That Guy.

Chapter 11

The banging didn't stop until about an hour after I slammed the door in Joe's face. Kyle was asking me  endless questions about what was going on, he was only trying to be my brother but I shut him out and ignored every last one of his questions which echoed around my brain...

Who is this guy? What the fuck is going on? Shall I punch him? Hello?! 

I couldn't answer his interrogations even if I wanted to, my crying had turned into unstoppable sobs and choking sounds. I felt like I was going to be sick. 

I sat unmoving on the sofa with my brother shaking me out of my shock, trying to pull me from a world of over thinking and sadness. It wasn't working. Kyle realised this and buried my face into his chest, stroking my hair off my face. We sat like this for about 10 minuets.

'He must like you to come to our door at 12 am and still be here at 3 am.' Kyle whispered into my hair and I could feel the smile on his lips.

My sobbing had died down a bit as I managed the words 'It's not like that.' Kyle pulled my head from his chest and held it a in his hands looking into my eyes.

'Then tell me. What is it like?' His face looked concerned and I remembered the real reason why Kyle was here, to have me to comfort him over Luce but it had ended up the other way round. I felt so guilty.

Pull it together Hayley!  '

'I'm OK now, I promise, don't worry about me. It was a bit of a mix up that I have been over-reacting to. I think I'm just gonna go to bed, you should too.' I wasn't tired as I had already slept most of yesterday but I wanted to get my brother into bed and get rid of Joe from sitting on our porch step.

Kyle sighed and I could tell he didn't want to let me go to bed alone in this state. 'I am pretty tired,' he got up from the couch and started to walk up the stairs before turning and saying 'Goodnight sis.'

When I had swapped my jeans for some sweats I climbed under the safe covers of my bed, switching off my lamp and sitting upright in the dark.

I had the uncomfortable feeling of someone watching me as I tried control my breathing and keep myself calm, knowing that Joe could never had gotten into my room. All the doors and windows were locked. 

I could hear the faint snoring of my brother in the room next door which was a good sign that he wasn't up stressing about me still. There was a knock on my bedroom window. I hesitated getting out of my comfortable bed but eventually made my way over to see what it was. 

I moved the curtains slowly over to one side and saw Joe's face inches from mine, he was sitting on a thin tree branch reaching and leaning over to my window. I recoiled at the sight of him but as my eyes adjusted to see his puffy bloodshot ones I didn't give a second thought to opening the window and letting him climb awkwardly into my small room. 

I closed the window swiftly behind him and stood as far as possible from him as I could with the single bed in between us. The lights were still off in my room and neither one of us moved to turn them on, to afraid that a movement would cause the other to break apart.

I swallowed hard and my pulse began to throb again, my heart was pounding so hard I was sure he could hear it. The floorboard squeaked and sent me cringing further into the wall, but there was no other sound of movement from where Joe stood. 

Sick of standing in silence I snapped on the light which only gave off a slight glow and looked straight at his face. It was raw and I could tell he had been recently crying. A lot. 

'Don't.. I won't,' Joe stumbled over his words frantically trying to tell me something. 'I'm not going to hurt you.' He finally blurted out but I didn't move any closer to him.

He had tried to force me into having sex with him once out of spite and then tonight I coudn't tell what was real or not real. The only reason why I hadn't fully attacked him with my nails and everything sharp I could find was because I was desperately searching for Joe, my friend.

He opened his arms gesturing for me to embrace him but I still didn't move. His arms flopped back to his sides as he started towards me. I had every bit of guard up and kept my distance from him, letting him be the one to step cautiously towards me. 

I had no words for him.

'Please.' I heard the desperation in his voice. 'Please Hayley. Let me at least explain. You have no reason to forgive me or become my friend again but just please hear me out.' Tears were rolling down his face now. I just nodded and slipped past him to sit on my bed cross legged. He followed perching on the edge of the bed sensing my uncomfortableness. 

He started 'I can't tell you how sorry I am,' He looked up as if to make sure I was listening before he carried on.

'Me and my brother haven't had the greatest past with girls, I have been going mental since I saw you with my brother doing all types of shit; I got so jealous and haven't been thinking. I only wanted to hurt you and Liam as much as you had hurt me. It's stupid as well because you and me... we weren't even going out in the first place but I really like you.' Joe had stopped crying and gave a little laugh. 'You see I mess with girls at school, they all cling to me like I'm some kind of toy and I have never had feelings like this towards any of them. My actions were a result of my feelings for you, but I know you don't think of me like that. Especially not now.' He was searching my face for any sort of expression but I knew what he saw was blank. 

I had no idea how to reply or what to even think about what he had just confessed. I focused on looking at my hands which were entwining together, I could feel tears threatening to fall from my eyes. I started to shake. 

Joe's hands hesitantly reached towards my intertwining ones which rested on my lap, when I felt his hands cup mine I didn't pull away instead I let my hands unwind and forced my fingers through his pulling his body closer to mine. Not too close though, I still wanted to keep my distance from him but I also wanted him as close to me as possible. I couldn't make up my mind. 

I studied our hands. How they looked locked together like there was no problems between us at all. Like we were the best of friends.

My tears splashed on his hands and he rubbed his thumbs over every spot they fell. He must have been telling me the truth, he had confessed that he liked me. The nerd of the school who got bullied had a secret admirer which was the school's heartthrob.  It's as if he couldn't hold back anymore because he threw his arms around me causing me to fall backward onto my bed and for my crossed legs to uncross and wrap around him. He lay on top of me holding my body as close as possible hushing me to stop crying.

Finally he whispered 'I just want to be friends again. Do it proper this time.' 

We fell asleep together holding each other so close together it hurt. But I didn't care, I had my real friend Joe back.

{I hope you like this chapter! :) Thanks for reading}