BAD INFLUENCE
Bad Influence - Episode 11&12
(•Tainting Her Innocence•)
GENRE: College romance
By, Mide L.
✧༺✰༻✧ ✧༺✰༻✧ ✧༺✰༻✧
✮{...MOVING OUT...}✮
Hailey’s mind screamed at her to stop this. To push him away.
But her body?
It betrayed her.
"You keep pretending you don't want this, princess. But your body tells a different story" he said brushing his lips on her ear, sending a chill to run down her spine.
Her breath hitched, her chest rising and falling against his. The cold that had wrapped around her moments ago was gone, replaced by a slow, creeping heat that spread from where his other hand rested against her bare back.
"See? You’re warming up just fine" he murmured.
She should move atleast or say something...anything but the words tangled in her throat, lost in the way his thumb brushed over her skin, the way his eyes darkened as they roamed her face.
His hand that was on her soft boobs,dropped down and he trailed up her thigh, his touch lazy and teasing.
"Still going to tell me to stop?"
Hailey swallowed hard, her pulse racing. The heat in his gaze was impossible to ignore, suffocating in the best and worst way.
She was supposed to hate him. He was dangerous. Off-limits.
Hailey's breath came in uneven gasps, her mind spinning between the heat pooling in her stomach and the cold truth pressing at the edges of her thoughts.
Then, it hit her.
Reality.
She stiffened beneath his touch, her hands pressing against his chest as panic flared in her eyes.
"Xavier… I—I’ve never done this before. Please don't to this, I'm saving it until the night of my wedding, I'm giving it someone I love and not someone random like you" She pleaded and he stilled.
The smirk that had been teasing at his lips faded slightly, replaced by something unreadable. Then, after a long pause, he nodded, his fingers still resting against her skin.
"You're getting spoiled, princess" he murmured, his thumb brushed lightly over her hip, making her shiver.
"What do you think I wanted to do to you?"
Hailey’s breath caught in her throat. Her cheeks burning as she struggled to form words.
"I—I don't know…" she stammered.
Xavier chuckled, tilting his head as he traced slow circles against her skin.
"Come on, use that pretty little head of yours" His lips brushed dangerously close to her ear.
"Tell me what you thought was about to happen"
Her face flamed, and she bit her lip, refusing to meet his gaze. The intensity in his eyes was too much, too consuming.
And the worst part?
He already knew the answer.
"I know you wanted to sleep with me" She finally said with her eyes closed and he chuckled.
"Wanted to sleep with you? Yes… and I still want to" he said hoarsely.
Hailey’s stomach clenched, her breath hitching as he leaned in again, his lips ghosting over her cheek before stopping just at the corner of her mouth.
"But I won’t force you against your wish" he murmured.
"You know where to find me when you change your mind, princess"
With that, he pulled away completely, the warmth of his body vanishing, leaving her skin tingling in the absence of his touch.
Hailey could only watch, still frozen, as he reached for his wet clothes, slipping them back on with an ease that sent another wave of heat through her. The rain outside was still pouring, drumming against the roof as he ran a hand through his damp hair.
Without another word, without so much as a glance back at her, Xavier turned and stepped out into the downpour.
Leaving Hailey alone.
Cold.
Shaken.
And unable to ignore the way her body still burned.
•••
Jessa leaned against the desk, arms crossed as she stared out the window, watching the rain pound against the glass. The sound filled the empty classroom, a steady rhythm that matched the frustration bubbling inside her.
"Fresher’s Night has been ruined because of this stupid rain" she muttered, kicking at the leg of a chair.
Asher, seated on the edge of a desk, ran a hand through his damp hair, sighing.
"I wonder if Hailey is okay wherever she is" he said, his voice laced with concern. His fingers tapped absentmindedly against the desk, his thoughts clearly elsewhere.
Jessa turned to him, her brows raising slightly.
"You seem really worried about her"
"Ofcourse! And you should be too, she's our friend"
"I'm sure she's fine, she's with Xavier"
"More reason why I should be worried about her, she's with a psycho. He even burned down my precious jacket gifted to me by my late mother, all because she's wearing it"
"Yeah… That’s messed up, sorry about that" she smiled nervously.
"Messed up? That jacket was the last thing I had from my mom. He didn’t even care. He’s a psycho that should be locked up, Jessa”
Jessa crossed her arms. "You’re really pissed off, huh?"
"No, Jessa, I’m just thrilled that some arrogant bastard set fire to something priceless" Asher snapped sarcastically before sighing. He pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Look… I don’t trust him. And I sure as hell don’t want Hailey getting caught up in whatever game he’s playing"
Jessa tapped her nails against the desk, considering his words.
"Well, if she’s really in trouble, she’s going to have to figure it out herself. You can’t save her from everything, Asher"
His jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he turned back to the rain. Hailey was out there, somewhere, alone with Xavier. And that thought sat uneasily in his chest.
Jessa watched him, a knowing smirk creeping on her lips.
"You like her, don’t you?"
Asher stiffened, but he didn’t answer.
And that silence?
It spoke louder than words.
"I barely know her" He finally answered.
"That wasn't a no. You do like her" Jessa teased.
Asher sighed, running a hand through his damp hair.
"It doesn't matter"
"Doesn’t matter? You sure? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you care a whole lot"
He didn’t want to admit it—hell, he barely understood it himself but the thought of her alone with Xavier, a guy he instinctively knew was trouble, sent an uneasy chill down his spine.
Jessa studied him for a moment, her playful smirk fading.
"You know, you might want to tell her how you feel before it's too late" she said.
Asher scoffed, shaking his head. "Feel? I barely know her, Jessa. And besides, she’s not interested in me"
"Not yet" Jessa corrected and Asher turned to her with an exasperated look.
Not yet?
•••
NEXT DAY*
Hailey stirred awake, her body aching as she shifted on the hard surface beneath her. The sound of rain had stopped, replaced by the eerie silence of dawn. Her lashes fluttered open, and she blinked at the dim light filtering through the cracks in the abandoned building.
For a moment, disoriented, she tried to recall where she was. Then it all came rushing back... Xavier,the rain, the unbearable heat of his touch, and how he had walked out into the rain, leaving her alone.
She shivered and sat up, realizing her dress was now dry and neatly placed beside her.
Had he done that?
She shook the thought away and reached for her phone, her heart stopping when she saw the screen light up with dozens of missed calls.
Cecilia.
She panicked and swallowed hard, imagining the wrath awaiting her back home.
"Shit" she whispered, hurriedly slipping back into her dress, her fingers trembling as she zipped it up. She stuffed her phone into her bag, pushed herself up, and rushed towards the exit.
The morning air was cool, chilling her exposed skin as she stepped outside.
She looked at the unfamiliarity of the place and she frowned.
Where the hell is she?
She fumbled for her phone again, her fingers quickly typing Jessa’s number. The line barely rang twice before Jessa’s groggy voice came through.
"Hailey?" She asked more like calling her name, sounding sleepy.
"Jessa, I—I don’t know where I am" Hailey stammered, glancing around wildly.
"I was… with Xavier, and now I'm outside some uncompleted building. I—"
"Wait, wait, calm down?" Jessa cut in, fully awake now.
"Okay, deep breath. What do you see?"
Hailey turned on her heel, looking at her surroundings.
"Uh, there’s a huge billboard a few blocks away, a broken fence, and…" She squinted.
"I think a bus stop nearby"
"Okay, I think I know where that is. Stay put. I’ll be there in a few minutes" Jessa said.
Hailey nodded, though Jessa couldn’t see her. "Please hurry"
Minutes later, a cab pulled up, splashing through puddles as it came to a stop. The door flung open, and Jessa leaned out, popping out her head.
"Get in"
Hailey didn't hesitate. She slid into the seat, her body still cold despite the warmth inside the car.
Jessa studied her, noticing the tension in her.
"Are you okay?"
Hailey exhaled shakily. "No… but I will be"
Jessa didn't say anything else. She simply nodded and told the driver to drive away, leaving the silence between them to say what words couldn’t.
Minutes later, the car stopped in front of Hailey's house.
"Thanks for coming to get me, I will see you at school" She said and Jessa nodded.
Hailey came down from the cab and shut the door and the driver drove off.
Taking a deep breath, Hailey turned towards the house, the place she dreaded returning to.
The moment she stepped inside, the door slammed shut behind her, making her jump. Cecilia was standing before her with arms crossed. Eyes cold. Lips pressed into a thin line.
Hailey swallowed hard.
"Where the hell have you been?"
"I...I got stuck in the rain. I didn't hear my phone ring, and—"
"Don't you dare lie to me! Do you have any idea how many times I called you? How worried I was?"
Hailey scoffed before she could stop herself. "You were worried about me? Why does that sound fake to me?"
Cecilia’s eyes flashed with anger, and before Hailey could react, a sharp sting erupted across her cheek. The slap echoed in the quiet house, leaving a burning sensation on Hailey’s skin.
"How dare you talk back to me? You disappear all night, and you have the audacity to act like a brat?"
Hailey clenched her fists, biting her lip to keep the tears from spilling. She wouldn’t cry, not in front of Cecilia. She promised herself that.
"I'm not lying" she said through gritted teeth.
"It rained heavily, and I had nowhere to go, and—"
"And what? You expect me to believe you were stranded? You probably ran off to be with some boy, acting like a cheap whore just like your mum"
"Stop it! Not my dead mum! Don't call her that" Hailey’s voice cracked.
"Oh, did I touch a nerve? Face it, Hailey, you’re no better than she was. Running around all night like some stray. Who were you with, huh? Some filthy boy?"
Hailey clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.
"Don't you think you should call yourself that name instead, the cheap whore suits you more. You walked into my uncle’s life when you fully know he's married, you shameless woman!"
Cecilia’s face twisted in rage, her nostrils flaring as she took a step forward, eyes burning with fury.
"You little brat" she seethed, raising her hand again.
But this time, Hailey was ready.
Her hand shot up, catching Cecilia’s wrist mid-air. The shock in the older woman’s eyes was almost satisfying.
"I dare you" Hailey hissed, her fingers tightening around Cecilia’s wrist.
"Hit me again, and I swear, I won’t just stand here and take it"
Cecilia yanked her hand away, her lips curling in disgust.
"So, you’ve finally grown some backbone, huh? A few nights out with some filthy boy and you think you’re all grown up?"
Hailey’s jaw clenched. "You don’t know anything about me. And you never cared to"
Cecilia scoffed, stepping even closer.
"Why should i care? My husband took pity on you after your parents died, and now he’s dead, leaving me stuck with an ungrateful little leech like you”
"I never asked to be here"
"And yet, here you are. Sleeping under my roof, eating my food, wasting my money—"
"Your money?" Hailey snapped, stepping forward this time.
"You mean my uncle’s money? The money he left behind? The house he worked for? I have just as much right to be here as you do—probably more, considering you’re nothing but a homewrecker who latched on a married man”
The slap came so fast, Hailey barely registered it before the sting exploded across her cheek.
Her head whipped to the side, her skin burning.
Cecilia’s chest heaved, her hands trembling with rage.
"You ungrateful little bitch"
Hailey slowly turned back to face her, eyes blazing. But before she could speak, another voice cut through the air.
"What the hell is going on?"
Brielle stood at the top of the staircase, arms crossed, a smug smirk playing on her lips.
"This is fun" she mused, tilting her head.
"Go on, Mother. Don’t stop on my account"
Hailey’s heart pounded as Cecilia turned toward her daughter. Brielle looked far too entertained for someone who had just walked in on a heated argument.
"You, I don’t want to see your face for the rest of the day. Get out of my sight"
"And if I don’t?"
"Then I’ll make sure that scholarship of yours? It disappears. Don’t dare me"
Hailey’s stomach dropped.
Brielle’s smirk widened.
"Ooh, I’d love to see that"
Hailey clenched her jaw. She couldn’t let Cecilia ruin this for her. Not after everything she’d been through.
Without another word, she turned on her heel and stormed upstairs, her body trembling with anger.
But one thing was clear.
She was done letting Cecilia control her.
Hailey stormed into her room, her heart pounding in her chest, her cheek still stinging from Cecilia’s slap.
She wasn’t going to stay here. Not another second.
She yanked open her closet, grabbing whatever she could. Her clothes, shoes and toiletries, shoving them into her bag with reckless force. The rage bubbling inside her made her hands shake, but she kept going.
She stuffed her books in next, her scholarship papers, everything important. Cecilia wanted her gone? Fine. She was leaving.
The door creaked open behind her.
"Wow, dramatic much?"
Hailey didn’t have to turn around to know it was Brielle.
"Where do you even think you’re going?" Brielle asked, as she leaned against the doorframe.
Hailey zipped her bag shut aggressively.
"Away from this house. Away from you and your miserable excuse of a mother"
Brielle laughed.
"And where exactly are you running to? Oh, wait let me guess. The dorms? Good luck with that. I doubt anyone wants a pathetic little charity case like you as their roommate”
Hailey spun around, her glare sharp enough to cut.
"I’d rather sleep on the dorm floor than spend one more night in this house with you" She spat and Brielle smirked.
"Oh, so this is you ‘standing up for yourself’? Cute" She stepped closer.
"You think you’re finally free, Hailey? That leaving here changes anything? You’ll still be nothing. Just a sad, abandoned girl playing pretend in a world that doesn’t want her”
Hailey’s nails dug into her palms.
"Maybe you’re right. Maybe I am just an abandoned girl. But at least I’m not a bitter, spoiled brat who thrives on making others miserable just to feel better about hersel"
Brielle’s smirk dropped.
For once, she didn’t have a comeback.
Hailey slung her bag over her shoulder, brushing past Brielle without another glance.
She stomped down the stairs, Cecilia’s icy glare following her as she reached the door.
"Don’t come crawling back when reality hits you" Cecilia called out.
Hailey paused with her hand on the doorknob. She took a deep breath, then turned her head slightly.
"The only thing I regret is not leaving sooner"
And with that, she stepped out, slamming the door behind her.
She was finally free.
And she was never looking back.
___
💕TBC💕
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