“I’m exhausted,” Hayden sighs, kicking the door shut before falling onto my bed. 

I stare down at his figure sprawled on my bed and he smirks at me. “What?” He knows what he’s doing but instead of giving him what he wants, I walk over to his bed and lie on it, turning my head to grin his way as he pouts.

“Comfy,” I say teasingly, getting cozy on his mattress that smells exactly like him. Hayden turns on his side as well, so that we’re facing each other. It's funny staring at him from opposite sides of the room, we are so petty.

“Why didn’t you tell me your father owned the hotel? You made it look like we were going to get into trouble when the whole time we had a free pass.”

“Because I don’t like to consider the things my father has as my own. The hotel is his, not mine. I just wanted to be there with you as a regular guy, feel normal things with the girl I like, feel the fear of getting caught, and the increase of sensations when I kissed you. I wanted that moment to just belong to me. To us.”

I watch Hayden with wide eyes, my heart pounding in my chest. So basically he wanted it to be special? Why does he always have to say exactly the right things?

“Did you feel that? Did you feel those things?” He asks expectantly. I blink.

I remember sneaking in and feeling afraid, then getting up to see the view and feeling like I was on top of the world. When Hayden said those words to me and kissed me, I felt like everything was falling into place for once. And when I ran after we were nearly caught I’ve never felt so alive.

Slowly, I nod with a faint smile. “Even more.”

“The look on your face when you came back though,” Hayden bursts out laughing and I purse my lips. “You looked like you were held at gunpoint.” He puts his hand over his mouth to muffle his laughter as he recalls the memory.

I lift the pillow from under my head and throw it at him, which he catches with ease obviously, before pouting. “I thought you were in trouble, okay.”

He coos at my annoyed reaction. “Awh, okay I’m sorry,” I give him a flat look because he says it with mock-sympathy. “It was cute when you were running; I should get you into trouble more often.” He smirks, rolling out of bed and walking over to me.

I push his chest so he can’t get into bed and his stupid grin widens. “You said you would be right behind me you liar.”

Hayden just looks at my small hands on his chest before prying them off him with his large ones. He pins my hands above my head with one of his and suddenly he’s straddling my waist. “Get off me you fat ass,” I groan dramatically.

He doesn’t, he just remains quiet, watching me struggle with an amused look on his face.

“Liar,” I growl out again and he just chuckles.

“Were you worried about me, Char?” He asks tilting his head to watch me like I'm pathetic because clearly, he has the upper hand.

“No,” I say a little too quickly.

“But you came back for me?” He adds, clearly finding my embarrassment entertaining.

“I-I just dropped my shoe.” I lie through my teeth, my voice cracking.

Hayden sighs, smiling nevertheless before ushering me to move over on my side so he could lie down next to me. “Thanks for coming back for me,” he whispers into the crook of my neck, his arms around my sides.

I'm such a bad liar, and even so, he knows I'm still too stubborn to admit it. I can feel his heartbeat pounding against my back. Mine is just as fast.

“If that’s what you want to think,” I mumble shyly and I feel his chest vibrate against me as he laughs. If only I could speak my damn mind, I'm just too afraid to show him how scared I truly was for him, I’ve never felt like this before. And it scares me.

“Please tell me we’re not actually going to my parents for dinner though, I could make an excuse you know,” Hayden says and I roll my eyes.

“We’re going.”

He groans.

Suddenly my phone vibrates and I reach for it on the bedside table, seeing it’s a message from Jack reminding me to be there at his play. I smile and send a fast reply back before Hayden snatches my phone from me.

“Hey!” I roll around so that we're facing each other, reaching for my phone. Hayden holds it high as he scrolls through my phone and I can’t see what he’s doing until he says:

“You have me saved as Triple H?” He asks in a surprised tone.

“I thought it was cute.” I shrug awkwardly, suddenly seeing how lame that actually was.

“Only you, Char,” he shakes his head, smiling when he says this before typing something and handing it back to me. "Also my middle name doesn't start with an H."

I look at my phone before smiling. “Boyfriend.” I read aloud.

“Followed by a dozen hearts because I’m awesome.” He adds smugly and I roll my eyes.

“Very smooth,” I say, clicking my tongue. For some reason I feel really comfortable talking with him, I thought I would be awkward after that but it's really hard to be with Hayden.

“After a kiss like that, I was kinda hoping...” He shrugs as he trails off.

“Well, when your father said it, you looked like a little shy boy.” I tease.

“I’m not shy,” Hayden says and it looks like he’s daring me. Daring me to say he is just so he can prove me wrong and I’m afraid how he might just do that. But I’m more curious and that’s why I say:

“Prove it.”

Hayden and I share a look, one where he’s looking at me with questioning eyes as I stare back with sure ones, but he doesn’t move.

“Tsk, tsk. Don't test me like that.” He shakes his head as he says this mockingly and I roll my eyes.

“Guess that means you’re sh—” Before I can finish my sentence, he’s rolling me over so that I’m straddling his waist as he stares up at me through his thick black lashes, his eyes searching mine. My hands were on his chest to steady myself as I stare back with my breath caught in my throat.

“Who’s the shy one now?” He says smugly.

I blush a deep crimson color, my face most probably matching with my hair color. I walked right into that one. Clearly, he isn't at all shy. That's me, and I'm still working to change that.

I want nothing to do with the old Charlie.

Hayden grins triumphantly and I lean down so that I’m lying on his chest, his heartbeat is calm for the first time and I wish I can say the same for myself.

He takes the phone from my hand and places it on the bedside table before closing the lights. “Goodnight, Charlie.” He whispers and I find myself smiling like an idiot in his chest. The last thing I remember thinking, as stupid as it is, is what he has me saved as on his phone.

…

“Charlie, could you take the cashier spot? I need to use the bathroom,” Clark asks me, shifting on her legs due to how badly she needs to pee. I was talking to Miguel, the Brazilian co-worker as he deep-fried the fries before I faced her.

“Sure.” I took the customer’s order and freeze when the next customer steps up. Alex. And he was Alexander once again. The boy I used to love. Or maybe the boy I thought I loved.

“Hey baby, didn’t know you worked here.” He says casually and I narrow my eyes at him.

“What would you like to order, sir?” I ask as kindly as I can, making sure Alex sees that he isn’t getting to me.

“One happy-meal please,” he says, paying for his order. I didn't even give him his total yet so I'm pretty sure this order is a regular for him.

“Really, a happy meal?” I give him back his change and he shrugs.

“They’re awesome, plus they have a free toy inside, so underrated to be honest.” He remarks and I shake my head, annoyed I can’t help the smile on my face. It's just so hard to stay angry at Alex for some reason.

“Why did you lie about Hayden coming to the party for you?” I find myself asking. Alex looks at me for a moment before sighing.

“How’d you really get him to come to the party?” I ask again.

“I told him you were going to be there,” Alex admits, an annoyed look on his face. “I don’t get that guy, he doesn’t even show me the slightest bit of interest, it’s always Charlie this, Charlie that.” When Alex says this I find myself smiling widely and he catches it.

“Why are you smiling like that? Do you like him or something?” Alex asks hastily and I hand him his order instead, giving him a flat look.

“Sorry, we have a lot of customers I need to get through, sir,” Alex's nose flares a little but when he looks behind him he can’t say anything because there is, in fact, a line of customers I have to get to.

“Remember I was right about Daniel." He warns me, and I see in his eyes it looks like he’s begging me, but begging me for what exactly? I don't think I know or care anymore.

“Alex—”

“I’m sorry if this person bothering you.” Clark comes back, glaring at Alex. “Oh wow, it’s your Ex. Trying to get her back or something? She's moved on asshole.” I give her a pleading look, hoping she doesn’t make a scene but she doesn’t pay it any attention.

“He was just leaving,” I tell her, not looking back at Alex, my hand on Clark to keep her in her place. Clark frowns my way before returning her glare back at Alex.

“Yeah, thanks.” He lifts the happy-meal bag sheepishly before heading out.

Clarks turns to me with expectant eyes. “What was that about? Stalker much…”

I move to the side so she can take back her shift, shaking my head. “It was nothing,” I tell her and I know she doesn’t believe me but I just don’t want to talk about it, she wouldn’t understand and this isn’t the place or time. “Honest.”

“Okay if you say so,” Clark shrugs. “But I’m here for you, always. Also, your ex looks familiar…”

“You’ve met him before,” I counter smoothly although inside my mind keeps going—crap crap crap.

“No, like someone I know.” She says as if trying to recall something. I shrug, feeling my palms start to sweat. “Well, whatever,” She shrugs as well before returning back to the customers.

I sigh at that, heading down the hall and to the back of McDonald's where I can be alone. My shift is finally over.

“Hayden doesn’t stick with relationships; he’s the type to never share anything.”

“Your boyfriend must be one hell of a guy, my relationships only ever last months at maximum.” Those were Hayden’s words himself, I never really thought about it until now though.

I hat that Alex always seems to get to me. I broke up with him so his opinion shouldn’t even matter anymore so why does it? Why does he still fight for me? Why does he get me in these positions, ones I find conflicting and making me question everything?

Why do I still care?

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I'm really excited about writing the play in the next chapter. I'm thinking about doing something very different with it (not Romeo and Juliet lol) and I hope you guys like it!

Things are getting really confusing and I'm sure none of you have an idea about where this is heading. If so, then I'm doing at least something right!

I wasn't planning for this book to have that much romance in it, but trust me, in the next chapters there won't be much time for that ;) I'd say we have about 20 chapters until this book ends. Vote if you enjoyed this chapter!