"You...bastard..." I said with clenched teeth.
"You looked so scared of being here. I honestly couldn’t resist playing around with you," Hayden admitted, although, he clearly did not look remorseful.
I slapped his arm so hard that my hand hurt. What is wrong with this guy? I was honestly freaked out. It didn’t help that it was so dark, and we were in the middle of a graveyard. I felt heat rush to my face as I got angrier by the minute.
"I’m leaving!" I said as I turned around and started walking away.
"Wait! Where do you think you’re going? It’s dark...stick with me," Hayden said as he grabbed my wrist and spun me around to face him.
"That was not funny..." I spat.
"But you feel less scared now, right?" Hayden asked before smiling sweetly at me.
He’s so unfair...honestly...
"...I guess..." I whispered.
I hated to admit it but that scare he gave me drove all my other fears away. Now, I felt resistant to the fear of the dark and the graveyard. However, that doesn’t mean that I had forgiven him for what he did.
"Come..." Hayden said as he squeezed my hand and led the way.
I decided to follow him. It seemed like Hayden has a particular grave that he wanted to visit, and he was leading me there. I wondered whose grave it was that Hayden so desperately wanted to visit, enough to venture out here at this time of night.
Soon, he stopped in front of a gravestone. I was surprised how he knew where it was since this tombstone looked exactly the same as all the others. Perhaps, he’s been here quite often?
Hayden sighed as he looked down at the tombstone and my eyes followed. Although there was enough light for us to make out what was around us, there wasn’t enough light to see the details on the tombstone. As if he could read my mind, Hayden turned on the flashlight of his mobile and shone it on the tombstone for my sake.
It was obvious that Hayden knew what was written there but I didn’t.
’Harvey T.’
I have never seen Hayden seem so depressed and sad before. It was like he was trying to hold everything in. Although he seemed cold and distant, I could sense that he was merely hiding away something very painful and heartbreaking.
The walk downhill wasn’t an easy one, but Hayden was there to support me all the way. I didn’t dare say a word to him as he seemed to continue to wallow in his sadness. I was thankful that even during this time he was still considerate enough to help support me down the narrow path down the hill. Hopefully, my presence here with him helps even if it was just a little.
Afterall, that was the reason why he brought me with him in the first place, right?
We arrived back at the grass field before after a short while. Unlike the change in the atmosphere between us, the stars above still sparkled beautifully just like before. I looked up at the sky once more and admired the beautiful stars. To me, the stars were bright, beautiful and they cheered me up endlessly.
However, I was beginning to realize that Hayden probably did not feel the same way when he looked up at the same sky.
"Sit, Malissa," Hayden said, and I realized that he had already sat down on the grass.
Hesitantly, I sat down next to him at the spot he had patted with his hand. Hayden didn’t say anything else as we both stared up at the sky. One glance at him made me realize just how lonely he seemed and once again, I wondered what he saw when he stared up at the stars.
"Are you...ok?" I asked vaguely, unsure of what to say but not feeling comfortable enough to leave him be.
Without replying to me, Hayden lay down with his head on my lap. His motion was so sudden that I was a little surprised when his head landed in my lap.
"Hayden..." I whispered his name questioningly.
"Stay still for a while..." Hayden muttered in reply.
I decided to do exactly like he had requested. Looking down at him, I could see that his eyes were closed, and he was no longer looking at the stars. There was less wind down here than when we were up on top of the hill, but it was still a little chilly.
"Achoooo!"
Oh no, I just sneezed so loudly. Maybe it’s getting a little too cold or there’s some dust in the air that’s irritating my nose.
I felt Hayden’s weight disappear from my lap as he got up and then quickly pulled me into his arms. I blinked in confusion as I felt his warmth envelop me. He was hugging me so tightly and it was getting a little hard to breathe; however, I did enjoy the heat of his body engulfing mine.
--To be continued...