Her Curse

Chapter 3

Haley’s POV

THUNK!! Next thing I know, I’m on the ground. I really need to pay more attention to where I’m going. “We really need to stop meeting like this, Hales, someone might get the wrong impression.” I hear a masculine voice say as I’m still trying to collect my thoughts. Wait… did I just hear him call me Hales?? I mean.. I’m shocked that someone even knows my name but to call me Hales… maybe Mia is onto something with this full moon thing. Crazy things are happening. “Oh, I’m so sorry!” I say as I begin to look up at whoever seems to know my name. “I rea- oh… I… uh…” Daxton Harper. I ran into Daxton harper… AGAIN!! I’m speechless as I want to run away. I suddenly feel hot and so nervous. This is more than embarrassment but I’m not quite sure what's wrong with me. “Dax, ugh let's go, SHE isn’t worth our time!” Becca says with all the disdain she can muster. What’s her problem? Oh right, I literally slammed into her boyfriend and he gave me a speck of attention, how dare I? Internally rolling my eyes. “Oh calm your t**s, Bec” he says, earning me a glare that could kill from Becca. “But Dax, I don’t want to be late to class!” she stamps her foot this time, really playing all the cards that always get her her way. “Then go” Daxton says not giving her anything more, there was a tone to his voice that even I wanted to get up and leave. To be fair, I’d give anything to get out of here right now. “UGHHH, Daxton Harper, you are mine! Don’t forget that!” Becca yells as she turns to leave.

Confusion must have been written all over my face because he said “Don’t worry about Becca, she’s harmless.” Becca wasn’t at all what I was worried about. I am no competition for her but WHY is Daxton Harper still hanging around me? WHY am I still lying helplessly on the ground? God, Haley, get up! As I started to gather my things together and get up, I feel like I was on my feet as soon as the thought crossed my mind. Books in hand. “You’ve got Mr. Biggs 7th period right?” Daxton asks with so much curiosity in his eyes. “Uhm, y-yeah” is all I can muster for a response. The way his arms felt around me when he stood at my feet sent a shiver of chills through my body and a pool of warmth and tingles down below. I’m pretty sure he noticed the change in my body temperature by the look of accomplishment on his face. He composed himself very quickly but I caught it. “Me too, let me walk with you?” he asks ever so genuinely. “I- I’m not sure that Becca would appreciate that.” I said. Daxton and I have always had every class together. It’s almost magical that it’s been that way. From preschool up through senior year. Daxton Harper and Haley Grant, in ABC order, we were always next to each other too. Now that we’re in high school, the only times we end up next to each other is at our lockers and when we walk for graduation. I always felt special growing up to be the one next to Daxton Harper. He’s always been a heart throb. He’s never noticed me, until now, I suppose. No one has ever really noticed me, it’s always been a little strange. “Well, that’s a risk I’m willing to take, you slammed into me pretty hard. You could have a concussion. It's irresponsible of me to leave you alone” he says, with a wink and smile that would melt anyone. It’s getting so hot out here, maybe I do have a concussion. RRIIIINNNGGG!!! Saved by the bell, again. “Ha, um… well, I guess we need to get to class then” I say as I take a step to leave and my legs give out. “Whoa, let's take it slow” Daxton says as he catches me. He seems so sweet, so caring. This is not the Daxton that show boats around campus, maybe I misjudged him. I feel my entire body relax in his arms, this feels safe. “Mmm…” I moan before I’m aware of what I’m doing. Oh my god, Haley, what the f**k was that?! Mmm…?? Mmm….?? I want to be invisible again. “Are you okay, Hales?” he asks, as if I didn’t just moan while in his arms. “I, uh, I- I’m okay. I think we should get to class” I say as I attempt to walk confidently on my own. I can hear him chuckle under his breath as he takes my books and follows me to class.

“Mr Harper, Miss uh- I’m sorry I don’t believe you're in the right class sweetheart but so nice of you to join us” see.. Invisible. Mr. Biggs has to make a scene of anyone who is late to his class. He doesn’t often pick on Daxton though. I assume it’s the football quarterback, daddy runs the town thing. “Biggs” Daxtons says with a nod and I can see Mr. Biggs take a gulp of air like he messed up. “This sweetheart’s name is Haley Grant, she’s been in this classroom all year long” he continues, just as Becca Friedman has to pipe up. “Daxton, leave the dog outside and come sit down, baby” earning her an uproar of laughter from the entire class. I feel so humiliated. Yesterday, I was as invisible as I could get, and today, I’m the talk of the school, to have the ability to disappear right now… just then, a smug voice comes from the back “Harper, why are you wasting Biggs’ precious time? This is boring” Griffin Greene says with a theatrical yawn, earning more giggles. The look on Daxton’s face shows nothing but embarrassment and I felt a huge pain in my gut and my eyes were filling with tears. Haley, you can’t cry, you can’t cry… Daxton looks at me with a painful glimmer in his eyes and then says “You’re right, Griff, I was feeling charitable. Biggs, get on with it.” At that moment, I couldn’t take it anymore and I started running. School has always been safe for me. No Lydia, no one barking orders or hurting me… no one ever noticed me and, as much as I thought I wanted that to be different.. I would give anything to disappear right now.

I ran out of school, passed my house, into the forest and just kept going. It felt so good, so freeing. I just kept going, I let all my fears and frustrations, all of the pain over the last 18 years take over my body and I just ran. I could hear the falls just up ahead, the town's limits are about 100 yards on the other side. I could be free of Spring Ridge now and not have to worry about waiting until graduation. Especially now that everyone knows my name, and not in a good way. A small shot of fear went through me but I ignored it as best as I could. I wasn’t going to let Lydia get to me out here. I’m sure there isn’t anything actually dangerous about being at the waterfall. I decided to keep my distance and head around it either way. I wasn’t looking for any more negative to hit me today. Just as soon as I made it passed the falls I felt a sharp stabbing pain rip through my entire body. “AHHH!!!” I screamed out loud. I have never felt anything so painful in my life. Feeling as if my heart was going to explode, my insides being ripped from my body, I was unable to see anything, I was in so much pain. I couldn’t move, I lay there in the fetal position, screaming as I’m praying for it to end. All I could think about was Lydia telling me the falls were dangerous and I wasn’t allowed there. Damn it, she was right. I’ll never live it down if she ever finds out. That can never happen. Everything goes black. I’ve passed out from the pain and the exhaustion of running so far. Maybe I could have been a cross country star…