chapter fourteen

m r s b r a d f o r d t o b e

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Character Picture: new character (you'll know who it is once you read about it) oops, spoiler.

Dedication to @eemsterpower for wanting them to kiss just as much as I do (I think we all want one, hey)

Dedi to best comment my lovelys, so don't forget to comment or else you wont be in the running :)

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Having Tyler over in the mornings has become a normal occurrence. He would come over here every morning-sometimes bringing Elsa, like he did yesterday-and cook breakfast, even though he couldn't cook. His excuse was that his sister, Georgia, is getting married and he can't stand to be around her bridezilla nature.

Yesterday, which was Sunday; Elsa came over since Emily was off on her date with Nate. I had to work that night, so Elsa and I spent most of the day watching Disney movies and pigging out on her favourite ice cream, cookies and cream. I love cookies and cream, but cake batter is my all-time favourite flavour, which brings me to the fight that Tyler and I are having right at this moment.

"No," he pouts as we walk down the hallways of Octavia High. The mint green lockers contrasted to the polished white tiled floors, the sound of people's shoes scuffing against them and chatter ringing in my ears. "You can't beat double chocolate chip, you just can't."

I scoffed, "Yes you can, and it's called cake batter. It's heaven in the form of ice cream."

We continued bickering as we walked to my locker, Austin trailing behind on the phone to his temperamental girlfriend. They've been having issues lately-well, she has. She has severe trust issues and claims that Austin has been cheating, even though he reassures her every day that he hasn't and never will. I'm just waiting for the breakup, as harsh as it sounds.

I dropped my bag off my shoulder and it fell to the ground with a clutter, so that I could get my books out of my locker. Today's classes weren't the best of ones, but I think that I'll be able to manage. My maths and chemistry textbooks weighed me down, but I was glad that I didn't have to lug around two more since I have gym and home economics. Then, after school I have volleyball practice, while Tyler has football. Austin stays behind after school and waits for me to finish, if not he'll practice with the football team for a bit since we finish at the same time.

I readjusted my loose cotton shorts as they rode up my waist. I woke up this morning in a lather of sweat, knowing that the day ahead would be a hot one. So, I opted for loose yellow and pink shorts and a tight white tank top and flip flops instead of converse. Emily and I had taken up tie-dying all of our stuff one year, and my shorts were a product of that short lived hobby. All we used to wear was our tie-dyed clothes-we looked like idiots. Even I admit that.

Tyler was off at his locker, which was only five or so down from mine, so I sneaked up behind him and scared him. He didn't even flinch, rolling his light green eyes in amusement. He looked hot today in a loose white tank top that exposed his rib cage and light blue board shorts. He looked like he was ready for the beach-but I definitely didn't mind.

Yeah, Tyler Bradford is hot.

"You still haven't tutored me for Chemistry yet," Tyler pokes my cheek in his usual touchy manner. "Come over mine tonight for tutoring and dinner, Elsa misses you."

"I saw her yesterday," I laughed while Tyler's cheeks went a shade darker. "And, who said I was going to tutor you? After all, you didn't get rid of my reputation."

"Please," he pleads, bottom lip jutted out. His famously perfect puppy dog face is just too irresistible.

"Ugh, whatever," I groan, "I'm only doing this for Elsa, though."

Tyler beams, but the smile is cut short when his eyes bulge at what is behind my shoulder. I turn sharply on my heel, only to see Emily and Nate, mid make out session.

"Holy," I whispered.

"Shit." Tyler finished it off for me.

THE SHIP FINALLY SAILED.

See, Emily didn't tell me about her date with Nate yesterday. She hadn't even contacted me, only read my two hundred or so death threat messages that I spammed her with. I knew something was suspicious; it must be my sixth sense or something. Cupid mode, that's what it's called.

"Well," Tyler mutters, "Now we are the third and fourth wheelers."

I mentally sighed. Of course we would be. He'd never date me even though we had a near-kiss, which we still hadn't said anything about. I guess it was a mistake-and untouched subject that Tyler really wishes didn't nearly happen.

"Yeah," I whispered, turning on my haunches to go off to class. I'm ecstatic that Emily and Nate are finally a couple, but I'm jealous at the same time. Not because I wanted Nate-hell no-but because I've always wished that I would experience some kind of cliché relationship. Cliché is bad, but there's nothing wrong with a little bit of it in your life.

"Where are you going," Tyler calls out after me, jogging to catch up to my fast walking.

"Class," I said monotonously.

"You're jealous," amused is laced within his words. I stop in my tracks, shooting him a glare.

"No."

"You so are," he laughs, "This is gold."

"No it's not," I hissed, "Just go away. If you have nothing nice to say, then I don't want to hear it. I wish you would just leave me the hell alone. Ever since you've come into my life, everything has gone to shit."

He frowns, gingerly reaching out to grab me by the elbow as I start to walk off. "Stop," I yank my arm out of his hold, "Just go away."

"Fine," he says coldly. There's an emotion in his voice that I just can't put my finger on. He's never been this angry before. He sounds so cold and careless that it pinched a nerve. Why do I always have to go and wreck things?

Then, he was gone. He'd turned on his heel and stormed off in the other direction, pushing his way through the morning crowd.

I sighed loudly, mentally face palming. "What is wrong with you?" I whispered to myself as I trudged to homeroom. "You messed up everything."

"You know that talking to yourself is a sign of madness," a familiar voice stops me in my tracks completely. My blood goes cold at the sound of his voice.

I close my eyes, hoping that the voice I just heard was in my head.

It has to be.

It can't be.

"November Rain Lockhart," he looks me in the eyes with his warm brown eyes that I used to love. His hair was longer, not cropped an inch or so off his head. He'd grown it so that it was longer at the top, and it looked like he'd been running his hand through it all morning. His face was the same, if not more angular and handsome. His tan was still there, but he'd developed more muscles and stood a few inches higher than me.

He was-is-still gorgeous.

"What do you want, Hayden," my voice sounds emotionless, just like Tyler's before.

"That's no way to speak to your best friend," he taunts. Hayden Grey is still the cocky, smart yet undeniably gorgeous boy he used to be. One smirk in your direction, and he'll have you melting on the floor. Don't get me wrong, he still isn't as hot as Tyler, but Hayden just has this untouchable bad boy aura that I thought was attractive. Little did I know that bad boys are nothing but trouble, and always cause more grief than good. Even though he had always been the golden boy, it was no doubt that deep down his blood ran cold like a boy boys.

"You aren't my best friend anymore," I hissed, "You lost that privilege two years ago when you cheated on me with some random girl at a party."

"I was drunk," he threw his hands up in exasperation, "I couldn't even remember my name."

I gulped. I didn't want Hayden to do this-the whole, I was innocent now we are going to date again thing. Because, as much as I hate it, I'm not immune to his charms. "Don't," I warned, "Don't even try to take me on a guilt trip. You made me feel like a pile of shit two years ago, I don't want a repeat."

"But, I love you," he pleaded. I can't believe it. I can't believe he did that.

"I loved you," I spoke shakily, "But not anymore. You cheated. You're a coward, an asshole, and I hope you fall in a grave for all I care."

Second fight in ten minutes, look at you go Nova.

You wrecked everything, and it only took you ten minutes to do so.

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Lunch was more than weird. It was beyond comprehensible.

Tyler stuck to the other side of the table, well and truly away from me with a sullen look on his face. Emily and Nate were too caught up in each other to notice that their best friend was suffering. Not just because her cheating ex-boyfriend moved back into school and wants to get back with her, but also because the boy she was growing to like hates her existence.

Hayden Grey had to come in and ruing everything. The persistent pendejo (idiot) hasn't stopped trying to get me back. Everyone at the table was lost for words as they saw Hayden try and convince me to get back with him, while I sat there, grimacing at every fake word passing out of his mouth.

He was a cheater, and always will be a cheater.

"Okay, I can't do this anymore," Hayden sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose with his pointer and forefinger. "What happened to us?"

"You cheated," I finally lost the plot, and screamed. "You cheated on me, claiming that you were as drunk as a fracking skunk, when we all know that you were just a sober prick. Just stop it."

I finished my meltdown off with running out of the cafeteria with my bag in my hand and tears runs silently down my face. I lean against the huge oak tree at the side of the school with my legs pulled up to my chin and my arms wrapped around them.

I can't believe he had the nerve to do that? I know that he was sober. Emily even said so.

Yet, he has the guts to want me back, even after all the horrible shit he put me through. I don't want him back. I don't want to have to deal with his existence. I would much rather deal with Tyler on his worst days than have Hayden on his best.

Tyler.

What am I going to do?

He probably hates me, without a doubt. Because, every time he tries to get closer I push him away. All he wanted to know was why I was walking away, yet I had to blow up in his face and make me the bane of his existence. For once, I just wish that I could do something right in my life. Everything seems to be in a downward spiral of misfortune.

I heard footsteps approaching. I lifted my heavy head to see Tyler. "Tyler?" I asked, wiping a lone tear that trailed down my cheek. I hate being vulnerable. I don't want him to see me looking like this.

"Shh," he whispered as he sat down next to me, legs out in front of him with his head back against the tree. His eyes were closed and he looked like he was in deep thought. "I can't believe it."

I frown, "What?"

"I can't believe he cheated on you," he practically growled. He ran a hand through his hair, and then turned to look at me with an expression of pure anger. "I could kill him. No, I would. But, I'm too young for jail. Who even does that?"

"Hayden Grey, obviously," I retorted sourly. "I hate him as much as you do at the moment."

"Come on," he gets up from the ground with his hand held out for me to grab. I glance confusedly at him, but take his hand anyway. My bag clutters to the ground yet again as he pulls me up. He just stands there for a second, examining my facial expression. Then, he pulls me into a hug. It's tight, but not a death grip. He's holding me like I'm fragile and could break any second.

"I'm sorry," he whispered into my hair. His head was nuzzled into my shoulder, while mine was pressed against his shirt. It smelled of spice and something I couldn't just put my finger on.

"Why does your hair smell like baby shampoo?"

"I-uh-um," I stutter against his chest, "Yeah, that."

He rumbles, the sound reverberating off his toned upper, making me want to press my head into his chest even further. Gosh, he smells so good. I could smell him for forever.

"I have sensitive skin," I mumble embarrassedly. I can only wash my hair with baby shampoo and conditioner since if I use anything else it irritates and burns my scalp. He nods against the crook of my neck. "I shouldn't have said what I did in the hallway," I spoke up, "You were only bantering with me like you always do, but I took it seriously for some stupid reason."

"I can be an ass sometimes," he chuckles, still not letting go off my waist much like I don't let go off his shirt. I could feel his erratic heartbeat against my hands, and I'm sure that mine would sound even crazier. Heck, it feels like it's about to jump out of its hole. "Okay, cheer up grumpy, it's time to get some revenge on that stupid uneducated swine."

I snort out a laugh, "What's the plan then, Mr Bradford."

"You'll have to wait for that," he winks playfully, reluctantly letting go of me and shoving his hands into his pockets. "Mrs Bradford."

I gasp, smacking his chest.

"Okay, Mrs Bradford to be then," he grins cheekily, his dimple popping out. Oh, how I've grown to love that dimple.

"You're insufferable," I laugh as I grab my bag, swinging it over my shoulder. My mood has lifted entirely, and I don't feel like shit at all. It's funny how the boy that used to torment me and make me feel like shit is the only boy who can cheer me up.

Even if he is an ass, he's Tyler Bradford and he's completely irresistible.

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Sorry about the super long wait. School started, animal died, yada yada ya. School sucks, horribly, I hate my classes and I sit next to a cute boy in a few but I'm awkward as all hell . . .

So I'll try and update during the week but there's no promises since I'm a busy bugger xD thanks for being patient, and especially for getting PM to reach 60k reads and 1.6k+ votes, I couldn't be happier. Every vote and comment means so much to me!

Thanks again muchachos xoxox see you next time