bruised || h.g

Ch.11 "He's just a friend, nothing more"

Hayes & I were walking home together side by side just talking. These last couple days have been crazy, never did I think my life would be like this 3 years ago, me slowly gaining confidence in myself. Nor sitting at the popular kid table with Hayes or anyone. My life was changing and I was happy with what was happening. No more being sensitive Tess, caring about others more than myself. I'm what matters most to me right now, not anyone else. I'm changing from sensitive Tess, to cold hearted bitch Tess. Nobody from Oregon would recognize me today.

"Wait out here, I'm gonna drop my stuff off and tell my mom where I'm going, I'll just be 5 minutes" I reassured him walking inside my cozy home.

I walked in seeing my mom sitting on the couch watching The Big Bang Theory.

"Hey Mom" I called walking in.

"Hey honey, How was school?" She asked.

Awesome.

"It was good" I smiled because it was so much better than just "good".

"Is it okay if I hangout with Hayes for a little?" I asked with hopeful eyes and puppy dog lips.

"Tess, you've been hanging out with this boy a lot lately.. Are you sure you're ready for a relationship?" My mom asked.

"We're not dating Mom, he's just a friend nothing more." I told.

"Does he know?" She asked talking about my father.

"Yeah, I trust him" I nodded.

"I just don't want you getting hurt love" She gave me a sympathetic look.

"I won't" I promised walking out the front door.

"You ready?" Hayes asked sitting on the curb.

"Ready Ready!" I jumped up.

When Hayes opened up the door he shouted "I'm home" awaring his parents. His house was bigger than I last remembered. I forgot how comforting and nice it smelt in here. He led me to his kitchen where Elizabeth was making some after school snacks for us kids.

"Hello Tess, It's good to see you. How's your mom?" Elizabeth asked giving me a sweet smile.

"She's great" I took a seat at the bar.

The front door opened and shut loudly when Nash and his friends all came in wildly.

"Hey mom!" Nash came in kissing Elizabeth on the cheek.

"Tess! I've missed you" Nash came in for a tight long hug.

Nashs' hugs were one of my favorites, they were so warm and relieving, Like while I was in his embrace nothing else mattered but the smile he placed on my face.

"Where's your little girlfriend" Nash asked Hayes.

"I broke up with Aubrey" Hayes said taking a sip from his Gatorade.

"Finally. Why?" Hayes smirked looking at me causing my cheeks to turn 50 shades of red.

"She cheated on me & Treated Tess like garbage. She told Tess to stay away from me and I didn't like that" Hayes pointed out.

Nash nodded. "So who's next, considering you've dated pretty much everyone" Nash teased with all his friends joining in teasingly.

I gave Hayes a confused look, We haven't really discussed everyone we've dated, why would we? It's not like we're in a relationship or have a thing or anything, I just assumed he hasn't dated a lot of girls. Well I was hoping.

"Shut up!" Hayes said feeling caught.

He didn't deny it, which meant it was true.

Now, Hayes and I were a no go, ever. I don't want to be with someone who's kissed and been with every girl at Davidson Day. Every girl there is drop dead gorgeous. Especially if he thinks he can get any girl, I don't like cocky, Cocky and confident are two different things. What am I saying? Not like we would anyways, But now I know for sure. He doesn't have a chance. & If he thinks he does, he has another thing coming.

"Tess are you staying for dinner?" Elizabeth asked.

"Sure!" I agreed.

I heard little feet running down the stairs when Skylynn entered the kitchen, her eyes wide and excited.

"Nash!" She hollered running him.

"Hey nugget, how was preschool?" Nash asked.

Skylynn and Nash had the cutest relationship, She adored him and he adored her. They were like BestFriends.

Skylynn caught my eye contact and smiled cheekily.

"Tess! I haven't seen you in years!" She ran giving me a hug.

"More like weeks but that's okay" I corrected her hugging back.

"Hayes, where's Aubrey. She promised to play dolls with me last time she was here" Skylynn pouted.

I exchanged looks with Hayes to see what excuse he had in store for his little sister. I always wondered how relationships ending impacted families. I don't have a younger brother or sister so I wouldn't know. I was curious as to what her reaction would be with Aubrey not coming around anymore.

"Don't worry nugget, She'll come back around. She always does" Nash comforted her.

By Nashs comment, I could see that Hayes and her relationship was an off/on thing, which was nerve wracking knowing that at any possible moment she could come back and ruin my life here in North Carolina.

"I don't know Sky" Hayes replied taking the simple way out. I kind of wished he was going to explain to her that they were no longer together but then again she is 4.

"Is Tess the new Aubrey?" Sky's eyes were filled with joy.

My cheeks turned red when I heard Nash ask "Yeah, Hayes is she?"

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Sorry Ik it's short but my writers block is literally cinder block thick.,😭 Give me some ideas in the comments?😄 Lets get 300 Reads this week! Share Share Share!

-Xoxo 🅰