Before it ends

The perfect swing of things....

School was back up again. Mum was slowly turning back to the old person she used to be. Happy, full of life. She got up every morning at 6, left at 7 and returned at 6 again. Things were finally looking good for us. I think we each formed a connection to the town. Emily had sworn she wouldn't and yet here we were. She had track, mum had her new job, and me- I had Hayley.
School started at 9. I strolled in at 8:45. Since the party, people have been nicer to me. Dan says 'I've been recognised for my awesomeness." He told me not to forget "he liked me when I was nothing." I think maybe he's a little jealous, I know I'm not just  as popular as the infamous Dan Carmichael, but our Instagram  followers are about the same.
"Hey you."
"Hey." Hayley strode beside me, linking her arm in mine and following my pace.
"So your day plans?" She walked beside me and I stopped by my locker.
"Double Science ." I took out my books and shut the locker.
"Free period then English, Oh then double phsycology" I smiled " with you." My lips acted before my mind and they were kissing hers.
"Ryan." The familiar voice of Ashley came from behind me. I broke the kiss and turned around. Hayley groaned. "Be nice." I wrapped my arm around her waist and nibbled slightly on her lip.
She laughed lightly.
"Wassup?" Ashley asked.
Hayley's smile dropped.
"Nothing much Ashley."
"Good, because I need to talk to you after school."
"Okay I guess we'll meet you at the gate." Hayley raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"We. I like that." I said, although she didn't look at me when she said it. Somehow I figured it wasn't meant for me. She was trying to see how Ashley would react. Hayley's eyes didn't leave hers, she stood up straighter, one hand on her hip. I wrapped my fingers around her hand. Her posture relaxed.
"We?" It took Ashley a moment "oh you're together- awesome. Anyway I have a free period last so meet me at mine."
"Oh I have to-" the bell rang. Ashley groaned.
"I gotta go, I don't normally spend my breaks here so see ya after school. I'll text you the address." She turned and jogged off to the group of girls that must have been waiting for her.
"I thought you were dropping me home after school." Hayley turned to me. Her whinney voice was on.
"I am."
"But you'll have to pass her's to get to mine."
"Then I'll pass her's. I made a promise." Her arms crossed over her chest. She was trying to act annoyed but her breasts sat on her arms and they bounced when she huffed. I must have been smiling because she rolled her eyes and walked away.
"Pervert." Her shout filled the halls and a few students turn to look at me.
"I'll see you at break." I called back. She stuck her middle finger high in the sky and I headed to class.

                     *****
"Psss." I was in the middle row of Mr. Links period. He was the best English teacher I knew. For some reason his lessons didn't make me want to kill myself, there was something oddly ironic about feeling this way when we were learning Shakespeare.
"Psss."
"Shut up Dan." Having my best friend sit behind me had its benefits.....
"I have some news." ......and it's setbacks.
"I can't afford a detention today."
"Fine. Just wait for me after class." I nodded and stayed listening to the teacher.
If music be the food of love, play on. Something about that made me smile.

The lesson finished and I waited for Dan whilst he packed his things. We walked in silence for a while.
"So how's Hayley?"
"Fine." Silence.
"So uhh are you two good?"
"Yeah we are actual-"
"Mate where does she live?"
"What?"
"I know you brought me there but I don't remember the add-" Dan smiled "oh never mind."
"No. No. No." I put my hand on his chest. "What just happened?"
"Nothing."
"It wasn't nothing. You just had an epiphany. You." He looked at me for a while. I think he was debating telling me the truth. Then he huffed.
"I was gonna steal your satnav to score Hayley's address."
"Wait my Hayley? Why?" I pushed his chest and he went stumbling a few steps.
"Hey calm down. I don't want Hayley. I want Grace."
"Oh." I swung my arm around his shoulder and walked into the lunch hall with him. "I'll see if I can organise another double date." Dan smiled.
"Awesome." He turned around. "I have basketball practice." He swerved through the hall again and ran back to his locker. Hayley sat at the far back table eating her salad. She looked annoyed, I guess her last period didn't go well. Then I saw the red head sitting opposite her; Jake. His basketball was on the table and he took a cucumber from her plate. I made my way towards the table. Two sides of my brain were fighting against each other.

Why the fuck is Hayley talking to him, you should never have trusted her...
Why is this fucking hot head douche talking to my girlfriend. MINE.

Play it cool Ryan, be smart, be witty. Make Hayley proud...
Don't freak out. Don't shout. Don't jump to conclusions and for the love of God don't punch him.

"Hey." I took the cucumber Jake was about to put in his mouth. He clenched his jaw, I smiled.
"Speak of the Devil and he shall appear." Jake muttered, he didn't look happy. I didn't care. I sat down next to Hayley and pulled her chair close to me.
"Did you hear that? I'm hot." I wiggled my eyebrows and in turn she rolled her eyes and pushed my face away as I tried kissing her. But I wasn't giving up. I jabbed her sides and she squealed, allowing me to swiftly steal a kiss from her right cheek. Success.
"Don't you have practice? Dan just left." Jake looked even more annoyed when I spoke. Again, I didn't care. He turned to Hayley.
"Just think about what I said." He winked. "The offer still stands."

Before I go on I must clarify something: I was not the jealous type. I didn't like conflict. I could take Jake, I wasn't oblivious to my size but it didn't mean I was a Neanderthal. I didn't do jealous. So when my thoughts suddenly turned sour after he winked and my blood boiled and I started to taste the most bitter poison in my mouth; I wasn't 100% sure of how to act. So I let impulse take over.

"Is there something in you eye mate?" Hayley stiffeled a laugh. "Or umm... was that an attempt to wink. I'd give it a 4 out of 10. If you need me to teach you how to give a pantie dropping wink I'm free on Wednesdays."
"Oh really. Cause Hayley used to like my" he looked down to her then back to me "winks, just fine."
Keep calm. Do not smash his face.
"But they weren't pantie dropping where they? That much I know, you just didn't do it for her did you Jake?"
"Oh is that what she told you?" He stepped forward and I stood up. I crossed over in front of Hayley and stood up straight. I was the same height as Jake, as much as I'd love to say I towered over him. I didn't.
"Your too close to what's mine mate, I'm gonna have to ask you to step back."
"I'm not your mate."
"Your right. You're not."
"Hayley-" he stepped to the side and I mirrored his movement. He wasn't passing me. "I'd move if I were you Montgomery."
"Sir to you." My hands were by my side, my eyes staring straight into his. I felt shocking sparks dance on my palm. It was Hayley, she stood next to me now.
"Just go Jake." I clenched my jaw when she said his name, I hated how she said it. It rolled off her tongue like how you say an old friends name or when you finally remembered the words of that one song you've been humming all day.
"Rooms." Coach Field. Stood in the middle of the hall now. I finally tore my eyes from Jakes to see everyones gaze turned towards the scenario unfolding.
"What are you doing Rooms? We need you in practice Jake, get over here. What are you doing?" Jake smiled at me then looked Hayley over once more, he licked his lips then met my gaze.
"Nothing." He said "I'm coming." Then he turned around and jogged out of the hall. Hayley's grip on my hand tightens and I sat down with her.
"I'm sorry about-"
"What did he say to you?" I was still staring at the door he left from. I couldn't unclench my jaw. My grip was probably way to tight on Hayley's hand but I seemed stuck in this stage of anger.
"Hey, hey." She turned my face towards hers. "It's just you and me." She looked around the room and rested her forehead on mine. "Forget everyone else in the room and breathe." I did as she said. I breathed in when she did. I took in the sound of her voice. Slowly but surely it was working. The anger faded.
"Thank you." I kissed her forehead and leant away.
"No problem." She smiled "he asked to drive me home. I told him I already had someone to do that." I smiled
"Damn straight."
I took a cucumber form her salad. "Thank you for that."
"No problem."
"Hayley." A group of girls came to sit down at our table.
"That's my cue."
"No." She grabbed my arm "I want you to meet them." The whining was back.
"Not now." She smiled faintly and hugged me goodbye.
"Hey, don't be upset. I know you were mad back there but you controlled it. I've noticed that, that you like being in control."
"I have to be."
"Your not him Ryan." She pulled away from me and kissed my cheek. I smiled faintly and headed out of the hall. I turned just before I left, Hayley was already talking to the girls that had sat down beside her. It always felt like I was joining her world, like I was in fact leaving every thing I knew behind. But it was both ways. She was seeing my world as well- and the scariest thing was that I wasn't scared, I didn't mind her seeing my world. In fact I didn't mind it one bit. I didn't mind at all.