RUNNING
FOR MILES
"Eden!" My father's voice yelled as I came down the stairs all dressed and ready for school.
This morning felt as though it was somewhat chaotic in the Rivers household. My father had stayed late at the station and he had slept in this morning so now he was kind of running around like he was a headless chicken.
"Yes?" I asked as snatched a piece of Sammy's toast off of his plate.
"Hey!" he said with a mouthful of food.
I rolled my eyes, "Oh shush."
"Any way you two, I'm off to work." Dad said as he sipped his hot coffee and started to walk to the door.
"Um, dad?" I asked, "I think you're forgetting something." I said as Sam tried desperately not to laugh.
My father looked at himself, he was shocked yet surprised to see that he was pretty much all dressed except for his shirt, that seemed to not be on his body. The missing clothing exposed his somewhat beer belly that had a little bit of hair on his chest and around his belly button.
"Oh my!" he yelled gasping, "Pumpkin could you run down and get my shirt out of the dryer, I have to go find my tie!" he yelled as he slammed his travel mug and briefcase down onto the kitchen bench,
I laughed, putting my bag down next to his belongings on the breakfast bench. I then made a beeline for the creepy basement as that was where our washing machine and dryer were located. I think it's a pretty odd place for them to be kept, as it seems so far away.
Opening the door and turning on the light, I walked down the creaky wooden steps that led to my creepy basement. I remembered the time when I had walked down here with Lila and how she pretty much complained the whole time, something about her allergies or something from the dust but I was more afraid of spiders if I'm being honest.
Wait why did we even come down here in the first place?
As I tried to remember why Lila and I had even come down here in the first place, I paused the dryer and dug around for my father's shirt. Once I had found it, I started to make my way out when something had caught the corner of my eye.
It was a box labeled 'Sewing'.
For some reason the box was calling my name, I had the urge to go to it but I didn't really know why. I slung dad's shirt over my shoulder as I pulled the box off of the shelf. I hadn't realized how heavy it was until I had almost dropped it on the floor.
Peeking into the box and begging the heavens above that there wasn't a spider in there about to jump out at me, I gazed into it as it rested on my thigh. I got a glimpse of sewing needles and a million different colored threads but the most interesting thing in there was a sewing machine.
And as if a light bulb had lit in my head, I had remembered why Lila and I had come down here a few months ago, it was to find the sewing machine so she could fix my emerald green school skirt, the one I was wearing right now.
"Eden!" a muffled voice yelled.
I let out a sigh as I decided to take the heavy box back upstairs with me. I turned off the light and only just managed to shut the door behind me. I put the box down onto the kitchen table as I then passed my dad his shirt.
"Thanks, pumpkin." he said as he started to button up his shirt, "What's your mother's sewing machine doing up here?"
I froze at the mention of my mother, I hadn't realized that the box had belonged to her. It kind of hurt as not once these last few months had I heard even a slight comment about my mother.
"Oh um, I was going to take it to Lila's." I said, "We have a project." I lied.
I only lied because I knew that if my father for some reason had talked to Lila's father about us giving her the sewing machine, I knew that he would throw it out as she had told me all about how he had done that to her a few years ago.
So, I wasn't going to risk it happening again.
My father nodded, "I hope it still works, it's been down there collecting dust for years."
Well, I hope it works.
After saying goodbye to Sammy, dad insisted on dropping me off at Lila's even though he was running late. I had tried to tell him it didn't matter as it was only down the road but he wasn't budging so I just allowed him to.
Once he stopped the car I hopped out and lifted the heavy box off of the floor of his police car, biding him goodbye and thanking him I made my way up to the Palace that is formally known as the Hayes residence.
Deciding to just be fearless and open the door, I walked into her fortress and accidentally slamming the door behind me.
"Hello to you too." Lila murmured as she stepped off the last step, crossing her arms over her chest.
I jumped in fright as I hadn't expected Lila to be right there but my eyes lit up as I noticed her, "I have a present for you." I announced excitedly.
"What is it?" She asked nervously yet curiously.
I smiled and handed the heavy box to her, "Go on, open it."
Lila furrowed her eyebrows, hurrying over to the entryway display table just behind her which held a vase of fresh white roses, placing the box on top of the surface before pulling either side of the box open.
"Eden!" She squealed excitedly, "You do not know how much this means to me." She said truthfully.
I smiled warmly, "It's not a big deal." I brushed it off, "It was my mom's; it wasn't being used. I found it this morning in the laundry room, no wonder we couldn't find it in the garage that time."
"Are you sure you want me to keep this?" Lila asked reluctantly, "I cannot guarantee that I will be able to keep it for long."
I nodded, "Of course!" I assured her, "Just hide it in one of your Birkin's or something."
Lila raised her eyebrow, "It may not fit it in of those, but I could find somewhere else within the vicinity of my wardrobe."
And just like the other day, Lila shot up the three flights of stairs effortlessly while carrying that heavy box. I seriously don't think I will ever be that fit; as of recently, I have come to the conclusion I am just simply a fat girl trapped in a skinny girl's body.
I say that because I am skinny, I'm pretty much a damn twig, I never gain weight I've always been like this. You would think I don't eat or I used to have an eating disorder like Bulimia or even Anorexia due to how somewhat skinny my arms, torso, and legs are.
But the funny thing is I eat like there is no tomorrow, I some who manage to eat way more than my brother who eats four-course meals. Okay maybe I'm exaggerating but I do eat a lot probably more than the average female.
Certainly, more than Lila Hayes.
Once Lila had hidden the sewing machine away from the possible lurking eyes of her father we proceeded back down the stairs and out to her car. Again, I begged her to stop and get food as my stomach kept rumbling as I hadn't had breakfast.
We made a pit stop to Melrose's where I ran in and ordered a breakfast roll and two ice coffees. One was for Lila of course; I wasn't planning on getting one but it sounded too good to pass up.
Walking into school today was kind of like the other week when I had walked into school with Lila, Dayton Lakes cover girl. Except for this time, it was a little different as everyone had seemed to calm down and not majorly care that I walked the halls beside the girl that could easily make you go home and cry.
I kind of felt somewhat powerful standing next to Lila. I've never wanted power or anything close to it but it did kind of feel good to know that I was friends with the most powerful group of the school. It now meant that when I walked the halls I was no longer, 'New Girl' I was 'Lila's Friend' or something like that.
It made me feel safe and comfortable like there was no way anyone or anything could hurt me as long as I was friends with them. I loved our friend group, I loved how we could joke and kind of be mean to each other but at the end of the day, we were there for one another which was a feeling I've never felt before.
When I had parted ways with Lila this morning my eyes had also had the blessing of seeing Hale and his gorgeous features. It was crazy how this boy was making me feel. I felt as though he was going to seriously fix me and take away all the pain, I've had inflicted on me by Boston.
I am also perfectly aware that he could just want sex and that he just wants that and nothing else which he is perfectly inclined too. It wouldn't completely break me if I was to find that out but I would be lying if I said it wouldn't hurt me at all.
Hale has to have some feelings towards me. I believe this because you don't just open up about something like your mother's suicide to someone that you are planning on having nothing more and nothing less than sex with someone.
I also think he has feelings for me as he wants to go on a second date. Now normally if he's just trying to fuck, I don't think he would ask you on a second date as he would just give up and try and fuck the next girl that walks past him.
And the last reason as to why I believe that Miles Hale could have feelings for me is due to him respecting me when I slept with him in his bed, he didn't once try and touch me in a sexual way or even really ask or try to insinuate he wanted it. Also, that morning when I had woken up from a bad dream, he held me.
He held me so protectively that I felt like I was genuinely safe and that nothing bad would ever happen to me again. I haven't felt that feeling in such a long time, it feels good to be able to feel that when for years I had been scared and felt huge amounts of pain.
I know it's really soon to feel these types of emotions, but I just can't help but feel like this.
"Mr. Westbrook, nice to see you for the first time this year." Mr. Stevenson said as he paused calling out the roll.
Westbrook... he can't mean Lakyn Westbrook, could he?
It wasn't a big deal if he had, in fact, said those words it just caught me by surprise as I have not seen that boy in this homeroom class since my first day at Dayton Academy.
"You too sir." Lakyn said as girls swooned over his husky voice.
Now Lakyn doesn't like teachers, I heard once he swore at one which resulted in her crying and quitting the school the following day, but everyone loves Mr. Stevenson whether you want to or not.
He is the type of teacher that doesn't do his job properly, he's more of a teacher that likes to have fun and barely do any of the work. He likes showing his students real-life skills that will be needed for when they leave school. He is also a sucker for YouTube videos and will spend the whole lesson watching either funny animal fails, even singing fails and old vines.
"Just go find a seat." Mt Stevenson said, dismissing him.
When Lakyn then walked down the rows of desks ever girl seemed to batter their fake eyelashes at them and move over a seat in an attempt for Lakyn to choose to sit next to them. They were acting as if he was some Greek god or even royalty for that matter.
A chair scuffed as I looked over beside me, I was met with unnaturally blonde hair, "This seat taken?"
"Nope." I said popping the 'P'.
"Good." Lakyn stated as he sunk back into his chair.
We sat in silence for a minute or two before I realized that I had some unanswered questions from yesterday, I looked over at Lakyn through the side of my eye as I nervously thought of the outcomes of me asking the questions.
I deciding that it was the perfect time to ask him as he couldn't run away from me like he had tried the other week.
"I have a question... or two." I said sheepishly as I scratched the back on my neck.
Lakyn snorted as he rocked back on his chair and put his hands behind his head, "That doesn't surprise me."
"Did you actually look after Lila the other week when she was sick?" I asked but all I got was a confused look, "When you pushed her into the water at New Haven." I added.
"Yeah I did actually." he smirked at the memory flashing through his head, "Well my mother is a nurse so she helped but I made sure she was getting better and not worse."
Wait... so you're telling me that the lady that had given birth to quite literally the meanest and rudest boy in Dayton Lakes is a nurse? It took me by surprise as Lakyn is just horrible sometimes and to think that his mother is a nurse that looks after sick and injured people just astounds me.
"Were you mean to her?"
Lakyn raised an eyebrow at my question, "Not really."
I nodded at him but I couldn't help but wonder what was so different for him to be nice to her at his house and when she was sick than at school?
This boy is truly confusing and I seriously don't think I will understand this boy.
I tapped my chin as I thought about the next question and whether I should ask him, "Have you ever had a girlfriend?"
His eyes went wide and his eyebrow raised, "Eden, what type of question is that?" he paused as he slouched in his chair rather than rocking it.
"It's just a question I've been dying to know." I word vomited and instantly regretted it.
Lakyn smirked, "You interested in me or something?"
"No that's disgusting," I said making a vomit noise at the end.
"Oh, Eden don't pretend you haven't wanted me." Lakyn's husky voice said softly as he licked his lips, looking me up and down.
I made a truly disgusting vomit noise before I spoke, "Never I think I would rather die."
"She's lying." a girl said softly.
"He's really good in bed so it's her loss." another said.
I shook my head as I tried to get their voices out of my head as I looked back at Lakyn, "Just answer the question." I begged.
"You should be begging for my big di-"
"Just answer!" I whisper yelled ignoring his comment.
He paused and thought for a minute, "No I haven't."
"Why?"
"Eden this isn't twenty-four questions or whatever that stupid game is." he sighed, "You said and I quote, 'I have a question or two' it's been more than two." when he quoted me, he made sure to make his voice sound higher as he tried to imitate me but it didn't work as he sounded nothing like me.
I huffed, "Please, just answer that one and another and then I'll leave you alone."
"Fuck fine." He paused as he thought, "I haven't had a girlfriend because why have only had one bitch when I could have multiple and not be tied down by one." he answered, shrugging his shoulders.
What he was saying kind of made sense. He was obviously talking about having sex and that he would rather have sex with as many girls as he wanted than being or having sex with just one. I couldn't help but wonder why sex seemed to be the only thing that he cared about?
"What's the last question?" Lakyn asked impatiently.
"Do you like Lila Hayes?"
Just as the words had flown out of my mouth the bell had rung, Lakyn's face was a mixture of confusion and shock. Before I could even figure out for myself if he even liked her or not, he had shot out of his seat and ran for the door.
What if he doesn't even know himself?
***
The cafeteria was loud and filled with teenagers trying to buy and eat their lunch in peace. Today I had only bought a red bull from one of the vending machines as I hadn't eaten all of my breakfast roll from Melrose's this morning.
Lila was the only one at the table when Truman, Blaire and I had all somehow managed to turn up to the table at the same time but it was at least ten minutes when Hale and Lakyn hadn't turned up which was somewhat weird as they are normally here pretty quickly as much like me they love food.
Ignoring the absence of the boys, we all decided on digging into our food straight away, I was surprised to see that Lila had a chicken salad in front of her.
"Why is Kian Carrington coming over here?" Blaire gasped as she looked over Lila's shoulder.
Truman's eyes widened whilst I was more clueless as was Lila as we both turned our heads around and saw an infuriated Kian stalking his way over to us, his jaw tensed as he narrowed his gaze onto Lila.
Lila gulped, watching as he came to a halt in front of her, "Can I help you with something?" She asked bitterly.
"We need to talk." he stated lowly.
I could instantly tell that just by all of the body language and the vibes that this encounter was not going to be good. The tension in the air was so thick that I'm sure you could cut it with a knife. I wasn't going to let anything bad happen to Lila.
Kian clicked his tongue, shaking his head, "No wonder what happened to you happened." he exclaimed, "You are weak."
"What do you want, Kian?" Lila questioned him, raising her eyebrow.
He rolled his eyes, "Where's your boy-toy?"
"Get to the point or get out of my face."
"I came to tell you that I know that one of you did it." he finally answered her question, gesturing to the three of us, "I know one of your people killed Arden and you won't get away with it."
What? None of us killed Arden.
My mind raced as I wanted to know why in the hell Kian Carrington, Arden's best friend, was blaming us and how if the hell did, he knows that Arden could have been murdered? Only we had that information as I had gone and asked my father even though it's confidential and even, he didn't say it was absolutely a murder.
It was a possibility if anything.
Lila's eyes widened, "One of us?" She pointed to her chest, "Arden has not officially been declared as dead yet, Kian. So, do not go running your mouth." She spat, as Blaire and I encouraged her.
Maybe Blaire isn't that bad after all.
"It was that little bitch Lakyn, I am sure of it." he growled lowly, speaking more so to himself than Lila, "You're going to wish that you never were saved. I am going to make sure that you and suffer. Why? Because Hale put me in the hospital that night and because you were too busy getting raped, I couldn't say what happened."
All of our jaws dropped at what he had said. It was disgusting that he of all people was pointing fingers and how could he say that to Lila. My blood boiled as I tried to contain it and not stand up and punch this guy in the face.
Lila asked, "How is that my fault?"
"Arden loved you and you fucked it up because you think that you can destroy people and get away with it!" he roared and suddenly everyone's eyes were on them, "You. . ." he whispered, coming closer to her before lowering his lips to her ear, "You did this, Lila. You."
Lila sucked in a sharp breath, "You and Arden did this. You are sick." She spat truthfully; her tone full of pure disgust.
"You're just damaged goods, Lila. Nothing but a good fuck." he said, "I will finish what Arden started, even if I end up like him."
My heart broke as I looked over at Lila, she was containing fear well but I could see it starting to slowly leak out and Kian could not see that. I put my hand on Lila's forearm as an attempt to calm her down, I wanted to tell her what I was about to do but Kian couldn't know so I got up and walked away.
Stay Strong Lila, I'm going to find the boys.
I rushed down the halls, just begging the heavens above I would run into either Hale or Lakyn just one of them that was all I needed, all Lila needed.
Even though I was out of breath and slightly dying from running this much I continued running as I tried to figure out where in the hell these boys could possibly be, the gym and the football field both popped into my head so I started off towards the gym first.
I turned a corner puffing as my lungs begged for me to breathe air in fast but I was unable too. I slowly jogged when I was then frozen in my spot as I saw something, I didn't think I would ever see.
It was two people making out against one of the rows of lockers, but it wasn't just any random two people, it was Poppy and Hale.
Their tongues were down each other's throats as he grabbed her butt and pushed her small frame up against the locker roughly. My body was stuck in place as my heart somewhat sank, I now feel sort of stupid for thinking that he liked me a little but at the same time I didn't care as I knew that this was also going to be a possibility.
I was just hoping that it wouldn't be.
Snapping out of my thoughts I remembered that we had a way bigger problem than Hale eating Poppy's face off.
"Hale!" I managed to yell.
He snapped his head away from Poppy as he looked over at me, he kind of looked like he had been caught with his pants down or something but then it turned into concern.
"Eden?" he asked as he started to walk over to me, "are you okay?"
"No." I huffed, "It's Li-"
"What are you doing baby?" Poppy purred as she tried grabbing onto Hales's large shoulder.
He shrugged it off, "Get off me!" he yelled walking over to me as he grabbed my blotchy red face, "What's wrong?"
"It's Lila, she needs you! Kian-"
I didn't have to say another word as he grabbed my hand and pretty much blotted for the cafeteria. I tried to run at the same speed at him but he was like a bullet, he was dragging me at one point but I didn't care all I could think of was his lips on poppy's but more importantly that Lila was okay.
As we burst through the doors everyone was crowded around some people, "Like fuck, you will." A very familiar voice spat coldly, "If you so much as hurt a single blonde hair on that pretty little fuckin' head of hers, you will wish you fucked off with your best friend."
Hale and I continued to rush over to the crowd, he shoved a whole heap of them out of the way as he yelled at them, "What's going on?" Hale made himself known as he stopped next to Lakyn, while I scurried over to Lila.
Lakyn balled his fists, the white material encircled around his arms tightening around his biceps as he tensed his arms, "Nothing yet." he exclaimed before he lunged at Kian.
And just like that Lakyn swung his fist directly into Kian's defined jaw; the impact causing Kian to stumbled backward as he was stunned by Lakyn's powerful and painful right hook as his eyes watered from the sudden hit.
Hale held Lila back safely as everyone watched in shock awaiting nervously at what was going to happen, I bit my nails as I was anxiously waiting and trying to figure out what was going to happen next.
As if his first hot wasn't enough, Lakyn threw another hit towards Kian's still stunned face. This time he had managed to smack his fist into Kian's nose, resulting in an audible crunch which made me want to turn away as It had triggered a memory within my brain and not a pleasant one.
Lakyn chuckled, breaking me away from the horrid memory of Boston swinging his fist into my face and managing to break my nose. Lakyn placed both of his strong and large hands-on Kian's chests before shoving him harshly, sending Kian's frail body down onto the hard floor.
As I looked around me, I had noticed that pretty much the whole cafeteria was cheering on both parties as they had their phones out videoing the scene that was unfolding around them.
"Lila, you should go." Hale urged her, tugging her arm, "C'mon. You and Eden get out of here."
I didn't want to leave Lakyn was my friend and we had to be here for him and try and get him to stop, Lila seemed to agree with me as she shrugged Hales arm off and stayed still in her spot kind of like a statue.
The weird thing about this fight was that, Kian was not even trying to fight back, he did not once attempt to block a single hit nor give any as Lakyn straddled his waist, throwing punch after punch at him.
Most fights you seem both parties throwing hits or at least one trying to block the punches, there was something weird about this one it was as if Kian didn't want to fight back as if he was just letting Lakyn kick his ass again, But why?
"Lakyn, stop!" Lila screamed, rushing over, as she grabbed his left arm and tugged him.
Lakyn ignored her, using his free hand to continue punching, his knuckles on both hands completely covered in blood as Kian began to lose consciousness, "Look at you, can't even fight back." he spat, finally stopping his physical assault, "Fuckin' pussy."
"Dude, calm down!" Hale shouted, making his way over to them, "You're going to get fucking suspended."
Kian's somewhat lifeless body laid there his face covered in blood, I was almost one hundred percent sure he was dead until he began laughing, "Go on, keep going." he spat, "Show everyone the monster you are."
"One more word and I swear—" Lakyn puffed as he looked down at Kian.
"Lila's a fucking little slut." Kian drawled lazily.
It was crystal clear now, Kian wanted this to happen to him. I don't know why but my best guess is to help him frame Lakyn as murder and help people believe him when he says that Lakyn supposedly killed Arden.
Lakyn shook his most likely aching fist, preparing it for another few bone-crunching hits when Lila shrieked, "Lakyn, please stop!" She begged him, "He wants this. He wants to get you in trouble." She panted, though it was not quite fast enough as in the time she had spoken and finished, Lakyn had punched him yet again.
Lakyn stood up, blood-covered both of his hands, he took in a few deep breaths in an attempt to calm down the anger that was probably still blazing inside of him. Today I've seen a new side of Lakyn, a scary side, aside I don't think I ever want to see again.
"What is going on here?" a teacher panicked as they shoved through the crowd when seeing Lakyn on top of Kian, she gasped, "Lakyn Westbrook. Office, now!" she growled before ushering other teachers over to assist Kian.
Lakyn snorted, shoving past everyone to leave the cafeteria without another word. I watched as Hale tugged Lila into his chest, I could tell she was a moment away from breaking down as she closed her eyes as she leaned into Hale.
"Please go find him and make sure he doesn't self-destruct anymore," Lila ordered Hale as she moved away from him.
I wish I was as strong as Lila.
The girl just literally watched someone that she has grown up with pretty much beat the life out of someone that had said some horrible things to her, she let herself have one or two seconds to try and tell her self that everything is okay and that she now needs to be strong for everyone else.
But she doesn't need to be strong for me because for once in her life I am going to be strong and there for her if she needs me.
It's what a friend does for a friend.
Hale nodded, leaving without a single word, Lila then turned to see mine, Truman, and Blaire's faces which were all the same, mortified.
I stepped forward, "I'm sorry about the stuff he said to you." I consoled her, "If it helps, none of it was true and whether Kian wanted it or not, Lakyn beating the shit out of that boy did all of us a favor." I finished, with a chuckle.
Lila snorted, smiling at me, "It's okay... well, not really. But you get what I mean."
I nodded, laughing softly, "Let's get you out of here."
➳
Hey Hi Hello
I hope you guys liked the chapter.
well, ladies and gentlemen, I believe that you have just witnessed Lakyn kicking Kian's ass for the second time, (The first was in 'Loving Lakyn' but oh well), what did you guys think of hale kissing poppy? and how Eden didn't care or did she, I mean how would you feel if that happened?
Please don't forget to vote, leave a comment and go read 'Loving Lakyn' by @sharnahespinosa
GemmaGrace ♡