"Tell me that you're coming home again to me" - Tatiana Manaois ( Made for two )
Chapter Theme Song : Made for two ( Tatiana Manaois )
••
Inhale. Exhale. Breath.
You can do this, Hailey.
Just for tonight. You can do it, Hailey!
Reclaiming my spot back at the table, the clinking of fine china and the soft murmur of conversations at the table should've been calming, yet my heart raced with a mix of dread and excitement. Recovering from the aftermath situation in the hallway seemed a little too difficult.
Especially, seeing him across the table, he was a vision that seemed out of place amidst the opulence. Our eyes met, a silent challenge, a secret dance between forbidden steps.
This evening was a delicate masquerade, my every stolen glance a brush stroke on a canvas of unsaid promise and restrained desire. And as the night waned, I knew that the dawn of day would bring a new phase, one where I wasn't sure where the lines between propriety and passion might just blur.
Back at home, in the sanctuary of my room, the echoes of the restaurants grandeur felt like a distant dream. The moonlight streamed through the window, casting a silver glow on the walls that held my secrets. I replayed the evening in my mind, each moment with him etched deeper into my memory.
"Why did he have to be there?" I whispered to the silence, my voice barely a tremor in the cool night air. The image of his smile, both knowing and inscrutable, sent a shiver down my spine.
I could feel the heat of his gaze, the way it seemed to pierce through the crowd and find me, as if I was the only person in the world. I clutched the locket at my neck, a nervous habit when my mind raced with thoughts I dared not voiced.
When realization dawned on me, looking at the clock beside my bed, knowing I'd his class for last period tomorrow, the weight of what ifs lingered in the air. Alone with my thoughts, I curled up under the covers, the turmoil of my heart a stark contrast to the peaceful night. I would face him tomorrow, but tonight, it was just me and the moon, and the remnants of a dinner that changed everything.
••
The morning light nudged me awake, a gentle reminder that the world didn't pause for my conflicted heart. I slipped into my uniform, the fabric a crisp contrast to the disarray of my emotions. School awaited, a stage for the usual drama and daily routines.
Stepping onto the campus, I spotted Chase, his presence a beacon of normalcy.
"Morning," I greeted, my voice steadier than I felt.
"Hey, Hailey," Chase replied, a smile lighting up his face. "Sleep well?"
I shrugged, a non-committal hum my only reply. We were about to delve into our usual banter when Stanley crossed our path.
"Good morning, you two," he said with a charming grin.
We echoed his greeting, a chorus of civility, before continuing to homeroom. The day unfolded in a blur of lessons and laughter, a prelude to the finale I both anticipated and feared.
Physics class loomed at the end of the hallway, Mr. Torres' domain. I could feel the butterflies rioting in my stomach as the door edged closer. Maximiliano Torres - the man who unwittingly held the keys to my restless heart. The bell rang, a herald of the hour to come, and with a deep breath, I stepped into the room.
As I walked into the physics class, in step with Chase, the air crackled with anticipation. Mr. Torres stood at the front of the room, his gaze piercing through the sea of students.
Chase and I found a seat near the back, not my usual place nonetheless I couldn't afford to be close to him without making an embarrassment of myself. I was stealing glances at him when I thought he wouldn't notice. There was something magnetic about him, an enigmatic aura that drew me in. The way he effortlessly commanded the attention of the class, his voice resonating with knowledge and authority, sent shivers down my spine.
"You owe me an explanation for why you of all people opted for the back seat" Chase nudging my shoulder with his, right before we took out our books and pens.
The lesson began, and I tried my best to focus on the laws of motion and the intricacies of the universe. But my mind kept drifting back to the unspoken connection I felt with Mr. Torres. It was as if every word he spoke was meant for me alone, a secret language shared only between us.
Time seemed to both fly and stand still in that classroom. Each passing minute brought me closer to unraveling the mysteries hidden within his gaze. The tension between us grew palpable, like a tightly wound spring ready to snap at any moment.
As the class came to an end, I couldn't help but wonder what secrets lay behind those intense eyes. What stories were etched into the lines of his face? The thought of uncovering the truth thrilled and terrified me in equal measure.
And so, with a lingering glance and a racing heart, I gathered my belongings and left the classroom, carrying with me the weight of unspoken desires and untold vows. The chapter was taking shape, blending the silent glances and the secrets that lay dormant within the dawn of a new day.
"What was all that about? Mind telling me why you rushed out of class?" I felt free, like I could finally breath. Looking into Chase's curious eyes, fighting with saying the truth or keeping it vague.
"I don't know what you're talking about" trying to act nonchalant.
"You can't fool me, Hailey, it's because of him. You're in love with him" can the ground swallow me right this moment.
"I do not okay, I am not in love with him. Can you drop it?" It was starting to annoy me. He noticed the change, swinged his arms around me.
"I won't push it for now, only because we're still on school grounds. You and I both know what I said was the truth"
The hum of the engine is a low murmur in the background, a soothing yet persistent reminder that I'm here, in Chase's car, and not in the physics classroom where my heart seems to linger these days. I couldn't drive myself home in this state I was - I called Mom to let one of my father's men pick up my car at school. Chase's voice has faded into a distant echo, his words about my supposed feelings towards Mr. Torres hanging in the air like a challenge I'm not ready to accept.
I can feel his eyes on me occasionally, glancing away from the road to try and read my expression. I keep my gaze fixed on the passing scenery, the blur of trees and streetlights mirroring the turmoil inside me. I want to laugh at the absurdity of it all, to brush off his accusations with a witty retort, but the truth is a heavy stone in my stomach.
Mr. Torres, with his knowing smiles and challenging lectures, has become the epicenter of my daydreams. It's ridiculous, I know. He's my teacher, and I'm just a student. Yet, as the sky darkens and the first stars begin to twinkle into existence, I can't help but feel the gravity of my own secret desires pulling at me, urging me to admit the truth, if only to myself.
Chase turns onto my street, and the familiar sight of home brings a sense of relief. But it's fleeting because with each second that ticks by, I'm one step closer to having to step out of this safe haven and back into reality. The reality where my feelings for Mr. Torres are a silent whisper in a world full of noise.
As Chase pulls to a stop outside the gates of my house, I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.
"Thanks for the ride," I say, my voice steady despite the chaos I'm feeling. I'm on the verge of something, teetering on the edge of an unknown that both terrifies and excites me.
"Don't mention. And Hailey, we'll talk more about this another time, preferably tomorrow when you're in a better state emotionally" struggling to maintain a positive outlook, I gave him a half smile waving him goodbye.
And as I close the car door behind me, I'm left with the lingering question: What happens next?The anticipation of the unknown is almost too much to bear, and as I walk to my front door, I can't shake the feeling that everything is about to change.
~
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A/N : Hailey's a strong girl, I mean it takes a lot to keep fighting your feelings for someone. She's trying - but for how long? Any readers teaser's, spoiler alerts based off from what you think could or would happen moving forward?