"What are you doing?"
I ask Hayden
We're in someone's bedroom
The door is shut
Hayden runs his fingers through his hair, pulling at the ends
"Morgan, you can't go out with Beck"
"Not this again"
Since Erin told us about Beck
Hayden has been telling me that I cannot
Under any circumstances
Go out with Beck
"I mean it, Morgan
You can't -"
"See, that's where you're wrong
I can
I can go out with Beck
If I want to
And you know why?
Because I am single
Aren't I?
You're not my boyfriend
So if I want to say yes to Beck
I damn well can"
"You damn well can't!"
Hayden yelled
I jumped at the sound of his voice
I've never heard him so angry before
I've never seen him look so...
Possessive before
I'm not sure I like this side of him
"Hayden, you've made it clear to me in the past
So let me make this clear to you now"
My voice was calm
My insides were on fire
"These past few months
I've done everything you've asked
I kept our secret
I never once told anyone that you and I are...
I don't even know what to call it
It's not dating
Fucking?
Is that all it was?"
Hayden frowned
"You know that's not all it was"
"Do I?
Because from where I'm stood
That's what it seems like"
Now it was my turn to brush my fingers through my hair
"Whatever
It doesn't matter
Because whatever it was
We weren't dating
And like I said
I kept your secret
But I'm done with that now"
"Don't say that, Morgan"
"Why not?
Why can't I say that?
Huh?"
"Because -"
"Because what, Hayden?
Like I said
I kept your secret
But I'm done with that now
Beck is a decent guy
And I like him enough
So if I want to say yes
If I want to go out with him
I will"
"Morgan -"
"Unless"
I say carefully
"You can give me a reason
A really good reason
To say no"
Hayden walks towards me
"What do you want from me, Morgan?"
"Nothing"
I answer honestly
"I don't want anything from you
All I've ever wanted is you
Just you"
"You know I can't do that
That I can't make us public"
He says
"Why not?"
I challenge
I've always known the reason that we can't go public
The reason that Hayden doesn't want us to go public
But he's never said it
It's the unspoken word between us
But right now
At this critical juncture in our...
Situationship
It can't go left unsaid any longer
We have to acknowledge this
And it's not because I'm no one
Of because I'm the next-door neighbor
Or the sister's best friend
For once, it's none of those clichés
"Just say the word, Hayden
Say it
Or else I will"
