The Anklebiters

Hayley wrung out her hands in nervousness as she stood by the school’s entrance. This is where she usually waited for Alex after his football practice, and this was also going to be the scene of one of the most humiliating experiences of her life.

She didn’t want to do this; she wasn’t this type of person. As much as she hated admitting it, she knew that she had developed strong feelings for Alex, and the last thing she’d ever want to do on the earth is hurt him. He was such a genuine guy that never ceased to help her crack a smile. But there is always a force dividing things, right? And for Hayley, this force was the Anklebiters. She needed to stay loyal, or Taylor would never forgive her. They are her best friends, and she guessed Taylor was right―she did make Hayley feel important when she was at her lowest. She had to repay the debt.

As she nervously shifted her feet while waiting, Hayley took the time to think over the plan. She heard of Jack staying late that day to finish a test, which means he’d be leaving just outside the school entrance. That gave Hayley the perfect timing to―

She swung her head to the doors as Jack walked out, his opened backpack swinging along his shoulder. He flipped the keys to his car around his finger while Hayley watched him in pure silence. She had to do something or the voice inside of her head wouldn’t stop screaming. She finally lifted a foot in his direction and waved her hand up in the air, screaming, “Jack!”

The skunk-haired boy glanced over his shoulder, actually throwing a smile towards the Anklebiter as he walked towards her. Is all this worth the loyalty of your friends? Her conscious question. Do you really need them to survive your last year of high school? What’s more important: your peer-pressuring friends or a guy who actually makes you happy?

She ignored her thoughts as Jack approached her with a “What’s up?”

She shrugged her shoulders, fiddling with her leather jacket. “Nothing much. Why’d you stay late?”

“Chem test,” he groaned. “It was the test we took a few months back and I had to take it now before the term closes tomorrow. It was either a zero or the possible thirty I got from taking it today.”

Hayley chuckled, and then grew silent. What was she to say? She needed to have them lip-locked in a few minutes or Alex would never catch them.

“So … are you waiting for Alex or something? Do you need a ride home?”

She nodded. “Yeah, I’m waiting for him.” She then tried giggling flirtatiously. “But―um―thanks for offering.”

“No biggie,” Jack shrugged. “I guess I better―”

“No, stay!” She yanked on his shirt. “I―uh―need company.”

He lofted a brow. “Why would you―?”

“You know, Jack,” she interrupted, slowly starting to trail her finger along his arm, “I’ve been noticing how … nice you’ve been acting towards me lately. And I want to tell you that I greatly appreciate it coming from such a handsome guy like you.”

“Uh …” He seemed to be at a loss for words as he stared down at Hayley’s red-painted finger brushing across his wrist. “Well, anything for Alex’s girl. My friend.” He was catching on to what was happening, and he thought the bold words would help. What he didn’t know was that Hayley had this all planned out from the start.

“Jack, I hope you know that I’m not owned by Alex. I am my own person.” She stood up on her tiptoes so that she was face-to-face with the tall boy, tugging her mouth up into a fake smirk. “But I can be taken advantage of, if desired.”

He slowly took a step back, but he was interrupted by Hayley moving just a bit closer. “Hayley, what are you―?”

She cut him off. She kissed him. She explored his mouth with her tongue―just to make it more believable.

And it was bad. Jack wasn’t a good kisser.

But it still worked, and Hayley knew this as soon as she heard the entrance’s door open. And then her name was called.

“HAYLEY!” Alex stalked over to his best friend and thought-to-be-loyal girlfriend. He pushed them apart, eyeing both of them with utter shock. “WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?!”

Jack put out a hand, using his other to wipe his mouth. “Alex, listen, man, I had nothing―” His nervous rant was cut off as Alex turned towards Hayley.

“What …” He shook his head at her, watching her look at anything but him and keep quiet. “How long has this been going on? Or has it been with other guys?” He looked from both of them, waiting for a definite answer. “Or am I literally just imagining this right now?”

Jack replied, “Dude, this is the first time this has happened and I didn’t―”

“YOU, SHUT UP!” Alex pushed his friend back, turning his eyes back toward Hayley, who just shrugged as an answer. “ANSWER ME, HAYLEY.”

It took all her willpower to not cry and tell him this was all fake. But she held her ground as she finally sighed, “No, you’re not imagining it.”

Alex squinted his eyes at her. This wasn’t the Hayley he knew. Was this actually happening? “Just think of being in my shoes right now―please, just do it. Now, really answer me when I ask: did you actually love me at all? Or was I just some toy that you always had by your side at night when you were off with other guys during the day?”

She lifted her eyes to him finally, staring straight at his chocolate irises with all the strength she could muster. Her mouth forming in a hard line, she said, “No.”

He was completely taken aback, which caused him to take a few steps backward. It felt like his world was crashing down on him as he lifted his hands to his hair, trying to tug at the roots in pure tremor. Jack watched his friend go into a completely didn’t state of mind, and he had never been scared as he heard the words that flew out of his mouth next.

“You’re just …” A tear slowly slipped down Alex’s cheek as his finger pointed at her. “You’re just a … whore.” He barely whispered it, afraid she would deck him with her balled fists, when she was really just doing that to dig her nails into her palms as a way to not cry. But then, he really didn’t care. She broke him, and now it was his time to break her. “YOU ARE JUST A WHORE, AREN’T YOU?!”

She stayed quiet and stared at him with hard eyes. He continued his shrieks of calling her a “filthy slut,” and the worst part was, she knew he didn’t mean it. They were both practically pretending to be two different people. Alex was in a state of shock at the moment, which meant he would say or do anything that he would regret later.

She soon put up her hands in defense, interrupting his rant as she muttered, “I don’t need this.”

She walked away at the fastest pace she could, making sure she was far enough away to let the tears prick her eyes. Alex and Jack watched her stride away, and Jack was surprised to see Alex grab a rock from the ground and throw it at her while screaming, “I HOPE YOU CHOKE ON THE HEARTS YOU BREAK!” Luckily, he missed, but that didn’t diminish Jack’s surprise at how angry Alex could get.

Hayley walked by the rock that landed beside her, shaking her head at Alex’s angered action. Wishing she were dead was the last thought she had as she heard Alex’s screams towards Jack in the distance.

Notes

So ... um ... it finally happened oopsie
This is the big climax you all have been waiting for, or for the hardcore Haylex shippers that thought maybe Hayley would choose another option, this is the part you've been dreading. Anyways, it's here and done with and the next chapter will include even MORE drama oooooohhhh
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Rock on \m/