My Girl ~ Alessia Russo

Hurting

It had been two weeks since Lucy and Keira left for Barcelona, and Hailey was struggling. Every night, she found herself reaching for a drink, trying to numb the emptiness she felt without her best friends, Her brother Alex was growing increasingly worried. Should he move back in with his 23-year-old sister or give her space? He was torn, knowing how much she missed the girls and aware that his relationship with Robby, one of Hailey's best friends, might make her
feel like a third wheel.

Alex didn't want to break up with Robby; he loved him, but he also didn't know how to help Hailey, who had always pushed people away when she was hurt and scared, She'd hide her feelings at the bottom of a bottle, a habit she'd carried for years, Alex was persistent, though refusing to let her shut him out. "Just go away, please," Hailey begged one morning, her eyes red from tears.

"Never," Alex replied firmly, pulling her
up.

"Come on, I'm taking you to lunch."

She shook her head with a small smile, "I
love you."

"I know." he smiled back, leading her out
the door.

-

That evening, Hailey worked her shift at the pub. She laughed and joked with a man, as he finished his drink, trying to
ignore the loneliness gnawing at her. As
her shift ended, and she felt a reluctance to
go home alone.

"Come back to my place?" she asked the
man.

"You don't even know my name," he
replied, amused.

"Do I need to?" she quipped.

"Absolutely not," he said, grinning as he
followed her to her car.

Back at her flat, they quickly became
entangled, his hands pressing her against
the wall as he kissed her neck.

"You move fast," she breathed.

"Is that okay?" he asked.

"Definitely," she replied, pulling him
closer, His lips trailed down her neck,
igniting a fire within her. She responded
eagerly, her hands tugging at his shirt,
Pulling it over his head. He lifted her
effortlessly, carrying her to the bedroom
where they tumbled onto the bed, their
bodies a frenzy of desire.

They undressed each other hurriedly
their hands exploring and caressing. She
moaned as he kissed a path down her
body, his touch sending shivers through
her. He moved back up, capturing her lips
in a passionate kiss, his hand sliding
between her thighs, teasing her until she
was gasping with need.

"Please," she whispered, her voice
breathless.

He didn't need more encouragement
positioning himself and entering her
slowly, making them both moan with
pleasure. They moved together in perfect
rhythm, their bodies finding harmony
that left them both trembling with
intensity.

"Faster," she urged, her nails digging into
his back. He complied, increasing the
pace, driving them both to the edge until
they cried out in unison, collapsing into
each other's arms, spent and satisfied.

-

Lying beside the mystery man in her bed,
Hailey felt a fleeting sense of normalcy.

"What's your name?" she asked. Lying beside the mystery man in her bed, Hailey felt a fleeting sense of normalcy.

"What's your name?" she asked.

"Steven," he said, tucking a strand of her
hair behind her ear.

"Ew, I just had sex with a guy named
Steven," she joked, feigning disgust.

"What's your name, princess?" he asked
with a smirk,

"Hailey."
He raised an eyebrow, "Shut up. How old
are you, then?"

"23."

He chuckled, "I'm 29. I should get going."

"You know where the door is," she said,
covering herself with the blanket as he
dressed.

-

Surprisingly, Hailey felt better after her
hook-up. She had lunch with Robby and
Alex laughed more and even called Lucy
and Keira to share her updates. She
started going back to the gym and felt
almost back to normal, except for the
drinking. Alex thought it best to cut out
alcohol for a while, at least until she was
stable again

One day, Robby picked her up from work
because Alex had the car. As they drove
Robby couldn't contain his excitement.

"I think I love him, Hailey. I mean, he's
Alex, He's adorable. And you know what
it's like when you just get that feeling.
I'm in love."

"Please stop, Robby. He's two years
younger, and he's never been in a gay
relationship. I don't want to hear about
my best friend and brother having
boners for each other," she said, looking
out the window.

"Woah! I do not have a boner for him!"
Robby defended himself

"Yeah, you do," she teased, ruffling his
hair.

"Stop that! I just got it done."

"Yeah, for my idiot brother," she teased
again.

"No. Well, yeah, but he likes it."

"Don't hurt him, Robby. You can be in love
and whatever, but don't you dare hurt
him."

"Never," he promised, smiling

"Great, now get me a McDonald's. I'm
starving.

-

As they ate, Robby dipped a fry into his
vanilla milkshake

"Ew, Robby, that's rank," Hailey said
laughing.

"Why does it hurt you so much
when someone leaves?"

"Your dad? Mum?" he pushed.

"Both," she replied, taking a chicken
nugget.

"So, you think if someone leaves, they
won't come back?"

"No. There's more to it than that. It's
losing someone I love. The only reason I've
been okay with Kie and Cucy leaving is
because they call me all the time.'

"So, it's like they're still here."

"Yeah," she nodded.

-

Robby dropped her off at home, where
she tidied up and then lay down,
FaceTiming Lucy and Keira.

"Hi," she smiled at the screen, seeing her
best friends.

"Hi Hails," Keira greeted.

"Are you okay, Hailey?" Lucy asked

"Feeling a bit sick, but I'm alright
Probably withdrawal symptoms from
banning alcohol."

The couple laughed, "How bad is it there?
We've got countless beaches and palm
trees," Lucy started.

"Shut up. It's awful, pissing down rain,"
Hailey interrupted

"You're such a child," Keira said, kissing
Lucy's cheek.

"Ugh, guys. Still here," Hailey reminded
them.

"Honestly, you guys are so cute. I want a
relationship like yours one day."

"You deserve one," Keira said, smiling.

"We know plenty of fit footballers," Lucy
joked.

After a long chat, Hailey tidied her flat,
a habit she had when stressed, It made
her feel lonely, her flat more like a house
she slept in rather than lived in, She
always wanted pets, but her landlord
didn't allow it, and she couldn't afford a
house yet.

She put on some TV and made herself a
hot chocolate. She scrolled through her
phone while the TV played in the
background, laughing at a joke from Ant
and Dec on Britain's Got Talent, After a
while she got tired, falling asleep to the
soft glow of her small TV and cosy throw
blanket.