Dawn

17

The next day, apprehension was all I could feel. I didn't know where I stood with Hayden; were we a couple now? Was it a secret relationship? How would I look just getting out of one relationship and jumping into another?

I leant my back against my closed bedroom door— I was back at my parents' house —and shut my eyes, steadying my breathing. With all these secrets I was keeping, how could I possibly face my family? My dad? Finally, I inhaled deeply and swung my door open to find myself locked in the gaze of glowing hazel eyes.

"Hayden?" I questioned. He grinned and pushed me back into my bedroom, shutting the door behind him. "Uh, who let you up here?"

"Hall window," he mumbled into my neck, breathing into my hair. His arms encircled me and pulled me to him as he drank my scent like an alcoholic with a beer bottle. My eyebrows shot up.

"How...?"

"I charmed it with my good looks and dashing smile," Hayden smirked sarcastically. I simply crossed my arms and arched an eyebrow. He relented, "Okay, so I have a little bit of super-strength. No big deal." I shook my head at him, smiling. He was pretty amazing.

"What are you doing here, Hayden?"

"I missed you, Danny," he murmured, still nuzzling my neck.

"It's been one night," I pointed out.

"I know, but now that I have you I don't want to let you go," he whispered.

"Stop being so cute," I teased.

He gasped, "I am not cute!" His voice deepened ridiculously and he flexed his muscles. "I am manly," he announced.

I let my eyes roll and leaned up to kiss his nose. "Still cute," sliding my hand down his arm, I squeezed his bicep, "but you've got some good genetics."

He nodded grudgingly and held me tighter. "I guess I can't argue with that."

I laughed, and my thoughts from earlier returned, "Hayden?"

"Mmm hmm?" he responded, his face buried in my hair and his nose tickling my skin.

"Are we a...couple or...?" I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Or is this going to be secret?"

His eyes darkened angrily as his grip on my held stronger. "We are a couple, Dawn. I won't let you go to school with males thinking you are single and available to them. You are mine."

I nodded. "Good," I breathed. His eyes softened at my response and he cuddled me closer.

"You are too good for me," he whispered into my ear. I pushed back to look at him, cradling his face in my hands.

"Hayden... I..."

"What?"

"...Nothing," I mumbled, and slipped my jacket on, sliding my bag onto my shoulder. Grabbing his hand, I pulled him towards the door. "Let's go," I said, not missing his confused expression.

At school, I climbed out of Hayden's Range Rover and made my way towards the bleak building that facilitated my 'learning'. Ugh, I hate Mondays. A hand slipped around my waist and held my close to the perpetrators toned body, making me smile. Gasps from around us spread through the groups of people, and I suddenly felt nervous.

Hayden stopped and turned to me. "Hey," he whispered, forcing me to look up at him.

"Yeah?" I said, gnawing on my lip.

"Don't worry. I'm right here, okay?"

I sighed, "I know. I'm okay."

We carried on through the students milling around outside, up the steps and through the front doors. As we approached my group of friends, I realised how it would seem to Caitlyn if I turned up in Hayden's arms the day after their date was cancelled. I pushed Hayden away from me and ignored his low growl of protest.