As a special thank you for all the love and the high ranking this last week, there will be two very special chapters this week!

Hayden's getting his very own chapter too!

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© 2017 Shay Spencer. All rights reserved.

Something Real

[ Chapter 23 - Hayden's POV ] Scarlett Blaine Will Be The Death of Me

*Taking place the day after Las Vegas + The morning of Scarlett's fitting*

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The mansion was quiet, probably for the first night since our extended family decided to move in; and it was eerily empty for a house of it's size with nearly five occupants. What are the odds, right?

"Hayden!" Jay called, spurring me up from my daze.

"What?" I shoved my camera under my sheets, throwing a pillow on top of it for good measure.

Jay popped his head into my room, glancing around as if I was hiding something. "Are Wren or Scarlett around? I haven't seen them since Vegas. It's been like, a long time since we got back from the airport."

At least now I knew what he was looking for.

"Wren finally got sick of the whole grown up jock routine? Took her long enough," I shrugged. "She'll hold out for any sort of inheritance, I guess."

Jay twisted his face up at me, silently letting me know the inner pain that he must have felt with my truthful words.

I huffed in annoyance, "no, I haven't seen them for a few hours."

"Well," Jay whined. "Tell me if you hear anything."

"Will do," I mocked. Jay rolled his eyes and strode back out of my room, leaving me alone once again.

Before all this family drama started up, I could sit alone in here for hours at a time. Elias never worried about where I was or what I was doing, and Jay had basically written me off as a brother or a friend. Now, since Scarlett came around, people expect things from me. They come in to my private wing and ask things of me, almost like they think I know what the hell is going on around here.

Which, for the record, I never do. I can barely keep up with Scarlett's antics, or Angel's mood swings. I wasn't sure how to feel about all this.

I picked myself up off my bed, leaving the sheets ruffled in just the way I liked them. It was strange really, anytime I got back in bed, it still smelled like Scarlett; since that night she stayed in my room, at least. It was comforting in a way, and yet it left me wanting to wash my sheets for the first time in a while.

Freaking Blaine.

I waltzed down the stairs, stopping on the last step with the loud knock that sounded on the front door. Almost no one ever knocked anymore. We would have heard from the gate if someone had wanted in.

I shook my head and walked over, pulling the large door open and frowning at the person standing in front of me.

"You selling cookies or something? Because otherwise, I'm not letting you in."

Zane practically groaned back at me, "no. Why would I be selling cookies? I'm here to see Scarlett."

"Well maybe she doesn't want to see you," I narrowed my eyes in on him. "You probably should have called first, Zane. She hates when you interrupt our private time."

He basically shivered in disgust. "Is she here or not?"

"I think she's with Wren," I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest. "Why? Haven't heard from her lately?"

"Look man-"

"No, you look man," I shot back. "If Scarlett wants to talk to you, you and I both know she'll make herself heard."

"I wasn't going to ask about Scarlett," Zane huffed. "I know you're still pissed at me and the guys. I know you still hate me for what I did, and if you're going to keep up this whole bad guy facade around Scarlett and the others, then-"

"Then what?" I challenged. "You'll get me kicked out of school? Have me take the fall for every single thing you and those other jackasses got into? Sorry pal, you already did."

Zane stood rooted in his place, not moving and not letting another stupid word fall out of his mouth.

"Call her," I ordered before slamming the door in his face. He deserved worse, anyways; and Scarlett definitely deserved better than that jackass.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and flicked my fingers across the screen until Scarlett's name flashed across my contacts.

Blaine, get your boyfriends in check. Zane's making house calls and you know how I feel about talking to your mistresses.

-

"You'll need to have your suit refitted too, Hayden. Angel's with Scarlett and Wren now for their final fittings." Elias nodded as he flipped through his morning paper. If anyone in this family was the typical American lawyer, it was my father. What a chump.

"No problem, Elias," I sighed. I reached out, picking at the edge of my bagel.

"Hayden," he scolded. "I'm your father."

"What else is knew?"

He looked as if it was the most strenuous act to keep from rolling his eyes, "call me dad, or father if you're feeling polite. Even Wren's calling me dad-"

"And that's not the problem?" I scoffed, having to hold back my laughter. "If Wren's calling you dad, or even worse daddy, I think you've got bigger fish to fry. Father."

"Hayden," he warned. "I'm not playing around. You and Scarlett are the only hold out's on this family's merger. You know how dearly I love Angel, and I don't need you two-"

"Fucking it up." I finished for him, ignoring his glare with my rebel vocabulary. "I got it. Now, before you go and give me a lecture on how this family is supposed to work, I'll save you the breath. There's somewhere I need to be."

"Hayden," Elias yelled. The man stood up from his seat and motioned for me to sit back down. "You will listen to what I have to say, because it's imperative that you get this through your head. This family will be just that, a family. This means no fooling around with your sister-"

"What the hell do you think we're doing at night? You guys are right down the hall," I laughed back at him.

"I know you, and I know you stayed the night in her hotel room. So cut it out now, or else."

"Alright, pops," I smirked. I stalked out of the room, not looking back at the man as his jaw hit the floor with my exit. Although I'm used to getting reactions like that, I wasn't used to my father accusing me of something like that. Before everything went down at Pen State, he trusted me.

Everything had changed since we'd gotten to Beverly Hills.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, lighting up with Wren's many Instagram updates from the bridal shop. There was even a notification of a picture Scarlett had been tagged in.

I smiled as I swiped over and unlocked my phone. Though it couldn't have helped any that the picture was of she and Zane from their date yesterday. Scarlett had barely given me the time of day since we'd gotten back from Las Vegas. She'd even neglected to stay here the last night.

I hated that she couldn't even see me, but I knew deep down that she didn't trust herself around me right now.

If I was going to see this stupid thing through, despite my dad's tries and Zane's obvious advantage, I'd have to step up my game.

I pulled up her number once more.

I miss you, Blaine, and I can't quit thinking about all that's happened these last few weeks. I need to see you, and don't go getting all worried about Elias or your mom finding out. I'll set aside a place of our own so we can finally talk. Take me seriously, for once in your life.

I nodded to myself before slipping my phone and my keys into my back pocket. I knew just the place, and with any luck, it's knock more than her socks off.

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Elias went after Hayden too?? Who would have thought everyone would find out? Tell me what you think!

The next chapter will be up tomorrow!

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Thanks you all!