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.

two years ago, I had 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

me.

in the truck and drove to the apartments. After

little brother," I started. He muted the TV and turned to me. "His name was Thomas and he was a lot

he 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

he said softly. I shrugged and pushed my hair back off of my 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