Part 7

So, seeing as, in the present (in the story), everybody is doing a lot of waiting, I thought I'd do a flashback chapter for y'all. I haven't posted in a while, so here's an extra long chapter :) I've been writing this on my phone so it's kinda hard :p anyways, I hope you like this, it's quite sad so be prepared 0_o Enjoy :)

A few weeks ago

Hayley's P.O.V.

I can feel the wind on my face as I walk through the park. The sun is shining and there's a light breeze gently ruffling my hair. I'll be meeting Taylor and Jeremy here a bit later, but for now, it's just me. The weather today is beautiful, I should've brought Alf out for a run. Oh well, I can always take him later. As the bench me, T and Jerm always sit on comes into view at the end of the park, I realise that two people are already there. A couple. Snogging each other's faces off. I sigh. Can't some people just get a room?! Oh well, we'd just have to sit somewhere else.

But as I get closer, I get the oddest feeling that there's something familiar about the man... I shake it off. Why would anyone I know be here? Jeremy and Taylor aren't going to be here for a couple of hours yet, anyways. I walk even closer, and suddenly, I realise with a jolt who it is. My heart sinks and tears spring to my eyes. It's Chad. Sitting there, with another girl. Cheating on me.

I gasp, and start to back away. He notices me there, and looks up in shock. He gets up and starts walking towards me, an excuse already forming on his lips. I don't wait for him. I spin around and run.

"Hayley!" He's calling after me. I don't care. "Hayley, wait!" Ignore him. "Goddammit, Hayley, come back!" I hear him yell. I'm not staying behind to hear his pleading, his petty excuses. I've had it with him. My feet carry me away from him, and out of the park. Running towards the first place that comes into my mind. Home.

But as I reach my door, I get the strangest feeling of being followed. No... I'm being silly. Of course I'm not being followed! I fling open the door but before I step inside, I take a glance behind me. There's no one there, but somehow, that doesn't reassure me. I can't help but think that someone is just around the corner, waiting, watching. Not wanting to stay out here any longer, I walk inside, slamming the door behind me.

As if to taunt me, the first thing I see is a picture of me and Chad, on the same bench he was... practically eating that girl on. I grab it, close my other hand into a fist and punch it until my hand is streaked with blood, and the table is covered in shards of bloodstained glass. Suddenly feeling unbelievably tired and defeated, I collapse on the couch, finally letting my emotions get the best of me.

Huge sobs rack my body. I stare up at the ceiling as my tears run down my face and onto the sofa. It doesn't matter. I don't care. I don't care about anything anymore.

2 hours later...

Jeremy's P.O.V.

"It's a beautiful daaaaaaaay!" shrieks Taylor."Can you shut up for one second?!" I laugh. He stops singing, but starts again almost immediately after."La la la laaaaaa!""Ok, when I said one second, I did not mean one second!""Why'd you say it then?" he says in an annoying voice."T, I could strangle you right now!" I joke. He jumps back in mock fright."Noooo! Spare me my life, oh, great Jeremy!""That's more like it," I remark.Just then, Taylor suddenly stops walking and I crash right into the back of him."What are you doing?""Hayley's not here," frowns Taylor."It doesn't mean anything, T," I reassure him, "you know what Hayles is like. She takes forever to get ready.""I suppose you're right... we'll give it 20 minutes then we call her.""Alright."

-

Twenty minutes had gone by, and still no Hayley. Taylor was tapping his foot against the bench and it was starting to irritate me."Where is she?""Argh, I don't know, Taylor. Let's just call her."Taylor gets out his phone and dials Hayley's number. A couple of seconds later, he gives a frustrated sigh and shoves his phone back into his pocket."It went straight to voicemail!" he exclaims. I groan and stand up."Come on. Let's see if she's still at home," I say."Jeez, give the girl a bit of privacy," replies Taylor."Look, we need to see if she's ok. What if something happened? How would you feel then?""Jeremy, I'm sure she's not in danger or anything... but fine. We'll go check her house."

-

When we get to Hayley's house, her door is unlocked. I cautiously reach out and take hold of the door handle. I glance at Taylor. He nods. I push the handle down and the door swings open. We step into the house, and there, lying on the couch, is Hayley.

Her face is streaked with tears and her closed eyes are red. Her right arm droops over the edge of the sofa, and her hand is covered in blood. Taylor runs over to her and as I take a look round the room, I notice a broken picture lying on the table. There are shards of red-tinted glass surrounding it. I pick up the picture, and my stomach drops as I recognize Chad. He must've done something to Hayley. Anger boils up inside me. How could he hurt such a sweet, loving woman like her? I hear Taylor softly talking to Hayley. It sounds like she's sobbing.

"Shhh... it's gonna be ok..." whispers Taylor.

The sound of her crying crushes my heart. I love Hayley so much. She's like the sister I never had, and it breaks me to see her so upset. My hands are shaking with anger. I walk towards the door, and I hear Taylor's voice behind me.

"Jerm, where are you going?"

"I... I just need to clear my head, get some air," I reply. I walk out, and gently close the front door behind me.

Taylor's P.O.V.

I softly whisper comfort to Hayley, stroking her soft, orange hair. Her eyes gradually start to droop closed and her quickened breathing becomes even. I stand up, then, as gently as I can, pick up her tiny form and take her upstairs. Once I get to her bedroom, I lay her down on the mattress and put the covers over her. I hesitate, then lean over and kiss her forehead. Without making another sound, I quietly slip out of the door, but before I go downstairs, I stop. I look back at Hayley. She's so beautiful, she's like an angel. A warm, tingling sensation fills my body, and I can do nothing to suppress the small smile creeping onto my face. From that moment on, I realized something. Something I've known for a long time, but I never allowed the thought. I am in love with Hayley Williams.