Endless Summers

Chapter 8

"Bash?"

"Emmaline?"

"Oh my god" Alana says laughing, while Hayden just looks at everyone confused.

"You guys know each other?" He asks.

"Hayden can I talk to you?" I ask, grabbing his arm.

"So can I come in or?" Bash asks.

"No." I reply.

"I'm letting him in, Em." Alana says.

I get Hayden around the corner to the staircase, I stand on the first step and I'm still not as tall as him.

"How do you know Bash?" I ask.

"We met at the beach last week. How do you know Bash?" He asks, copying my tone.

"We met at JavaBean a few days ago." I reply.

We stare at each other.

"Why are you acting so weird....do you... like him?" He asks me.

"No. I can't stand him." I say as Hayden steps onto the same step as me.

"Good, because there's something I didn't do the other night that I've been waiting to do and if you liked another guy.. this would be kinda awkward."

I just look at him dumbfounded. Hayden reaches a hand out and gently cups my face. As he leans in I have too much time to think and there are a million things running through my mind until his lips crash to mine. The kiss only lasts a second tho, because there is a loud crashing noise in the kitchen.

We break away from each other and I realize that my hand was in his soft curly hair. He smiles and between that and his warm brown eyes, I want to just stay in this position forever. But I don't. I clear my throat and step off the step, leaving Hayden just staring at the wall that I was against.
When I step into the kitchen I see a laughing Alana cleaning up a shattered plate.

"Emmaline! You took so long that I had to get my own plate and- I broke it." She laughs again. I can see Bash in the corner of my eye and I avoid making eye contact with him.
"Okay while you clean that up, I'm gonna go to the bathroom for a second." I say, needing an escape from everyone. I pass Hayden on the way to the bathroom and he doesn't even acknowledge the fact that I'm passing him. But it doesn't bother me, in fact I'm glad. I am just not sure about any of this.

I close the bathroom door and walk to the sink. I splash cold water on my face and stare at myself in the mirror. All I can do is take a deep breath and deal with what's going on so that's exactly what I do.

They are all talking and when I walk up they all look at me. I grab the DVDs and pick 'The Notebook' out, earning a groan from Bash. Perfect, I love the opportunity to annoy him.

We walk to the couches and as Alana goes to sit on the same couch as Bash, I pinch her arm and she instantly gets the telepathic message and she sits on the same couch as me. Hayden sits by Bash and they both get on their phones.

"No phones allowed. Watch the movie." Alana says, popping another piece of chicken into her mouth.
Both guys sigh and Bash lays his head back against the seat in "agony" and I see how nice the details of his neck are. Alana obviously does too and she nudges me. I pretend I don't feel it.

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By the time the movie has finished both guys are asleep on the couch and Alana is sobbing into my shoulder, I on the other hand, couldn't concentrate on the movie due to the fact that my head is jumbled up.

Alana goes to the bathroom and instead of staying on the couch, I get up and start cleaning. After I put the second plate in the dishwasher I hear a familiar voice. One I don't particularly enjoy hearing.

"Ocd Much?" Bash calls out, loud enough for me to hear but quiet enough to not wake Hayden. He slowly gets up and walks towards me. "Need some help?" He smirks.

"No actually, I'm fine, thanks." I say sarcastically.

He picks some of the bags up and looks around.

"Trash can?" He asks. I open the bottom cabinets and his shoulder brushes mine as he puts them in the trash.

"Stop doing that." I say.

"What exactly are you referring to, Sage?" He acts innocent.

"Making moves on me. Like the touches, faces, comments. Stop. You hate me, I hate you, let's just keep it mutual." I say. But he is barely listening.

"Does he always sleep like that?" He chuckles and nods his head towards Hayden whose mouth is wide open.

"Actually yes. Nothing new there." We both laugh together. I go back to my plate washing. I can feel his eyes on me.

"And stop staring. It's creepy."

I say without looking at him.

Suddenly and his hand rests on the part of the counter right next to my right arm. He is directly behind me, practically breathing down my neck.

"It's not creepy. It's cute. Some might even say romantic." He laughs again. I am vigorously scrubbing the plate that has nothing on it and his other hand takes the plate from me. He gently sets in the dishwasher. I realize all the dishes are done and I will have to turn around and face him now.

I slowly turn and try my hardest to make the least contact with him as possible. Just as my face is turned the other direction I see Hayden, standing by the fridge, staring at me. Alana slips in behind him and it suddenly gets really silent.

Bash, obviously feeling tension finds a way to shift away from me just as Hayden starts to talk.

"Can't stand him huh? You have the weirdest way of showing it. Goodnight." He slams the door on the way out.

"Well I missed a lot. Em, I'll be upstairs. And I'm spending the night with you whether you want me to or not." Alana says as she turns back around and leaves.

"Well that was interesting. And apparently you tell everyone about your hate for me." Bash states, smirking again.

"Yeah. Thanks to you, my friendship with Hayden is probably ruined."

"Alright, I guess I'll be going then." He makes his way to the door. He is halfway out it when he stops.

"Oh, and Emmaline?" He asks.

"What?" I am irritated.

"I think you guys are more than just friends." He says, turning to leave and I grab the door.

"That makes what you did even worse!" I yell, slamming the door behind him.

I am about to go upstairs when I see that there is another plate on the counter.

I pick it up and shatter it.