We were still kissing, and I swear I was losing my damn mind. His hands, his mouth, the way he said my name like it was the only word he knew—
It was too much.
And the worst part? I didn't want to stop.
But we were in his bloody office, with the damn door wide open like we were inviting chaos in for a cup of tea.
Reality began crawling its way back into my head. I tried to pull back, to say something, anything—
But Hayden wasn't having it.
He lifted me. Again.
Like I weighed nothing more than a pair of throw pillows.
Okay, that's getting annoying. Is he obsessed with picking me up or something?
He placed me on the table, my legs parting instinctively, and leaned in, arms braced on either side as he bent forward to reach my face.
"Hayden, hold on—" I muttered, trying to push against his chest.
Nope.
He shut me up with another kiss, his mouth finding my neck next, sending a jolt down my spine.
His hands slid under my shirt and shit, suddenly I felt like my skin was on fire.
"Hayden, we need to stop," I said, more breath than voice.
He finally paused, just staring at me.
I had my arm draped over my face, hiding like a wimp, already mortified.
Then—
A voice.
"Um, Aiden? Thank goodness you're here, I need to speak with you about—"
She froze.
She must've had her head down when she walked in because the moment she looked up and saw us—
Pure chaos.
I flinched and turned toward her, but Hayden?
He held my face, turning it back to him like he didn't give a single damn about whoever had just walked in.
Possessive much?
I mean… weirdly hot. But still.
He didn't say anything to her. Just shot her a death glare that could freeze lava.
She coughed awkwardly and stammered, "I'm sorry, I came at a bad time. Please, uh… continue."
Then she practically ran out, hand over her face like she'd seen a ghost.
Hayden dropped his head onto my chest with a dramatic sigh. "I'm sorry… Did I piss you off?"
And just like that, he went from domineering, hungry beast to soft, regretful puppy.
Typical.
I brushed his messy hair back and guided his face up gently. "I'm not mad. I just don't want things to go too far… not in here, at least. I still have class."
He groaned. "Why do you have to go to class? I thought you hated those."
That threw me off.
He was usually the one nagging me about school, responsibility, academics, blah blah blah.
I squinted at him. "I do… but that Pritchard lady is under my skin. If I don't show up, God knows what that woman would do. My attendance record is not very pretty"
Hayden suddenly winced and grabbed his head, groaning like someone punched him in the skull.
"What's wrong?" I asked, alarmed.
"Do you ever shut up?!" he snapped, pressing his palm to his temple.
"What the hell?"
It looked like he was arguing with himself. Muttering. Glaring. Then finally—
"Fine!"
I blinked.
And then…
Everything changed.
His posture relaxed. His expression softened. His voice calmed like someone had hit a reset button.
"Sorry about that," he said sweetly. He pecked me on the cheek and started putting on his clothes like nothing happened.
Wait.
Did he just… switch?
"…Aiden?"
He glanced at me, smiling. "Oh, you noticed."
I was still processing when he said, "Listen, I hate to kill the vibe, but you really should get to class. Right?"
"Um. Yeah. Right…"
Still in shock.
The difference was insane. The sharp, intimidating edge Hayden carried—gone. Completely vanished. Aiden didn't even move the same. It hit me all over again just how different they really were.
I fixed my shirt and ran a hand through my hair, trying to act normal. Aiden had already walked off to attend to the guest we traumatized.
When I finally stepped out of the office, I avoided making eye contact. Too embarrassed. But I could feel her watching me. That stare practically burned through my skull. It was very awkward.
Then I heard him.
"Stephanie, if you keep staring at my boyfriend like that, you're gonna make me really angry."
My soul left my body.
Boyfriend?
Sure, I agreed to go out with him… but didn't he say something about hating labels?
Boyfriend.
Holy shit.
I wanted to cry, scream, and kiss him all at the same time.
She gasped. "Uh, um… well, um, sorry!"
I finally turned—
Met his eyes.
Aiden just smiled at me.
Goddamn it. I smiled back.
Then I got the hell out of there.
The moment I was out, I practically collapsed against the wall with a heavy sigh.
"…We're dating now," I muttered to myself, still stunned.
Before I could spiral deeper, the school bell rang.
Loud. Jarring.
Shit.
"What period is this again?" I asked no one.
Not that it mattered.
Because I was walking through the halls grinning like an idiot.
_ _ _
The bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, and I was more than ready to escape. I'd barely made it halfway to the gate when someone stepped in my path.
I turned, raising an eyebrow. "Can I help you with something?"
The guy looked nervous but determined. "Is it true? That you're dating Aiden Greyman?"
What the actual hell.
We just started dating—like five seconds ago—and the entire school already knew? Is this what it felt like to be a Kardashian?
"How did you—"
"I heard it earlier today,"
Earlier today? The hell did that mean?
From WHO?
He cut in, eyes darting around like someone might be listening. "But you have to break up with him."
Okay. Now I was pissed.
"Hey, who the hell do you think you are?"
"I'm serious," he insisted. "Aiden Greyman isn't what he seems."
I narrowed my eyes. He knew something. "What do you mean?"
"He's charming, sure. Good-looking, even. But he's..."
"What about me?"
The voice came from behind him.
The guy froze. Slowly, he turned, and there stood Aiden—calm, smiling, off.
His smile was cracked. Like he was trying too hard. His left eye twitched slightly, like he was wrestling with himself on the inside. Hayden was trying to come out. I just knew it.
Aiden continued, "Please. Enlighten me."
The guy stammered but nothing came out. Just little gasps.
I stepped in. "Hey, kid. You might wanna get lost."
He looked between us, his eyes wide. He suddenly blinked rapidly, like he was about to cry, then turned and ran off.
I blinked. "Any idea what the hell that was about?"
Aiden shrugged, his voice lower than usual. "I don't know... I don't care."
Oh boy. "Are you guys switching already?"
Aiden scoffed. "What are you, a detective now? We switch once in front of you and suddenly you think you can figure it all out?"
I shrugged. "Well, I'm trying to."
Without warning, Aiden pulled me into a kiss. His lips lingered, soft and smug.
"Isaaq," he whispered. "Hayden and I are the same person… sort of. I can sound like him if I want to. You're not gonna figure me out that easily, Almasi."
I raised an eyebrow. "Is that a challenge?"
He took my hand gently, kissed it, and smirked. "Me? Challenge you? I'd never dream of it."
"Ew. Cringe," I muttered.
He laughed and kissed me again. And even though it was still new and confusing and completely insane, I kissed him back.
Then I pulled away, remembering. "That guy just now—he told me to break up with you. The hell? We just started dating. You wanna explain how the whole school already knows?"
Aiden grinned, tugging me gently forward as we walked. "Well, I am vice president. I basically live with a target on my back."
"Yeah, vice president. Still waiting for an explanation on that, by the way."
"It was a bet. I won."
I stared. "Wow."
Aiden hesitated, then added casually, "Also... now might not be the best time, but I may or may not have made out with Toby."
"…Who's Toby?"
He nodded toward the kid from earlier.
My eyes widened. "Oh wow."
"He's clingy, annoying. And I might've accidentally killed someone in front of him."
I stopped walking. "Wait. What?!"
"Hm?" Aiden blinked like I'd just asked if the sky was blue.
I forgot sometimes that this guy I was dating was, you know, dangerous. Like stab-a-guy-and-smile dangerous.
"Seriously, dude. The hell?"
He suddenly turned serious. "Isaaq, we need to talk. Like, really talk. About... us. I want this to work. I just—ugh. This sounded way better in my head."
I laughed. "With you or Hayden?"
He rolled his eyes. "Shut up." Then he paused. "Where's your car?"
"I didn't drive today. Wasn't feeling like it. Julie dropped me off. I'll call her but she's probably somewhere screwing Theo's dad."
Aiden blinked. "Wait.", He paused trying to process what I'd just said , "What?"
I ignored it and pulled out my phone. "I'm calling anyway."
"Wait," he said, holding my arm gently. "Let's take the bus. Stop by my place?"
I scrunched my face in disgust. "Ew. Public transportation?"
Theo has clearly rubbed off on me
"What is it with you rich kids and your fear of living like normal people?"
I opened my mouth, ready with a snappy comeback, but then he grabbed my face and kissed my cheek.
"Come on," he said with a smile that made my damn heart skip.
He looked so cute it was unfair.
How was this the same guy who scared the crap out of me just days ago?