perfect times → EMMETT CULLEN ✓

t w e n t y - f i v e

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
❝ happily ever after ❞

     AS HAYDEN MARRIS steps into Forks High School, she realizes that something is different about the weather— perhaps it was the fact that it wasn't raining, or that she was only in a good mood. Or maybe it was because the sun was shining brightly, and the air was warm; something that rarely happened in the autumn days. She had dressed in her favorite pencil skirt today, along with a long-sleeve pink top. The girl was determined to start this week with one last thing to focus on; talking to Jessica.

It was the last thing on her list to complete before she could be happy with no false pretenses. And as long as Jessica Stanley hated her, Hayden Marris wouldn't be able to claim her happily ever after— at least without knowing why the girl thought of her that way. On her way to find that very girl, the brunette bumps into Bella in the hallway.

"I'm sorry— oh, hey Hayden," Bella chuckles, adjusting her backpack strap on her shoulder.

"Good morning," the girl greets them, a vibrant smile on her face.

"I heard you managed to get Paul and Emmett in the same building together," Edward says, a grin tugging at his lips. "And not to mention Mike Newton. How'd you do it?"

"I asked nicely," she chimes with a wink. "I hope you don't mind that I stole Emmett for the night. He's already in the chemistry room if you want to go see him."

"Well, I heard that you know about everything," Bella speaks up. "Paul told you, didn't he?"

"I'm assuming you heard that from Jacob," Hayden nods. "And yes, I did. It still hasn't completely sunk in, and I expect more information soon, but for now I have some other problems to take care of. You haven't seen Jess, have you?"

"She's at her locker," Edward stares at the wall behind Hayden, his eyes in a distant place. "And her thoughts are pretty clear . . . she's expecting you."

"What are you, some sort of mind reader?" Hayden snorts, before gasping. "Oh my gosh, are you?"

"Go find her," Edward waves the girl off. "Emmett can tell you everything some other time. You have business to take care of right now."

And she did. Hayden makes her way down the hallway, clasping her hands together and chewing on the inside of her cheek. So Jessica has been expecting her? The girl knew it couldn't mean anything good, especially from what Jessica had said to her in the cafeteria only days ago. Surely her mind couldn't have changed that much since then.

As if Jessica could sense Hayden's presence from down the hall, her eyes snapped in the girl's direction. Hayden falters in her spot, before continuing her walk forward. And when she was finally in front of Jessica, she was unsure of who should speak first. But despite that, Hayden began to talk.