Coach's Number One

Chapter Forty

----------------------

Dedication: Apostasies for voting for all the chapters of this story! I really appreciate it. :)

Recap:

"Wasn't planning on it," I sassed back, before glancing at Carrie. "I'm sure I'll see you soon."

"Oh yeah," she agreed with a nod. "You bet your ass you will."

As she shut the door behind me, I let out a silent scream.

This already messy situation, just got a whole lot worse.

----------------------

After trying to call Harvey, he doesn't answer my calls or texts.

After overthinking things far too much, I finally fell into an uncomfortable sleep.

Things don't get better by the next morning.

I wait on my front porch for fifteen minutes and Hayden never arrives. He too ignores my calls and texts. Letting out an exasperated sigh, I hurry to school, knowing that I was late for practise.

Walking into the locker room, I poke my head through the door to see the team lined up at the deep end of the pool. I'm not sure if I feel relieved or not when I notice Hayden isn't there. I guess I would have been confused if he was and hadn't picked me up.

Deciding to skip practise, considering Coach would either harass the crap out of me or ignore my presence anyway, I head back out to the lockers, trying to call Hayden again.

With no luck, I take the time to go for a walk around the school to clear my head before lessons start.

An hour or so later, I was on my way to my locker, when I hear him.

"You fucking bitch," I hear Hayden growl.

My mouth fell open as I see him stride up to Mia.

"What?" she shrieks, her eyes widening as she stares up at Hayden. I am surprised to see the usual cold look her eyes often held have been exchanged with fear.

I have never seen Hayden look so tense in his life. The veins in his arms are protruding from his skin and his jaw clenching and unclenching. I edge towards the scene, curious to know what this was about.

A small crowd has gathered to watch.

"You think you can mess with me and get away with it?" he snarls, his fists balling at his sides. "It is bad enough you sent me photos the first time but now that I'm happy with Grace, you're trying to manipulate me again?"

"I'm trying to help you!" she hisses and I feel my heart clench inside my chest.

"It's clearly not Grace in those photos," he snaps, his voice thick with venom as he has her pinned against the lockers. She looks so small and innocent, against his 6ft and well-built frame.

The photos... She sent him the photos.

I place a hand on my chest, feeling light-headed.

She sent him the photos.

Thinking back to them, my dark hair covered most of my face. To me, it was beyond obvious that it was Ashton and me in the photos... but to someone else, they could mistake me for Carrie.

I'm guessing that Hayden has done exactly that.

Guilt grips me so intensely that I feel sick to my core.

I should have just told him. I should have ignored what he said and just told him. I was lying to myself thinking he would be better off not knowing. Too many people know my secret.