Down the Rabbit Hole (Stuck On You)

Chapter 10: Confusing and Heart-wrenching Signals

The next morning, I felt a hand on my shoulder. Knowing exactly who it was, I tried to pretend that I was still asleep. "Jordyn... Jo," Hayden said. I sighed and kept my eyes closed. "Go away, Hayden," I muttered.

"Look about last night," he started. I opened my eyes and looked at him.

"You're not my boyfriend; we're not even talking. You can do whatever you want; you don't have to explain yourself to me. I don't care anyway," I said before I turned over on my other side. He didn't move from where he was sitting on the edge of my bed.

"Yes you do, or else you wouldn't look so hurt," he said softly. I squeezed my eyes shut and let out a shaky breath. He was right, but I didn't want him to know that. "We're going to have to talk about this eventually," he breathed. I sat up and looked him square in the eye. "There's nothing to talk about," I whispered. He touched my cheek and I almost broke down. I bit my bottom lip to keep it from quivering and looked away from him.

"Yes there is," he said softly. He looked off to the side and took a deep breath before he looked at me again. "Look, I know you well enough to know that I hurt your feelings last night. I didn't mean to hurt you; I just... You get under my skin sometimes, you know that?" he explained.

"You got jealous and you wanted to hurt me back you mean. You knew exactly what you were doing, Hayden. I've known you long enough to know that," I said back, not buying his story. He sighed and stood up.

"Look, I've explained myself, which is more than I had to do because you were right: we aren't dating, and I'm not your boyfriend," he said. He walked to the door and stopped. "And just so you know, I didn't sleep with her. I sent her home before anything happened," he said before he left, closing the door behind him. I let out the breath I was holding and squeezed my eyes shut as I hugged my knees. I needed to get out of here. I knew the type of person Hayden was before I got close to him, and I got close to him anyway. The only person who was really to blame was me because I hurt Hayden first. I sighed and wiped my cheeks before I walked over to his room and opened the door. He was sitting with his back against his headboard. I leaned against the doorframe and sighed.

"I'm sorry, Hayden. I just... I should've told you that Lewis wasn't really my boyfriend. He wanted to be, but I've already been down that road with him. After you got... weird on me last night, I thought you were just pulling my leg because you said that you wouldn't ever... You get under my skin too sometimes," I explained. He chuckled and crossed his arms over his chest as he looked at me.

"I don't... I wasn't jealous or anything; I'd hate to see that curvy little body of yours be wasted on someone as slimy and boring as Lewis," he said. I rolled my eyes and laughed.

"Pig," I smiled softly. He walked over to me with a smirk on his face. I reached up to smack him, but he caught my wrist. He held my wrist between us and smiled gently before he kissed me tenderly.

He kissed my head before he gave me a smug grin. We made out there, against the doorframe, until my stomach protested against the lack of food. Hayden chuckled and pulled away. "Go get dressed. I'm taking you to Santa Monica Pier," he said. I sat up too. "What? Is this like a date?" I asked. Hayden shook his head.

"It's just me, the ass, taking my annoying goodie two shoes roommate to get something to eat because I don't feel like cooking," Hayden corrected. I rolled my eyes and smiled as I stood up. I dressed and we went to the pier. We ate Bubba Gump Shrimp and walked around a bit before we went to the warehouse. Hayden turned on the music and we just danced.

"Hayden," I said softly.

"Hmm," he mumbled.

looking at

away from his grasp. He pulled me back to him and I ran into

his head. "I'll just have to take, yet another, cold shower tonight. I've taken

everyone the day off," I heard Luca say from behind me. I turned and looked at him, moving my hand away from

me to the side as he kissed my head. Luca chuckled

raised an eyebrow at us. I remembered something then. My

I said under my breath as Luca

"What?" Hayden asked curiously.

Lewis that we could catch up tonight. He's supposed to be picking

the deal with that guy anyway?" Hayden asked. I turned towards him as his arms fell

he was kind of my first and last boyfriend. Then, a couple of years ago, he moved, and I got mad at him. I hadn't

and tell him

want to hurt his

to be sick and stay in with me," he asked. I

class, Hayden; it's a

him," Hayden

I just

I haven't seen him in years," I said. He only locked

said softly. "You can be civil and tolerant for like ten months right? Come on, he's not that bad," I said with an

you," I said kissing his cheek. He drove me back and I actually made an effort to look nice. I wore a black and white color-blocked dress with a thin blue belt and two cutouts on my sides. My hair was still straightened from the gig we did, so I

say from behind my once I finished with my makeup. "Where is he taking you?"

be a

into his mesmerizingly blue eyes. "Hey, call me if you need anything," he said softly. I couldn't talk. He was so close and so serious that I was almost paralyzed. My lips parted slightly as I let out a quiet breath. I nodded gently before he let my go. He almost seemed