Strings

Chapter 23

Hayden raises an eyebrow, the only response letting me know that he was not expecting this reaction. But it comes as quickly as it goes, his face settling back to calm and collected.

And I know, god I just know that he was doing that too for my benefit. So I dont feel guilty. like he knows so much about me.

Wordlessly he continues to try to help me find a more comfortable and balanced stance but that just makes me more angry. He is no one to care so much about me; my pain, my problems, my betrayals, none of it should concern him. He has no right to come, show up, and pretend in any way to care about me, and it made me furious beyond belief.

"Hayden, I think I said I can walk on my own, just leave me alone, why is that so hard for you? you've had no trouble doing it before." I say right in the middle of somehow breaking down and yet yelling at the same time,

"Avery what, I just-

"You just what Hayden? you just what? you just take pity on me, you look at me and you see someone crippled, damaged beyond repair, alone and completely pathetic and what now you feel like doing good by the hopeless girl that no one seems to bother with, not even her own family?

I'll tell you what Hayden, you're just like the rest, you're just like my lying mother, my bitch of a sister and my father if I can still even call him that and you're just looking for ways to use me, market me, sell me, do whatever the hell you want to do with me as per your convenience because for some god-forsaken reason everyone just treats me like a rag doll that is of no greater use than playing around with"

"Avery that's not fair and you know that; just please calm down, this is your grief talking." Hayden says slowly, his voice still suave but I can detect the concern, I can hear his raspy breath and his patience manages to subside my anger a little bit but not all the way; not even close.

"And how would you know what I am like? what my grief is like? what would you know about anything Hayden? To you, I am nothing more than a contract that you were made to sign so guess what, I see through you Hayden Xavier Knight, so just stop pretending to care about me.
W-Why do you even bother acting like that, like you're my damn family, because you're not Hayden; you're not my family so stop just please s t o p acting like it,; please I am begging you stop it, make it stop, I can't take this anymore, I cant! Please, I am begging make it stop it hurts way too much." I let out finally breaking down.

"It's okay, its okay, I'll make it okay, I am right here, shh" Hayden coos in my ear, his voice magically soothing my raging heart, the pain of which is so strong I literally could do nothing but sob. Its only now I realize that at some point through my crazy woman talking frenzy, I somehow collapsed right into his arms.

"No its not, its not okay, nothing is okay; how could they do this to me, how could they all do this to me?" I say, my voice barely being coherent over my sobs. I've to clutch my chest because that's how much it physically hurt, as Hayden continues to cradle me in his arms, gentling rocking me and stroking my hair.

"I don't know what to tell you Avery, sometimes the things that break our hearts the most comes from people who we've loved the most. It's a horrible horrible way of life and there's no escaping it." he says in response.

"Oh, its horrible alright" I say trying to stifle another sob from breaking out.

"God, I've been so horrible too, Hayden, god I am so sorry for breaking down like that, for saying those horrible things, please I didn't mean to, I am so sorry, I'll understand if you're furious with me-

"Shh. Stop it, I wont hear another word of that. Its okay Avery, its all gonna be okay, we'll make sure of it; you and I together. We'll take care of it all."

Left with no more words to speak I manage to nod against his chest, as one of his hands continue to stroke my hair and the other arm wrapped securely around me, keeping me extremely close to his warmth, to him.

It's one of the last things I register as my eyelids suddenly fall incredibly heavy and my head lolls against his broad chest and I drowse away to painless sleep, with the lingering sensation of Hayden's lips against my skin, as he kisses my forehead and continues holding me flush against him.

****

HEY GUYS!!!!
How have y'all been??? It's been a while I knowww
Tbh, I was in a major major writers block for so long and only yesterday when I opened wattpad and saw the OVERWHELMING amount of love and appreciation I got from you all did it make me come out of it; like literally jumping to about 2.3k reads in 24 hours my god, I can't thank you all enough.

Please do comment on what you think is next in store for Avery and Hayden and vote and spread the word as much as you can!!

Again, thank you so so much for everything, y'all have no idea the kind of impact each and every one of you have over me and how happy your interaction makes me.

Love like always
Xxxx