SOMEHOW I MANAGED not to stab myself in the eyeball while attempting to apply a coat of black mascara to my eyelashes. It was a damn miracle. I blink a couple times before glancing into the small desk mirror and nod, realising I did a semi okay job at making myself look presentable. 

I stand up, running my hands down the dark material of my dress and glancing down at my scuffed converse. I wish I had better shoes but it was either these, my running sneakers or my Birkenstocks. I really gotta go shopping. 

Just as I take my cross body bag off the back of my desk chair, the door swings open and Chase walks through. He glances at me as he closes the door behind him, his hazel eyes scaling me from head to toe. 

He frowns, "Where are you going?" 

"My mom and cousin are visiting for the weekend. They're taking me out for lunch." I beam excitedly as Chase crosses the room and perches on the edge of the bed, "I haven't seen them since I arrived here and I miss them so damn much." 

"I can tell." Chase nods as he glances up at me, "It's perfect timing actually. Noah and Levi are coming over to play so they can sit on your bed." 

"They do that anyway." I roll my eyes as I drape my denim jacket over my forearm. 

"Yeah, but this time you won't kick them off to take your fucking granny nap." Chase snorts with a small smirk as he kicks off his shoes, sending them flying across into my half of the room. I grumble under my breath. 

"Well, how do I look?" I question, opening my arms wide and glancing down at my chest. "This is the nicest dress I own." 

"You—uh—nice—fuck—I mean—shit—You...you look nice, Jones." Chase says, extremely flustered as he runs his hand through his hair as he tries to look at anything in the room but me. Nice. Seriously Everett?

"Okay..." I frown, confused as I stuff my dorm key into my bag, "I probably won't be back later so feel free to bring one of your lady friends around." 

"Can you not be here more? It's fucking heaven." Chase grins cheekily at me as I walk to the door, swallowing the lump of dread knowing that our kiss really meant nothing and that he's still Chase Everett; fuck boy extraordinaire.

I laugh sarcastically as I pull my middle finger at him and open the door with my other hand. I close the door behind me, stepping out into the hallway and taking a deep breath before quickly jogging down the stairs. 

I make it to the front of the school, the perfectly flat gravel path crunching under the weight of my shoes as I round the edge of the large brick building and past the manicured bushes. 

I spotted a grey car parked directly outside the school's main entrance into Hawthorne Building, the main structure at the front of the campus that houses staff offices as well as the admissions office. 

And at the top of the concrete steps was my mother, Spencer and Headmaster Sullivan. I pick up my pace before turning into a full on sprint as I run towards them. 

"Mom!" I shout as I basically lunge up the steps, almost bulldozing my poor mother as I wrap my arms around her. I was just too damn excited to calm down. 

She wraps her arms around me and splutters, "Goodness, Hayden! What are they feeding you?" 

"I missed you so much." I mutter into her blonde hair, almost in tears that I was finally hugging my own mother again. 

"I missed you too but I thought we'd at least have lunch before you trample me." She laughs as as I stand back, grasping her hands in mind as I grin like a madwoman on crack. I was so unbearably happy right now and I couldn't comprehend that she was actually here, in front of me. My mother and I were so damn close, and not seeing her for almost six weeks weeks was pure torture. 

"Oh, hey Spencer I didn't see you there. I missed you so much. Aw, Hayden, I missed you so much too." Spencer monologues sarcastically breaking my train of thought. I roll my eyes as I step towards him, wrapping my arms around him tightly. He laughs into my hair as he hugs me back 

"I'm glad you're here." I mumble into his shoulder. 

"Well did you miss me or not? Because let me tell you, bitch, Holden Bay  is a fucking bore without you." Spencer states before his eyes widen and he quickly covers his mouth with his hand, "Oh shit I just swore in front the headmaster. Oh fuck I did it again. Oh for god's sake Spencer—" 

"He's the headmaster, Spenc. Not the pope." I roll my eyes as I nudge him playfully. He scratches the back of his head nervously as he glances down at me through his dark rimmed glasses. 

"Yes, you're quite alright Spencer. I'm no stranger to those types of words, being the Headmaster of this school and all." Headmaster Sullivan nods as he clasps his hands together, "Well, I let you three get on with your day. It was very lovely meeting you, Andrea." 

"You too." Mom smiles sweetly at the Headmaster before he excuses himself and walks back through the large oak doors. 

We then all clamber into the silver rental car. I kick Spencer's ass into the backseat and happily buckle myself in the front. 

♤♤♤♤ 

The ride to Madison was not quiet at all. We had six weeks to catch up on and I informed them all of the activities I had gotten up to during my time at Caldwell. Mom was not exactly happy when I told her about the dorming mix up which ultimately ended up with me living with someone of the opposite gender. 

Spencer was extremely salty after I showed them a picture of Chase, complaining that he should be the one sleeping next to a hot guy instead of me. I just poked my tongue at him cheekily. 

When the car finally rolls to a stop twenty minutes later, I glance out the window covered in rain drops. We were outside a restaurant; a very fancy restaurant might I add. The White Lilly  is where many couples from Caldwell go for date nights because one, like I said it's very fancy and two, it's expensive as fuck. 

"Mom, we don't have to go here. I'm happy with going to a little coffee shop. You know, somewhere more affordable." I bargain as we all exit the car and I swing my bag onto my shoulder. I felt bad that my mother and Spencer had to pay to come all the way up here and to take advantage by going to an expensive restaurant made me feel even worse. 

"Special times call for special measures, my darling." Mom assures me as she wraps her hand around mine and pulls me towards the restaurant as if she knew I was two seconds away from tuck and rolling back into the car. 

We enter the restaurant and I'm instantly surrounded by warmth and the delicious smell of food. Everything was so elegant inside and there were white table clothes that reached the floor. I was in awe of the restaurant that I almost missed my mother saying she made a reservation. 

Waiters ask to take our jackets from us as well as our bags and when we reach our table, the chairs are pulled out for us by the staff. I glance at Spencer, mouthing "what the fuck?" while I slowly take a seat, weary that the waiter will pull the chair further back and I'll land on my ass. 

"Would you like anything to drink?" One of the waitresses ask as she stands by the table, arms locked behind her back. Her red hair was sleeked back into a ponytail and she wore very light and minimal make up. 

"We'll share a bottle of you're finest champagne, please." Mom answer the waitress, smiling happily as she rests her sharp chin on her fist. She looked so elegant, as if she's done this a thousand times before when she certainly hasn't. Mom wasn't a person for fancy things, which made this whole experience more weirder than it should be. 

Our favourite restaurant in Holden Bay was the small Chipotle shop in the city centre. 

My jaw hangs open as I gawk at her, "Mom." 

"What?" She shrugs it off with a smile before I sigh heavily, fearing the result of the cheque after we've eaten. 

Instead of worrying about that, I ask Spencer about life back in Holden Bay. It was dramatic, as always, and I really missed being there. But I also loved my new life at Caldwell. 

The party really starts when they bring out the champagne, popping it in front of us like they do in the movies and filling our glass flutes. I felt the need to lift my pinky as I took a sip of the delicious liquor. After my third glass, our food finally arrives. I had order the Fettuccini Alfredo which I was extra excited for as they placed it down in front of me. 

I kinda had a heart attack when they whipped out a fucking gigantic pepper cracker that was half the size of me. I so do not belong here. 

♤♤♤♤ 

I drop my cutlery onto my empty plate and recline back into my chair, patting my bloated belly as I exhale heavily. 

"I have been blessed." I announce dramatically, "That is possibly the best meal my mouth has devoured." 

"I'm glad darling." Mom smiles at me from across the table as she delicately wipes the corners of her mouth with her napkin that was made out of real, silky material and not paper. 

"I'm not. I had to witness her fucking making out with her pasta." Spencer screws his nose up at me, "I think I'm traumatised." 

I roll my eyes sarcastically as I pull my middle finger at him. "Ha, you're hilarious, Spenc." 

"Aw, thank you." Spencer retorts sarcastically back at me as he slowly raises his middle finger at me.

"I love seeing you two together." Mom gushes at the both of us, "It makes me so happy." 

Even though Spencer and I roast the shit out of each other when we're together, I love him so damn much. And I know he loves me. Not only are we cousins, but we're best fucking friends. Have been and always will be, no matter what. 

"Okay, I think this is the best time to tell you." Mom announces as she throws her napkin on to her plate. My smile instantly falls from my lips as I slowly glance at her, fearing the worst. If the cancer has come back, I don't know how I'll be able to cope. I'm at Caldwell solely because of my court ruling which means I can't leave. Oh fuck. "I met someone." 

Instantly, I'm filled with relief and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Mom places her left hand on the table and only then to I notice the large fucking rock on her ring finger. How the hell did I not see that before?  It's official. You're fucking stupid, Hay. 

"Oh my god." I mutter under my breath as I grab her hand and lift it to my face. It was a beautiful ring with a big ass diamond in the middle. "Who is he? Do I know him?" 

"No. I don't think so." Mom answers as I move her hand around, watching as the light dances and bounces off the gem, "His name is David and he's a heart doctor." 

I glance up instantly at her, "So he's rich."

"Hayden, I'm not marrying him because he's rich." Mom laughs at me as I continue to gaze at her ring, almost mesmerised by it. This is probably the closest I'll get to a diamond of that size in my entire lifetime. 

"But it's a perk." I grin cheekily at her as she rolls her eyes at me. 

"I met him during one of my treatments at the hospital and we started dating half way through last year." Mom explains, ignoring my statement completely, "I didn't want to tell you because of what happened with your father and the stress of the cancer finally gone—" 

"Mom, it's totally fine. You could've told me the day before your wedding and I would've totally been okay." I lean back in my chair, still holding on her hand, "Just as long as he's a good guy and he cares for you as much as I do." 

Mom raises one of her perfectly manicured eyebrows, "Not more?" 

"Not even remotely impossible. And you should tell him that too." I point out to her as both her and Spencer laugh at me. 

"David's a really good guy, Hay. You have nothing to worry about. And since you're not there to spend his money, I get to." Spencer grins cheekily at me as I shake my head. 

"The wedding is scheduled for the 28th of December which is during your Christmas break right?" Mom questions and I nod eagerly, "The judge will have to okay it first but I would love it if you were my maid of honour, Hayden." 

"Me?" I splutter as Mom nods with a large smile on her face. Oh fuck, here come the water works. I stand up quickly as she follows and I wrap my arms around her tightly, trying to hide my ugly crying face in her shoulder. I stand back, wiping the tears from my face as she does the same, "I would love to be your maid of honour, Mom. So damn much." 

"Great. It's settled then." Mom claps her hands as we sit back down, "Oh and feel free to invite some of your friends if you want. The more the merrier. David said you and your friends can stay at his house for the week." 

"I'll ask them but I'm sure they'll be up for it." I say excitedly, a smile stretched right across my face as I my heat squeezes with warmth. I'm going to be the best damn maid of honour. Hell to the mother fucking yes. 

hayden is so much like her mother yet so different at the same time. 

and spencer is just fucking wild. 

but he's fucking crack up to write about.