Sorry this chapter took so long!!
Highest rank on the hot list over the last two weeks - #44 in Chick Lit and we hit 15k! That's absolutely incredible!!

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© 2017 Shay Spencer. All rights reserved.

Something Real

[ Chapter 26 - Hayden ] Not Your Caliber

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Scarlett Blaine had a hold on me like no one else ever had before. It was no surprise that I looked like a loner sitting at an empty bar as I awaited her arrival.

"Can I get you anything else, sir?" The bartender cut into my depressing thoughts with a caring smile. He looked to be all of sixteen, but he'd been nice enough, and it wasn't like I was going to tell on him.

I tossed the last of my fries back into the basket, "yeah. Another round."

He nodded before rushing off through the doors kitchen doors once more. If Scarlett didn't get here soon with the food, I'd be all filled up on French fries and my liquor of choice.

Staring solemnly into my now empty glass of bourbon, all I could think about was that stupid smile I would get on my face when I saw her again. I was whipped, and there was no getting around that.

Our date had been life changing, if I could even put it that way, and I knew Scarlett had thought the same thing. We'd been practically inseparable since that night, much to the dismay of our Brady Bunch like family.

Needless to say, I'd gotten quite a few glares and side-eyes from Wren over the last forty-eight hours.

As for the rest of the family, Jay was oblivious as always, but of course mommy and daddy had to put in their two cents on the matter. It's not like Scarlett and I had come clean about anything, or having feelings for each other for that matter, but no one was about to drop it until they got to the bottom of things.

Like that would ever happen.

"Is she still out there?" I recognized that nervous laughter anywhere, and I hated to say I almost expected it.

I'd asked Scarlett to meet me at some dive bar on the edge of town. Seeing those two idiots here wasn't exactly shocking.

"She didn't see us," Axel laughed as he patted Eddy on the back reassuringly. "I think we're in the clear."

The two stumbled up to the far edge of the bar near the open door, sliding themselves onto the barstools there after. Eddy rested his chin against the cool wood as he waited for the man behind the bar to take his order.

"Hayden," he spoke up, his eyes widening at the sight of me. "What are you doing here?"

Every fiber of my being wanted to walk right out of here without answering either of them.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, buying me a small out as a text from Scarlett popped up on my lock screen.

I hate to do this, but I ran into Zane and he's getting way too suspicious. See you at home?

"God damn it, Scar," I muttered under my breath. She'd singlehandedly gotten me into the worst situation of my life.

I will not take the blame for being the one to pick out the dive bar.

Axel's every brows popped up and down at the sight of me, the man giving me a once over with a cocky grin before pushing himself up from his seat. "Pen. This isn't exactly your caliber."

"But it meets your standards perfectly." I nodded, sipping at the dredges of my drink.

I turned away from the two, clicking on Scarlett's contact and holding the phone over my ear as I waited for her to pick up. I was not planning to go the rest of the night without seeing her, even if it meant she had to see Zane first.

"I'm so sorry," she groaned quietly into the phone. "I just ran into him and-"

"Now he won't let you out of his sight," I summed up for her, running a hand through my hair. "Don't eat anything, I'd still like to have dinner with you. It can be McDonald's for all I care."

"But I just bought all this food," Scarlett whined. "I think our parents are heading out to dinner with Wren and Jay though? We can eat at the Pennington mansion without getting interrupted."

"Or we get caught. But I like our odds, Blaine," I teased. "See you in a bit."

"Bye, Hayden."

I smiled, knowing how spastic she would be around Zane on a night like this. He was intruding on a date between she and I, there was no doubt Scarlett would be at a loss for words around her supposed boyfriend.

I would honestly pay to see it.

"You ignoring us, Pen?" Axel piped up, looking back to Eddy as he tossed his body further up the bar. "Although now I don't really blame you."

"Just heading out, actually. Hope you can get a handle on Eddy."

"What are you doing on this side of town, anyway?" Axel brushed right past my comment, gracefully taking the seat next to me and forcing me back down onto mine. "Aren't you a Beverly man now?"

I rolled my eyes, "not by choice."

Axel stayed quiet for once in his life as the bartender flashed right past us on his way over to Eddy, the man in question pointing to the bottle of scotch on the top of the shelf. Within thirty seconds, Eddy had his entire body wrapped around the thing and was making his way over to us.

"What did you do to him?" I asked, pushing my glass closer to the edge for the bartender to refill it. Eddy slummed into the seat on the opposite side of me, the two caging me in. "He looks worse than the time we rode down to New Orleans for Mardi Gras."

"He's been better," Axel merely shrugged. He reached around me, taking the bottle of scotch out of Eddy's hands. "You okay man?"

"Fine," Eddy grumbled before resting his head on my shoulder. "How are you, Hayden?"

"Better than you," I sighed, gently pushing Eddy off my shoulder and onto the bar. "How'd you guys find this place?"

"We could ask you the same thing," Axel smirked as he poured the scotch over top of the bourbon in my glass. "We're hiding from one of my ex's. She's apparently in town for some conference."

"What are the odds," I commented, swirling the melted ice cubes around in my drink. "She from New York?"

"She's crazy enough to be," he shook his head. "She's from Maine, I'm pretty sure. We met up while she was finishing her-"

"Axel," I cut him off. "As much as I'd love to hear your crazy ex-girlfriend's backstory, I have places to be."

"You just ordered another round, Pen."

"So what? I can always come back when you're not around."

"How about a toast, then? To our once again impending hatred on this lowly night in the worst part of Los Angeles."

"Count me out," I mumbled as I threw two twenty dollar bills over the bar. I hopped up from my seat, shoving my wallet into my back pocket before Axel caught hold of my arm.

"Come on, Pen. One drink for old times sake."

"Hard pass, mi amigo," I shot back, shaking Axel's hand off me.

"I once recall you begging to have a drink with us," Axel called after me. "How the times have changed. You've sure come a long way from that pesky eighteen year old that used to trail after his older brother and his friends."

"You can pull the whole 'I was your mentor once' card all you want, it's not going to change anything. I don't want to have a drink with you," I hissed. "You're out at some bar on the edge of town hiding from a girl who's still broken up over you, and you dragged your friend down along with you. Eddy's not like you, or even Zane. They've got a good heads on em' when they're not around you. I've even found one too after all this time

"Hayden-"

"No," I took a step forward. "I've said this before, and I'll say it a thousand times more. I don't ever want to know you. After all that time we were friends and you still fucked me over in the end-"

"I'm sorry, man," Axel tried. "We all are."

"What an honor," I rolled my eyes. "This coming from someone who is, again, hiding in a empty bar and waiting for some girl to leave what is probably his hotel. I can't believe I ever wanted to be like you."

"Oh please," Axel chuckled. The man stood up from his stool and strode over to me, placing a hand on either of my shoulders to hold me in place. "I know you're running off to meet some girl, you were always wanting to be the monogamist type. But even if you've forgotten who you really are, I haven't. That's why I wanted to take you under my wing in the first place. You're just like me Hayden. We play the field. That's how it is."

"Not anymore," I scoffed. "It's actually sad that you're still gallivanting around trying to find someone who'll take you as you are. Even if you won't admit that you want it. I found someone without even looking, and I wouldn't give that up for the world. So don't go playing god on me. You're a tool and a half, Axel."

I walked out of the bar without looking back, despite the fact that I heard Eddy hurling on the bartender.

-

"We must try the new seafood place on sunset," Angel announced as I walked in the door. She smiled at the sight of me. "Hayden! Do you happen to know where Scarlett is?"

"She ran into Zane," I said without thinking much about it. "I was on my way home when she texted me."

"Oh good," she sighed. "There's food in the fridge if you need anything, but we'll all be back around ten. We're catching a show."

"Going to the movies," Wren corrected with a glare shot in my direction. "Tell Scar I say hi."

"Will do."

Elias and Jay filed out of the house without another word, whereas Angel planted a quick kiss on my cheek in her wake. Wren however hung back a few seconds, and as soon as the coast was clear, she slapped me.

On the face.

"What the hell?" I hissed in pain. "I haven't done anything to you all day. Maybe in days past, but not today."

"You need to stop sneaking around with Scarlett. You're both just fooling yourselves. I can't get through to her, so I might as well try with you," she rambled on as I rubbed the handprint on my cheek. After meeting Wren that night in the club, I had taken her for a pretty girl who wouldn't lift a finger.

Man I was wrong about her.

"For the last fucking time, I'm not sneaking around with anyone. Definitely not Scarlett."

"Sure," Wren smiled snidely back at me. "Just remember this moment next time you go make a move on my best friend."

The girl stalked out of the room and slammed the door behind her.

I shook my head, keeping a hand over my reddened cheek as I turned and made my way towards the kitchen. I pulled out a water bottle, keeping it over my cheek instead before deciding to head upstairs. If I was right, Zane would have held Scarlett back at the restaurant on the far side of town. It would be ages before she got back.

I took each step quickly, making sure to keep the cool bottle over my face when I did. I wouldn't be caught dead with Wren's handprint on my face tomorrow morning.

"Hayden?" Scarlett called into the void downstairs. I paused where I was and walked back down the stairs, stopping as I saw the rattled look on her face.

"What happened? Did he-"

"Zane told me everything," she spoke up as she shut the door behind her. "About what happened before you got kicked out of U-Pen."

I could literally feel my blood running cold.

Letting the bottle of water fall to the floor beside me, I the last few steps slowly, keeping my eye on her.

"Listen, Scar," I started warily. "Whatever he said, I can explain it. I was a completely different person back then-"

Scarlett's lips sloppily falling into mine stopped me from finishing my sentence. She'd been annoying in her interruptions before, but this one, I could get used to.

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Hayden had quite the run-in with Axel and Eddy... How do you guys think Scarlett's time with Zane went??

We'll finally find out why Hayden hates the guys so much next chapter!

And I'm so sorry for the wait guys! I started writing this late last night and didn't start up again until this afternoon - took me forever but this is the longest chapter I've written for a while 😜

The next chapter will be up on the 26th! A sneak peek should be up on Saturday!

Remember to vote guys!

Thank you all!