Hayley checked herself in the full length mirror then sighed, she’d spent hours just trying to find the right look and still wasn’t happy “You look nice love” said her mother coming into her room “You think?” Mrs Parker nodded then kissed her “So you going to the mall?” she changed the subject. Hayley drew in a deep breath, she really didn’t like lying to her mother but if she knew where she was going she’d have stopped her for sure “Err yeah…yeah I’m going to the mall I’ll probably be gone most of the day so tell Lou she can have the computer all to herself” the girls had squabbled all evening about who’s turn it was for the computer “I will take care okay?”
“Yeah
mom” said Hayley as she kissed her mother’s cheek.
Swiftly she left her modest little home
armed with Jennifer’s address, the sun was just beginning to shine when she
made her way along to the nearest bus stop.
It was unusually hot for mid September and so Hayley removed her
cardigan and placed it over her arm her tummy begun to flutter with each
thought of Ben, she was entering his world a world of fancy cars and designer
clothes she glanced down at her dress which Lou had adapted into what Louise
thought was fashionable but Hayley wasn’t so sure, she checked her watch 2.30pm
that was time enough she didn’t want to appear too keen.
~***~
Jennifer smiled as the caterers fixed
nibbles in her kitchen she had no idea what she was going to wear some hot little
number “No no no not there are you completely stupid?” she snapped at the maid
“I want the CD’s and stuff here!” she pointed to a table by the French doors
which led to the large pool, she was so glad that the sun was shining and that
it was a rare warm day they’d be able to swim in her pool.
Gina was first to arrive with her beach
bag and massive hat eyes twinkling devilishly “Is she here yet?” she laughed
Jennifer shook her head “No…she’s not” she replied looking a little anxious
“Maybe she’s changed her mind?” suggested Gina Jennifer disagreed “She’ll get
here” she smirked “ And when she does boy are we in for some fun”
Most of Jennifer’s guests had gathered
by the time Hayley reached the large iron gates, her heart pounded as she peered
inside, the garden was beautiful with lush green lawns surrounding a massive
swimming pool, she took a deep breath and was about to run off when a black
sports car pulled up along side “You going in?” asked the occupant she turned
round “Err…yeah” he leaned over and threw open the door “So you one of Jen’s
friends I haven’t seen you around?” she looked embarrassed as she got into the
passenger seat “I err…just started to hang out with Jen and them” he grinned,
he had the nicest smile “I see” he smiled again as he drove through the large
gates “Hey Jen who’s that?” asked Gina looking impressed “Oh that’s just our
Todd…he’s home for the weekend” said Jennifer dismissively.
Hayley froze all eyes were on her now
and all she wanted to do was turn around and run “Hayley…you made it” smiled
Jennifer as she approached “Come and meet everyone” she added as she side
glanced her elder brother “You wanna stick around?” she inquired of her brother
“Err no! I just came back to grab a bite to eat…I’m going out again very soon”
Jennifer relaxed her little plan could still go ahead “Do you have a swimming
costume?” Gina inquired Hayley shook her head “Never mind you can borrow one of
mine” said Jennifer as she lead her upstairs to her bedroom.
~***~
Ben smiled at the young couple who’d
ordered a massive pizza, he could just see himself sitting in the same booth
with Hayley, she had managed to fill every waking moment of his life and had
now crept into his dreams there was just something about her attracted him “Ben
what the hell are you doing?” he heard someone say “Working” he replied
un-ashamed “What? Why?” he leaned over
to wipe the table “Because I want to” the blond haired Lee Ryan stared wide
eyed “What? Surely you ain’t
serious? This place is for losers” Ben
slowly shook his head “If you say so” he muttered under his breath “I thought
you’d be at Jen’s” Lee added “No…I have no intentions of going to Jen’s party”
Chris and J-J stared at each other “You haven’t?” said J-J looking slightly
anxious Ben shook his head “No…why?” J-J cleared her throat “Did you ever
intend going to Jen’s party?” Chris said quietly “No! Now will someone kindly
tell me what’s going on?” J-J shook her hair out of her eyes “Jen invited
Hayley…she said you wanted her there”
“What? Jesus Jen’s up to something please tell me
Haylz didn’t go?”
“I
tried to stop her but she was determined”
“Damn
it…I gotta get over there”
“Sure
on you go” Chris permitted as J-J called Louise.
~***~
Hayley felt really self conscious as she
walked out she knew she looked ridiculous and why she’d allowed herself to be
humiliated in this way she still didn’t know, she had about a ton of hairspray
holding her hair up in what could only be described as some kind of 80’s style
pink eye shadow adorned her eyelids and to top it all she was wearing bright
orange lipstick “What do you guys think of Hayley? Now be kind,” laughed Jennifer “I think she looks like a dork”
laughed Gina
“What
the hell did you do?” said Ant staring at the swimsuit “Oh cover up puleese…I
think I’m gonna puke!” he added making Hayley feel small Jennifer grinned
loving every minute of Hayley’s humiliation “You deserve this…going after my
man wasn’t very smart!” she whispered “Oh guys don’t be so mean” she said aloud
as Hayley tried to get away from her “Oh no you damn well don’t you came to my
party you’ll stay here until the end!” hissed Jennifer “I haven’t even started
with you yet you pathetic little loser!” Hayley swallowed anxiously as she was
pushed down onto a sun lounger.
~***~
Louise finished talking to her mystery
man, she’d been on her computer for hours just talking to him and yet she still
knew nothing about him she’d just gone down to the kitchen to fetch a snack
when her cell phone rang “Yeah” she said “What the hell have you been doing
I’ve called you five times!” it was J-J and she was frantic “Cool it I’m here
now aren’t I?” she said as she poured some orange juice into a glass “It’s
Hayley I think she’s in danger” Louise sank onto the stool “What do you mean
danger…tell me everything?” she demanded and J-J was quick to oblige.
Seconds later Louise flew from her home
and out into the path of a speeding red sports car “What? What are you trying to do? There are better ways of killing yourself Lou!”
yelled Mark his heart pounding “Hayley’s in trouble” she yelled back he leaned
over “Get in!” he instructed then sped off before Louise could even close the
door.
~***~
Hayley managed to sneak off in the
direction of the gate but Jennifer soon caught up with her “Where are you
going?” she snarled Hayley pushed her away “Home…I never should have came
here!” she said keeping her voice steady “Yeah you’re right there you never
should have came here…you should have stayed on the other side of town with all
the other pathetic outcasts!” barked Jennifer Hayley tried to unravel
Jennifer’s fingers from her upper arm “Leave me alone!” she shouted making
everyone turn round and look “Fine!” said Jennifer as she pushed her away then
stood laughing when she fell into the pool.
A car sped through the open gates and
stopped just by the poolside, Louise diving out “Oh my God! Maaaaaaaark…Hayley can’t swiiiiim!” Mark was
out of the car in seconds and removing part of his clothes as he run “You God
damn jerks!” Louise shouted as she helped pull Hayley to safety “Are you okay?”
she asked her sister
“Yeah”
“Come
on let’s get you home huh?”
Hayley
nodded as Mark jumped out of the pool.
“I
really thought he liked me Lou…I thought he really wanted me there and all the
time he only wanted his fancy friends to humiliate me” sniffed Hayley as Louise
placed her in Mark’s car.
~***~
Ben arrived minutes later demanding to
know where Hayley was “She’s gone…and good riddance!” said Jennifer
“What
the hell did you do?”
“I
didn’t do anything that any other normal person would have done”
“But
you aren’t normal are you Jen?”
“What’s
that suppose to mean?”
“Oh
go figure…look at you…you’re all a bunch of phoneys!”
“Hey
steady on now Adams” warned Ant
“What’s
up Costa? The truth hurt does it?” said
Ben as he backed away.
Ben got into his car and backed it out
of the drive before screeching off in the direction of town, he had to see
Hayley had to make her understand that this wasn’t his fault.
~***~
Louise handed Hayley a towel then smiled
“You okay?” she asked gently “Yeah…I’ll survive” she replied as she begun to
towel her hair dry “You want me to fix your hair huh?”
“No! No it’s okay”
Louise
didn’t quite know what to do, she knew Hayley was hiding a broken heart “You
wanna go to Lori’s I’ll shout you a milkshake” Hayley sighed “Thanks but I’d
just as soon stay here” Louise glanced at her computer screen the name at the
bottom flashing “Go on answer him…I just wanna sit on my own for a while”
Louise frowned “You sure?” she nodded as she felt Louise’s arms encircle her
“Okay but I’m here if you need me” Hayley nodded knowingly they may fight like
cat and dog but they were always there for each other “I know” said Hayley
sadly.
Hayley sat watching Louise talking with
her mystery man for a while before slipping quietly from the room, the sun was
now hiding behind a cloud and there was a chill in the air and so she pulled
her sweater over her head as she walked towards the park “Hayley” a black
sports car pulled up along side “Go away Ben!” she hissed he crawled along at a
snails pace “Please Hayley let me explain” she quickened her pace and he sped
up a little “Didn’t you hear what I said…I said go away I never want to see you
again!” Ben kept one eye on the road ahead and another on Hayley “Hayley
please” he said she stopped dead hands on jean clad hips “Why did you do it
Ben…why did you set me up like that?”
“I
didn’t…Jen set you up I wouldn’t do anything like that”
Hayley
stared at him “You didn’t?” he shook his head “No…Hayley I’d never do anything
to hurt you…please believe that” she bowed her head wanting so much to believe
him.
He stared intently at her “Can we at
least go somewhere and talk?” she glanced down at the side walk then back at
him, his eyes pleading “Okay” she said at last as she got into his car.
They travelled in silence for a bit
until they came to the park “You wanna go for a walk?” suggested Ben “Sure…why
not?” she said as she got out of the car, “You look beautiful by the way” he
complimented Hayley smiled on recalling Louise going to fetch her brand new
jeans and tiny figure hugging top “They’re Lou’s” Ben glanced at her once
again, she did look hot in the tight jeans and short cropped top he wanted so much
to take her in his arms and kiss her but at the same time he didn’t want to
over step the mark, they walked along the gravel path “So…how come you didn’t
go to Jen’s party?” Hayley spoke at last “I didn’t want to go…just let’s say I
can see them for what they are” Hayley stared up at him “Oh and what are they?”
Ben drew in a deep breath “That’s a good question…shallow that’s how I’d
describe them they’re so shallow” Hayley sat down on a bench overlooking a
beautiful lake “What are we?” she muttered he stared down at her “I’m not
sure…deep perhaps…loyal…caring” she smiled at him “you care about each other”
he added as he sat next to her “We’d care about you” he frowned “I doubt
that! You don’t know me…not really” she
took hold of his hand “We could get to know you though” he smiled “Ben…what do
you want?” he looked puzzled
“I
know what I don’t want!” she raised her eyebrows “I don’t want to be looking
down on people…I don’t want to think I’m better than anyone!”
“And
do you?”
“Not
now…I use to! Boy I thought I was the
coolest kid every to go to Brandon”
“What
changed your mind?”
“You! Paul Chris Tara You’re all so together”
“Together
us…you have to be kidding!”
“So
what about Costa and them?”
“What
about them?”
“I
can’t see them accepting you into their little gang now”
“Who
says I want to belong to their little gang?”
Hayley smiled at him “They’ll give you a hard time” she warned he grinned “I can handle them” he assured they stared at one another for a long time before Ben leaned over “What?” muttered Hayley as his lips brushed gently against hers “I’ve been wanting to do this for such a long time” he whispered then begun to kiss her.
End of Part one…