The Anklebiters

Hayley hadn’t been seen with the Anklebiters in public for over three weeks. Dulaney high school was rocked with confusion, and that was just what the group of girls wanted.

At lunch, Hayley would sit at the Hustlers’ table next to Alex and hold his hand all the time. She would join in all of the conversations and despite their confusion, the boys found out they liked having the Anklebiter around. She was engaging and funny, plus she made their newest Hustler happy. Although, the rest of the cafeteria stared each day, confused at the new relationship actually happening before their eyes. To cause more misunderstanding, the couple could frequently be seen kissing in the hallways and walking each other to class, while outside of school, Hayley would be seen with Tay at Alex’s football practices cheering him on.

Alex could feel himself falling more in love with Hayley each day. Scratch that. Alex knew from the first day, Hayley was the girl for him. Only after three weeks, Alex already knew he was in this thing with her for the long run, but wondered if she felt the same.

Hayley wasn’t exactly going along with his plan. She knew she had to think of the plan, and start thinking of how and when she needed to end this. Only being three weeks into the relationship, it was hard to tell, so she decided to take this little time she had to relax and try to be a “good girlfriend,” whatever that would be classified with.

But the weirdest part to Hayley? She started to actually enjoy being with Alex. Despite all the lovey shit she had to go through, she liked being around him. In fact, she didn’t mind kissing him anymore. She admitted he wasn’t quite bad at it, and even though it was awkward when Alex got a little hands-y, she didn’t mind it. Her main point was: as long as she could talk and hang out with him, all the relationship stuff she had to go through didn’t bother her.

They were the class couple, the pairing the school couldn’t stop talking about. A Hustler and an Anklebiter were officially together.

But Hayley still wasn’t denounced from the Anklebiters yet, which made Jack wonder what she was doing with a Hustler in the first place, especially since the rest of her group didn’t mind her being with Alex. Everything about the couple was odd in Jack’s eyes, and he didn’t believe one bit that Hayley’s affections for Alex were true.

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As soon as Math was over, Hayley immediately walked out so she could get to English in time. Since she had the class with Jenna, she usually met up with her halfway, even with her relationship with Alex going on. Hayley did have to cut some regular Anklebiter sightings, but she could obviously walk with some of them to classes without there being a big fuss.

But as soon as she heard her name being called, she knew she wasn’t going to get to Jenna on time.

“Wait up!”

Hayley spun around, trying to put on her best smile. “What’s up, Barakat?”

He finally caught up to her and threw her a grin, one that might and might not have been fake. “You got a sec to talk?”

“Actually, I need to―”

“It will only take a second.” He suddenly pulled her to the wall closet to them and beamed largely. Hayley stood there with an eyebrow raised, waiting for him to speak. “I just have one quick question for you.”

She bit on her bottom lip. “Jack, I really need to get to―”

“Do you really like Alex?”

Hayley went dead silent, her mouth falling open.

“Or is this thing between you two a … plot?” Jack watched her grow still. “Because Alex is a good friend of mine, and the last thing I want for him is to―”

She finally thought of what to say. She obviously needed him to believe the relationship was real, so she had to make him eat his words.

“I can’t believe you would ask me that, Jack.” She scoffed and shook her head. “I really like Alex a lot. If I didn’t, then I wouldn’t be in a relationship with him right now. I can’t believe you feel that way towards us. Alex would be hurt if he knew you were asking me this.”

Jack’s eyes went wide. “You don’t have to tell him this though!”

Hayley looked away. “I don’t know. I just migh―”

“I’m sorry, okay?” He put both his hands on Hayley’s shoulders, even though she was giving him an annoyed look. “I didn’t mean to second guess your relationship. Taylor and some of the Anklebiters just get in my head sometimes.”

She nodded, acting like she had become heartfelt. “I understand, Jack.” She smiled. “But just because our two groups don’t get along, it doesn’t mean Alex and I can’t work.”

He smiled. “Yeah, I get that now.”

“What the absolute fuck is going on here?”

Hayley turned around as Jenna approached them, the fire in her eyes looking like they could light up her hair. The redhead smiled towards her friend. “Nothing, let’s get to class.”

Jenna nodded and started walking along the hallways with her. She looked over her shoulder, seeing Jack staring at his feet in bewilderment. “What’d he ask you about?” She asked, spinning her head back to her friend.

“He didn’t believe that I really liked Alex.” Hayley frowned. “I need to make this more believable.”

“Well, you better think of something.” Jenna said while hooking her arm around the redhead. “The last thing we need is the fuckin’ leader of the Hustlers on our tail.”

Notes

Jack's getting suspicious ohhhhhhhhh ;)
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