2.

☆☆SUMMER'S POV☆☆

Jake called and when he heard me crying over the phone, he tracked my location and came to meet me where I was. At our spot in the woods, near the stream.

The moment I saw him, I fell into his arms and let it all out. My heart was aching and so was my head at that point, but seeing my best friend eased the pain.

Jake and I had been bestfriends since we were seven. Here in Saunterville, California, he was the only one I could trust with my life. My ride or die.

We stayed outside and he listened to me whine and cry until I fell asleep. Once it started to get dark, he called his driver and drove me home.

“Is she alright?” my dad asked, worried as he saw Jake carrying me on his back.

“Not really, Mr. Peterson. Is it fine if I stay over tonight?”

“Yes, son,” my dad answered, watching us till we were out of view.

I was asleep, but I picked up on their conversation; however, I was too weak to respond. Jake put me to bed and stayed by my side.

And just like that, my relationship status travelled from dating to single. In a flash. Dean never called. Deep down, I waited for his call, and somehow, I was sad and glad it never came. I deleted his number and all of our photos together.

I had been blinded by my love for him, and never realized how manipulative and demeaning he was toward me. It was our last summer holiday before we got into college, and I had wished that Dean and I would be the super couple on campus.

So much for wishing on a shooting star. It all turned to dust. Two weeks later, I heard he and Maxine were officially dating. I was hurt. Not gonna lie. It hurt like hell.

After a lovely family breakfast with Dad and my younger brother, Keith, I headed to Jake's family's mansion because I hadn't heard from him since morning. 

The Dylan's mansion wasn't far from my house. When I arrived at the grand estate, I waltzed into the mansion like it was my own.

My gaze caught Jake's brown hair from behind. He was lying on the couch. So, I tiptoed at the back of the couch and jumped over it and landed on him, laughing. 

“Got ya, sucker!” I screamed, laughing hard.

He didn't find it amusing. I noticed I was the only one guffawing like a hyena. How embarrassing! Disappointed, I opened my eyes and instantly, they popped out of my socket and my heart dropped.

“Hayden?” I screamed, my face twisted in disgust.

“No fucking way! Hayden? I must be dreaming,” I thought, staring intently at the boy beneath me or the man… 

His eyes were still locked on mine, with a deadpan expression. He flashed me a fake smile and raised a brow. I swallowed hard, my gaze never leaving his. 

Did Hayden always have such beautiful eyes? I wondered.

“Hey, Stranger? Mind getting off me?” his husky voice brought me out of my reverie.

“Oh! sure,” I stammered, scrambling to my feet.

Hold up! Did he just address me as ‘Stranger?’

He rose languidly, dusting away dirt from his body. Dust that clearly wasn't there.  I shot him a glare, shaking my head. He was clearly insinuating that I was dirty. Me. Summer Peterson, dirty. I scoffed, running a hand through my long, brown curls.

When Hayden was done, he raised his head to look at me. The second our eyes met, I felt a shiver run down my spine. Holy mother of…oh my goodness! 

Seriously. Was this Hayden? My worst enemy? The bane of my flesh? No. Maybe it was someone else. That was what I concluded until I heard his voice, the devil’s own melody, slice through my thoughts again.

“Summer?” Disbelief furrowed in his brow. “Summer Peterson?”

I gulped, keeping my face blank to maintain my composure.

“Hayden Dylan?”

Then he burst out into a humourless laugh, covering his mouth as though to contain it. It wasn't that kind of laugh that warms your chest. It was the kind that prickles under your skin. 

I watched him, baffled, bristling, wondering if perhaps I’d grown clown shoes and red clown nose without noticing. However, I couldn't say a fucking word again, afraid I would say nonsense.

My head was a mess and all I could think of was complimenting how fucking good he looked. Unfairly good. Nobody had the right to look that handsome.

I tried to move, but It was as if his Greek god charm had me rooted to the spot, sending jolts of electricity through me.

“Ha ha ha. Very funny,” I said at last. “I didn't know I was a clown. It's nice to laugh at your brother's best friend, whom you've not seen in the past five years.”

Hayden stopped laughing, and fixed his eyes on me again. I swallowed hard, maintaining a displeased expression.

“I haven't had a good laugh in a while. Summer, this you, for real?”

I raised a brow, clearing my throat. “Crawl back whatever hole you slithered from.”

“Yeap,” Hayden retorted. “It's you.”

He had always known me to have a sharp mouth as dangerous as a blade. Our years of numerous fights and exchange of harsh words flashed through my mind. The hatred I had for him began to return like a thief in the night.

Hayden was four years older than Jake and I. He went to college five years ago in Europe to study Mechanical Engineering, and that was the last time I saw him. 

“What are you doing here?” I demanded.

“Apparently, I live here,” he said, sinking gracefully onto the couch, sprawled like a king in exile.

I stared at him as if my eyes were daggers, ready to cut him to pieces. He scrutinised me from head to toe, a smile tugging the edges of his lips.

The moment I noticed how soft his eyes were on me, I let down my guard. 

“Where are your glasses and braces?” He asked, his gaze lingering, his voice almost gentle as though we hadn't spent half of our lives trying to outwit, out-insult, and outlast each other.

And just like that, Hayden rose again. He closed the distance between us and crouched so low until our eyes were at the same level, face inches away. His gaze was sharp, yet soft like a gentle caress.

“You look like a completely different person,” he whispered. “A beautiful stranger.”

My breath caught in my throat. Before I could think of a comeback, I felt a hand on my arm, firm, pulling me away.

“Jake!”

“She’s not yours to tease anymore,” my best friend said tightly, his eyes locked on his brother.

Hayden leaned back. “She’s not yours to protect,” he murmured, folding his arms lazily. “She was fine a minute ago. Look at her now.”

Jake glanced at me, concerned.

“Her cheeks are flushed,” Hayden added, almost to himself, before turning and walking away, leaving the air humming in his absence.

I ripped my arm free and pressed my hands to my cheeks. If they were red, it wasn’t from embarrassment—I assure you of that.

“That asshole’s right,” Jake muttered. “Why are your cheeks so red?”

“I was… cold,” I lied, brushing past him, though my heart told another story entirely. “When did he get back?”

“Last night,” Jake grumbled.

“I wish he’d stayed back in Europe,” I murmured.

Half-truth, half-lie. Maybe more lie than truth. Because, God help me, something had shifted inside me. More than ever, I wished it was my panties, and not my heart.

Hayden Dylan made my heart flutter. And I wasn’t sure I wanted that feeling to go away. I liked it—whatever it was.

I was afraid I’d feel this way again if I saw him. And God have mercy, I’d be seeing him the entire summer.