The Tables Have Turned

The Tables Have Turned

Chapter 37

“Were you eavesdropping?” Chase asked.

“N-no,” I stammered as I stood up. “I just… I um I love sitting on this carpet.”

Paul smirked at me and I shot him a glare. Chase snickered and shook his head at me.

“You should get awarded for coming up with the lamest excuses in the world,” Paul said and I scowled.

“Shut up, idiot,” I said and he chuckled.

“What a lovely weather outside,” Chase said in fake happiness. “Let’s go for a walk, Paul.”

I rolled my eyes at them. It was freaking raining outside. “Don’t get struck by lightning!” I called over my shoulder and they laughed.

That was it. Moment of truth.

I took a deep breath and looked up at Alex. His blue eyes were shining with tears as he looked down at me.

“How much did you hear?” He croaked out.

“What are you talking about?” I asked and mentally slapped myself for it. Really? What are you talking about? That’s the best my brain could come up with?

“What did you hear, Hailey?” He asked again.

“Oh you know, your voice, Chase’s voice, and Paul’s—” I kept on mentally scolding myself as I rambled. Wow, my brain doesn’t work well when I’m nervous.

“Hailey!” He cut me off.

I sighed and closed my eyes for a brief second. No more lying, I thought to myself.

I then walked into the game room and pulled him with me. I didn’t want to have the conversation in the hallway because I had a suspicion that Paul and Chase were ‘taking a walk’ in the kitchen right next to us.

I sat on the couch and he sat next to me. We stayed silent for a few moments before I finally spoke.

“I heard it, Alex, I heard enough.”

He lowered his head and put both of his hands on either side of it. I kept on looking at him, waiting for him to say something, but he didn’t. Instead of hearing him speak, I saw two tears escape his eyes. It didn’t stop there because many tears followed after.

My heart squeezed at how sad and hurt he looked.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered as he lifted his head slightly to look at me. “I’m so sorry.”

Looking at him, crying and hurting, made my love for him increase. I’ve always loved guys who weren’t afraid to cry or show their emotions.

I lifted my right hand and gently wiped away his tears. What surprised me was that he kept on crying. I felt my eyes burn as I felt like crying too. I’m never able to watch someone cry without crying too.

And so I started crying too.

“Look what you did,” I told him, chuckling. “Please stop crying.”

“I can’t,” he said. “I love you so much and it hurts.”

“I know the feeling,” I mumbled as my heart started beating faster at his words.

“Can I…” he started. “Can I hug you?”

I looked into his blue eyes as I thought of the small request that meant so much to the both of us. I wanted to fight with him and yell at him for hurting me but what was the point of it? I loved him and he loved me and that’s all I needed, but I wasn’t going to forgive him that easily. Yet, I needed that hug right now as much as he needed it.

Without a second of hesitation, I moved closer to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. Immediately, his arms reached around my waist and he pulled me tightly against him.

“At first, all I wanted was revenge. I wanted you to know how much you hurt me that day but then I started to fall for you even more than before. I didn’t want to feel like that anymore. I didn’t want to love you again so I broke up with you just like I had been planning to but it made me feel so much worse because I still loved you. I thought that after the breakup, I would feel better about myself but I didn’t. Then you and Paul started the whole fake dating thing and it hurt me even more because he’s my best friend and I love you. When you confessed that you still love me earlier today, I-I wanted to tell you that I love you too but I didn’t because I know you don’t deserve me. I’m a jerk and you are better off without me. I thought that I should get over you and you will get over me too because you’re beautiful and soon every guy would want to go out with you and you’ll find someone better than me. But I just couldn’t stop loving you and I can’t accept the thought of you being with another guy. I need you Hailey.”