CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
❝ tie up loose ends ❞

     WHEN ARRIVING AT school in her overly happy mood, Hayden Marris heads straight for Mike Newton's locker. She had only been there twice before, both times being the times he had stopped between classes to retrieve his books. The girl felt bad for leaving Emmett, but at the same time she knew what she had to do; who she had to talk to, and what she needed to say. The brunette taps her foot on the linoleum flooring, waiting for the small-town boy to show up.

And surely enough, in that moment, he had.

Mike was confused as to why she was there at first— and then he looked around, expecting for Emmett to be lurking around somewhere. But when the girl gave him a warm smile, he relaxed, and made his way over to her. "Long time, no see, stranger," Mike comments, putting in his locker combination.

"And that's what I'm here about— I'm sorry, about everything. I know you and Emmett left off on bad terms, and I haven't talked to you in a while," she frowns. "I don't like that I've cut my friends out for a while . . . I've just been so busy, but that's no excuse. I'm back now, and I'd love it if we could hang out this weekend."

"You really want to?" He stops, raising his eyebrows. "I didn't know if Cullen—"

"Emmett," Hayden corrects.

"I didn't know if Emmett," he continues, "wanted me to see you again. I felt bad for what happened, and I really didn't mean for you to get hurt, Hayden. That's the last thing I ever wanted."

"It doesn't matter what Emmett wants, I make my own decisions. Besides, I'm sure the two of you would enjoy each other's company if you actually got to meet. For real, though— not just through punching each other and glaring in the hallways."

Mike opened his mouth to speak, but Hayden cut him off with a gasp of realization. "That's it!" She says, grabbing onto his shoulders, a wide grin spreading across her lips. "On Saturday I'll have you, Paul, and Emmett go out for a guys' day, and then I could meet up with you afterwards. That way everyone might be able to get along for once."

Mike chews on the inside of his cheek, shutting his locker before nodding. "If that's what you want, I'd be willing to try. I could learn to get along with him, as long as he makes you—"

"—happy," Hayden finishes, her smile glowing. "I'm finally noticing the little things that everyone wants for me. You all want me to be happy."

"That's my job," Mike chuckles, running a hand through his blond hair. "That, and to make sure Cull— Emmett doesn't break your heart."

"And what about Paul?" Hayden asks hopefully, her voice clearly laced with a plead. "Would you be okay with meeting him?"

"Who's Paul?"

"A boy who's also not very fond of Emmett . . . "

"He sounds like my type of guy," Mike laughs. "But yes, I would do that for you. Only if you promise some one-on-one time, because you have so much to catch up on, and I've missed having you around."

"It's a deal, Mike Newton," she winks, just as the bell for first period rings. "That's my cue— I'll talk to you about it at lunch. We can make the plans and I'll call Paul to see if he's okay with everything."

"I'll see you then," he waves, watching as she disappears down the hallway.

Dashing into the chemistry room, her eyes immediately find Emmett's. "Someone looks happy," he says, giving her a smile of his own. "I assume it went well."

"It went so much better than well— fantastic, even. I have a proposal." She plops down in the chair next to him, her eyes gleaming.

"You want me to marry you? Gosh, I thought you'd never ask. But wait, am I going to be the one wearing the dress?"

"Emmett, focus," the Marris girl scolds, tapping his nose playfully. "I was hoping you'd spend a day with Paul and Mike this weekend— just for me. Who knows? Maybe all of you could learn to get along, and I can finally relax. Everything is falling into place for me, and this would be the icing on the cake."

"The dog and the marshmallow?" Emmett groans.

"Paul is not a dog— well, technically he is, but Mike isn't a marshmallow, he's just a little sensitive to certain things— ugh, just shut up." Hayden rubs her hands down her face, before shaking the vampire's arm. "Will you please do it? For me?"

"Well, if it's you asking, I guess I can do it," he tilts his head, pinching her cheeks. "I just want you to be—"

"—happy," Hayden nods, smug as she places her notebook on the desk and begins to scribble down the notes from the board. "I know."

"I could do your notes for you," Emmett offers, holding up his notebook. "I copied them down while I was waiting, and it only took a few minutes, seeing as how the teacher walked in. But my handwriting has been proven to be better than yours . . . "

"Okay, now you're just bragging," Hayden rolls her eyes. "I won't be intimidated by your mind tricks, Dracula."

"I'm the best damn Dracula you've ever seen." Emmett states. "Besides, it's not like you denied the fact that I write better than you."

"Based on your age, I assume you've had plenty of practice," the girl retorts. "It feels weird knowing I've kissed an old man."

"Do I look old to you?" He runs his fingers down her back, making Hayden shiver and smack his hand away.

"Quit distracting me! I'm trying to copy my notes."

"Wouldn't you rather be talking to me?" Emmett raises an eyebrow tugging at her arm.

"Your family was so right, you have to have constant attention," Hayden mutters, laying her head on the desk and dropping her pencil. "What do you want from me?"

"Just let me copy your notes so I can hold you for the rest of class," he puckers his bottom lip. "Please?"

Her heart warmed— she was sure he never acted this way when he was around others. She brought out a different side of him; a vulnerable side that made his unbeating heart feel as though it were working again. A tinge of pink roses to her cheeks, and she was positive that he noticed and sat up a little straighter.

"I didn't know you could be so soft," Hayden giggles, finally handing over her paper and pencil. "But fine, copy them. I could use a nap anyway."

He was already writing, and she watched as his hand moved at such a quick speed that she couldn't keep up. The brunette was grateful that the other students were too focused on their own notes to notice his inhuman actions. Hayden was amazed, and so utterly flabbergasted that her jaw dropped when he cape to an abrupt stop.

"Done," Emmett smirks, handing her the sheet of paper and pencil. "Now put them up, and get over here, sweetheart."

---

When lunch finally rolled around, Angela was the first to notice Hayden and Emmett heading to their table— in fact, she gasped lowly, kicking Jessica under the table. Eric raises an eyebrow at the girl, gesturing to a seat next to him. "I haven't seen you in a while. Where have you been, Hayden?"

"Around," Hayden shrugs, nodding to Emmett. "He's been my main focus lately, and I'm sorry I haven't gotten around to explaining everything to you guys. But I'm here now."

"We missed you," Angela says, looking over to Emmett for a moment, before shooting her a wink. "I see you've pulled yourself a Cullen. Congratulations, you and Bella have done the impossible."

"I still want you to be my prom date," Eric chimes, looking to the brunette expectantly. "Are the two of you going together?"

"I had planned on it," Emmett smirks, wrapping his arm around Hayden's waist. "Unless you aren't into dances."

"So who do I go with?" Eric's jaw drops, giving Emmett a blank stare.

"Angela doesn't have a date," Mike sips at his water. "I figured you'd go with her anyway."

Hayden's eyes land on Jessica eventually, noticing that the girl had her arms crossed over her chest. Jessica was blushing furiously, but looked angry at the same time.

"What's wrong, Jess?" Hayden speaks up, cutting off everyone else's conversation. She had to admit; she never really bonded with Jessica. But that didn't mean she didn't care for her. "You look upset."

"I just don't think it's right that you can ditch all of us for over a week for some guy, and think you can come right back and everything will be fine," Jessica sits up a little straighter, still hesitant. "How do you think it made all of us feel when you did that?"

"I didn't know it would affect all of you so badly . . . " Hayden trails off, leaning into Emmett's arm as she glances around the table. "I'm sorry, I really—"

"You really didn't mean it?" Jessica laughs, throwing her hands up. "My bad, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that you left us for a more popular group, then decide that it's okay to sit with us again."

Hayden flinches at her harsh tone, a bit taken aback, but also hurt. "Is that how you all feel?"

"No, it's not," Mike gives Hayden an assuring glance before he turns to glare at Jessica. "Why would you say something like that, Jess? You knew, as well as all of us, that Hayden was having problems that she needed to fix."

"Her love life is not a problem."

"I'm sorry," Hayden says softly, standing up abruptly with Emmett at her side. "I don't want you all to fight because of me. I'll just go . . . I'll see you guys tomorrow, yeah?"

Without staying long enough for a reply, Hayden makes a beeline towards the cafeteria exit, tears stinging her eyes. Had she really been so caught up in her own life that she had ditched her first friends? She couldn't imagine how they felt.

And so she decided— as she stepped out into the hallway, taking a cooling breath as Emmett mutters sweet nothings in her ear, that she wouldn't be selfish until it was absolutely necessary.

She was tired of the relationships with the people around her being torn apart, and it was about time that she started to fix them.

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