The Upside of Heartbreak

Layers

Whew, I was honestly a little worried that I wouldn't get this one finished in time to post it before work. I will apologize in advance for any typos though. I did a rush proof-read/edit, but I will come back and do a better one as soon as I can.

The title for this chapter has more than one meaning, really. It could be the layers of a plan, or the layers of a person. Or perhaps both. I guess I will leave it for you to figure out as you read it ;)

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When Rachel gave her the news, all Astrid could feel was storming mad. She knew that she shouldn't be. After all, her and Hayden were nothing other than friends. A good friend would be happy for him that he had found someone nice after Victoria. Miss Cope was awesome, and she looked like the type of woman that Hayden would typically be seen with. Slender, elegant, and absolutely perfect. It only made sense for the two beautiful teachers to get together. Not to mention the fact that Hayden actually could be with Cope.

There were so, so many reasons that Astrid and Hayden couldn't be together. It was about more than simple scandal. It was Astrid's future at stake here. Hayden himself had been the one to remind her of that. It was just hard to care about any of that when she was with him. He was everything she wanted. Why would he have left his mark on her by way of the subtle design on her shoulder if he didn't want her too? At least a little bit.

All weekend it had felt so easy. So surreal. The casual jokes and blatant flirting. The sexual tension that undercut every one of their moments together, to the point that their friends felt the need to push the boundaries of what was ethical and right. Hayden's beautiful words to her on the dock on Saturday night had warmed her right to the cockles of her heart. He had made her feel as if the forbidden desire was at least mutual.

Hearing that Hayden was currently out on a date with another woman just 3 days later was like a slap to the face. Astrid just couldn't help feeling cheated. Betrayed. Mostly though, she was just angry at herself. Was she so stupid and weak that she had allowed herself to fall for yet another asshole? And here she had been so sure that Hayden was different.

When Tyler had called, the three girls had all been sitting around the living room of their apartment. Dressed in their comfiest 'give-up clothes' as Rachel called the combination of cotton sleep shorts and oversized sweaters, and attempting to make a dent in their homework. Astrid was currently kneeling on a pillow in front of the wrought iron coffee table. The gas fireplace softly flickering behind her. The gentle heat radiating over her back. Her school bag lying beside her on the plush cream, brown, and gold carpet.

Heather was propped against the arm of the dark brown leather sofa instead. Her face buried in her biology textbook. Rachel perched cross-legged in the matching recliner with a notebook balanced on her lap. Astrid's homework was spread out across the glass tabletop, but her eyes kept straying to the phone resting beside it now instead.

"I still don't believe it," Heather grumbled after a long stretch of loaded silence. Slamming her book shut and tossing it noisily aside. Making Rachel glance over at her in mild interest at the outburst. Astrid twisting around now to look up from her spot on the floor. "I don't care what Sabrina and Stacy say. Hayden just wouldn't do something like this," Heather added fervently. "Stacy was probably just exaggerating."

"Do something like what? Go on a date? He is at perfect liberty to date whomever he wants," Astrid replied blandly. Rolling her eyes for good measure. "Stacy has no reason to lie about Hayden and Cope. Aside from fantasizing about him with the other girls, she's not actually invested in his life. Well, maybe just for the gossip it might provide," she added thoughtfully.

"Astrid's got a point," Ruff chimed in. "Hayden is a gorgeous and rich single man. He can date whoever he wants. Besides, we don't actually know Hayden that well Heather. Just because he's your brother's friend doesn't really mean anything," she drawled. Turning back to her homework as she started to chew on her pen.