Outspoken ❂ Hayes Grier

iii

it had been almost a week since colin had called me with his offer, and he still hadn't called me with any more information. i was beginning to grow worried. what if it was some sort of scam?

cara decided to stop silent-treating me two days after the meet and greet, which i was thankful for. as much as she tried, it was impossible to completely shut out your best friend. the only thing was, i hadn't told her about the call because i was afraid of how she would react.

colin barksdale: shay, i'm sorry for waiting so long to get in touch with you, i've been busy working out all the details for you and hayes' situation. if you'd like to swing by my office sometime this week, we can talk?

i scanned the text message, chuckling quietly when he said 'situation'. i couldn't blame him for using such a word to describe what was going on.

shay: is today okay?

colin: wonderful!

"who are you texting?" cara appeared behind me, peering over my shoulder. a boy with blond hair and dark blue eyes was standing behind her, clinging onto his backpack awkwardly.

"my mom." i fibbed, quickly tucking my phone into my back pocket and facing my friend. "let's go to lunch."

"hold on, jesus shay." cara frowned, a puzzled look crossing her face. "i want you to meet someone." cara shoved the boy forward, "this is dean, he's jason's friend who just transferred from crenshaw heights."

dean smiled, waving awkwardly. i couldn't help but admit, he was very attractive. his eyes were an odd shade of blue that was for some reason highly appealing. he wore khakis and a baseball tee, and his hair was ruffled to perfection.

"hi, dean. i'm shay." i waved back. "it's nice to meet you."

cara stood behind dean, raising her eyebrows suggestively. as soon as dean turned around, she looked away.

i glared at her. this was typical, cara was the kind of friend who tended to try and set you up with people. not that i would mind being set up with him.

"now we can go to lunch." cara smiled, heading towards the lunchroom. as soon as we got there, we found our friends and crowded into what spots were left at the table.

in the back of my mind, i knew that i should tell cara what i was planning to do, but i didn't want to risk our friendship again. i had already embarrassed her in front of her idol, and gotten us kicked out of the once chance to meet her idol.

the rest of the day, i kept my news to myself. after school ended, i checked the address colin had sent me. i didn't recognize it, it seemed to be in a part of town that i never went to. namely, the rich part. the part with the huge houses and big business buildings. not my kind of place. i definitely wasn't what you'd call 'rich'.

the drive was about twenty minutes from school, the whole time i wondered about what he would make me do for this 'publicity dating' stunt.

i parked my car and headed into the large building. colin's office was in suite a3.

"shay! good to meet you." as soon as i entered his office, colin rose from his leather desk chair and greeted me. hayes' greeting was definitely less ecstatic. his eyes remained cold and his mouth was formed into a frown.

"you as well." i shook colin's hand and sat down in a chair adjacent to hayes'.

"so, as you two know, you will be publicity-dating-"

"fake-dating." hayes cut in, his voice emotionless.

"call it what you want. as i was saying, there are going to be a few rules. you need to listen to what i and the management team tells you. don't do anything wild or outrageous. we already have your first date planned." colin opened one of his desk drawers and pulled out a thick file stuffed with papers. "you two will be attending the teen choice awards together!"

i widened my eyes. "wow, okay."

hayes leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "i thought that you were going to try and get me out of the 'teen' and 'kid' things."

"oh please, benjamin. everyone goes to the teen choice awards. it'll be good."

"benjamin?" i intercept, turning to hayes and giggling. "what?"

"oh, ben here didn't tell you? hayes isn't his real name." colin grinned.

"not legally, but it will be soon." hayes rolled his eyes and glared at colin.

"anyway. the tca's are this sunday evening, and you both will be attending. i expect you to act pleasant-" he turned hayes' way, raising an eyebrow. "to be with each other. clear?"

hayes and i both nod.

"wonderful. now, you two obviously are in need of some breaking of the ice. so i deeply apologize for this-" colin got up from his chair and backed towards the door slowly. before either of us could realize what was happening, colin ran out the door and locked it shut.

"colin! what the hell?" hayes yelled, running towards the door and pounding on it.

"work out your problems, and i'll let you out." colin said through the door.

"goddammit." hayes swore, hitting the door one last time and sitting back down in the chair. we remained silent for at least five minutes before i decided to speak.

"c'mon, let's just make up so colin will let us out." i huffed.

"okay, go ahead, i'm waiting."

"for what?"

"an apology."

"why the hell would i apologize?" i stood up in my chair.

"because you started this!"

"no, i didn't!"

"hey, that doesn't sound like working out your problems!" colin rapped on the door loudly.

i sighed, letting out a slow breath. "fine. i'm sorry, hayes."

"thank you. i'm sorry too, shay."

that was the first time hayes had ever spoke my name, and for the oddest reason, it brought butterflies to my stomach.

--

SHE GIVE ME BUTTERFLIES AND THEY WONT GO AWAY (if you know this song ily)

hey hi hello i am really loving this book & i hope you are too!!!

do you ship #shayes or #sean ?

(is that even a question lmao)

thanks for reading, vote, comment, add, share !! 💗