the new guardian, is standing right beside him. Like super close to him. I guess she doesn't understand the concept of personal space. Throughout the day, I noticed the secret glances she gave Hayes, like most girls here at school did, and jealous ran through my veins.

But it's not like I can got off on for staring at my boyfriend. As far as anyone knows, Hayes is still single and still the player everyone took him for. They don't know he has changed and they can never know unless we stopped dating and he finds someone else. Someone he doesn't have to keep a secret. He won't ever do that because he says he loves me and will wait for how ever long it takes for us to actually be together in public. He doesn't mind keeping us a secret. He just wants to be with me and only me.

"What do you think, Millie?" Becca asks.

I slowly drag my eyes from Hayes and Maya and look at the group I'm in. They're all looking at me waiting for my response.

"About what?"

"Do you think Mr. Dean will be okay if we use this line in our song?" Becca says, showing my the line she's referring to.

I nod. "Yeah, it'll be fine. As long as we don't actually say it."

"I think that's all we were wondering about." Ashley says. "We can start rehearsing the song for tomorrow."

"I can't do it today." Mike replies.

"Why not? It's our only day to practice." Kelsea questions, looking at him.

"Reasons." Is all Mike says.

"Care to tell us those reasons?" Becca says, crossing her arms.

"Not really." Mike glances at the clock on the wall. "We still have twenty minutes left to practice before class ends."

"It's better than nothing." I say, moving to one of the vacant rehearsal room.

Once everyone is inside the room, I shut the door and Mike gets the music ready for us. We have enough time to go over the song a few times and make adjusts where needed before class ended.

"I'm excited to actually perform it." Ashley says, smiling.

"I think Mr. Dean will enjoy the way we used hair in our song." Becca says, grabbing her bag off the floor.

"Let's not forgot the awesome music I've came up with." Mike adds.

I roll my eyes. "Of course not. That's the most important thing to remember." I tell him, sarcastically.

Kelsea pats his back. "You did a wonderful job, Mikey."

"And how about the way I put sugar daddy into the song?" He asks.

This time Becca roll her eyes. "This isn't give out compliments to Mike day."

Mike doesn't seem fazed by Becca's remark. I think he's grown used to her. He grins at her. "It could be."

"I'm leaving." Becca announces. "I can only handle so much of you."

"That's what she-"

"Shut up, Mike!" Becca interrupts him as she walks past him and out the class.

I grab my backpack and soon leave the music room as well. On the way to my room, Hayes and Maya have a pleasant conversation. To anyone else, it would seem like they were just getting to know each other but to me, it feels like Maya is asking too many personal questions. She only just met him this morning and she already likes him.

I wish I could walk up to him and show her exactly why he isn't interested in her but I can't. So, I'm stuck listening to her flirt with Hayes and Hayes going along with it. He would laugh every now and then at whatever she said and I can't help but to think about the countless girls he's been with,

I know it was in the past and he moved on but it still doesn't change the fact he was with so many girls before me. What if he suddenly goes after Maya? What if she has something I didn't have? What if he breaks up with me and dates her? All these what ifs runs through my mind and I can't keep the small frown from forming between my eyebrows.

I'm glad when we reach my dorm room because I won't have to see Maya until dinner time. I unlock my door and step inside. As soon as Hayes looks at me when I turn to look back at them, he knows something is wrong.

He couldn't ask in front of Maya though. He looks at her. "Why don't you wait for me downstairs? I have to check Princess Millian's room for any danger and I'll be right down." He says.

Maya doesn't seem too concern about his request and nods her head. "Okay." She looks at me and smiles. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Princess Millian." She bows before she walks away.

Hayes waits until she out of sight before walking into my room. He closes the door and looks at me.

"What's wrong?"

I cross my arms. "Nothing. Everything's perfectly fine."

He gives me a knowing look. "I know you, Millie. So, what is it?"

"Maya." I reply. "Why is she here?"

"Selena assigned me to her. As part of her guardian training." He explains. "She didn't go to school here and she lacks some of the training she needs."

It makes sense as to well Mrs. Kovok picked Hayes to be her teacher. He could probably teach anyone as well as Guardian Lynn. But it still doesn't make me feel any better. If Hayes is her teacher, then Maya's going to be around her more than I will be.

"Hey." Hayes grabs my hand. "It's going to be fine. She won't be here for very long. Two months at most."

"Two months she will be fantasizing about you." I mutter.

A small smirks crawls across his face. "Ah, that's what you're really worried about. You're jealous."

"She likes you." I simply says.

He shrugs. "She looks up to me." He glances at his watch. "I need to go before she thinks something's wrong."

"Okay. Go."

Before he leaves, he kisses me, making all my worries from earlier fade away. I don't worry about Maya anymore for those few blissful seconds. Hayes is all I can think about and then he's gone and the worries are back.

It's stupid of me to think he would go back to his infamous ways when he showed me multiple times he has changed. As I look in my mirror, I sigh. I won't be surprised if Hayes did go after Maya. She doesn't look like she died. I've been skinny for my whole life but as I look in my mirror, I'm on the path of being an unhealthy skinny. Maya's body is built for the battles of our enemies but it's still a body most girls are dying to have. That's based on what I can tell with her clothes on. The guys, possibly even some girls, that were staring at her could one imagine what lies underneath those clothes.

Hayes is looking better those days and even though I haven't gotten my nightmare in a few days, I still couldn't sleep well. I probably got an average of four hours of sleep these few nights but I'm willingly to sleep less for Hayes. He did it for two weeks without any complaints. I can suffer through a couple more nights.

So, I've came to a decision. I'll wear more makeup and eat more than I have been. Lou, my stylist, won't approve of me wearing make up because she says I'm better of without it. Whenever she does do my makeup, she would put on a little. Except for the time I've dressed up for the Halloween Bash. I thought she wanted to complete the overall look with my costume but she had other motives. She was trying to make Hayes jealous and it worked but by then I was already moving on.

When Hayes come to pick me up the next morning, he looks surprised. He looks me up and down, before looking at my face, frowning.

"Are you wearing makeup?" He asks.

"Only a little." I reply, walking out my room.

It was a lie. I have on a lot more than a little. It took me an extra thirty minutes to get ready. I had to hide only my flaws that I have. I went for an all natural look so I wouldn't look that different but Hayes knew me better than anyone else. I knew he would able to tell something was different about me even if others wouldn't.

I'm not sure how long I will have to keep covering my dark circles but I pray it isn't for very long. I don't want to keep covering my appearance. I never cared about what others thought of me before and I don't want that to suddenly change.

I go to the cafeteria and usually I would skip breakfast because I never go to school in enough time but today is different. I told Hayes to come to my room twenty minutes earlier than I normally left.

I grab random food and place them on my tray and I know I'm getting weird looks but I don't care. I told myself I going to gain weight and I meant that.

"Are you okay?" Hayes asks, concerned.

"I'm fine. Why?" I ask, glancing at him.

"Because you never come to breakfast."

I shrug. "I'm hungry." I simply say.

Maya joins us and her blue eyes widen she she sees my tray filled with different food. She stands beside Hayes still looking at my tray.

"You're gonna eat all of that?"

I can her judgement in her voice and I narrow my eyes at her. Sorry we all can't have the perfect body, Maya? Is what I want to tell her but instead I smile at her.

"I'm sorry that sounded so rude." She apologizes. "Forgive me, Princess Millian."

I shake my head. "It's fine. There's nothing to forgive. I probably won't eat all of it but I'm going to eat the majority of it."

I walk over to an empty table and sit down. I begin to eat and I even offer Hayes and Maya some of my food. Maya declines but Hayes takes a chocolate muffin.

"Thank you, Princess." He says with a smile. The smile he knows I love and I smile back.

"Of course. I need my guardians' energy at their highest. Especially to get through today."

Hayes arches an eyebrow at the last part. It's a typical Thursday but not for Maya. I sent Maya on unless errands back and forth to my room a few times asking for things I already had either in my backpack or my locker. She never said anything and did as I said immediately and came back just as quickly.

"I know what you're doing." Hayes says, lowly, when Maya walks away. "Stop."

I look at him, innocently. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You're trying to keep Maya away from me but you can't keep sending her away. She's here to learn what she needs. She's tired and the day isn't even over with."

"I'm actually helping her with her training. She needs cardio, right? Going back and forth from the school and my room is a great workout." I tell him not telling him he was right.

"She doesn't need another workout. She does it twice a day with me in the morning and at the night."

"I didn't know that."

"It doesn't matter if you did or not. You owe Maya an apology."

He goes back to his stand when Maya comes running up to me holding my item I told her to retrieve, my songbook. I actually do need that but the things from before I didn't and it was wrong of me to abuse my powers. After a quick glance at Hayes, I look at Maya.

"Thank you, Maya." I tell, grabbing the songbook from her. "And I'm sorry for making you run back and forth for unless things that I didn't need."

She doesn't look mad at me or anything in fact she's kinda happy. "It's fine. I'm actually glad you did. I needed to get my endurance up any way."

"Still, I shouldn't have did that."

"It's okay, Princess Millian. You don't need to apologize." She says, smiling.

The day goes on and even after Maya said she wasn't mad at me, Hayes is still upset with me. I keep trying to catch his eyes but he purposely looks away from me, looking at anything that isn't me.

"Millie." I look away from Hayes and in the direction my name is called. "It's our turn." Kelsea informs me.

I get up from seat and make my way to the stage with my group. I stand in the middle, the girls are on the right of me and Mike is on the left. Abe's orders are still in effect so they have to stand ten feet from me but we still made it work. The girls are going to be the voice of reasoning while Mike is a voice I don't need to listen to. My job is to glance back and forth between my friends and my fake boyfriend who cheated on me.

The music begins and Mike starts it off and then it's mine turn. I look at the girls.

Let's go
I call my girls
Cause I got a problem

Kelsea sings, looking at me.

Only a curl
Is gonna solve it

I reply back to her as I shrug my shoulders.

Then I don't really care
Just get him out my hair, yeah

Becca joins in.

Let's switch it up
Get it off my shoulders

Then Ashley sings.

I've had enough
Can't take it no longer

I'm over him, I swear..I'm like yeah I sing.

The chorus comes and we all sing, except Mike, and we all look at him. Ashely thought it would be a great idea to dance a little and we did, doing stupid things while we repeat the same thing four times before the fun part come. We don't actually the say the word but we did decide to point to where we bleep the word out.

Cause he was just a **** and I knew it
Got my going mad sitting in the chair
Like I don't care
Gotta get him out my hair

I tried everything but it's useless
He pushed so far, now I'm on the edge
Make him disappear
Go get him out my hair

Becca sings the next part.

Okay
Can I bleach him out
Peroxide on him
Hair on the floor

It's mine turn to sing and I smile.

Like my memory of him
Now I feel brand new
This chick is over you

Ashley sings.

We're going out
Ain't go no worries
Drama now, now it seem so funny
Put my hands up in the air
I'm like yeah

We repeat the chorus again and Mike has a few things to say throughout the chorus. I sing the next part and the Kelsea, Ashely and Becca repeats me.

Da-da da-da da, du-da da-du, da-du duh

Then Mike gets his solo and he's pleased when the class laughs at his "sugar daddy" part. Then Becca sings.

Girl friend you need to get your phone
Erase that number, don't call him back

Kelsea chimes in.

Cause he doesn't deserve it
And when you see him in the club
Just flip your hair

I flip my hair at Mike as Ashley sings.

Don't show him any love
Cause you've had enough

We sing the chorus one more time and then the song it over. We're the last group to perform our song and we finish it just when the bell rings. Mr. Dean tells us he has a surprise for us tomorrow as we grab our things. I wonder why kind of surprise he had for us.

Hayes is still upset with me instead of asking Maya to leave like yesterday, he walks into my room and glances around before he walks out. Maya looks at Hayes.

She smiles. "I have a question to ask Princess Millian."

"Then ask." Hayes replies.

"I can't ask when you're standing here." She says. "I'll make it quick." She quickly adds when she sees his expression. "Less than a minutes."

He glances at me before he looks at Maya. "One minute." He reminds her before walking away.

"What do you have to tell me?" I ask.

"It's not really a question more of an observation."

"What is it?"

"I know about you and Guardian Cipriano." She says.

I arch an eyebrow. "There's nothing-"

"Yes, there is." She interrupts me. "And don't worry I'm not gonna tell your secret."

I drop the act. "How did you figure it out?"

Whatever I did for Maya to find out about us, I can't do it again. She's only be here for two days and already figured out one of my secrets. I didn't think I was being obvious but apparently I was. I got too comfortable around my surrounds and thought that if no one figured out what months of hiding we've been doing then we were good. We didn't have to worry about anything.

"I'm a guardian, well technically, but I'm trained to watch everything and everyone. I see the way you look at him and they way he looks at you when he thinks I'm not looking. Or anyone for that matter." She shrugs. "And I'm a girl. I know jealousy from anywhere. The boys won't suspect anything is going on between you guys because they're boys they look over little things as secrets smiles or stolen looks."

She knew what I was doing this morning when I kept sending her off on my unless errands. She's been watching as she should been and so are the other guardians. They might not be around Hayes and I all the times but for now on we have to be more careful. We were slowly slipping up and no one else can find out about us. Maya's the third person to figure out but I don't think I have to worry about her kidnapping me.

"What do you want in exchange to not tell anyone?" I ask just to be on the safe side.

She shakes her head. "Nothing. I told you, I won't say anything."

"Why not?"

"Because I have my own secrets, I don't want anyone to know about. At least not until I'm ready to let them know." She smiles. "Besides, have you see how hot he is? I see why you fell for you."

"He is hot." I agree, nodding my head.

"And..my minute is up." She says. "I have to go before he thinks I'm killing you."

I nod. "That's probably a good idea." Before she gets too far I say, "Thank you, Maya."

"No problem. See ya, Princess Millian."

I walk into my room and I think about what just happened. Hayes isn't going to be thrilled another person knows about us but I think I know a way to stops all the worries. And I know Hayes isn't going to be ready for it neither is Abe.