When Hayden came back into the bathroom, he set black folded clothes on the counter beside me. He turned and opened the glass door, pulling the handle upward.

He turned and looked at me, almost shyly.

"I'll, uh, let you get to it, then."

I give him a small smile as he closes the door behind him. Wincing, I hop off the counter and strip. Bare feet cold against the tile, I quickly jump inside the already steamy shower.

I shut the door and let the water cascade down my body. I push my hands through my hair, feeling the tangled knots all around. I grab Hayden's two-in-one shampoo and lather my hair, not really caring how it comes out. I grab his body wash, pouring on my hands.

As I rub my body, I smile a bit to myself; this smells like Hayden. A bit woodsy, a little spicy, and overall manly. I never cared to admit, but Hayden always smelled kinda sexy.

I blink. I never in a million years would've thought that Hayden West was going to be the first person I confided to. I thought, if the day ever came, maybe Avrey. Never, ever Hayden.

And the fact that he was so...respectful. Caring. Kind. That made my stomach flutter a bit. Cause he almost cares, wants me to trust him.

I'm not sure why, but I do.

Looking at his eyes tonight...I knew I could. And that thought terrifies me.

As I'm washing my face, I wince at the soreness I feel on my cheek. Definitely going to bruise, probably. Another bruise hidden by the power of makeup.

I'm tired of hiding.

Hayden believed me. Will others? Will my mom? The police?

I shake my head at my own thoughts. Roy promised worse, and I don't think I'll survive any worse. I really don't.

I finish cleaning my body before finally turning off the water. I step out, seeing a towel folded on a metal rack and grab it, wrapping it around my body. I stare at my reflection in the foggy mirror, hair dripping around me.

I look...well, I look like a dead woman walking.

I didn't even recognize myself, and that brought tears to my eyes. I didn't know this girl, who's eyes looked empty and hollow, or who's face showcased bruises. Who just looked completely broken and done.

I wipe the tear that escaped, looking up towards the ceiling and blinking rapidly. Then with a huff, I finish drying off my body and wrap my hair in the towel as I get dressed. I pull his black, faded Guns N' Roses shirt over my head, then tug his boxers up my legs. I look at myself in the mirror and snort. These clothes literally swallowed me whole.

I shrug slightly, opening the door. Hayden turned to me—was he just pacing?—and instantly, his eyes took in my appearance. Which, actually made me self conscious. I flick off the light and walk towards the bed.

"Um, can you-can you sit here?"

He gestured to the bed, making my brow raise. But I still sit on the edge of the bed, looking at him. He kneels in front of my knees, opening a small bag thing he has sitting beside him.

He doesn't really ask. He just grabs my ankle, very gently, and sets my foot against his knee. My brows furrow, watching with confusion, until he started pouring hydrogen peroxide on a cloth. Then carefully ran it across the sides of my foot.

Of course, I'm ticklish. So I squirm, which makes him look at me.

"Fuck, did I hurt you?"

I shake my head. "No. It just..." I shrug. "Tickles."

A small sigh of relief. He shakes his head. "You scared me for a second."

I just watch as he fumbled around with gauze, alcohol, bandages, going through certain tubes before unscrewing the top and trying to decide which is best.

"Do you know what you're doing?" I tease.

He grins. "I wasn't always the best kid, got myself into trouble a lot," he lifts a shoulder. "I watched my mom do this plenty of times for me."

I nod in understanding. Hayden carefully applies one of the tubes of gel on the cuts I'd sustained running through town barefoot. He's giving my foot a final once-over when I finally can't hold back anymore.

"Why are you doing this for me, Hayden?" His eyes meet mine, making the guilt feel so much worse. "All I've ever been is a bitch to you. So why are you...I dunno, being so nice to me right now?"

"I had equal parts to play in causing you to act out towards me."

"Hayden."

He sighs. "Because, Lina. I've seen you for years take care of Brooks, take care of Avrey, always making sure the people you care about are taken care of before you." He shakes his head slightly. "Maybe it's time for someone to take care of you."

"I don't need pity, Hayden."

"Good, because I don't pity you." He retorts.

"I can take care of myself. I have for this long."

He switched my right foot for my left, placing it on his knee. "Never said you couldn't."

I narrow my eyes at him. "Charity is in the same boat as pity."

"For fuck's sake, Lina," he exasperates. "I don't pity you. Or see you as some charity case. I see you, Lina. And I want to..."

Hayden doesn't finish. He just looks down, continuing on. I don't press for an answer, either. Honestly, I'm not sure if I'm even ready to hear whatever the end of that sentence was.

Once he finished, I let my hair go from the towel, set it aside and crawled back into the bed, completely covering myself in his covers, his smell literally cradling me. Hayden shuts off the lights and I feel the bed dip down once he climbs in.

Lying on my back, I stare at the dark ceiling.

This is the second time that we've been in this...situation. In bed next to each other.

I can almost feel the gravitational pull towards him, which is crazy.

"Lina?" Hayden says quietly after a while.

"Yeah?"

"Did what happen today happen because of me?"

I turn my head towards him. I can't really make out his face, since I can't really see him. I can only see the outline of his nose.

"Why would it have?"

I see his shoulder lift. "Because," he sighs. "I saw you and wanted to piss you off. So I kissed Penelope."

My brows wrinkle together. "Why would that have been your fault?"

"I dunno, it made you leave. And I was glad you stormed off, because I knew it got to you. But then I didn't see you the rest of the day. And, well, now you're hurt."

I don't know why that made my heart melt, but it did. Was he seriously that concerned for me?

"Hayden, what happened happened because Roy is a piece of shit human. It had nothing to do with you. He was going to try it whether or not I had went home early. It's not your fault."

"Are you sure?"

I smile a bit. "Yeah, I'm sure." And then because I couldn't help myself, I ask: "why did you want to piss me off?"

"Come on, Lina. I don't wan—"

"I wanna know. Please?"

A deep exhale. I wait a minute before he finally talks. "To prove to you that girls want me. Despite you not wanting me."

My stomach flutters. I know what I said was hurtful, but I didn't think he actually would feel the need to prove me wrong.

"I'm sorry."

"Why?" I shrug. "It's not like you owe me an apology or anything. You're a grown boy, you do what you want."

"Is it really so hard for you to just shut up and accept what I'm giving you?"

Another flutter.

"Fine."

For a long time—what felt like an eternity—we lay there in silence. It wasn't uncomfortable or anything. But it was quiet. I'd feel the bed shift every time he did, or hear his soft exhales. I knew he wasn't sleeping because of it.

And I tried to sleep. But I couldn't. Every time I closed my eyes, I'd see Roy's ugly face, or hear something he'd say, so I just opened my eyes and stared into the dark.

All I want is sleep. And sadly, the last time I had a peaceful, restful nights sleep was when I was here.

"Hayden?"

"Yeah?"

I inhale. "Can you...uh, would you just, like, hold me? Not that you have to, but I just-I'd just appreciate it."

Silence.

I feel my face heat up in embarrassment. Why did I have to open my fat mouth?

Then, I feel him inch closer to me. One of his arms grabs my waist as he slides his other arm under my head and pulls me to his chest. His warmth immediately envelopes me, making my stomach flip. He moves around a bit, getting in a comfortable position for us both.

"I don't normally cuddle in bed, Andrews."

I can feel his smirk, which makes me roll my eyes. "Don't flatter yourself, buddy."

"I dunno," he says playfully. "I think you might be starting to like me."

Why did my stomach erupt with butterflies when he said that?

"You wish."

"Maybe just a little."

"Shut up," I laugh to stop the nerves in my stomach.

I rest my head against his chest, wrapping my arms around him. He rests his head on top of mine, sighing.

"You smell like me," he chuckles.

"Not by choice." I remind.

"Yeah, I know. It's just weird, I guess. Normally you smell like cherries and, like, vanilla or some shit. Now you just smell like me."

"Sorry to disappoint." I look up at him. "Maybe you should smell like me, then we wouldn't have this problem."

"Yeah, no."

I grin, pressing my ear against his chest. My eyes flutter shut, listening to the beat of his heart—which sounded a bit irregular and was oddly soothing. I felt myself relaxing, letting go of life in general and melting into this moment.

I was drifting, more and more each passing minute. I felt myself slipping into sleep, which is what I craved for so desperately.

As I was drifting, though, I heard Hayden's soft voice echo through my head.

"Don't worry, Lina. I'm not gonna let anyone hurt you anymore."

And with a smile on my face, I finally drifted into a peaceful slumber.

A/N

Agh, I rewrote this chapter like 57 times and still am not completely happy >~<

Thanks for reading, lovelies! Don't forget to vote, comment, etc!! <33