LOSING IT ALL //HAYLEY PARKER

27

~LOSING IT ALL~

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27| I JUST CAN'T THINK
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LISTENING TO DALE say this things brings the prancing thought of our unfinished conversation to resurge in my mind. I want to ask him what he meant by saying'I like you.' I mean it's plain simple to understand, however, I do want to know the underlying meaning of him saying that to me.

Staring nervously down at my fading converse, I bolster a fleeting courage and spun round to directly face him. His eyes goes wide in surprise but he doesn't move away.

"Earlier, when you said....when you said that you like me, what did you mean by that?"

Thick eyebrows arches at the question, and then he straightens his towering frame from the Volkswagen Beetle. "I mean," he chuckles wryly, "it's very explanatory, isn't it?"

Heat of embarrassment crawls into my face as I stare into dark brown eyes. "Of course it is." I say, folding my arms and quickly looking away. Dale chuckles again, and I'm forced to look his way. "What's so funny?"

He shrugs, and then his eyes sobers. "Are you having any issue with Jayden?"

The question knocks the air out of me. "Of-of course not." Dale cocks his head and eyes me unbelievingly. "Kind of." I quickly add.

"Is it something you want to share?"

"I don't know." I lick my lips. "It's so complicated that I-I seriously don't know how to even explain it to you."

"What happened?" He asks, very intrigued.

"You know, couples tiff?"

He hums faintly in understanding, sliding his large hands into the sleeves of his Jean pants. "It happens." He replies simply.

I unfold my arms and exhale heavily. "I'm sorry I came out weird asking you about what you said." I puff out my cheeks in shame. "It's not like I wanted you to explain yourself?." Dale smile broadens making me feel so embarrassed. "Honestly, it's not what you think, hmm."

"I like you, Hayley." He says.

My jaw hits the ground as I stare incredulously at him. He leans closer, his scent washing at my senses and making my knee to feel suddenly wobbly. "And I don't think it really needs any explanation."

We hold our gazes unwaveringly. My heart is thrumming wildly in my chest. I don't know what to do, I can't move, and I can't look away from those piercing eyes. Well, not until I hear footsteps approaching us. Dale backs away and the spell is broken.

"There you are, Hayley." Jennifer's voice booms before she bustles into my line of vision. With her in front of me, all my temper ignites.

"What were you thinking, Jenny?!" I yell unconsciously at her. Jennifer backpedals, puzzled by my contemptuous tone.

"C'mon sweetheart, I came here with no intention of causing any physical harm." She explains. "I just wanted to warn her to stay away from Camille. She has hurt her enough, I just wanted to put an end to her drama around my friend. Is that so wrong?"

My gut churns as guilt tries to weasel its way into my heart. I exhale my belt up rage and soften my countenance. "Of course not." I say lucidly. "However, you can't make us worry about you too. If anything had happened, what would we do? Don't you think you'll hurt us too, especially her?"

Jennifer turns away in embarrassment.

"It's Camille's battle, dear. She can handle anything, she's a strong woman remember?"

"But, we're her friends?"

"Yes, that's why we'll always have her back, but not to meddle in her affairs." I say, shivering involuntarily at the chill that nips through my jacket. "Milley was hurt and worried about you. She can handle Becky, I know that because I've seen it."

Jennifer raises her chin in defiance. "I'll still have to talk to her. You can't change my mind about it."

I sigh in frustration. "Okay, have it your way. But-" I lift an index finger, "it should be in a very mature way. I can't imagine you'd flee the house by this time of the night to just talk to her?"

Jennifer scoffs and averts her eyes.

I kiss my teeth, a tiny frown pleating my brows. "Of course you'd have other intentions, idiot."

"What? I just wanted to show off some of my martial art skills y'know, so she wouldn't try to mess around with Camille anymore." Jennifer returns crisply.

I lift up a clenched fist and she playfully dodge the blow that I aim at her. "You're such a fool!" I yelp.

"Oh really, at least I'm the one that got some guts, what about you, wimp?" She jests.

"Don't you dare!" I scream menacingly at her, surging towards her with a clenched fist. Jennifer backs away giggling at my flinching gaze. "Come here, you idiot!"

Camille is thrown into my line of attack by Jennifer who doesn't stop giggling and making fond of me. "Yo yo yo!" She raises her hands up in surrender, a bright smile blighting her face. "What's going on between you two?"

Forensically shaking a forefinger at Jennifer, I explain my point of frustration. "She called me a wimp, me!"

"Of course you are!" Jennifer fires staunchly at me.

"You see," my eyes are now wide and round. "What're you going to do about it, Mill? Tell her to stop calling me that!"

"I won't." Jennifer giggles scornfully.

I roll my eyes heavenward and then sprint doggedly towards my mocker. Jennifer sees my sudden attack and her eyes goes wide in surprise. She quickly ducks away from behind Camille's shield to where Dale is standing watching the display with a smirk. And then it happens so fast, as I reach out to grasp Jennifer by the hand, she steps aside and I go flying into Dale's arms with a scream lodged in my throat.

Dale fully unguarded, stumbles backward at my weight thrown at him but his reflexes are fast enough for him to steady himself. Strong, large hands slides around my midsection pulling me securely and firmly against a hard, warm chest.

My nerves goes into a frenzy. I'm against his body and I just can't think. The hypnotizing scent of his cologne fills my nostrils making me feel dizzy. Dale is holding me so tight like his life depends on it, and I cannot stop the feeling of warmth from flooding through my body.

"What the hell is going on here?" Booms a very confused Jayden.