Flatline

laugh when you cry

So many headlines. Suddenly Hayley's name was trending on twitter — suddenly everyone cared. The fans had done so much digging and found the case.

Hayley was trying her best to enjoy her dinner alone when Lukas showed up at her doorstep. She cracked the door open, looking at him through the small gap.

"Let me in, Hayley. Please," she shook her head, trying to close the door. He used his foot to stop her.

"I just want to speak to you." She tried to close the door again but it came towards her and she stumbled back. Lukas let himself in, closing the door behind him.

"I loved you, Hayley. I did," Hayley could barely breathe. "You know it was a mistake, so why are you doing this?"

"What are you doing here?" She quickly said, wanting him out.

"My lawyer said to ask you to just take the compensation. Do you really want to go through this whole process?" She said nothing.

"I know you're hurting but I apologised. I don't know what else you want me to do." He waited for her to say something, but she felt too choked up.

"You know they won't believe you. There's no proof," he started to walking towards her, hoping to convince her to drop the charges. Hayley's heart was racing, moving backwards because she didn't want to be anywhere near him.

"You need to leave—"

"They already don't believe you. If you take it to trial then it'll ruin your career. It won't effect me even nearly as much as you want it to. You know I'm a good person, so why are you trying to do this?"

Be strong. She told herself. You've faced so much worse. You can do this.

"Get out or I'll call the police," he didn't seem too fazed by her. In fact, he wanted her to call the police. He could just spin some lie about her asking him to come over. They wouldn't even think to believe her when it's simply her word against his. After all, when do rape cases ever end in prosecution and jail time?

Hayley could tell that he wasn't afraid by her threats, and was beginning to descend into an anxiety attack.

"Do it then," he took another step towards her and she pressed herself back into the wall. Her hands shook, knowing her phone was charging in the kitchen. She would need to get past him to get it, but she wasn't willing to get any closer to him than she already was.

"What do you want?" Her voice broke, though trying to sound confident. Lukas was confused as to why she was so terrified. Rape is bad, but he didn't think it would effect her this much.

"Drop the charges," he wondered how he could use her fear to his advantage. He didn't want to go so far it could be used against him in any way when she next spoke to the police, but enough to get her to listen.

She continuously blinked back tears until one finally fell from her eye. Her hands were clammy and by now she was visibly trembling.

Lukas had never been a horrible person. Of course he remembered what he did to Hayley. He was honestly surprised when she told him as most of the other girls just dropped all contact without a word. He hadn't planned on doing anything like this again until that night. Something about they way he met her — how she was so torn up and broken from her break up, how she was so willing to escape reality in any way possible, it made him even more attracted to her. He made sure to build their connection on nothing but happy experiences so when he eventually did manage to get her so vulnerable, she wouldn't have the confidence to speak to him afterwards because they'd never truly discussed serious feelings.

Hayley was just so exhausted of people taking her heart and throwing it around like a ball. First Josh, then Chad, then Taylor, and now, even though their relationship was very lighthearted, that night was enough to hurt it again. Why did she seem to attract such toxic relationships?

Other than Taylor. He was the best thing that ever happened to her, but he couldn't be in any relationship for the sake of his mental health, and although she understood when Zac finally explained it to her, still getting the call tore her apart.

She couldn't formulate a response at all.

"Drop the charges, or I'll tell the media what really happened. You know, how we both got black out drunk, had sex, then you regretted it the next day and called it rape, even though, you were just as drunk as me. And the outfit you were wearing, anyone would believe you wanted it," by now he was right in front of her. Both of them were shocked at how cruel he was being. Lukas never thought he'd threaten a woman like this again after almost being arrested last time, but it was in his nature.

Hayley thought she knew him. She thought he was loving and caring, especially considering every time she had changed her mind previously he had listened.

It was strange to think How just over a week ago they had gone to the Birds in Blue concert and had a great time, and now they were here.

"We got a deal?" He moved her hair to behind her shoulder and she flinched. Although there were many many more options, in her panicked state, she couldn't think reasonably.

She tried with everything in her to tell him once more to get out, but instead, she broke out in tears, sobbing.

Lukas had been in a similar situation before, but now he knew not to back down, so instead of moving back, he held his ground, leaning closer in.

"Do we have a deal?"

The thoughts arised in Hayley again. Could she shut it down if he spoke to the media? Would going ahead with the charges do her any good?

"If I do," she whispered through her sobs, "You need to stay away from me. Never come here, never contact me again," a smile came over his face.

"Sounds good. So we're in agreement?" Hayley quickly nodded her head, waiting for him to leave. She stayed totally frozen until he was out the door, then sunk to the floor, not being able to move or speak or think.