Refuge

Chapter 7: Cheesy Foodgasms and Halloween Dates

A few Weeks pass and then they turn into months. All that time, and barely any real interaction between Hayden and I. No talking, no joking around, hell, we don’t even annoy each other! Sure, we live in the same house, but he only ever speaks to me when he has to, like when he asked me to “pass the dammed peas” at dinner the other night. I honestly prefer the jackass Hayden compared to this quiet, somewhat civil one. I hate to admit it, but I kinda miss the stupid arguments, the weird tension between us. Now it’s just emptiness, like neither of us is really there. 

It sucks. 

He does look at me though. I’ll walk into the kitchen every morning and he’ll be sitting at his same spot at the bar counter, like every other morning, giving me this weird look, like he can’t really see me. 

I wish he would talk to me.

On the other hand, the other Watson twin and I have gotten allot closer in the past week. Hallie is a great girl, just as tough as I am, but in a different way. She’s fun to let my inner girl out with, which I never knew was possible. For the tomboy stuff, I have Britt. She’s great too, and get’s along really spectacularly with Hallie and the guys. 

Speaking of guys, Dom and Luke are-

SLAM.

I grunt and bend over as a red rubber balls barrels into my stomach. Dammit I should have been paying attention to this stupid game. Dodgeball is a dangerous sport! I glance up and see some random guy across the court from me, pumping his fist into the air because he hit me whilst I was thinking.

Prick.

Of course, Dom and Luke won’t take that lying down, sorta becoming my personal guardian angels. Screaming their battle cries, they pelt the guy until he falls over. HA. Take that you jerk. 

I grimace a little and straighten. I'm breathing heavily, trying to work some air back into my lungs when I feel a hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. I look up with watery eyes and see Tyler forwing at me.

“That was a cheap shot. Are you okay?” He asks sounding sympathetic. 

I hate that pity voice, so I just wave a hand dismissively. “Who me? Oh yeah, no, I’m fine. Totally good. Yep.” 

Yeah, he'll definitely believe that when I'm dry heaving the words out. Ugh. 

Chuckling, Tyler helps me stand up a bit, but I noncholantly shrug his hand off. Hey, I kinda have a resson to not like people touching me, okay?

After a few moments of us standing to the side, I feel the air moving smoothly in and out of my lungs again. Tyler smiles, picks up a stray ball and hands it to me. “Okay, you're feeling better. Check. Time  to take part in this wonderful thing called payback? Very check.” 

I laugh and slap his shoulder, but take the rubber ball. “Ha, sure, why not?”

We get everyone on our side of the court to pick up a ball and throw them at the remaining kids on the other side, effectively winning us the game.

Take that losers! 

Huh. I guess i'm kinda competative. Oops. 

I jump up and high-five Tyler, yelling and jaunting at the other team with Dom and Luke, the other guys joining in. 

I walk over and take a sip from the water fountain, a little thirsty after that riveting game of hardcore dodgeball. Walking back into the main gym, I see Tyler walk up beside me, hip checking me slightly to get my attention.

“That was some game, right?”

I laugh and play punch his shoulder. “Oh the best. We should totes be in the Olympics!”