CHAPTER THREE
❝ the beach ❞

     HAYDEN WAS ALL too happy when the final bell of the day had rang. Her classes were longer than they should've been, and the students she met in them were as self-cherished as her old friends in Georgia. Other than having Mike to talk to, she decided to give everyone their space, and wouldn't waste another second on trying to make new friends for the rest of the week.

Mondays were the girl's least favorite anyway, so it wasn't as if they could've made her feel any different. There was a day in first grade- Valentines Day, to be exact— that took place on a Monday. Hayden had looked forward to it like all the other little girls in her class. The boys, however, weren't too interested in receiving small cards with heart stickers and glitter on them to celebrate love. But what made Hayden despise that day was when Carson Tucker had ripped up the Valentine she had given him, and thrown it in the trash.

The boy had been her crush for a whole year, and he didn't even have the decency to give her a second glance. The little girl grew to hate Mondays after that, even though she could never seem to hold a grudge. But what made it better was that Carson had grown into a not-very-handsome nitwit that got held back in the third and sixth grade; and moved away altogether during their freshman year in high school.

It was stupid to hate a day because of something as small as a Valentine, but things always had their way of going wrong on a Monday. In third grade, Hayden fell off her bike and got her favorite dress muddy on picture day— on a Monday. In fourth grade, Alexandra Brayles stuck a wad of bubble gum in Hayden's hair, resulting in an ugly haircut— on a Monday.

She could've gone on and on thinking of everything that went bad on a Monday, but was pulled from her thoughts as someone grabbed her by the arm. Hayden turns, facing a shaken-up Mike Newton.

"Hey, Mike," the girl says softly as he runs his fingers through his hair repeatedly. "What's up?"

"I just— I . . . " Mike's face had grown red, Hayden could tell he was flustered over something. "I just needed someone to talk to, actually. Jess and I are having problems, and I'm not sure how to fix them."

"So you're coming to me for relationship advice?" she asks, a bit surprised since no one else had ever thought to do so. "I'm not too good with this stuff, if I'm being honest."

"Should I ask her to prom?" he blurts, disreguarding her previous comment. "I mean, she's obviously wanting me to ask her, she's been hinting towards it all week. But there's someone else I like."

"Why don't you take the girl you like?" Hayden asks, clearly confused at how he could be so shaken up over a simple decision.

"She's taken," he sighs, struggling to find his words. "I've liked her for a while, and I think she knows. She's just so in love that I'm not sure she would say yes."

"Well, I'm not an expert or anything," the brunette pauses with a chuckle. "But if I were you, I'd lay down the law with Jessica. She seems to be pretty controlling with you, and that creates a toxic relationship."

"And for prom?"

"Go stag if you have to," she shrugs, the ends of her lips curving upwards. "Just do what makes you happy, even if that means getting turned down."

Her words calmed Mike down in an instant. Mike grew comfortable, and his smile returned. His posture increased, and Hayden could tell she had done something right. Hopefully he would get the girl he was chasing, and if not- a girl that he deserved.

"Thanks, Hayden," he nods, his eyes finding someone behind her. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye," she waves, turning to watch as he walked away.

Her eyes lingered on him for a moment, her mind on the beach she had yet to visit. La Push wasn't too far away, and she was sure her parents wouldn't mind if she was out for another hour. Besides, they were at work anyway, and wouldn't be home until later on at night.

She crosses the parking lot, pulling her keys from her bag. Once Hayden reaches her jeep, she does a quick once-over of the cars and students around her. Her eyes almost immediately found Emmett, where he was leaning against a silver Volvo with Edward chatting in front of him. The girl tried not to stare, but it was almost impossible- Hayden couldn't manage to look away from Emmett.

She scanned him closely, finding his attractiveness growing as she did so. She felt a pull to him, as if her stalking hadn't sounded crazy enough.

Only when he looked up from Edward did she break her gaze away, and open the front door to slide into her jeep. Hayden could feel her cheeks grow warm as she blushed, igniting the car engine and tossing her bag into the backseat. The girl didn't hesitate to pull out of the parking lot, not even taking a second glance at Emmett Cullen.

But she couldn't help but feel his eyes burn holes into her as she passed.

---

When arriving at La Push, Hayden felt a wave of relaxation wash over her. The tides rushed over the rocks and sand, and the trees of the forest behind it moved with the cool breeze. The sound of the rushing waters calmed her as she found a spot near the forest, resting her bare feet in the wet sand.

Hayden had ditched her shoes and socks when getting out of the car, and left her phone and other belongings, too. The beach was enough to keep her occupied for a while.

Three teenagers were surfing in the distance, one screeching as she fell backwards into the waves. Hayden couldn't help but chuckle to herself, remembering the only time that she had gotten on a surfboard. It had been her tenth birthday, and she finally decided she wanted to be a professional surfer when she grew up. And so her parents took her to the beach, bought her a surfboard, and proceeded to teach her the ways of surfing.

It was harder than it had seemed in the movies, the younger girl had soon learned. She had fallen off her surfboard so many times that day that her eyes burned from the salty water, and her lungs had ached from sucking in too many sharp breaths. And by the end of the day, she had given up, and headed home with a minor sunburn and disastrous tales of the water.

Since then, she hadn't really thought about surfing. One day, though, Hayden knew she would find her way back to the surfboard, even if it was just for recreation.

A twig snaps in the forest behind Hayden, catching the brunette's attention. She carefully looked back into the trees, narrowing them to try and find the source of the noise. And, not too far off, she found a boy jogging to the clearing. He didn't notice her, his eyes only focused on something in the distance.

But once the boy had laid his eyes on her, he stopped in his tracks, his eyes furrowed in utter confusion.

"Who are you?" he asked, his voice deep.

"Hayden Marris," Hayden replies steadily, her gaze locked on him. "Who are you?"

The boy was attractive, she had to admit. But in a different way than what she expected. Instead of having pale skin, his was russet- in a way that suggested he had constantly been in the sun. That was off, considering the weather in Forks. But she didn't falter on that, studying him again.

His hair was short and jet black, and a tattoo peaked out from under the sleeve of his t-shirt. The boy's muscles were defined, and his eyes were the shade of dark chocolate.

"Paul Lahote," he tilts his head. "So are you new to Forks?"

"I moved here a couple days ago," she informs him, looking back to the water.

Paul was surprised to find someone new in Forks— someone he hadn't been aware of. The girl, Hayden, had an aura like no other, he found. It was difficult to know what he felt, but it was off. And so he decided to move forward, and sit down on the sand next to her.

"Do you like it here?" he found himself asking.

"I'm not sure yet," Hayden says, feeling herself somewhat relax. Why, she had no idea- but it felt good to finally feel calm. "The people here are confusing, but I'm sure I'll get used to it soon enough."

"Forks is a nice place. Uneventful," he looks to her. "But nice. It's small, you'll get to know almost everyone."

"I'm guessing you've been here for a while," she comments, her eyes meeting his.

"I've lived here all my life," Paul nods. "That's why I got a little confused when I saw you here. No one hangs out here alone."

"And why is that?"

"Don't know," he responds honestly. "But the only time anyone comes to La Push is in groups. I've never seen anyone alone."

"You were alone," Hayden points out. "Do you not have any friends?"

"You caught me," Paul puts his hands up, a chuckle escaping his lips as Hayden grins. "Of course I have friends, thanks for the vote of confidence. I was just looking for one of them, actually."

"And how is that working out for you?" the girl placing her chin on her hand, smiling as he pauses. "Hide and seek is a dangerous game, especially on a beach. You can lose a friend to the tides."

"Yeah, I'm sure," he laughs, shaking his head at her sarcasm.

And so their conversation continues, definitely growing to be the start of a close friendship- from what both Hayden and Paul could both tell.

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