Wicked Games (Student/teacher)

Chapter 11

Reed waited that Saturday morning for Hayden to run past his house as she did every week before she would come inside, but she never did. Reed's temper grew in the last couple of weeks since Hayden dumped him. She made him feel humiliated and angry yet he longed for her. He thought back to one Sunday morning when she lay asleep in his bed. He had quietly slipped out of bed to fetch his camera and took a few pictures. The sunlight appeared a golden over her olive skin and brown locks, making her look other worldly. That was the first of many pictures he had taken. Hayden knew he liked photography but she was unconscious to the fact that she was his muse. He would capture her while she was sleeping or running or while she read to him. She usually grabbed the camera from him and would scan the page to find her place in the book she was reading. He craved her presence.

He walked into the kitchen, about to prepare an omelette, when another memory emerged. Hayden sat on the counter eating some of the cheese from one of the bowls beside her while she watched Reed prepare her a breakfast of her choice. She had chosen French toast with ham and cheese. She giggled every time Reed would get one of the slices stuck to the pan. The light and laughter faded away when he returned from his nostalgic thoughts. He had grown accustomed to her warm presence in the weeks she spent with him but now everything was cold. He hated it. He hated her for leaving him but the thought of hating her made him hate himself. She belonged to him and no one else.

Reed walked over to the fridge which had the sticky notes Hayden would leave for him stuck to it. One read,

See you tomorrow, handsome xoxo -H.

He sneered and started tearing them down before he threw them away. He needed to clear his head of her, but how could he when she was everywhere?

Reed laid in bed that night, staring at the empty space beside him. Her scent still clung to the sheets, suffocating him with every breathe he inhaled. He pictured her lying on her stomach, facing him. Her eyes would slowly open and close as she fought to stay awake whilst she listened to his voice. Reed couldn't take it anymore, he got out of bed and went to the garage where he punched the boxing bag until his knuckles could take no more. He pictured Alex's face as he swung his fists. The workout was somewhat therapeutic and calmed his anger for the time being.

Eventually Reed washed up and got into bed before falling into a deep sleep.

Reed sat beside Hayden on the porch. Her hair hung in her face so he reached out to tuck it behind her ear. It was a cold evening so they wrapped a blanket around the two of them. Hayden moved to lean on Reed's chest. He wrapped his arm around her small frame and held her close to him, not wanting to let go. He wore his black long sleeve shirt which Hayden so bluntly pointed out would look good on his muscular build. He closed his eyes and rested his head on hers.

"Reed?" she asked.

"Ah huh?"

"Why don't you ever talk about your family?" Her voice was soft.

"You've never asked."

"I'm asking now."

"What do you want to know?" He kept his eyes closed.

"Everything. Tell me everything."

"Well I have a brother. His name is Ryan. He lives in Canada with his wife."

"And your parents?" she asked.

"You're such an inquisitive little thing, you know," he said joyfully.

"Please?" she begged.

"Okay. Okay. I grew up in Chicago with my family. My father is an architect and my mother is an accountant. They still live in Chicago."

"Maybe I'll meet them someday."

"Maybe." Reed rather liked the idea of Hayden being part of his life when he thought of the future.

Reed awoke the following morning feeling contempt until he suddenly remembered how he dreamt of Hayden. It was more of a memory than a dream, only a few things were altered. Her absence was a sore reminder to Reed that he had yet again lost something he treasured.