The Upside of Heartbreak

A Change of Plans

Sorry for the extended dry-spell! I'm finally giving some love to this one after devoting all my time to TWoB lately. Thanks for sticking with me, and hopefully I won't make you wait 3 weeks for an update again. I have never been good at predicting the future though, so who knows...

This chapter is a pretty short one. It is also super late, but where I am it is still technically Saturday, so...lol. I had a much longer chapter ready to post this morning, but as I read it over it just didn't feel right. So instead you are going to be getting two chapters posted pretty close together. Here's the first part, and I'm working on re-writing the second part. Should be up in a couple of days. Hope you enjoy it :)

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The rest of the week went by remarkably quickly. Despite that first awkward reunion, the next two physics classes went smoothly. Astrid and the girls even seemed pleasantly surprised at how well they had done on the assessment exam. Grinning at him and congratulating each other and Frank on Thursday afternoon when Hayden handed them back. The whole class might be farther behind than he liked, but they had still done better than he expected. Thank goodness.

It was Friday afternoon now though, and Hayden was wandering between the tables as the students worked through the problems he had up on the wide screen at the front. Stopping for a 'casual' conversation at a few other groups before making his way to Frank and the girls. "How's it going you lot," he asked loudly as he put his hands on the table between Astrid and Heather. "Need any help?"

Then he lowered his voice and leant closer to them. "I know it's short notice, but what would you guys say to spending Saturday night at the lake too? Instead of just the day?"

"Like in a fancy motorhome fit for a millionaire," Rachel asked excitedly.

"No Rachel. This billionaire prefers to rough it," Hayden replied sardonically as he rolled his eyes. "Besides, we would never get a giant motorhome down that road."

Astrid scrunched up her lips in mock contemplation for a moment. "As long as our physics teacher doesn't give us a whole pile of homework," she hedged slyly.

"I may be able to pull some strings," Hayden drawled back. Flashing her a small smirk.

A wide grin split her face at that. "Then count me in! We'll grab the tent and sleeping bags from my parents' house after school," she added to Rachel and Heather. Both of them nodding excitedly.

"I guess that means I should grab a tent and two sleeping bags," Frank pretended to grumble. "Otherwise Tyler will be sleeping on the dirt." They all laughed quietly and Hayden moved away to visit another table. Trying desperately to keep the stupid grin from his face now. Thank god there was only another hour left of the school day.

Tidying up the last of his files in his office later, Hayden's head was completely full of thoughts about tomorrow. This would be his first test of spending time with Astrid as just friends, and there was really no telling what would happen. Would they be able to put last weekend behind them and just hang out? Or would it be awkward as hell between them instead?

Anxious anticipation was fluttering like butterflies in Hayden's stomach as he changed into his leathers and boots. Having switched to his Ducati since the weather was still nice, and not caring for another awkward run-in like the one with Tyler on Tuesday afternoon. Honestly Hayden was too distracted to pay much attention to anything right now, and also mildly glad that no one had barged in on him changing. Especially since he only just realized that he had forgotten to lock the office door.

He was just pulling on his jacket when there was suddenly the gentle rap of knuckles on the frosted glass window. "Come on in," Hayden called out. Leaning down to stuff his work clothes into his bag alongside his laptop now and place his shoes beside the desk.