Catch Me

Chapter Eleven: TNT

Chapter Eleven: TNT

Haleigh rolled her eyes, and didn't respond. She felt a little awkward in the presence of Zander. The first thing she noticed was that he was wearing the same combat boots he had worn at the last party. His jeans were worn out with holes in both the knees, and he was wearing a dark grey t-shirt with his leather jacket. She didn't know what to say to this guy. He was still leaning against the stair's railing with his arms crossed as he glanced at her.

"Bad night?" His voice broke the silence once more. She nodded, then watched as he pushed himself off of the railing and made his way over to where she was sitting on the floor. He took a seat next to her.

"Bad week. Bad month. Bad year." She shrugged. She didn't really mean it. She had actually had an okay week. She and Sam were getting along better than ever, and she thought she was beginning to make a connection with Toby as well. She was just frustrated. Both Sam and Toby had begged her to come tonight, yet neither of them were hanging out with her. Why did she even bother coming?

"If it's any consolation, you look beautiful tonight." Zander's voice was low, barely audible. His elbows rested on his knees as he sat beside Haleigh, trying to make her feel better. Haleigh was confused. She was really trying to forget about this guy. She barely knew him, and to be honest he was a little rough around the edges. She couldn't see herself being friends with him, let alone anything more than that. Yet there was something about him that made her want to learn more. He was gorgeous in a dark, mysterious, bad boy sort of way. He had a backstory which no one seemed to know anything about.

"Why do you keep saying that?" She was growing even more frustrated. She never understood why people thought she was so beautiful. She couldn't see it. She never felt very beautiful.

"Because it's the truth." Zander replied, Haleigh didn't say anything, she just sat there with her head leaning against the wall behind her as she stared at the wall in front of her.

"You don't even know me." She finally said, breaking the silence.

"I'd like to get to know you." He retorted.

Haleigh could feel her cheeks flush a deep shade of red. She looked to her right where Zander was sitting and for the second time that night they locked eyes. Haleigh's heart pounded in her chest. She was mesmerized by the chestnut colored eyes that were staring back at her.

"But why?" She finally asked, her voice quiet in the empty hallway.

"Because. You're unbelievably beautiful, and you don't even realize it. You're sweet and caring..." He trailed off.

"How do you figure?"

"You helped that drunk kid get to his room earlier." Zander gestured to the door behind them. "That proves it." He smirked.

"You were watching me?" Haleigh could feel the butterflies in her stomach. Zander shrugged.

"I couldn't help it. As soon as I saw you tonight dressed like that..." He gestured to Haleigh's outfit. "You take my breath away."

Haleigh was embarrassed as she let a snort escape. She clasped her hand over her mouth as she let out a fit of giggles.

"I'll just go..." Zander's tone seemed to have shifted directions. He was the one becoming frustrated now as Haleigh giggled beside him. He made a move to get up, but was stopped when Haleigh placed a hand on his elbow.

"No, don't go." Haleigh managed to say in between her laughter. "I'm sorry..." She was still giggling.

"Why are you laughing?" Zander scowled. Haleigh told herself to take deep breaths and was soon able to control herself again.

"Because I'm awkward, okay?" She admitted out loud for the first time besides when she would say it jokingly while hanging out with Shane. "I'm not good at being social. And I'm sure as hell not good at flirting, and taking compliments." She looked at the ground again, ashamed.

Silenced washed over the both of them. The noise from the party down stairs was muted in the tiny hallway. Muffled sounds of cheers and guitar riffs echoed throughout the entire house.

"Now we would love to start playing some music for you if our bass player would stop flirting and get his ass up here!" Jackson's sarcastic voice rang out over the speakers. Zander gracefully got to his feet, and extended his hand toward Haleigh. To help her up. She politely declined.

"I gotta go finish the set..." Disappointment radiated through Zander's voice. "Please stay? I'll walk you back to your dorm later."

"Okay..." She nodded and watched as Zander made his way back downstairs. Before she knew it Haleigh was bobbing her head to the music as the band played 'TNT' by ACDC. This was one of her favorite songs as a kid. Haleigh's dad would blast this song in the car whenever it came on the radio, the two would sing along at the top of their lungs as they drove down the street in their small town.

Sorry for the short chapter! Chapter 12 will be up either at some point late tonight or tomorrow morning. Stay tuned! Don't forget to vote and leave a message!