When I'm Gone ( Nate Maloley AU)

Chapter Three

Hayden's POV:

After school, I was able to be home alone for a few hours. Allowing me relief from my family and the abuse from Sam. Though, as it's reaching night, though, Sam and Nate walk through the door. I panic as Nate walks over to me and ignores Sam's protests.

"Nate! She won't love you. She's useless." Sam states. 

I look away from Nate's approaching figure, I just can't fall for him. I can't risk it because of who I am. 

"I-I'm going to my room."

"Hayden, please just listen to me," Nate begs. 

"No, Nate! I'm tired of letting people in! So leave me alone!"

I go running up the stairs but Nate grabs me and pushes me into the wall. My eyes rapidly scan his face, and I gasp before he places his lips on mine. My heart allows me to give in when he kisses me. Nate holds my hips against his body as he kisses me hungrily as if I'd disappear and fade away. 

"Nate!", Sam yells, clearly angered by our interaction. 

"You should pull away," I whisper.

"Maybe I don't want to just yet," he whispers back, smiling at me. 

All in a short time, Sam throws Nate to the ground, and he slaps me hard which causes me to fall down to the ground. Sam laughs as he kneels down so his face is level with mine. I glare at him when he grabs my face. 

"Kiss my best friend again, and I'll make it way worse than it is."

Fear runs through me, and I nod shamefully. Sam allows Nate to stand and come to me.

"Will you be okay?" Nate whispers. 

"Yes. Just leave me alone, Nate."

I get up and run to my room slamming the door and locking it before sitting on my bed and sighing. I can hear Sam begin to yell at Nate. 

Sam's POV:

"Why, Sam? Why beat her when she's not the one who kissed me? She deserves a fucking life!"Nate yells at his best friend, making him feel second to her, like always. 

"So do I! But I don't get one because my mother left us and my father treats her like his princess!"

"Her dad left them, too, Sam! Her mom doesn't really love her. Sam, you two used to be friends. Just cause your dad married his mom it automatically makes her the enemy? She never asked for it."

Sam rolls his eyes, he never wanted them to be siblings. He doesn't want to hear it, she doesn't understand anything he feels, neither does Nate. She came to school crying and only went to Sam about how her father up and left. That was only five years ago. Sam did everything in his power to make her feel better about her shitty father, and then a week or so later, his mom left.  Sam's mother claimed she had a better life, but really she had an affair, and she didn't want Sam to find out. She didn't want them in her life, especially Sam when she started her new family. Sam has hated most women ever since. 

"Yeah, Nate, but you're my best friend! Technically she's my sister I won't allow it!"

"You're not in charge of either of our lives, Sam! Her life is still hell! Her dad didn't just leave them to leave them!", Nate quieted down, realizing that Hayden may be able to hear them, "He had cancer. He didn't want them to see him die."

"What?", they hear a quiet voice ask.

Both Nate and Sam turn quickly to the staircase where Hayden sat, looking terrified and heartbroken. Her eyes were wide, as her mind began to connect the dots as to why he left. Why he always looked sick no matter what, why he stopped caring about her and became a cold monster. 

"How can you know my dad had cancer?"

Hayden's POV:

I look at the two boys, neither one of them speaks. Sam looks as surprised as I am, and he steps back. I can see the guilt in his eyes, though. Remorse is a funny thing when you're world comes crashing down on you. 

"Nate!" I yell, "Tell me now!"

"Your mom told me a long time ago. She's known the past five years, but couldn't stand the thought of telling you. She wants you to hate her so that you still love him. She never said he walked out, and every single time she tried to tell you, you ignored her. That's how much it hurt her, she rather see you love him and lose him, than love her and still have her here. She needed you to have a hero."

My knees give out, and I fall to the floor on my knees. Nate walks over slowly and places an arm around me while Sam stares at me and Nate in shock. I'm just glad Sam's dad and my mom are gone, so they don't see the fighting or know I know the truth. 

"Stay out of my life, Nate," I whisper, "you're just like everyone else, hiding shit from me."

I stand up quickly and push past him towards the stairs. 

"Hayden!" Nate begs. 

"Leave me alone, Nate! You too, Sam! You got what you wanted, Sam. I hate your best friend, and I don't want or need either one of you in my life!"

"Hayden, please. Let me explain why I didn't tell you." Nate begs me. 

"Because you're fucking selfish, Nate! So is Sam, and I wasted my time believing that I have someone who cares about me." I spit and shove Nate back. 

Sam leaves to his room. He doesn't know what to say anymore. I watch him leave and I head up to my room as well. Nate follows me to my room, making me feel so uncomfortable. If he explains why he deserved to know, maybe I'll let him in my life. Nate joins me in my room, and  I stand in the doorway and watch as he closes the door, pushing me in. Nate then locks the door behind him. Nate walks to me, and I shut my eyes when his hands are placed on my hips. 

"Nate, please don't." 

"Your mom told me when she came home the other day. She wanted me to tell you about it today. I meant for you to find out differently, I swear," he whispers. 

Tears burn in my eyes at the thought of losing my dead. 

"Is he dead?" I ask quietly, with my voice shaking. 

"Yeah. His funeral is tomorrow. My mom asked me to bring you to the visitation tonight, and the funeral tomorrow."

My eyes scan Nate's face and I begin to understand why he didn't tell me, but I'm still angry he didn't. I then realize she also didn't tell me, as a way to protect me from anything that might follow him with his death. 

"Are you still mad?" Nate asks, moving hair from my face. 

"No, I'm not, but could I please be alone."

"Yeah, I can do that," he says softly. 

Once Nate leaves, I sit on my bed and look at the falling autumn leaves and contemplate what has happened today.