Potholes

Chapter 73 - as told by Rowan

The air was muggy and I could feel my shirt sticking to my back. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Hayden shifting uncomfortably and Eva standing a few feet away picking at her nails.

A few moments later Emmet and Parker returned from their stroll, I could tell something had happened between them as their hands were constantly brushing against one another followed by a smirk or a giggle.

As much as I wanted to interrogate Parker about whatever happened on that walk, I had more pressing matters to deal with. Hayden and Cody had been going at each other's throats for the past fifteen minutes and I had the strong desire to strangle both of them. Or at least Hayden. To be fair Cody was more on the defensive, as one would expect with the brutality of Hayden's incessant insults.

"Look brug, I dunno what you got against me, and I'm really sorry if I said something wrong or whatever, but let's just put that aside cause I wanna have a good time and so does everyone else," Cody said, looking up at Hayden.

"You know what brug," Hayden mocked, "I don't think I can do that. You think you can just join us in our little adventure and flirt with my girlfriend!"

"Woah, woah, excuse me?" Cody yelled, "I did what?"

"Don't think I haven't noticed the way you look at her," Hayden retorted. Eva grimaced.

"Hayden, you're being irrational, he's barely talked to me this entire time," I said, trying to calm everyone down.

"Rowan, just shut up," He said.

"No, Hayden, I've had enough, you're unbelievable. Just because you're intimidated by Cody is no excuse to act like a dick."

"I'm not fucking intimidated by that dweeb," Hayden yelled.

"I'm not a dweeb," Cody mumbled. I silenced him with a glare.

"Hayden," I said, "I'm sick of this. We're done."

"Rowan, you can't be serious," He started, "I-"

"No, I'm serious, I don't think I can tolerate another day of listening to you gripe and moan about your issues like I'll be able to do something about it," I said to him, "There's probably a bus or something that'll get you home, and take some of the gourds, we have no use for them."

He was stunned. I don't think anyone in that moment knew what to say.

"I need to get some air," I said, walking away.

I think Hayden tried to follow me, but Emmet held him back, it was probably in his best interest to stay away from me. Part of me was regretful for what I said to Hayden, I mean we'd been together since the beginning of highschool, but for a while it felt like something was missing. I was almost relieved to have him gone, to finally have some time for myself.

I heard someone walk towards me.

"You alright," Eva asked me.

"Surprisingly, I am. I'm almost disturbed by how alright I am."

She shrugged, "maybe it'll catch up to you. You and Hayden had a lot of history."

"I guess, it hasn't really felt like it recently, though. I think it was time for us to split."

She smiled at me, "you take some time for yourself, I'll make sure everything's fine at the van."