Our Broken Pasts [Editing] | #Wattys2017

Chapter Seven

Hailey

The next day in school, I wasn't in my usual hurry to get to first period. I didn't want to go in and face Nathan. As much as I didn't want to let him affect me, I couldn't help but be afraid of him. So much had happened back in Chicago, and most of it revolved around him.

When the bell rang, though, I knew that not getting a tardy was more important than letting Nathan continue to run my life.

"Come on." My head jerked up at the sound of Will's voice. "He's not going to bother you."

My mouth opened and closed like a fish.  I couldn't form a coherent sentence. How did he know?

"I-I don't know what you're talking about."

"Hailey, come on. Everyone could see how he was staring at you yesterday. It's kind of obvious you two have a history."

"Oh." I hadn't realized it was quite so obvious. I could tell he was staring, but most people around here were thicker than molasses in January, so I didn't expect anyone to notice. "Everyone?" Suddenly, I was feeling more than a little faint. I'd enjoyed flying under the radar here rather than being the center of attention.

"Okay, maybe not everyone. But I noticed." Will crouched down until we were eye level. "You don't have to be scared. He won't come near you. And I'll make sure he doesn't."

I stared into his eyes. He was someone else under that hard exterior that he had. Someone kind and compassionate.

"Okay." And I let him take my hand and lead me through the halls.

Will

I was struck again by how small and lost Hailey looked. I couldn't help but wonder what was wrong, what had happened between her and Nathan.

I wasn't letting her sit alone again, not with that guy leering at her, so I took the empty seat beside her. I pretended not to notice her wide eyed look and acted like this was totally normal.

The bell rang, signally the start of the period, and Ms. Randall started talking about Shakespeare. "For the next six weeks, we will be working on projects to do with Romeo and Juliet. Each group will be given a character, a plot point, or a concept in the play to research and analyze. And yes, you get to pick your partners."

There was a flurry of movement. Most of the girls in the class flocked to me. "Hey, Will, you want to work with me?" Natalie Simmons twirled her hair around her finger and give me a pouty smile. She really was trying too hard.

"No, sorry he's already working with me." Hailey's normally small voice crackled with confidence and superiority. The big grin she shot Natalie in sympathy had sarcasm written all over it. I think it was the hottest thing I'd ever seen.

I couldn't even look at any of the other girls. I only had eyes for Hailey.

"Hailey, want to work together?" I heard the one voice that grated on my nerves.

"She's with me," I said, putting my arm around Hailey after noticing how she tensed when Nathan came up to us.

He turned his eyes on me. "Right. Well, next time?"

I glared at him.

He left.

Ms. Randall called the class back to order. "Now, when I call your name tell me the name of your partner and I'll assign your topic. Starting off..."

Ms. Randall called off names starting with the A's, then moved on. "Hailey Martin?"

"Will Williams," she replied, a little catch in her voice.

Ms. Randall smiled as she marked down our grouping. "Your topic is the love between Romeo and Juliet."

Oh, joy.