Heart of Scales

5: Resolve

Ally

I clenched my closed eyes and let out a small groan when I felt dryness at the corner of my lids. They were caked with dried up tears. Peeling my eyes open with difficulty, I winced disturbed by the bright lights and blurs moving in front of me. I jolted upright as a cold hand cupped the side of my face. My eyes took in the face of a green eyed boy studying me worriedly.

"Are you alright?" Hayden croaked, stroking my cheek with the pad of his thumb. His bright eyes were now dull in exhaustion, but he still managed to to stay upright and have the energy to concern himself with me. My eyes opened wide and glad laugh burst from my sore throat as I pulled him into a tight hug. He tensed before easing some of his weight on my body with a shaky and tremulous sigh. I breathed in his familiar scent and smiled, my tense shoulders unwinding in relaxation and relief. He was warm and it felt like home.

Not only that, but he was okay.

Still holding him pressed against me I questioned incredulously, "What do you mean, I? Look at yourself!"

He inhaled into my neck and chuckled quietly. "I was worried about you. That's all." He lifted his hand to stroke the back of my head soothingly. His voice was raspy and sounded worn out.

My face warmed at his comment. Turning my head to snuggle my cheek on his warm and broad shoulder, my eyes went large when I noticed the audience standing at the door. Meredith and Elise. Blondie was wiping her eyes that had gone watery and Redhead looked shook.

"I called f-for the nurse." Elise said, her voice quivering weakly. "We were so worried! We went to check you guys out after the period ended and to find this..." She fell to her knees and sobbed loudly into her hands. She looked up with wide reddened eyes. "I mean look at you guys! There's blood everywhere!" She bawled.

"And you look like you were crying!" She wailed crawling towards us and pulling me from Hayden. She crushed my face against her chest and tried to smooth my disheveled hair.

"It's not my blood," was my muffled reply.

"Oh thank God!" She said in relief. I glanced at her and rolled my eyes. Lifting myself from the ground on stinging legs, I held my hand out to Hayden who'd been rubbing caked blood off his forehead perplexedly.

"Let's try getting you to a nurse. Maybe from there they'll transfer you to a hospital."

He looked at me and shook his head, declining my statement with a weary smile. Placing one foot before the other he spoke, "I'll be fine. Don't wor-"

I let out a cry and reached out my hands in shock when he stumbled to the side and fell once more. Three times now! Crouching on the ground I wrapped one of his arms around my shoulder and struggled a bit before successfully helping him up. When my eyes caught a paint can sitting idly by us I kicked it to the side, not wishing for Hayden to relive current events.

It was evident he wasn't happy with this because of the small frown on his lips and the way he moved his face to the side when I turned to glance at him.

I winced at his weight as we slowly wobbled towards the door. "How much do you eat man?" Meredith quickly came to assistance and slung his remaining arm around her shoulder. That lifted some of the burden.

Hayden laughed and threw his head back mockingly. It was cut short though when he made a pained grimace and went to touch his head.

I snatched his wrist, stopping him from reaching any higher. "Let the nurse take a look at that. It's best you not touch it."

~

"Are you sure you're gonna be okay?" I questioned worriedly as I accompanied him towards the school's exit.

He hair was flattened at one end because of the bandage that'd been placed on his head. The nurse had told him that the gash on his scalp was minor and didn't require stitches. They told him what's best is he go home, switch his bandage hourly, and get some well needed rest to heal.

Hayden smiled reassuringly. "I'll be fine and make sure to come to school tomorrow to prove that!"

I breathed out in relief. That's good.

Studying his beaming face I gave him a grin in return and said, "Let's be friends! I like you and you're pretty nice to be around."

I halted in my steps when his glad expression went straight down in mere seconds. "What's wrong?" I watched him with furrowed eyes, feeling a sense of hurt. "You don't want to be my friend?"

"I-it's not that!" He stammered quickly. He planted a hand on his neck and glanced to the side with uneasiness clearly visible in his eyes.

Observing his face questioningly, I took notice of how Hayden continued to avoid eye contact with me.

"Is something wrong?"

He looked at me with a small and troubled smile. "Sorry, I'm just sad that I have to go home so early."

Who would be sad about going home from school, especially early? I could tell this wasn't the truth. I decided to mind my business and not nag him.

We continued our short stroll with Hayden staring fixedly at the ground in deep thought and me searching through my mind skeptically for what was the reason for his sudden change of mood.

I didn't have much time to think anything through because before I knew it, we'd passed the school's exit and were now met with a clear blue sky and a light wind that rustled the trees surrounding the entrance of Birkland High.

As if on cue a car rolled slowly into the school's parking lot before making its way over to the front. I handed Hayden his backpack that'd I'd had hung on my shoulders. I'd insisted over and over for me to carry it for him while we were at the nurses and at the end he'd sighed and complied with my stubbornness.

Hayden took note of his ride and turned to me with a hesitant smile lining his lips. His eyes looked sad.

I crinkled my brows when he begun to stare at me longingly.

"Tell me. What's wr-"

I stiffened when he pulled my body against his own. He positioned his arms so they hung loosely around my waist. Placing his face beside my ear he spoke in a hushed whisper. "Thanks for everything, Ally."

Heat rushed to my face and Hayden slowly drew himself away. Grinning and with green eyes gleaming he let out a laugh and voiced his response. "I'm fine! Quit worrying about me."

His sadness had vanished and what had replaced it was some sort of fixed determination.

This made me happy. I stood still and watched him walk to his car and slip into the passengers seat. I waved a small goodbye and in reply he sent me a smile as his car pulled out and drove off.

As he disappeared from my sight I ambled back towards the direction of the school, and to my next period.

I stopped mid-step when a stray of hair blew into my mouth due to the wind. I whined in protest, struggling to pick it away from my mouth.

---

A/N

Edited and Renewed: 1-16-19

Word Count: 1295

Thanks for reading <3

-q