4: Company

Hayley on the side! ---------> Note: Hayley is the same Hayley in my book 'Justice will be given' but shes 16 y/o in this book.

"It was she who seduced me".

-Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita

Bella softly touched Bryan's face with her fingertips, smiling to herself. Mornings like this were just pure bliss, she never wanted to get up from the bed. She wanted to stay like this forever. A morning of serenity. She saw his eyelids opening, as he turned to face her, his dark eyes examined her smiling face.

"Hey." He whispered.

Bella just looked at him, with loving eyes.

Bryan pulled himself up and kissed her lips tenderly, her smooth legs brushing against his under the covers, sending electric jolts running through his body.

He finally pulled away, and Bella stroked his cheek softly. "Hey." She finally said, back. She turned away for a second, to look at the clock, and slowly sat up on the bed. "I missed you." She said, fighting a huge grin on her face, thinking about last night, how they were finally able to see each other, touch each other, and love each other again after two weeks.

"I missed you too." Bryan's sexy sleepy voice replied back.

They spent a second staring into each other's eyes, before Bella softly spoke up. "I gotta go to work."

She turned around, showing her naked back to Bryan, then stood up, throwing a t-shirt over her.

"You never did tell me that much about your job." Bryan pointed out, "How is it?" He asked.

Bella's face fell, but she kept up a happy act, tying her hair up. "It's pretty good. The pay's decent." She turned around and plastered a big smile on her face. "Just count down the days until we'll be able to have enough money to travel the world and meet new people, experience the true meaning of living life, saving lives." She said, excitedly.

Bryan always admired Bella's passion and compassion for other people, and helping the world. Always raising money for charity, and helping people and the best ways she can, small or big, making everyone's day. That's one of the main reasons he fell in love with her. She had big smile that seemed to warm your heart, the gentleness in her voice. She was like an angel sent from heaven.

She finished dressing and kissed him on the lips. "I'll see you later."

Bella's P.O.V.

I looked left and right, before opening my locker to get my waitress apron. Every time i step foot in here, my heart feels as if it's being painfully crushed. Anxiousness seeps over me. I put on my apron and tied it behind my back, the froze. My skin feeling cold. Footsteps. No...i don't want to hear it...it makes me sick.

"You're here early, today." A female voice said.

I let out a shaky breath of relief and turned to my new friend, Jessica.

She frowned slightly at my pale face, "You alright?" She asked.

I nodded. "Yeah."

She opened her locker and put on her apron, then we both walked out, into the restaurant, the smell of omelettes hitting my nose.

I served the customers their plate, that had pancaked piled on top of each other, with syrup and blueberries on top, trying to ignore the stares that the manager gave me, that made my skin crawl since the first time i've worked here. I mentally shook my head. No time to complain. He was the only one that let me work here, all the other jobs i applied for rejected me. I should be grateful. This is just temporary.

When i carried the empty plates back into the kitchen, the manager stopped me, with a mischievous smirk on his face.

"You're doing good, Bella. Keep up the good work."

I clenched my jaw, and gave a tight smile. "Thanks." I mumbled.

"Be careful when carrying the plates. If you're clumsy, accidents happen." He pointed out.

I nodded, "I'm careful." I assured him, and tried to walk around him, but my arm slightly bumped his and made me lose grip on the plates, as they all fell and crashed down onto the tiled floor.

Bastard. He did that on purpose.

He looked at me, as if to tell me to hurry up and pick the broken pieces up. He sighed, turned away and grabbed a bin, then turned back, waiting for me to pick up the mess on the floor.

I knelt down, as i felt his eyes on me. I slowly picked one piece up and put it in the bin that he was holding. After i was done, he knelt down to me, dangerously close to my face, and said softly, "I said, be careful." Sending goosebumps all over my skin.

NO ONE'S P.O.V.

Bryan stared at the T.V, bored. Candice hasn't come downstairs since Ms Harrington left. 'Where does she go, anyway? And why doesn't her and Candice get along that well? They don't seem to talk with each other as much.' Bryan asked himself. He groaned, and threw his head back on the couch, then found himself face to face with Candice, as she just stared down at him. He yelped and quickly sat up, but crashing both of their heads together in the process. Candice squealed, then covered her forehead, a pained expression on her face. Bryan rubbed his forehead, then asked Candice if she was okay.

Her lips quivered, as she sobbed for 3 seconds, before becoming silent again. "What just happened?" She demanded.

"I'm so sorry. I just didn't hear you. Wh-What were you doing?"

"Ow..." Candice moaned, "More pain to add to my body." She pouted her lips. "Thanks a lot." She murmured.

"It wasn't my fault! You shouldn't have scared me like that!"

"I wanted something to eat!" She shouted back.

Bryan sighed, "Are you feeling okay, now? You were passed out yesterday. You might've been so tired. And you were burning up."

Candice looked away, narrowing her eyes. "I'm fine." She said, coldly.

Bryan didn't question her sudden change in attitude, as he was beginning to get used to it by now. She slowly walked over to the kitchen, as if every bone in her body was breaking. Bryan widened his eyes and got up to help her. She sat down on the kitchen stool and buried her head on the counter, groaning. "I am so tired." She mumbled.

"Maybe you should get some sleep. I'll bring something up to you." Bryan said, concerned.

Before Candice had time to reply, there was a knock at the door. Bryan walked over to it and opened it. A girl with big blue eyes and short blonde hair looked up at him, confused. She was wearing a cheerleader outfit and was carrying a backpack. She was the girl on Candice's photograph.

"Is Candice here?" She asked.

Bryan leaned against the door frame, crossing his arms. "And you are?" He asked. But the girl wasn't blushing, as she blinked at Bryan as if he was a dumb ass.

"I'm her friend, Hayley." She said, impatiently.

"Hayley?" Candice asked, behind Bryan.

Hayley's face lit up, as she pushed Bryan out of the way, and hugged Candice tightly. "Oh, my little candy cane! I've missed you so much!"

Candice looked at Hayley, gaping her mouth. She looked...different.

"I joined the cheer leading squad!" Hayley explained.

Hayley wasn't the type to be a cheerleader. Normally, when you think of a cheerleader, you see a typical bratty rich girl who never eats carbs and looks down on everyone. But Hayley was one of the most quiet and shy people you'll ever meet in high school. It was weird how Candice and her became friends, but Hayley seemed to grow attached to her.

Instead of squealing with joy and jumping around, Candice cocked and eyebrow, "Why?" She asked.

"To be able to finally be on the basketball court when the games are happening!"

"Join the team?" Candice suggested, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I can't! That's a step too far! Besides, cheer leading has always been my dream." She sighed, smiling to herself.

"Even if you're on the squad, she isn't going to notice you anyway. She isn't interested in girls. Especially shy, baby faced girls." Candice said, harshly, flicking Hayley's forehead.

"How do you know? Gabbyson hasn't dated one guy since we all started high school. It must mean something!" Hayley said, hopefully.

Candice rolled her eyes. "You and your crushes."

Suddenly, Bryan cleared his throat. "So, i guess you're staying?"

Candice scowled at Bryan.

"Yes." Hayley simply said, quietly. "Unless, you need me to go-"

"No, no. It's just that- I was going to call Ms Harrington because Candice is sick-"

"I'm not sick!" Candice protested.

Hayley turned back to Candice, "Candice, you have to come back to school! I miss you so much!" She said.

Candice looked away. "No way." She said.

"Why?" Asked Hayley, stubbornly.

Candice stayed quiet for a second, as if she was remembering something, then her eyes landed on Hayley again. "Because it's boring. And the teachers suck."

"That's not a good explanation!"

"Hayley, please." Candice pleaded.

Bryan watched them silently. He was shocked. He never heard Candice use that tone before.

"I'm really tired."

Hayley frowned, but nodded. "Fine, fine. I'll go." She said, hiding her hurt expression. "But you better text me!" She warned.

After Hayley was gone, Candice collapsed, leaning on the door, then sighed dramatically.

"Want me to call your mom?" Bryan asked.

Candice looked up, then shook her head. "No...i just have a head ache." She said. "I expect toast behind my door in less than 10 minutes." Candice ordered, rudely.

"I'm your sitter, not your servant." Bryan yelled out at her, when she stomped up the stairs.

-----

Bryan stood outside Candice's bedroom door, but instead of leaving the food outside like she told him to, he knocked two times, the entered.

Candice gasped, and scrambled under her covers, her cheeks bright red, looking flushed. "Wh-What are you doing? You could've knocked!" She said, stuttering, looking at Bryan furiously.

"I did knock."

"Knocking without waiting for a response defeats the whole purpose, pervert!" She was still blushing furiously, like she was embarrassed about something.

Bryan frowned, "What's the big deal? I bought you your stupid toast so be grateful." He said, harshly.

"I told you to leave it outside." She gritted her teeth. She took a deep breath, then sighed. "Mm. Can't blame you. You seem to have hearing problems."

"Shut up and take it." Bryan said.

"I...I can't. I'm feeling too weak to move." She replied, quietly.

Bryan sighed, then walked over to her, handing her the plate.

She sat down on the bed, staring up at him, causing him to have he weirdest feeling of wanting to protect her, care for her. He shook that feeling away and looked at her questioningly.

She slowly opened her mouth, and kept it open. Bryan rolled his eyes. 'I can't believe i'm doing this,' he thought to himself, as he picked up the piece of toast, and fed her, as she slowly took a bite of it, keeping her eyes on Bryan. He felt himself blush violently. 'What the hell is she doing?' He asked himself. His heart jumped as she grabbed his hand that was carrying the piece of toast, and guided his hand closer to her mouth, taking another bite, and another, and another. Bryan gulped, slowly, fighting the urge to kidnap her right there and now. When she finished, she took his index finger and wiped the side of her lips with it, then licked it slowly, her mouth around his- he pulled away, quickly.

She looked up at him, innocently. "What?" She lied back down on the bed, keeping her eyes on him. "Can you bring me some aspirin? My head's killing me."