004

Coleen.

I was never going back there again.

That was my resolve. After that disastrous introduction of a study group I'd resolved to never go into another one again. The next day I apologized to Mr Morrison for the sudden outburst and told him just that. His confusion and disappointment made a part of me guilty but despite his questions and requests all I could give him was an awkward apology.

After that cane my next step. To my surprise, it didn't take me long to find out the said classes that I shared with Hayden vis the school lists, thankfully nonne of them i had attended yet. Immediately I found them I quickly transferred from those classes to alternatives. Within two days I had received approval from all the transfers, ignoring the looks around recieved from the Professors themselves.

That didn't matter in the long run. What mattered was separating myself far away from Hayden’s maliciousness. And I succeeded. This was the end.

Everything went well after. Throughout the week I had attended classes like normal , talking to Lisa and making new acquaintances along the way. Despite the setbacks I had in the beginning, my life was back on track.

Now it was the weekend and I was more than ready to recharge for the rest of the day. If not for Mark that is,

“I have no idea why you're roping me into this. Why couldn't you guys just do like any other couple?” I complained exasperatedly in the face of Mark's pouting face. Mark's sudden request had put a bender in my plans for the day.

It was rather simple. After a week of talking- and constantly gushing over her to me- he'd finally set up a date with Alicia, the girl he liked.

The problem? They had agreed to a double date, including me and according to him, her single male best friend who was accompanying her.

“Come on, I don't know who he is, but I'm sure he's great. Alicia definitely wouldn't be friends with someone who isn't half as amazing as her,” he said and I held back the urge to tease the stars in his eyes whenever he spoke about Alicia.

He turned to me with a smirk.

“Who knows, maybe you might even like him.”

I huffed, rolling my eyes when Mark leaned in.

“Come on Coleen. It's just one double date. Don't you want to see your best friend happy with the love of his life?”

A part of me wanted to tease him for being too whipped, but his sincere pleading made me stop. No matter how annoying it was sometimes, I did want to see him happy.

“Fine,” I sighed reluctantly, “I'll go with you.”

I fought a smile when he hugged me tightly.

When the time came we headed to the restaurant they'd agreed to meet, stepping in together. We spotted her immediately, her description exactly as Mark had gushed over, with bright purple dyed hair and blue eyes.

“It's so nice to meet you.” She smiled, before leading us inside. The moment I saw a familiar frame I tensed and Mark did the sane beside me.

“This is our second contender for the date. Hayden, come meet Mark and Coleen.” she waved him over.

My jaws clenched the moment his eyes met mine. Turning to Mark I found panic on his face before he made eye contact with me.

“Alicia….I didn't know you knew…Hayden.” Mark chuckled uneasily and Alicia's brows furrowed in confusion.

“We go way back. Do you two know him?” She asked

“In a sense.” Hayden was the one to speak this time but his eyes were completely focused on me.

Anger boiled inside me. What sort of sick joke was life playing on me?

A tug brought me out of my thoughts and I turned to find Mark staring at me pleadingly. His eyes said enough. He was begging me to bear it, to play along for now.

The urge to lash out was tempting but I forced it down. I wasn't going to let this or him ruin Mark's happiness.

“Let's uh… get a table,” Mark said.

Tension grew in the atmosphere as soon as we sat down. It was clear to everyone, Alicia included that something was wrong, but we all tried to ignore it.

As time passed agonizingly slowly, Mark and Alicia got along despite the tension and I could see why Mark fell head over heels in love with her. My eyes were focused on them, watching them bond lost in their own bubble.

All the while I tried to ignore Hayden's presence.

“You haven't been coming to the study group.” my skin prickled as I heard his voice. Clenching my jaw, I kept silent, still decidedly ignoring him.

Every once in a while, he continued trying to ‘make conversation’ with me. Whether it was to pretend in front of Alicia or to dig in a taunt, I didn't want to know. I kept silent, looking decidedly away from his direction, unwilling to respond despite his persistent stare. Clearly, he was acting oblivious to the hint that I wanted nothing to do with him.

I tried to focus on Mark and Alicia's conversation when his sigh broke through the chatter,

“Are you really so intimidated by me that I scared you off joining?” His words hit me like a jab and I could feel the outright smugness in it,

“The Coleen I knew wouldn't have let anyone scare her off studying. Wasn't it your dream to be part of some prissy study community? Why back out now?” he asked

With those words, my patience snapped.

How dare he talk like he knew me? Like he could predict me?

I finally turned to face him, yet as soon as I saw the smirk laid there, I snapped .

“Why the hell do you care? So you can humiliate me just like you did back then? Tough luck Hayden. I'm done dealing with you.” I sneered, satisfaction filling me as the smirk on his face fell.

Immediately after my outburst I realized how loud I'd been. Whipping my head I found Mark and Alicia staring at me, faces paling.

Guilt filled me instantly. They were having such a good time and I'd ruined it.

Taking in a deep breath, I turned away, walking out of the diner. As I called the nearest cab. I heard the door open behind me.

“Coleen…wait!” he called out. And I frowned at the sound of Hayden's voice.

“Screw you Hayden,” I shouted, not sparing a glance right before I entered the car. As I drove away I spied him though the car mirror running towards me and for a moment I was filled with confusion.

Why was he persistently chasing after me? Why couldn't he leave me alone?

Eventually the car drove past and he was soon out of sight. I looked away from the mirror shortly after.

….

I didn't see or talk to Mark the next day. Even though I knew he wouldn't fault me for the incident. My outburst still sent waves of humiliation through me.

Leaving the silent apartment, I headed straight to my morning class, still agitated from the day before. The class was spare, thankfully giving me time to think.

At this point I wasn't sure what was worse, that I'd been in close quarters with the man I hated and encountered him three separate times in a row, or that with Mark's new attachment to Alicia, he was going to be a part of my life indirectly.

The last thing I wanted to do was burden Mark with this. He had witnessed more than enough of Hayden's treatment towards me in highschool and the last thing I wanted was for it to affect what already seemed like a beautiful relationship.

I would talk to him. There had to be a way to work around this. There always was.

Prepping my books, I took a deep breath. Now was the time to focus. No more thinking about yesterday, about mark or h-

A loud thump rang right beside me, making me stiffen. Someone was sitting beside me, their body nearly brushing mine.

A wave of confusion rushed through me. This class had plenty of empty spaces. So why sit beside me?

I looked up to speak when I froze in place at the green gaze.

It was Hayden, looking straight at me.