The Omission Behind Ones Devotion

Chapter 24

Hayden's POV:

I woke up Friday morning with an excruciating headache. My eyelids were swollen, and eyes sensitive to the incoming light that streamed in the window due to all the crying from last night.

I wasn't a crier, so when I do my body doesn't know how to react. I hop out bed and open my blinds letting in the sunlight. With a day so bright and sunny it usually puts me in a good mood, but instead it was the pure opposite. Instead my whole body felt weak and heavy, like gravity decided to push down on me a little extra hard today.

Walking over to my mirror I take in my appearance. My hair was in a knotted mess and my face was blotchy. Not to mention the huge under eye bags that seemed to want to pay a visit accompanied by my swollen eyelids which refused to go away, it was obvious that I had been crying. And for what reason, a guy who had not even payed any attention to me? This whole situation was ridiculous, I should be focusing on Chris...Oh My God Chris, our day date was in an hour.

Running down the stairs, I accidently bang my shoulder on the wall as I turn into the kitchen.

"Look who's finally up...woah Hayden you look rough," Ryan says turning around.

"Such a supportive brother Ryan," Brayden says pushing past me through the door way, sarcasm dripping in his tone.

"Woah, Hayden are you okay" Brayden asks, his eyes scanning my face with caution.

Clearing my throat I make my way to the fridge to grab a juice. "What? Of course umm I just didn't get that much sleep last night. Speaking of which aren't we all suppose to be leaving in an hour to go play laser tag, so I should go get ready."

And with that I ran upstairs to take a shower. Once out I put on my outfit, a pair of black cropped nike leggings, paired with a navy tight quarter zip. I mean in the end of the day we were going to play laser tag. I sit down at my vanity when a knock appears on my door.

"Come in."

In walks Brayden, looking like a lost puppy standing at the doorway.

"Uh Ryan went to go pick up his date and is going to meet us there with the rest of the gang, so I figured I would come up here and pop in."

"Ok um no problem come in, you can hang out I just have to finish getting ready." He walks in, and in one swift motion, plopped himself down on my bed watching me intensely while I apply concealer under my eyes.

By the time that it was all blended, and my bronzer was applied I moved onto highlight. Out of the corner of my eye I can see Brayden still watching me very closely.

"I don't get why you're putting on makeup, you look the same without it."

I can feel the heat on my neck move as I scoff slightly.

"Well it's not my favorite thing to do, but I figured I should look a little presentable. "

I apply a bit of mascara to my already long eyelashes and take out my curling iron. My hair has dried by now and it was naturally pretty curly in a soft beachy way, but I wanted to add a little more.

"Do you go through this every morning?"

"Yup, but hey I'm better than most girls, I spend 30 minutes tops getting ready, most girls spend 1-2 hours just on makeup."

His eyes widen, "that's too much work."

"Well no one said being a girl was easy."

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Opening Brayden's car door, we make our way to the front of the building. Here, Ryan, his date whom I did not know, and Chris stood awkwardly awaiting for our arrival.