Reasons For My Lies

Chapter 7

Hayley's POV:

*BEEB...BEEEP* I wake up, slightly groggy from a long night. Tutoring went longer than expected, which did not impress my father, as it caused him to have less drinks last night. I sigh and get out of bed, repeating my normal morning routine. As I reached the porch, I found Nate sitting on the chairs waiting for my arrival. "Good Morn.." he begins to say. I interrupt him by clasping my hand to his mouth and dragging him to the chicken pen at the back of the house. "What are you doing here!" I snapped, "my father would not approve of me being around you". He steps in, closing the space between us, "why? daddy thinks I'm dangerous?" he replies, trying to intimidate me. I push him back in retaliation and go to walk away. "I want to know about Chloe?" he demands. Our eyes connect, me searching for sympathy and him searching for answers. "She's Dead!" I reply, my expression turning cold. "What happened?" he demands again. "Not here Nate" I sharply reply. "Yes" he demands louder, this time slamming his hand against the coup, causing the chickens to stir. "I can't talk about it here Nate" I repeat, looking past him, begging my father not to wake. "Please" he begs, softening his tone. I look back at him, now defeated and broken "I need to know...please" he pleaded further. 

I jump out of car, awaiting Nate's arrival. I decided to leave my father a note, stating I had gone into school early for tutoring. He wouldn't be happy and I would certainly hear about it when I came home this afternoon. However, he had less beer bottles around him this morning and could use it to his advantage for a good excuse. Nate pulls in beside my car and gets out quickly. We walk in silence towards the river, taking a seat in the same place as yesterday. "So?" Nate says, breaking the silence. "Look, I don't know what exactly happened that night", Nate snaps his head to the side, making eye contact with me. "But what I do know is her remains where found in the fire a few days later". I watch carefully for his expression. "And", his eyes look up, meeting mine once again. "I know you caused the fire", I respond. He sighs remorsefully and looks out towards the river, "Yes...I was held accountable for the fire", he replies, confirming my claim. "Held accountable?" I thought. I look towards the river, holding back the tears, I thought had dried up years ago. "What about her sister?" he quizzes and turns back to face me. "Hayley?" I respond, "she's no longer here".

Nate jumps to his feet and punches the tree on his right. I jump from his sudden movements. "What are you doing?" I question his stupidity. "she died too?" he retaliates. I begin to laugh, causing him to turn and face me, his expression colder than ever. I respond by waving my hands in the air "No Hayley's alive, just...uh...doesn't exist in this town anymore" I continue to lie. He releases a relieving sigh. "I should get going", I say getting up on my feet. He walks over to me grabbing my hand and captivating my complete attention. "Thank you" he says softly, "and I'm sorry too", he adds sincerely. I search his eyes of sorrows and speak the words I feared I'd never have to ask, "did you do it?". His grip tightens around my hand, "would you believe me If I said I didn't?". Silence filled the air between us. I step in closer, filling the gap, searching his eyes further for the answers to my questions. His hand moves from my hand to my hip, keeping me close to him. "yes" I breathe, as his sudden touch sends an electric shock through my body. Nate licks his lips as he looks down to mine, causing me to mirror his actions. *RIIIING* Nate's phone rings, breaking the tension between us. I quickly pull away, "I have to go", I say and begin to walk back to our cars.

I pull into the high school carpark about 40mins to early and sigh. "I need to have more self control around him" I told myself, stepping out of the car and reaching for my school bag. Nate pulls into the spot next me. "argh..really!" I thought to myself, instantly annoyed by his presence. "CARTER!" I look to my left, seeing a girl from my squad, running in my direction. "Jenny?" I reply sweetly, switching into my high school persona. Its an automatic change, I've become accustom too. "Your here early.." she pauses, looking to her left at Nate getting out of his car. He winks at her with his dangerous charm and she instantly blushes. "Is there something I can help you with, Jenny!?" I say agitated with the flirting between them. She snaps her head back at me, "um...no sorry", she says nervously, walking away faster then she appeared. I rub my temples and sigh, ashamed by my attitude. I look over to Nate, now leaning over his car, studying my every move. "What are you smiling at?" I question, my tone soft but slightly tense. "Oh nothing......Caaaarter"", he mocks with a cheeky wink and pulling out a cigarette. I scrunch my face up and frown, then walk towards the entrance, refusing to acknowledge his win.

Seeing as I arrived at school early, I decided to collect the books needing to be returned to the library from my locker. Majority of them were for my secret tutoring sessions, so this would be a perfect time to collect more, without the sneaking around. I walk into the Library, greeting the Librarian, Janine and handing over the books to be returned. I advised her that I would be collecting more and walk off towards the hall of books. 10 minutes pass and I re-run through the list in my head, balancing a stack of books in my left arm. "ah yes, the poetry assignment" I remind myself, while ticking a imaginary check box. I walk past three shelfs, looking down each hallway and taking in the smell of old books. As I reach my destination, I stop, feeling startled and confused. Taken by surprise and dropping the books from my left arm, causing them to stare in my direction. "Cassie!?" I react.

"Hayley!" Charlie responds, surprised and pushing Cassie behind him, as she fixes herself. "Are you together?" I interrogate. They both nod, red rushing to their cheeks with embarrassment. I look Cassie in the eyes, as she comes out from behind Charlie. Hers guilty and ashamed and mine colder than ever. "You kept this a secret?...HIM a secret, from everyone!?” I continue to protest. She goes to speak, but I quickly cut her off and turn my attention towards Charlie. "AND YOU!" my voice now louder and eyes darker from rage. "What about.." I start breathing heavily and my heart pounds against my chest, trying to escape. "What about Chloe" I say through clenched teeth. His eyes close tightly shut and takes in a deep breath. I hastily gather my books and walk off before he could respond, refusing to listen to their explanations in my rage. 

As I reach my locker, I shove the books in quickly and slammed my locker door, creating an echo down the hall. *BANG* No longer aware of my surroundings, I spin around into Nate's arms suddenly appearing and wrapping around me. "GET OFF HER!" A mans voices shouts from the end of the Hall. I quickly push Nate off me, turning to the direction of the familiar voice. "What did you do to her?" Jake accuses, pushing Nate with one arm and pulling me in with his other. I try to speak, but as if someone had ripped out my voice box, nothing comes out. "Jake McCoy", Nate teases, crossing his arms. He looks down at me, noticing my hand was resting on Jake's chest. His pupils grew wider, turning black. "YOUR WITH HIM!?" He shouts, staring directly through me. I look up at him with confusion in my eyes, trying to figure out if it was pain or anger he was feeling. Jake pushes me behind him, stepping in closer to Nate and trying to tower over him. "STOP!" I scream, now looking at them both. "Nothing happened ok!" I argue sternly. "Just drop it!". I storm off to my car, ignoring the calls behind me and speed off down the road. No longer able to hold back the tears, I park on the side of the street and sob. "How could Charlie move on from my sister and with her!" I taunt myself. "doesn't he know she break her heart, like he did to me!".