“I thought a lot about our last conversation. I crossed a line then, but I was so confused and angry when I saw that fake profile.”
I cast my eyes down. I didn’t want to talk about my stupid reaction and that fake profile. “It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay, Sarah. I know I don’t have the right to interfere in your life, but I felt furious. I wanted to beat the assholes that were responsible for that.”
A warm, joyous feeling spiraled through my chest, and I soaked in the feeling of someone really caring about me. I felt happy and ashamed at the same time because I didn’t want to bother him with my problems.
“That isn’t necessary—”
“It is, Sarah. We barely know each other, but I can’t stop thinking about you.” Oh my God. “I like you, as I already told you. I don’t want to push these feelings on you, but know that I want to protect you from anyone who harasses you. I want you to give me a chance.”
The doubt greeted me again because of what Melissa said about Mateo’s love life.
“Um, Melissa told me you don’t actually date...” Great. I said the worst thing I could say, probably totally ruining my chances with him.
“Actually...” He stepped closer to me and cupped my cheek. My breath hitched. “Melissa was right. But .” He flashed his cute smile at me. “I’ve never met a girl like you before. Other girls were always the same. Clingy and predictable. You were different from the start. You’re so smart, and whenever you smile, your face glows.” I couldn’t believe this was happening to me. “And I love your blush.” Oh.
He caught a strand of my hair and tucked it behind my ear. “You look so beautiful tonight.”
My throat constricted. “Thank you,” I answered timidly, desperately searching for something better to say. Somehow, everything was happening fast, and even though I’d been preparing myself for this, I felt unusually shy.
He glanced at my lips and lowered his head. This is it... My heart thumped faster. He was going to kiss me...
“Get away from her, piece of shit!” An instant later, Hayden shoved him away from me and punched him in the face.
Hayden’s hit sent Mateo to the ground, and horror consumed me. Hayden looked animalistic, with bared teeth and veins popping out on his head. He was furiously shaking, his eyes two pools of fury and hate. He didn’t give Mateo time to stand up, jumping on top of him and dealing him a punishing blow after a punishing blow.
“Hayden, stop!” He was going to kill him! “Stop hurting him!”
From the looks of it, Mateo didn’t stand a chance against mad Hayden, who kept hitting his face, beating the crap out of him. There were a few people around us, and all of them seemed stunned to see them fighting, not doing anything but glancing hopelessly at each other.
What the hell, people?! Isn’t anyone brave enough to stop this mess?!
I curled my hands into fists, adrenaline pumping through my body. I had to do something.
I knew it was foolish of me, but I couldn’t waste more time. I jumped on Hayden’s back and wrapped my arm around his neck, pulling him backward.
“Get away from him,” I shouted into his ear.
“Get off me!”
Effortlessly, he threw me off his back, and I landed in the grass. My move was a much-needed distraction for Mateo to defend himself and punch Hayden back, which threw Hayden off Mateo. Soon, the tables were turned, and Mateo was on top of Hayden, giving him a taste of his own medicine.
I stood up with a racing pulse, watching them hit each other and drawing more blood. It was horrible, and with each crunching sound I became more distraught.
“Do something,” I yelled at two guys who were the nearest to them. “Separate them before they kill each other!”
They glanced between me and them, looking as if they weren’t sure if they should listen to me and risk their own heads. Just as they stepped forward, deciding to intervene, Hayden managed to get up.
He pulled Mateo up by the front of his shirt and punched him hard in his jaw, making him lose his balance and stumble backward. Unable to stop himself, Mateo fell right into the pool, hitting the surface with a loud splash.
“No,” I screamed, afraid he might drown if Hayden’s blow left him incapacitated.
“What the fuck is going on here?” Melissa yelled, running to us with Steven and Jessica. I was relieved to see her, hoping this madness would finally end.
“What do you think you are doing?” she shouted at Hayden and punched him in his already bruised cheek.
I let out a gasp, not believing my eyes. She actually hit him!
Feeling both awe and fear for her safety, I itched to do something to protect her from Hayden’s possible violent outburst. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mateo swim to the pool ladder.
Hayden grabbed her arm and pulled her closer to him. “I’ll kill you for this.”
I could clearly see the fear in Melissa’s eyes, but she didn’t even flinch. “You can try, asshole, but you’re going down with me.”
“Hey, Hayden! Chill, bro!” Steven jumped in, separating Melissa from him. “That’s my sister you’re threatening!”
“Then keep her on a tight leash. She’s barking too much for her own good,” Hayden snarled at him.
“What did you just say?” Melissa shrieked, jumping at him, and clawed his face, which added to his bruises and wounds. Steven snaked his arms around her and barely managed to separate her from him.
“If you keep up with this bullshit, I’ll forget you’re Steven’s sister and make you regret it.”
“Oh, I’m so scared!”
Mateo was swaying, wincing after each step he took closer to us. Despite being injured, he looked like he would fight Hayden again, so I headed to him with the intention to stop him and protect him from further conflict.
Just as I passed Hayden, he yanked me to him. “You aren’t going anywhere,” he hissed into my ear.
“Leave me alone!” I jerked my arm away, but it was futile since his grip only increased.
“Didn’t you hear her? Let go of her,” Melissa shouted at him.
“And what makes you think I’ll actually listen to you?” he jeered at her.
“Drop her arm, jerk!” Mateo spat out and rushed forward, set on hurting Hayden.
Hayden released me a moment before Mateo swung his fist at him, easily dodging his attack. They were about to continue fighting, but then Masen and Blake appeared and split them up.
“Hey, hey, man.” Masen tried to hold Mateo still. “Calm the fuck down.”
“What is going on here?” Blake glared at Mateo as if he was ready to fight him too.
Jessica approached me and placed her hand on my shoulder. “Are you okay?” she asked me, her voice giving away her trembling.
I half-smiled at her, feeling better with her next to me. “Yeah.”
“Steven, get your hands off me!” Melissa broke their contact and stomped to Hayden. “This has escalated into a disaster. I don’t know what your goddamn problem is, but if you don’t leave my house immediately, I’ll call the police.”
Hayden’s body tensed, his arm muscles flexing as he fought to keep his anger at bay. “Gladly; not that I actually believe you will call the police when your house is full of minors drinking.”