you left me broken | hannie

chapter ten

"you're my favorite bad habit."
-
"Jayden, you have to promise me something." I said in a serious tone. "Yeah of course Annie. What's up?" She asked turning her attention to me.

"Well, the other day I was at Hayden's house. Hayden wasn't there so I was hanging around Dylan, Hayden's older brother. I went to his room and saw a leather jacket with the word 'shadows' on the back."

Jayden looked at my wide eyed. "WHAT!?" She said standing up. "Do you think-" "No, he can't be." Jayden finished my sentence. I placed my hands on my head. Hayden? Part of a gang? Why?

"Wait, why were you in his room in the first place?" Jayden asked. "Oh- I- it's just-" "You like him." She smirked.

"No, I don't." I lied. "Sure. But, we need todo something Annie." Jayden said pacing back and fourth. "You're right. We can't go to the cops." "What why?" Jayden stoped pacing and faced me.

"I'm not sending Hayden to jail." I said cringing at my own words. "Okay, then, we find him?" She suggests. "No, he said I have to stay away from him. Otherwise 'they' will hurt me." I said making air quotations.

We both sat in silence thinking. "Jayden, this is serious and I'm scared." I said looking at my hands. "I know Annie, but we're in this together." She said placing her hand on my shoulder.

I looked up at her and smiled. She's truly amazing. I thought for a bit more. What can I do?

Okay. I'm risking it. "Jayden, we're going to talk to Hayden." I said standing up. "Are you sure about this Anns?" She asked nervously standing up besides me.

"It's okay Jayden if you don't want to come. But I have to do this. Hayden's my best friend." I said looking away from her soft eyes.

"Let's get Kenzie and do this." She smiled. I smiled back and we drove to Kenzie's.
-
"Wait, so you're telling me Hayden's apart of the shadow gang?!" Kenzie exclaimed. Right now Jayden was driving to Hayden's house. I called Paige and told her that I was 'staying the night at Jaydens'

"Yep. Pretty much." I clarified. The rest of the car ride was filled with an awkward silence. I couldn't get Hayden out of my head. I was worried for for him. I hope he doesn't get hurt.

Jayden pulls up in the driveway. "Stay here." I said unbuckling my seatbelt. "Why can't we come with you?" Kenzie protested. "Trust me on this one Kenz." I said opening the door. They both sighed, but agreed.

I walk up to there porch and take a deep breathe before daring to ring the doorbell. "Now or never Annie." I whispered to myself.

Before I could actually press the doorbell, the door opened. Revealing Hayden. "Annie? What are you doing here?" Hayden asked, not breaking his eye contact from me.

"Answers, Hayden." I said sternly. "Annie, I already-" "Yeah I know. But you didn't tell me you are apart of a gang." I crossed my arms. He looked at me in disbelief.

"How did you-" I cut him off again. "I saw your jacket." I finished him off. "Annie, please. I can't. This is all for you. You have to trust me." He pleaded.

"I do trust you, I really do. But you can't keep this away from me forever. You have to explain." I said. He gave deep thought into it.

"Follow me." He said grabbing my hand. He lead me to his truck. Jayden and Kenzie saw and I motioned them to leave. I hope they understood.

"Where are we going?" I asked nervously. "Chill." Hayden said keeping his eyes on the road. "Chill? CHILL?! Hayden! You're in a gang for goodness sake! How can I be chill!" I complained.

He remained silent for the rest of the car ride. Hayden pulled up in a random parking lot. "Where are we?" I asked. "Somewhere where I can explain" he started off.

"Annie, things have changed. Once I left, I made friends with the wrong crowd. They were the only people that didn't bully me. After that, I changed my style and attitude. Now, I'm apart of a gang. You were the only person in the world that could keep me from making these choices. I regret everything so, so much. I want to go back to my normal life. The life I had with you. Now I have to keep you safe. If the shadows ever find out I'm friends with you, they'll kill both of us."

He placed his hand on my cheek. My eyes were teary. "I'm so sorry." He whispered, teary too. I pulled him into a warm hug. Who knows, this might be the last hug we share.

"Let's go to my house." He softly says pulling away from the hug. I nod and it was a dead silence.

Hayden pulls me into this house and up to his bedroom. "This might be the last time she see each other." I say looking down at my feet. "Don't say that. I promise we'll be friends again soon." Hayden said lifting up my head.

He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His deep green eyes twinkle. He inches closer to my face, so close I could feel his breathing on my face. "I like you." He whispers. "Me too." I whispered, blushing crazy.

Then, it happened. His soft lips on mine. The perfect kiss. Our lips moved in sync. We both pulled away, but Hayden's hands remain on my cheeks.

"I-I've got to go." I stuttered. "Need a ride?" He asked. I nodded and Hayden gave me a lift back to my complex. "Night Annie. Stay safe." Hayden said. "Bye Hay." I whispered.

I shut the door and walked up to the apartment. I unlocked the door with my spare key since Paige and Hayley are probably still sleeping. I forgot I told Paige that I was a sleepover at Jayden's. Oh well.

I change and crawl right into my soft bed. "I love you Hayden." I whisper to myself and fall asleep.
----
alrightly, so! next chapter will start a new section. it'll be a couple month time skip.