When I'm Gone ( Nate Maloley AU)

Chapter Six

Hayden's POV:

I head to my first class for the day with Gilinsky joining me. He sits beside me as I pull my things from my backpack. Maybe I can ignore whatever comment he'll give me.

"Guessing you saw Natalie with Nate. He should've told you," Jack laughs.

"Screw you, Jack."

The two of us stand, and he hits my face hard. I gasp.  Jack knocks me down. People begin to surround us as he starts kicking me hard in the stomach. People are cheering, while I lie there helpless hoping someone will stop it.

"Jack Gilinsky!" Mrs. McCracken yells.

The teacher pulls Jack away and orders me to leave class. I quickly grab my things before I run into the bathroom and shut the door. I slide down the wall and sob loudly. Nothing is ever going to change for me, why would it? The school hates me. I sigh and stand as I wet a paper towel and dab my face to clean the blood and tears. I have a bruise on my nose, and a purple eye. I open the door and head to the nurse, hoping she'll allow me to go home. Once I walk in, she has me sit down and hold the icepack on my eye while she sits next to me.

"Are you parents home? I need to call them so I can have you go home."

"I'm not going home."

"Why?" She asks.

"My mom's on a business trip, and I'm not missing school just because someone beat me up."

"You-"

"I only do if I hit Jack back. I let him beat me."

She sighs, knowing I'm right. She allows me to leave, but I skip my classes and go sit outside. There I see Natalie and Nate, both smiling and happy to be with each other. He pushed me so far out of his life.

"Hayden, this isn't your free time", Johnson says.

I face him so he can see what his best friend did. He sighs and cups by face. I shut my eyes when he leans his forehead against my own. Jack hugs me and I cry silently in his embrace. When I hear more students come out, I pull away and wipe my eyes.

"It's my fault. I deserve it. Maybe I should have realized this sooner," I whisper.

"Hayden..."

"No one likes me, Jack! Nate lied, Sam doesn't really care, and Jack wants me out of his life."

"I want you here."

"yeah, but-"

Jack kisses me softly, and I'm taken by surprise. I kiss back, out of desperation and jealousy, I allow him to tangle his fingers in my hair. I kiss back just as passionately. He smiles and tries to gain dominance.

"Jack-" I whisper.

"I know you don't feel the same, Hayden. But I love you so much."

"I've waited for you to kiss me. I'm not going to go chase someone who doesn't want me."

"Johnson!", Nate calls.

Natalie is gone from his side. I turn around and don't look at Nate as he comes over to try to act like he hasn't done anything. Nate grabs me and brings me to him, his arms wrap around me tightly. I hide my face, but it's no use he makes me face him. Tears burn in my eyes, I'm so angry. I'm so pissed, so angry he can act like this.

"What happened, baby?" He asks softly.

"Don't, Nate. You lied to me! I'm not gonna be used just to make that slut of a girl jealous."