In Love With a Renegade

Chapter 16: Proof

As soon as we got to my house, Hayley changed into some dry clothes I let her borrow. (Sweat pants and a random long-sleeved shirt.) She sat on the couch, keeping her focus on her hands that were hidden in the sleeves that laid limply in her lap.
"You can sleep in my room, if you want," I said. Hayley looked up at me, the pain still visible in her eyes. She managed to give me a weak smile, it fading quickly.
"Thanks," she rasped. I could hear guilt in her voice.
"Hey," I whispered as I made my way towards her. "It's not that bad."
"I accused you of something you didn't even do," Hayley said with a sarcastic smirk, the bitterness towards herself. "Then, I yelled at you and--"
"It's not that bad," I repeated with a small smile as I put a hand on her leg. Hayley looked down at my hand, then back at me, a small smile hesitating on her lips. "It's really not."
"I'm sorry, York," she sighed with a faint chuckle.
"It's alright, really," I said. "I understand where you were coming from."
"Thank you," she said, the half smile still remaining on her lips. We gazed at each other for a few seconds, it feeling like hours..
"For what?" I asked.
"Everything," Hayley said. I nodded.
"No problem," I said.
"No one has ever been this nice to me."
"I tend to wonder why," I chuckled. Hayley gave a weak laugh as she shrugged a little. I smirked and planted a kiss on her lips, hesitating to pull away. Hayley gently pulled me closer and deepened the kiss with a content sigh. I slowly pulled away from her, both of us almost breathless. Hayley smirked a little as she looked up at me.
"We both know where this is going to lead to," she chuckled. I nodded and returned the snicker.
"Yeah," I smirked.
"I don't mind," she whispered as she pulled me into another kiss. We fell back on the couch, Hayley on top of me as we made out. We made our way to my room, where we had each other for the remainder of the night.
Hayley stopped in the middle of a kiss and pulled away slowly, her face a picture of sadness. She hugged herself as she looked away from me.
"Hey," I whispered, resting my hand on her bare waist. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she said, her voice wavering.
"No, tell me," I said. "What is it?" Hayley looked back at me, her hazel eyes full of pain.
"I'm tired of feeling used," she said.
"Hayley, I'm not using you," I said calmly. "I swear to God, I'm not using you."
"I'm sorry, it's just I'm so used to--"
"I understand, Hayley. Just know that I'm not using you. I would never use you." I brushed a red lock from her face, tucking it behind her ear; I gave Hayley a smiled as I rested my hand on her cheek. "I love you."
"I love you too, York," she managed to say through her broken voice. She closed her eyes as she held my hand, tears skimming down her cheeks. I wiped at them with my thumb.
"Promise me somethin'," she sighed.
"Anything," I said.
"Don't leave in the morning," she said, her voice trying to be as stern as possible. "Don't leave me to wake up to an empty house-- an empty anything. Promise you'll still be here. I need this... more than anything."
"I promise," I said with a nod. "Only if you promise." Hayley slowly grinned, her smile making my heart beat faster than usual.
"I promise," she said. She moved beside me, cuddling her bare body close to mine with a sigh. I held Hayley the rest of the night, watching her sleep.