Cold Love // Hayes Grier

xviii

Hayes.

Cara fell asleep on my lap right after I called my mom. She was pissed to know that we were drinking, but Cara was just more important right now.

Once we were home, I carried Cara upstairs; been careful enough not to drop her. I kicked my bedroom door open, and then stood with her in the middle of my room.

I went behind her and started to unzip her dress. It didn't really bother me since we've seen each other in bikinis before, it was practically the same thing.

"Lift one foot and then the other," I ordered her, and she did as so.

I got the dress and folded it neatly. I put it on my desk chair and went back to Cara.

I helped her down to the bed and sat her in it. She was in this stage where she was asleep, but could still keep herself up.

I got my t-shirt that Cara used to wear when she stayed over, and some sweatpants. I walked back to her and helped her with the shirt. First I dropped the collar around her neck, and them pulled her arms to the sleeves.

Since the shirt I gave her reached up to her knees, I didn't put the sweatpants on her. I would usually sleep on my boxers, but tonight I'll wear sweatpants.

I took her vans off, and then she dropped on the bed. I pulled the covers on her, and then took the little horn off her head.

I quietly tip toed backwards and then closed the door. I sneakily went downstairs to the kitchen, and got some water. I drank it all, hoping it would make my headache go away.

"Hayes, we need to talk," I heard my mom say behind me.

I turned around and put the glass on the counter. "What mom?"

"I think you know what," she said, "Hayes you're only fourteen, you can't go get drunk whenever you want."

"I wasn't drunk mom," I told her and leaned back on the counter.

"Then you're telling me that Cara got drunk by herself?" she questioned crossing her arms over her chest.

"Well I did drink a little, but Cara chose to get drunk," I defended myself.

"You need to be more responsible Hayes," she scolded. "And why was Cara such an emotional wreck, what did you do?"

"Hey! It's not my fault she was almost raped!"

I instantly regretted the words that left my mouth, as I saw my mom drop the glass she had on her hand.

"She was what!" she shouted.

"Shh, she's asleep," I told her walking to her. "She was going to the bathroom and someone got a hold of her."

"And you weren't planning on telling me this?" she muttered.

"It's not my decision. Cara should be able to say it whenever she's ready," I said.

"What if she never is? What if it happens again? Hayes we're talking about Cara, we're talking about the girl you've loved for many years!"

I stared at my mom, until she realized what she said. She gasped, and quickly apologized. "Hayes, I'm sorry."

"There's nothing you should be apologizing for mom," I replied hugging her. "I'm going to sleep."

I gave her a kiss on the cheek, and started to walk upstairs. I opened my door to find Cara huddled in the covers. I went to the other side of the bed, and laid there. I pulled the covers on me and turned my head to Cara.

She was beautiful.

"Hayes?" I heard her whisper.

"Yeah?"

"Good night," she mumbled. I got close to her and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

"Good night."

By the time I said it, she was already asleep. I sighed and dropped my head on the pillow.

"I love you Cara."

***

Cara.

My eyelids slowly started to open, as I started gaining ahold of myself. I blinked a couple of times, and I got my vision back.

Where the fuck am I? This is not my bedroom.

I looked over to my side to see Hayes peacefully sleeping. Shirtless. All the memories started to flow back into my mind. The drinks, the dance, Sebastian, Hayes helping me. Everything was coming back.

Hayes stirred besides me and he started moaning; not the just woke up morning one, the sexual one.

"Cara..."

I bit my lip but the wanting to laugh was too big. I started to laugh and Hayes woke up. He stared at me, and then started to blush.

"Did you?" He asked scratching the back of his neck.

"I'm going to pretend you didn't, and I'm going to think you're still a virgin," I said laughing. "Thank you for everything."

"It was nothing really, I just can't believe it happened. I mean we're only in eight grade," he mumbled rubbing his eyes.

He let out a big yawn and then said, "want some breakfast?"

"You can't never turn down food so yeah," I replied and stood up.

Elizabeth was probably out with Skylynn, and Nash was probably asleep. It was only 10 o'clock. But what I didn't know was that, what was waiting for me downstairs was my mom with some luggage on her hands.