LOGINHAYDEN’S POV:I knew something had changed the moment I saw him.Stephen didn’t say anything at first when he walked into the living room. He just stood there for a second, like he was taking it all in—the space, me, the quiet. Like he was grounding himself.And I felt it.“Hey,” I said softly.“Hey.” His voice was quieter than usual, but steadier and certain.I shifted on the couch, lifting the blanket slightly in silent invitation. He didn’t hesitate this time. Just crossed the room and dropped down beside me, close enough that our sides pressed together immediately.And then, like it was the most natural thing in the world, he pulled me into him.I didn’t fight or overthink it. I just… melted.My head rested against his chest, his arm wrapped around me, his fingers absentmindedly brushing over my sleeve. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat grounded me in a way I didn’t want to question too deeply.Because if I did, I might start asking things I wasn’t ready to hear answers to.For a
STEPHEN’S POV:I didn’t sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I felt it again—the weight of Hayden’s forehead against mine, the way his voice cracked when he said stay, the way something inside me shifted when I realized he meant it.Hayden doesn’t say things like that lightly. Hell, Hayden doesn’t say things like that at all.And yet… he did.I stare at the ceiling of my dorm room, the early morning light bleeding through the blinds. My bag is still half-packed on the chair, clothes spilling out like evidence of a life I was ready to leave behind just hours ago.Westbridge. The word alone used to feel like everything. The goal, the finish line, proof that all the years of pushing, sacrificing, grinding actually meant something.Now? Now it feels… complicated.I drag a hand over my face and sit up, the mattress creaking beneath me. My body is tired, but my mind won’t shut up.You’re asking me to give up something very important.I said that to him and I meant it but he didn’t ask me to
HAYDEN’S POV:I don’t remember how we got there.One second we were standing in the middle of his room, breathing each other in like oxygen, and the next… everything blurred.He was pinned beneath me as I slammed into him with everything in me. “Fuck.” I moaned. The filling of his ass gripping my dick was the best filling ever. No matter how many pussy I fuck, it does not compare to this. Stephen was moaning and groaning asking me to fuck him harder and I did that. This was amazing and I didn’t want it to end. “I’m going to cum, Hayden.” He moaned and it was like something feral broke free. It was like all the things we hadn’t said for weeks, months, were suddenly spilling out without permission.I could feel my release coming but wanted Stephen to cum and pounded him harder and he let out a loud groan as he came and I followed suit. I poured all my cum inside him.When we were done we lay on the bed quietly.Fuck, that was amazing. *******The room was quiet and i
HAYDEN’S POV:I don’t think I’ve ever felt anything like this. The way my chest is still heaving, the way my hands are shaking where as they are gripping his shirt like if I let go, he might disappear again. Stephen is still right there. He was close and somehow not close enough.His forehead rests against mine, both of us breathing like we just ran miles instead of standing in the middle of his room, surrounded by half-packed bags and everything we almost lost.“You’re serious,” he says quietly. It wasn't really a question, but I nodded anyway. “Yeah.” My voice comes out rough, like I haven’t used it in days. His eyes searched for mine again, like he was still waiting for the moment I pulled back, I laughed it off, or shut down, or pushed him away like I always do, but I didn’t.“I’m not running away this time,” I add, softer now. “I’m done doing that.”Something in his expression shifts. It’s small, but I see it. The tension in his shoulders eases just a little, like he wants to b
HAYDEN’S POV:By the time I got to his bedroom, my chest felt like it was caving in on itself.I didn’t knock. I shoved the door open.Stephen was there, sitting on the edge of his bed with a half-zipped duffel bag at his feet, clothes folded too neatly beside him like he was trying to make this clean. He looked up at the sound of the door, surprise flashing across his face before it disappeared just as quickly.“You should knock,” he said evenly. The calm in his voice hit something raw in me.“You’re leaving,” I shot back, ignoring that entirely.His jaw tightened slightly. “Yeah.”That was it. There was no explanation or hesitation. Just… yeah.Something in me snapped. “That’s it?” I demanded, stepping further into the room. “You’re just going to pack your stuff and leave like it’s nothing?”Stephen let out a quiet breath, standing up slowly. “What do you want me to do, Hayden?”“I don’t know….maybe not run away?” The words came out sharper than I intended, but I didn’t take them ba
HAYDEN’S POV: It had been two days since everything went to hell in that kitchen, and somehow, I’d managed to convince myself it didn’t matter or I didn’t care.I took another drag, the smoke burning slightly as it settled in my lungs before I exhaled slowly, watching it curl into the dim air of the dorm room. The place was loud with music playing low in the background, voices overlapping, laughter cutting through every few seconds but none of it really registered.I leaned back against the couch, my arm draped loosely around Ariana’s shoulders as she sat tucked against my side.She was saying something. I could feel it in the way her body shifted slightly against me, the way her voice carried just enough to indicate she was talking directly to me.I wasn’t listening.“…Hayden?”“Hm?” I responded absently, not bothering to turn my head.“I asked if you’re coming to the game this weekend.”“Yeah. Sure.” The answer came automatically.She went quiet for a second, like she could tell I
ELLA’S POVI shouldn’t have come here.The cheerleader field was loud with whistles and laughter, girls stretching, practicing lifts, pretending their lives were uncomplicated. The sun was too bright and my head was pounding. My mouth still tasted like regret.And there she was.Lilian stood near t
STEPHEN’S POVI didn’t go back to my hostel right away. I sat on the steps outside the arts building instead, elbows on my knees as I stared at space. My phone buzzed twice in my pocket. It was probably Hayden, or not, but I ignored it. My chest still felt badly injured from Ella’s words and the w
STEPHEN’S POVI didn’t remember deciding to leave.One second I was standing in the hallway, Hayden’s door still vibrating from where it had slammed shut, my chest tight and buzzing like I’d swallowed broken glass. The next, I was outside, the night air hitting my face like a slap.I deserved worse
HAYDEN’S POVI regretted coming back the second I opened the door.Stephen was in the living room, kissing some guy like he owned the place. Hands on his waist, his lips curved into a smile like nothing in the world had ever touched him wrong.I felt my stomach twist.I turned away immediately. “F







