Chapter 3: Hayden's fear

Hayden's POV

“Mom, there's no way I'm living in the same room with your obnoxious son. I'd rather you kill me.” I spat in frustration but our words seemed to go in one ear and fly out the other. I was beyond frustrated and even Stephen was more annoyed than I was.

“For the first time, I'm agreeing with this idiot here. Please don't let us live together, it's absurd and it'll only cause more problems. For goodness’ sake, Mom, please.” Stephen butted in, holding his hands together in prayer and I absolutely agreed with him.

I would rather die than live with him.

There was no way in hell that I would live with an asshole who was a fag. Mom didn't say anything for a while, she just glanced at both of us before her face lit up with a smile.

“It's settled then! I need to tell the dean about this.” She muttered with a smile, and I tried to stop her, but she had already slipped into the dean's office.

“Mom, seriously, this is obviously a bad idea.” I rushed after her as she explained her new “plan” to the dean. “We'll kill ourselves if we ever live together,” I added, hoping she would see the huge mistake she was making but my words fell on deaf ears.

“I approve.” The dean said, and Stephen scoffed in frustration while Mom clapped in excitement. “You both are brothers, you need to get used to each other's presence, and it'll help break that rivalry between you. It's good for you both.” He added and I groaned in frustration.

“I can't live with him! He's a—”

He's a faggot. He's a fucking fag. But somehow, I couldn't bring myself to say it out loud.

“He's a what?” Mom asked with her arms crossed and brows raised and my shoulders slumped in defeat.

“He's an asshole, Mom. This arrangement won't work at all, you're making a huge mistake.” I reasoned but she shook her head with a smile. She wasn't changing her mind.

Stephen suddenly yanked the door open and stormed out, slamming it shut behind him. How dare he be pissed off? Acting like he was the fucking victim? It was all his fault, he was the one who pissed me off! He dared to storm out?

“See? See the asshole you want me to live with? That violent brat?”

“Hayden, for fuck's sake—”

“Of course, I'm the one who's always causing trouble.” I spat in anger and stormed out of the office too, following after Stephen to give him a fine piece of my mind.

“You know you're such a fucked up asshole,” I said as soon as I saw him standing in front of his locker. “You're so fucked up that you had to drag me to your fuckery as well, right? Now I have to spend the rest of my college days with you. And you keep trying to paint yourself as the damn victim—”

“If you're so pissed off, go take it up with the dean. With mom. Fuck off, Hayden.” He interrupted me as he slammed his locker shut and turned to leave but I stopped him.

“I hate you so damn much, you asshole.”

“Oh, the feeling is mutual, mate. You started all this. You brought this upon yourself. If you didn't steal Ella from me, none of this would have happened. You should be happy, you wanted this, didn't you?” Stephen spat as he grabbed my collar, and I did the same, the movement bringing our faces closer to each other once again.

Not again. Was he going to kiss me again? In front of everyone? Students had gathered around us this time, watching with wide eyes. I couldn't let that happen.

“Fuck off, you faggot! Ella left you because you're so fucking abnormal. You're a homosexual disgusting faggot!” I blurted out immediately and then realized what I just did.

Stephen immediately let go of me as students began to gasp in shock, exchanging whispers with one another while Stephen took a step back in shock. He was literally burning red and I knew that I had just messed up. Big time.

“Stephen—”

“Fuck you, Hayden.” He growled, and before I could blink, I was on the floor with Stephen on top of me, his fist hitting me over and over until my vision blurred.

I tried to stop him but he landed the ultimate punch that knocked me out cold. I didn't know how long I was out for but when I opened my eyes again, I was at the infirmary.

“Jesus, it hurts so bad,” I murmured as I groaned, placing my hand over my broken nose. I must have pissed him off so much for him to attack me so hard. I didn't regret it. At least the whole school would know how disgusting he was.

“Baby, how do you feel?” I heard mom's voice beside me and I turned to see her sitting by the edge of the bed with a look of worry on her face.

“Your son tried to kill me, Mom. See why I said we can't live together? He would kill me.” I muttered with a groan and she crossed her arms with a frown on her face.

“Only because you pissed him off, Hayden.” She muttered and I was about to argue when she continued. “I'm not saying he was right but you messed with him first. You both need to stop doing this to each other. Stop riling yourselves up. I love you both, that's why I'm doing this. For your own good. Living together is the only way to make you both understand each other.” She explained and I rolled my eyes, knowing that her plan was futile.

Stephen and I were like oil and water. We could never understand each other.

“Mom, you don't understand—”

“Stephen is sorry for what he did. He's been in a melancholic mood ever since you were brought in here.” She muttered and my eyes widened in disbelief.

Stephen? Sorry? Impossible.

“Mom, that's impossible. I don't believe it, you're just saying this so that I would forgive him or something. I won't forgive him. He almost killed me, Mom.” I spat with a petty tone and looked away but she made me look at her.

“He's sorry. Really. Hold on.” She said and got up, leaving the room immediately. I rolled my eyes in annoyance, not wanting to believe that Stephen would ever be sorry for what he did.

I touched my broken nose once again, groaning from how bad it hurt. He must have given me a free nose job. I didn't expect him to react that way just because I exposed his sexuality. He was probably mad that I made the whole school hate him. Perfect.

The door swung open again, and Stephen walked in with Mom and the dean behind him. I sat up, a smug look on my face as I crossed my arms.

“You had fun trying to kill me, right?” I asked and Stephen stepped forward, his expression melancholic and his head slightly bowed. What the hell was going on?

“I just wanted to say…” he started, glancing up at me slightly like a kid who got caught stealing cookies. “I'm really sorry for hitting you so hard. I lost my mind when you said that and I let my emotions take over me. I didn't mean to lose control.” He muttered and even bowed so I would see how sorry he was.

Was this some kind of dream? Stephen apologized to me?