𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐍𝐨 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 ~ 𝐇𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐤𝐚𝐡

1. Gentle, Not

"HAYLEY!" came a yell from the other room. "Hurry up and get out!" It was Hayley's father, Angelo, rushing her out of the house and on her way to school.

Hayley sat on her bed, scurrying to get her shoes on while still remaining partially dressed, her hoodie hanging over her neck and her jeans still unzipped.
"Coming." she grumbled out not loud enough for him to hear.

Hayley's father is many things, none which are good as he's a known alcoholic in their neighborhood, though to Hayley, that's only the tip of the iceberg. At times she couldn't tell which version of him she hated more, when he was drunk or sober because either way it was just that bad.

Hayley made her way out of her room and into the living room where Angelo was on the couch with countless shattered beer bottles around him. To her this was nothing of a shocking sight. She's far too familiar with his habits be it in drinking or throwing tantrums. The night before, he had come home late raging at a phone call with someone who Hayley wasn't one hundred percent sure of, though she presumed it to be one of the people whom he had shady business with.

As she hurried towards the door, she was called to a halt.

"Hey, you." Angelo began sternly. Standing still in front of the door with her hand on the knob, Hayley turned towards him, but didn't make eye contact.

"Yes?"

"Don't take too long after classes, I've got packages for you to deliver. Got that?"

Hayley knew what "packages" he was referring to. She hated it every time he would use her to do his dirty work by delivering drugs to his "clients" which he refers to them as.

"Yeah." She replies blandly as she now attempts to open the door but is paused yet again.

"Hey!" Angelo calls, this time, in a shout. "You look a man in the eye when he's talking to you."

Hesitant, yet obeying, Hayley directs her full attention towards the man on the couch.
"I've got it, I'll deliver your packages once I'm off."
She states lightly.

"And don't come late."

"Yes, father."

With this, Hayley waited another brief moment making sure she was in the all clear before heading out. She got in her car and drove off to her campus which was around an hour drive from where she lived.

It was times like this that were some of the only moments of peace Hayley ever gets in her life anymore. To be in that car alone with the light breeze of the morning along with the emptiness of the roads felt like the remaining piece of sanity Hayley had left in her.

It was also the time she took to reflect and think on anything and everything pretty much. Hayley knew she had habits of her own that weren't much better than her father's, the more older she got the more she would fear becoming alike to him. She had anger and rage the same way he did, her lash outs would be vicious as in certain cases she would even get physical.

She has a history of getting suspended from her older schools due to fights with other students. With a record like hers it was a miracle she even got into the college she's attending, Durham University. Though despite her agression and arrogant demeanor, that's only the tip of Hayley's iceberg as what lies beneath is far more damning and complex.

Along the way to school, Hayley had gotten a text from her ex, Robert, who stated he was waiting for her on campus already with "fresh goods". The only reason Hayley remains in contact with him is because Robert's older brother has business with her father as they work together dealing drugs around the area. In fact, the only reason Hayley got with Robert in the first place was in hopes that her father would lay off her a bit though it had the opposite effect as that's when he began using her for dark and dirty work.

Hayley knew what fresh goods Robert was referring to in his text, he had a new stash of weed on him that the two would routinely smoke together before classes. Though they didn't have a great relationship while it lasted, they haven't seemed to be all the more better as friends though, she does tolerate him better now that he isn't spamming her, demanding her location at all times.

Once Hayley arrived on campus, she took notice of the boy who was sitting up on the steps in front of the entrance. It was Robert and though she wasn't exactly eager to see him, she felt relieved that she could get a smoke session in before the day she had to endure.

Heading up the steps, she approaches Robert who had a cheeky look on his face. "What's that look?" she asked while getting her lighter out.

"I'm happy to see you" replied Robert as he began rolling a blunt.

Scoffing at his remark, Hayley sat down next to him flicking her lighter on and off, "The feeling's not mutual."

"Ah trust me, I know, that's why I enjoy it." Robert said as he then snatched the lighter from her and lit the blunt.

Hayley knows he says and does anything he can to get on her nerves, this has become more blatant now that the two are broken up. He even went as far as to hide out in the backseat of her car one time to jump scare her while driving, which resulted in her pulling a pocket knife on him.

Robert and his ways aren't anything new or even particularly exciting to Hayley as she actually had seen the worst of him during their tragic relationship. The two didn't even have a compatible dynamic to begin with, nothing yin and yang about them. Instead, the two were more like fire and gasoline, water and electricity, or for a physical feel of it, like accidentally rubbing hand sanitizer over a cut, only the cut is a fully open wound and the sanitizer is being poured directly onto it.

The two had sat outside taking turns smoking and small talking for about thirty minutes before they parted ways and headed towards their classes. Hayley, still feeling exhausted from the night before due to Angelo's rampage keeping her up all night now felt the urge to sleep even more as well as chow down on a grilled cheese sandwich or two... or maybe even three for that matter with her appetite.

Hayley let out a loud, over exaggerated sigh which midway turned into a groan as she made her way down the corridor and before entering her class, she had pulled out her phone to text Robert.

need your help w something after classes

Not even a full minute had gone by and he already replied,

you need help? or you want me to do something you're supposed to do on your own?

Fuck, how does he know, Hayley thought to herself. She then texted back,

just call me after this first class, we need to talk

Groaning as she then shoved her phone back in her pocket, she felt it buzz but paid no mind to check it as she knew she would convince him either way as it didn't take much to bribe him, she knew how sickly obsessed he was with her and that was all the reassurance she needed when requiring his aid.

Feeling anxious about her task after school, she took a deep breath as she entered her class.

He'll help me, he's an absolute ass but if there's one positive about his obsession with me it's that he'll take the wheel when it comes to this.

[okayyy how's that for a first chapter haha, there's still so much to unpack and i'm really looking forward to this entire journey, see you in the next chapter!]