Bad Influence - Episode 53&54

 

 BAD INFLUENCE

Bad Influence - Episode 53&54

(•Tainting Her Innocence•)

GENRE: College romance 

By, Mide L.

    ✧༺✰༻✧    ✧༺✰༻✧    ✧༺✰༻✧

            ✮{...HALLUCINATION?...}✮

"Nice dancing with you, Princess"

Hailey froze.

Only one person ever called her that.

And the voice…

She knew it.

Her breath hitched, eyes wide behind her mask but by the time she blinked, the masked guy was out of sight.

___

Hailey still stood frozen.

No.

It couldn't be him.

Could it?

She turned in a full circle, scanning the sea of masks, feathers, and flashing lights. But he was gone. Vanished like smoke like he was never there to begin with.

"Hailey?" Asher’s voice brought her back to earth.

She turned sharply to find him walking toward her.

'"You okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost"

She forced a laugh, too tight. "I’m fine. Just… dizzy from the dance"

He reached for her hand. "Let’s get some fresh air"

She nodded, letting him lead her toward the balcony. But her mind wasn’t with him. It was spinning, stuck on one thing.

Only one person ever called her that.

Only one voice made her legs feel like jelly and her lungs forget how to work.

Xavier.

But he's supposed to be dead.

So why did she feel like her heart had just been hijacked… all over again?

Asher laced his fingers through hers and gently pulled her along, weaving through the crowd until they stepped on the balcony. The night cool air hit her skin but it didn't calm her.

Hailey leaned against the railing, her eyes scanning the distant horizon, but her mind was trapped in that moment. That voice.

That name.

"Hailey" Asher said softly, standing beside her, "are you sure you’re okay? You’re acting… distracted"

She blinked and looked at him then forced a smile. "Yeah. Just... overwhelmed, maybe"

He chuckled, nudging her shoulder with his. "Well, this is our first time out as a couple. You’re allowed to feel that way"

She laughed weakly, but it barely reached her eyes.

Asher turned to face her fully, grabbing her hands.

"You're the best thing that have ever happened to me, I love you so much"

Hailey’s throat tightened.

She stared at Asher, his masked face shadowed by the soft glow of the balcony lights. His words… they weren’t random. They weren’t shallow. 

But tonight… her heart was betraying her.

"I…" she started.

"Asher…"

He gently cupped her hands, his tone soft and patient. 

"I’m not asking for you to say it back. I just wanted you to know how I feel. You mean a lot to me, Hails. You always have"

She looked at him then, really looked into the boy who had become a man right before her eyes. The one who didn't stop loving her. Who made her laugh. Who held her when she cried after Xavier died, he comforted her then.

Her lips trembled with a small, fragile smile. "Thank you," she said quietly. "That… means a lot"

He leaned in slowly, giving her time to pull away if she wanted. But she didn’t.

His lips touched hers slowly and gently, nibbling on her lower lip so she could open up.

But Hailey felt nothing.

Not the butterflies. Not the spark. Not the heat.

Only guilt.

Because while Asher kissed her, her mind betrayed her by dragging her back to another mouth, another heat, another chaos.

That familiar voice.

She broke the kiss slowly, her lashes fluttering as she pulled back, her breath uneven.

Asher studied her face. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No," she said quickly. Too quickly. "It’s not that. I just… I need a second"

He nodded, he looked concerned. "I’ll go grab us a drink. Stay here, okay?"

She nodded, thankful for the space.

The moment he disappeared inside, Hailey gripped the railing tight, knuckles white. Her heart thundered in her chest. She shut her eyes, trying to ground herself.

She was going crazy. She had to be.

Xavier was dead. She had mourned him, buried her memories of him. And yet…

That voice.

That name.

Hailey gripped the railing tighter, the cool metal grounding her trembling hands.

Then, her eyes caught something from below.

lone figure stood there, looking up still masked.

Her breath caught.

It was him.

The same masked guy. The same haunting stillness.

He was watching her.

The masked guy she danced with.

The one who called her Princess.

Their eyes locked or at least, she felt it. Even from that distance, her body recognized the pull.

But then, as if realizing he’d been caught, he turned sharply and walked away, disappearing into the darkness of the street.

Her heart pounded wildly in her chest.

Buzz.

Her phone vibrated in her hand, and she glanced down.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: You’re looking gorgeous tonight, Princess.

Her blood ran cold.

She stared at the screen, lips parted, heartbeat echoing in her ears.

How…?

She clutched the phone tighter, mind spinning with a thousand thoughts.

It had to be him. It had to be Xavier. No one else called her that. No one else said it that way.

She hesitated, torn between running after the figure and staying where she was.

What if it was just a coincidence?

What if she was imagining it all?

But the message… the way he vanished… the stare…

She stepped back from the railing.

And collided into someone.

Splash!

Cold liquid soaked her dress, and she gasped.

"Asher!" she exclaimed.

He looked down at his now-stained outfit, a shocked expression on his face, still holding the empty cup. "Oh God! I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you coming"

"No, no, it’s my fault!" Hailey said quickly, guilt tightening in her chest again. "I wasn’t looking. I—"

He blinked. "Hey… where are you going?"

Hailey stepped back, breath short. "I’m sorry, Asher… but I have to leave"

“What? Wait Hailey, what’s going on?”

But she was already rushing down the stairs, weaving through the crowd and bursting through the party doors into the cool night.

She sprinted to the spot where the masked guy had stood.

But he was gone. Just like before.

The street was empty, save for some guests stumbling out of the party, laughing and drunk. Her eyes darted in every direction, searching desperately.

Nothing.

Gone.

Hailey stood still for a moment, chest rising and falling rapidly.

Then she flagged down a passing cab, her fingers trembling as she opened the door and slid in.

"Where to, miss?" the driver asked.

She gave him the address, then leaned back into the seat, heart racing, hands clenched around her phone.

She didn’t know if she was chasing a ghost…

Or something much worse.

But tonight, she knew one thing for sure—

Xavier wasn’t gone.

The cab pulled up to Jasmine’s house, and Hailey barely waited for the car to stop before hopping out and rushing up the front porch. 

She pushed the door open and stepped inside, her breath shaky.

Jasmine was sprawled on the couch in her oversized tee, popcorn in her lap, eyes glued to a romantic comedy playing on the screen. 

The lights were dim, making the room cozy and warm.

"He's alive, Jasmine. He's alive"

Jasmine turned, startled. 

"Babe!" she jumped up, nearly spilling her popcorn. "What the hell? What’s wrong? Who’s alive and aren’t you supposed to be at the mask party with Asher?"

Hailey’s voice trembled. 

"Xavier is alive, Jasmine"

Jasmine blinked, stunned. "What?"

She stepped around the couch slowly. "Hailey… no. No, babe. Xavier is… he’s gone"

"I saw him. I heard him!" Hailey’s voice cracked with emotion as she paced the room. 

"Someone danced with me, he called me Princess"

Jasmine groaned, dragging her hand down her face. "Babe…"

"Only Xavier ever called me that! And the voice, Jasmine. It was his voice. I would know it anywhere!"

"You’re being delusional for real," Jasmine said firmly, walking over to steady her. "Just because someone called you princess doesn’t mean it’s Xavier. It’s a common nickname, and the person may have a voice that sounds like his. That doesn’t mean—"

"It was him!" Hailey snapped, her eyes blazing. "I know what I felt. I know what I heard. Then he disappeared, and minutes later—" she held up her phone, the screen still showing the text.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: You’re looking gorgeous tonight, Princess.

Jasmine’s brows furrowed.

"And this showed up" Hailey whispered.

Jasmine stared at the message for a long moment before slowly shaking her head. 

"It could be anyone, Hailey. Anyone playing a sick game or someone who overheard you being called that before or maybe it's just a secret admirer"

"No one else calls me that," Hailey said, her voice a whisper now. "Only him."

Jasmine sighed and pulled her into a hug. "I think… your heart hasn’t healed yet. And maybe it’s looking for something to hold on to, even if it’s not real"

Hailey didn’t speak.

Because deep down… she didn’t want to let go.

Her face was buried in Jasmine’s shoulder.

Then—

Rrrrgrrruuurrrgghhh!

A monstrous rumble echoed in the quiet living room.

Jasmine blinked. "What the hell was that?"

Hailey pulled back, cheeks burning. "...That was me"

Jasmine’s mouth fell open. "Girl, was that your stomach?!"

Hailey nodded miserably. "I might’ve skipped dinner…"

Jasmine raised a brow. "Skipped dinner? No wonder you're hallucinating a dead boyfriend"

"I wasn’t hallucinating!" Hailey argued, but her stomach growled again like a dying whale.

Jasmine placed a hand dramatically on her chest. "Xavier's not haunting you, babe. That’s your digestive system crying for help"

Hailey couldn’t help it, she snorted.

"Okay, okay," Jasmine said, already heading toward the kitchen, "before you start claiming you saw Xavier in the backyard, let me get you some food. Do you want noodles, toast, or the emotional support ice cream?"

Hailey collapsed on the couch, groaning. "All of it. And maybe a spoon to cry into"

Jasmine popped her head out of the kitchen doorway, spoon already in her mouth. 

"I gotchu. Crying utensils and calories incoming" 

Hailey chuckled. 

•••

After devouring two slices of toast, half a bowl of noodles, and a generous scoop of ice cream, Hailey finally pushed herself off the couch.

"I need to rest" she mumbled, waving off Jasmine who was still trying to convince her to binge-watch a late-night show.

"You sure? What if Xavier really is out there?" Jasmine teased with a wink.

Hailey rolled her eyes, smiling faintly. “This isn’t funny Jaz”

She made her way to the guest room, the one she always used whenever she stayed over. Dropping her phone on the bedside table, she started to pull off her dress when the screen lit up with a call.

Asher.

She paused. 

A part of her wanted to pick it. Tell him sorry for leaving him at the party. Maybe let herself pretend things were normal. But just as her thumb moved toward the answer icon—

Clink.

She froze.

There was a soft metallic sound near the window. Like something had scraped against it.

Her breath hitched.

She turned toward the sound, eyes narrowing.

Then—

Thud.

Her scream barely formed when a figure in a dark hoodie leapt through the open window and landed with a quiet grace on the floor.

Hailey’s mouth parted to shriek but his hand clamped gently over her lips.

"Mmphh!" Her muffled scream barely escaped.

Her eyes widened, chest heaving in panic, trying to fight until the hand slowly dropped… and the figure stepped back, letting the hood fall.

The room spun.

Her heart pounded.

He looked the same and not the same. Bruised, rugged, dangerous hot.

Undeniably him.

"Hello, Princess" he said in a raspy and smug voice.

Her lips trembled.

"Xavier…" she whispered.

___

💕TBC💕

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