005

Coleen

What the hell was he doing here?

“You aren't in this class,” I snapped.

“How do you know I'm not?” He asked, raising an eyebrow. Before I could retort I held myself back.

If I said that I'd purposely transferred out of all his classes, wouldn't that make him more arrogant than he already was?

Looking at his expecting gaze, I had a feeling that was what he wanted. I couldn't already think of all the things he would say in response, trying to humiliate me.

I refused to give him the satisfaction he wanted.

I gripped the pen I was holding tightly trying to calm my frustration. Why couldn't he just leave me alone?

Taking in a deep breath I looked away from him, shifting to the other end to distance myself. I felt his eyes on me, prickling my senses, but I held firm.The best thing I could do right now was ignore him.

Just half an hour. Half an hour of this and I would leave.

To my relief, the professor came barrelling I to the room and I latched onto her as an anchor. As the lecture began I kept my gaze strictly forward, focusing on the prim woman or on my notebook while trying to drown out the person beside me.

Unfortunately as it seemed, I wasn't going to be so lucky.

“Coleen,” Hayden's voice called out in a low tone beside me and I grit my teeth to not answer.

Suddenly his arm nudged over mine and I fought the urge to scream.

“Leave me alone.” I whispered. Focus. I had to focus..no distractions.

“Let me talk to you. About yesterday -”

“I don't care-” I snapped, willing for it to be over.

“Then why did you leave?”

“None of your business.” Could he just stop?

“So you're just going to leave, just like you did after the party.”

Heat prickled my skin as he mentioned that damned party and thee one night stand that should have never happened.

The pressure booming in my head was increasing, my patience was growing thin.

“Leave me alone Hayden,”

“For god's sake, if you would just listen-”

That was my last straw. I snapped.

“How many times do I have to tell you to leave me the fuck alone! I don't want anything to do with you!” I shouted, Slamming my pen on the table.

The room was completely silent adjust my heavy breaths. As I looked around the realization poured on me like icy water.

Everyone's eyes were focused on me, including the professor. I was completely mortified as I met her stern gaze. I had to fix this somehow.

“Mrs Tennant-”

“I think it's best you and your boyfriend leave Miss Miane.” The older woman cut me off, while looking at us interchangeably

“This is no place for a lover's spat.”

Heat rose to my cheeks from her words and looking around I could feel the other students looking at me.

I had himiliated myself. Again.

Tears stung my eyes right before I looked vback. Hayden's eyes were in me, wide with surprise and I felt anger burn through me.

It was all his fault.

Snatching my notebooks and bag I stormed out of the lecture hall, holding my tears back. The moment I heard footsteps following me outside the building.

“Coleen wait.”

That was it. My last strand of patience snapped instantly and I turned around to face his slowing gait.

“I'm sorry, please let me explain-”

“Shut up! You wanted to talk? Lets talk.” I snapped, leaving him dumbfounded as

“I have no idea why the hell you're so set on ruining my life, even in a completely different city. What the hell have I ever done to you?”

A bitter laugh left me and I shook my head, “You know what? Don't even answer. I already know what you're going to say. Because you're Hayden Freaking Michaels, right? Rich heir extraordinaire bien wutyba silver freaking spoon in his mouth without living a day of struggle in his entire life. You get to stomp on anybody you want because that's just who you are, right?”

The years of hurt, of torment filled me to the brim and I couldn't stop the words from leaving me.

“I struggled.” I spat out, “ I bore your treatment , your taunts, your outright bullying for years in highschool. Even when I was miserable because there was nothing I could do to the golden rich popular boy I had to bear it all. That excuse of a prank you did during graduation was the last straw.”

He flinched and I saw it hit him, bitter anger filling me as the humiliation of that day replayed in my mind.

“I worked hard for the Valedictorian position. Against all bounds that was the one thing I had. All my tears if hard work into that one moment. And you took it away. You have no ounce of what it means to work hard, what it means to struggle for anything because to you it's all a game to you.” I huffed,

“All I wanted was a fresh start. even that chased me here. I would have never gone to that party if I knew I'd ever cross paths with you. The night we spent together was a mistake, one I regret with all my heart. Just like I ever regretted meeting you.”

“Now?” I sniffed loudly, wiping away the stray tear, “i just want to be away from you so why can't you just leave ne alone?!”

The silence after was deafening. Heavy breaths left me as I stared at him. There was no smile on his face, no arrogant smirk. What I saw instead stunned me to the core.

I would have never thought The Hayden Michaels would ever have emotions, yet at this moment he looked…defeated.

“Okay ,” he said, and my breath hitched.

“I'm sorry…for everything. I'll do as you said.”

I remained frozen in place as he turned to leave, his slumped frame turning away. Slowly i let out a breath.

I'd done it. I'd let out the words I wished I could have said all those months ago and let it rip into him. Now he was leaving.

I should feel lighter.This was what I wanted wasn't it?

Why then, did it feel like I'd done the wrong thing?