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Chapter Nine

Why must I feel this way? Just make this go away. Just one more peaceful day!

Its been awhile - Staind

-Hayden-

"Look Hayden, you can't be mad at me. I didn't tell you that I was coming home because I wanted to surprise you. I didn't think you'd be there today, and I don't want you to think that I was ignoring you," Harry explained as I pulled into our gated neighborhood.

"It's nothing Harry, it's not like we're dating anyway," I said, still slightly annoyed.

"No, I know that Hayden. But I don't think you do. Do you know how hectic it would be if we dated? You'd be in the spotlight all the time, and not many fans like us dating, being off the market. There are some that will love you and want to talk to you and be your best friend, but not everybody is like that," he said, getting frustrated. Making me frustrated.

"I never said I didn't want that! You never even let me choose! You made all the decisions by yourself! Did you ever stop to think about how I feel?" I asked, probably not making a lick of sense. I seemed to be on the verge of tears.

"Hayden..." he trailed off.

"No, stop. I don't need this. The other day before you left, you were all about this. You said you wanted this to work, so why are you ruining us before we even start!" I slammed my fist down onto the wheel, making the horn go off. I pulled into his circle driveway a few minutes ago, torn between kicking him out and wanting him to stay. I felt his warm hand twine into my own. I didn't have the energy to let go.

"Hayden, with all this Zayn stuff going on I can't do this. At least not yet," he said, smiling a sad smile at me towards the end. I thought I saw hope flash in his eyes, but as quickly as it came, it was gone.

"Yea well, you should of said that before you started this shit," I wiped at my nose, feeling the ugly cry coming. "Get out, Harry. Please," I added, pulling my hand out of his grasp and putting my truck back in drive. I felt him shift in his seat, leaning over and kissing my check. I didn't do anything but look out the driver side window. I heard his door shut, and I continued driving to the end of his driveway. I didn't turn back and look at him.

-----

Ring! Ring!

"Red, someone is calling you," Isabella said, not giving me my phone.

"Who is it?" I asked, not in the mood to talk to anyone. Coming home last night after dropping Harry off left me in such a depressing mood.

"Harry," Isabella replied. I turned toward her, quick as lighting. She was not in the living room anymore, and neither was my phone. I picked up Kolt and set him down in his play pen. I ran out of the room, searching for Isabella.

"Isabella! I'm going to count to five and if you and my phone aren't standing in front of me, you don't get to watch Ariel," I yelled, knowing the Ariel thing would get her running back to me. I heard soft little footsteps coming towards me, then stopped. I turned my body, seeing Isabella directly behind me.

"Here," she said, grabbing my hand and putting my phone in my palm.

"What did you do?" I asked while I followed her into the living room again. She sat down, grabbing her crayons again.

"Nothin," she replied without hesitation. I stepped forward cautiously.

"Isabella, did you answer the phone?" I asked, terribly afraid of the answer. She looked up at me with doe eyes.

"Nope," she told me, popping the 'p'. I picked up a fussy, tired Kolt. It was Friday night, A.K.A, the night I babysit Isabella and Kolt all night. Tiffany had left about a few minutes ago, leaving me a bag with their stuff for the night.

"Alright, if you say so," I went to the kitchen, grabbing a water for myself. I heard footsteps coming down the stairs as I walked back. I stopped as my dad took the last few stairs.

"Hey kid," he smiled. It was about seven o'clock, and instead of wearing his usual home attire, he was wearing khaki shorts and a light blue button up.

"Hey, where are you off to?" I asked, letting Kolt attempt to hold the water.

"I'm having a dinner with an old friend of mine from college. We're going to Olive Garden, do you want me to bring you back anything?" he asked, grabbing his car keys.

"No thanks. Is Marvin not taking you?" Usually dad is driven everywhere by Marvin, his personal driver.

"Not tonight. I always give him Fridays and the weekend off. I have to get going, but I'll see you either later tonight or in the morning," he said, grabbing my head and kissing my forehead. "Love you kid, have fun," he left, shutting the door behind him.

"Looks like it's just us tonight kids," I said while walking back into the living room. "Isabella, you ready for your bath?" I asked, picking up the water bottle Kolt dropped.

"Not yet," she replied, coloring outside the lines of the coloring book she had.

"Well, when?" I asked, knowing there was no way she was winning this.

"In this long," she said, holding up ten tiny fingers.

"Ten minutes?" I asked, laughing as she tried coloring my feet.

"Yes," she replied, turning back to her coloring book. I turned to sit down with Kolt when the doorbell rang. I guess dad forgot his keys, no surprise. I stood back up with Kolt, walking up to the front door and searching for dad's keys by the hallway table.

"Dad, I don't see your ke-"I stopped as I looked up for the first time. Oh goodness, please. Let this be a dream.

"Hayden. Anyone ever tell you it's rude to ignore their phone calls and text messages?" he asked smoothly. He walked inside past me, heading for the living room toward Isabella. She was already running to him when I shut the door.

"Harry!" she screamed happily. Little turd, she already knew he was coming.

Me? Not so happy.