BAD INFLUENCE
Bad Influence - Episode 19&20
(•Tainting Her Innocence•)
GENRE: College romance
By, Mide L.
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✮{...THE QUESTION...}✮
XAVIER’S PLACE*
Hailey barely had time to register what was happening before she found herself standing in front of Xavier’s motorcycle.
The ride had been fast, reckless even, but she hadn't protested. She had simply held onto him, the warmth of his body against her.
Now, as she stepped off the bike, Xavier pulled off his helmet and turned to her, his gaze unreadable.
"You okay?" He asked hoarsely.
Hailey nodded, though she wasn’t sure if it was the truth.
Xavier studied her for a second before sighing. He reached for the door and pushed it open, stepping inside.
"Come in" he said without looking back.
Hailey hesitated, glancing around. She had never been to his place before.
The door shut behind her with a quiet click after she entered.
Xavier tossed his keys on the counter and leaned against it, watching her.
"You’re so damn quiet, say something princess"
Hailey shifted on her feet.
"I—" She exhaled.
"I just… I don’t know why you brought me here"
His lips curled into something between a smirk and a scoff.
"You didn’t fight me on it"
Xavier ran a hand through his hair, then pushed off the counter. He walked toward her, slow, deliberate. When he was close enough that she had to tilt her head up to meet his eyes, he spoke again.
"You looked like you were about to fall apart back there"
His fingers brushed against her wrist, sending a chill down her spine.
"I don’t like seeing you like that"
Hailey’s breath hitched.
Xavier smirked. "You’re cute when you’re flustered"
She pulled her hand away,her cheeks burning.
"I wasn’t flustered" she said and he chuckled lightly.
"Sure, princess"
Hailey crossed her arms, determined to ignore the way her stomach flipped at the nickname. She loves the way he calls it.
Every time Xavier called her princess, it did something to her, something she wasn’t sure she liked but couldn’t ignore.
The way he said it sent a shiver down her spine. He didn’t just say it casually... it felt like a name only he was allowed to use. Sometimes, he said it with a teasing smirk, like he knew exactly how it made her feel. Other times, his voice was firm, almost like a command, making her stomach twist in ways she didn’t understand.
But the most dangerous was when he said it softly, like a secret meant just for her. In those moments, the air between them felt different... heavier, charged with something she couldn’t name.
She wanted to ignore it. She wanted to pretend it didn’t affect her.
But deep down, she knew it did.
"So… what now?"
Xavier’s smirk faded slightly. His eyes darkened, turning serious.
"Now?" He stepped even closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper.
"Now, you tell me who the hell made you look that broken"
Hailey lowered her gaze, suddenly feeling small under his intense stare.
"Umm..." She swallowed, heat creeping up her neck.
_Just say it, Hailey._
"I was... stained back then" she admitted, shifting awkwardly then continued.
"Jessa was leading me to the restroom when you came out of nowhere"
Xavier didn’t say anything right away, but his jaw tightened, his expression darkening.
"I hated that look on your face" he muttered, almost to himself.
Before she could ask what he meant, he turned on his heel and disappeared into another room.
Hailey blinked, caught off guard.
Did he just—?
She barely had time to process his words before he returned, holding something in his hand.
A sanitary pad.
Her eyes widened.
"W-why do you even have that?" she blurted out, staring at him like he had just grown another head.
Xavier shrugged, tossing it on the counter near her.
"Just go make use of it and stop being curious"
Hailey hesitated before reaching for the pad.
"Thanks..." she mumbled.
Xavier scoffed.
"It’s just a pad, princess. Not a winning lottery ticket"
But there was no teasing in his tone this time. Just something quiet. Something that made her chest feel tight.
She glanced up at him, wondering why this simple gesture made her heart do weird things.
And why did he care so much?
"Use my room’s bathroom" he said.
Hailey hesitated. "Your room?"
"Yeah, unless you wanna use the sink in the kitchen"
She shot him a glare, and he smirked, clearly amused. Huffing, she grabbed the pad and headed toward the room he had disappeared into earlier.
Pushing the door open, she stepped inside.
The first thing she noticed was the scent...his scent. A mix of smoke, something minty, and a hint of cologne. It was oddly comforting.
Then her eyes landed on it.
A condom. Right there on the bed.
She froze and her stomach twisted. It wasn’t like she hadn’t seen one before, she had come across them plenty of times while cleaning Cecilia’s room. But this… this was different.
This was his bed.
Had he…?
She didn’t even want to finish the thought.
Her fingers clenched around the sanitary pad in her hand, and for a moment, she debated walking right back out.
But no. She wasn’t going to overthink this. It didn’t mean anything.
Taking a deep breath, she shook off the uneasy feeling and quickly made her way to the bathroom.
She was just here to clean up. Nothing more.
Right?
Hailey closed the bathroom door behind her and leaned against it for a second.
It’s none of your business, she told herself.
Still, she couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Why was it just lying there like that? Had he forgotten to put it away? Or had someone been here before her?
She quickly freshened up, avoiding her reflection in the mirror as if it would reveal something she didn’t want to admit. Once she was done, she took a deep breath and stepped back into Xavier’s room.
Her eyes moved to the bed again. The condom was still there.
Shaking her head, she walked toward the door and went back to the living room.
"Xavier…" she called and he looked up from what he was doing.
He arched a brow. "Yeah?"
She shifted on her feet, unsure if she really wanted to say it. But the words were already forming, pushing past her lips before she could stop them.
"Everyone keeps telling me to stay away from you"
Xavier’s smirk faltered slightly, but he didn’t interrupt.
"They say…" She swallowed. "The last girl who got close to you disappeared"
The room felt colder instantly.
Xavier’s expression changed...his cocky, amused demeanor vanished, replaced by something unreadable. His jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened in a way that made Hailey’s stomach twist.
She waited for him to deny it. To laugh it off. To say something...anything.
But he didn’t.
Instead, without a word, he turned around and walked away, leaving her standing there alone.
•••
HILLSWORTH COLLEGE*
Jessa stepped out of the empty classroom, her fingers tightening around her phone. She hesitated, debating whether to call Hailey.
A part of her was worried. Hailey hadn’t returned after Xavier dragged her away, and it had been hours now. But another part of her...the stubborn, prideful part told her to let it be.
With a small huff, she shoved her phone back into her pocket.
_She’ll be fine._
Instead of calling, she quickly pulled up her messages and typed a text to Brielle.
She was still on it when she collided into someone.
Jessa staggered back, her phone nearly slipping from her hand.
"Ugh, watch where—" Her words caught in her throat as she looked up at the girl in front of her.
She was brown-skinned, slightly taller than Jessa, her long black almost reaching her butt.
Jessa had seen her before. Her name is Jasmine.
Jasmine tilted her head, an unimpressed look on her face.
"You good?"
Jessa straightened, quickly masking any sign of surprise.
Hi peacemaker on 08037873157 to be added you to the stories group
"Yeah, I’m fine"
Jasmine gave her a once-over, then smirked.
"Maybe stop texting and walking next time"
Jessa clenched her jaw but forced a small smile.
"Noted"
Jasmine was about to walk past when she suddenly paused and turned back to Jessa.
"You’re friends with Hailey, right?"
Jessa blinked, caught off guard. "Why do you care?"
"Just curious"
But there was something in her tone, something that made Jessa frown.
"What’s it to you?" Jessa asked, folding her arms.
Jasmine’s smirk deepened, but instead of answering, she simply said, "Tell her I said hi and to be careful around you"
And with that, she walked away, leaving Jessa standing there.
What the hell was that about?
•••
BACK AT XAVIER’S PLACE*
Hailey stood motionless, her mind racing as Xavier disappeared into the other room. The weight of his silence unsettled her more than anything he could have said.
She barely had time to steady her breath before he returned, this time holding a plate with a sandwich on it.
"Eat" he said, setting it on the counter.
Hailey stared at it for a second before shaking her head.
"I’m not hungry"
Xavier arched a brow. "I said eat, princess"
"I said no" she insisted, crossing her arms. "You’re avoiding my question, Xavier. Why won’t you answer me?"
His lips curled into a smirk. Instead of replying immediately, he closed the space between them in a few easy steps.
Hailey stiffened as he reached out, fingers tilting her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. His touch was light, but there was an underlying intensity in his grip.
"If they say you should stay away from me" he murmured, "don’t listen to them"
He leaned in just a little closer, his breath warm against her skin. His next words were softer, but they sent a shiver down her spine.
"Because if I wanted to hurt you, princess..." His thumb brushed over her jaw. "I already would have"
A lump formed in Hailey’s throat.
"That’s not reassuring" she whispered.
Xavier smirked again.
"It wasn’t supposed to be, princess"
___
💕TBC💕
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