Down the Rabbit Hole (Stuck On You)

Chapter 7: Not a Boyfriend

I yanked my wrist out of his when we reached it. "Stop!" I yelled at him. He did. He looked both sad and mad at the same time.

"What's going on? You look like you're not even in this year anymore," I said. He sighed and ran his hand down his face. "She triggered something, didn't she? Something in your past that was painful." I said. "Stop talking," he snapped. I looked at his face. They were really watery. It looked like he was about to cry. I sighed and shut my mouth.

"Hayden," I said softly. I touched his face gently. He looked away from me for a second before he stared right into my eyes. He looked... pained. He fought with whether to tell me or not before he let out a deep breath.

a girlfriend named Claire. I wasn't like I am now. I was... the perfect boyfriend, or so I tried to be. Then one day, we went on a date, and coming out of the restaurant, there was this... guy. He knocked me out, and when I woke up... she was dead. The police told me that the guy mugged us and raped her before he killed her," he explained. I ran my thumb over his cheek. "All I had to do was protect her, and I couldn't even do that. I swore never to put myself in that position ever again," he said quietly. "It sounds like

me.

and drove to the apartments. After

TV and turned to me. "His name was Thomas and he was a lot like you," I chuckled and looked up as I remembered.

was dead... A car whipped around the corner and the driver didn't see him. I still blame myself. I shouldn't have let him go after that ball," I said, looking off into space. I felt Hayden's thumb rub my cheek. I looked at him before I realized that I

face. He leaned forward slowly before he kissed me gently. I tried to hold it back but I couldn't. I started sobbing. I missed Thomas; no matter how far back I pushed his memory in my head. Hayden pulled me onto his lap. I couldn't help it. I cried like a baby until I