One Shot for Take Me On by Katie McGarry

One shot for Take Me On (after Ch. 34 - West)

(In Haley's POV)

After Saturday night, walking through the halls of school, I felt even more like a ghost but mostly an outcast. I couldn't help but feel like the one common thing that West and I had in common could make me feel like this. I felt broken not physically but from feelings of a heartache, even when he hasn't been my boyfriend. To make matters worse, as I drift in the halls, is that I told myself I wouldn't get involved with fighters again. Not after Will. I just. I couldn't do it.

"Haley," I hear my name called yet I still couldn't turn around to face the familiar voice.

Just as I'm about to cut the corner, he's standing in front of me. "Hayley. I'm sorry."

He motions forward, but I move away. I don't want to feel the heat he leaves me in even with his simple touch, "West, I can't do this. Like I said before let's leave it at the gym."

Just as he tries to start talking again. I turn away because I have tears in my eyes and he can't be the reason they fall again after years of not crying. Suddenly, I feel a touch on my wrist spinning me around. Without warning, West embraces me. I feel myself caving and just letting myself relax in his arms. Then in a small, soothing whisper, West says, "I'm sorry."

It feels like a hour passed, only really being a fews minutes. West continues, "I made a promise to you Hays, I intend on keeping it. I'm not letting go," after a bit of silence, "I can't fail again, especially not on you."

As much as I wanted to believe his words, I couldn't. It felt like an earthquake shook our world. And when he revealed to me that he was moving back in, it felt that no matter how close we were right now the ground underneath us was splitting right in between us, and separating us apart. It was too much to think that understanding home was something we could share. So I stepped away and walked toward our next period class without a word and not waiting for him.