Bad Influence – Episode 31&32

              ✮{…HER JEALOUS SIDE…}✮

No one at Hillsworth knew the real Ava. And she planned to keep it that way.

She’s the Layla who disappeared but came back taking a new identity, Ava. 

With steady hands, she picked up the mask and secured it back over her face, erasing any trace of Layla. Ava was all that existed now.

She took one last glance at herself before leaving the bathroom, back to the room.

The moment she entered the room, the faint scent of smoke greeted her.

Riley was already dressed, a cigarette between her fingers as she exhaled lazily, watching the smoke curl toward the ceiling.

Ava grabbed her phone and hoodie, adjusting the sleeves before turning toward Riley. 

“I’ll be right back. I want to go read at my usual spot”

Riley arched a brow, tapping ash into a tray. 

“At this hour? Isn’t it too early?”

Ava simply nodded, already heading for the door. 

“Yeah i know. Won’t take long”

With that, she disappeared into the hallway, the door clicking shut behind her.

Reaching the rooftop entrance, she pushed the door open, the cool air breeze instantly wrapping around her. 

Ava walked to the edge, setting her book down before lowering herself on the concrete ledge. With her phone in hand, she scrolled absentmindedly, the air brushing against her masked face.

With her phone in hand, she hesitated for a moment before typing Xavier’s name into the search bar.

His profile popped up instantly, the familiar smirk greeting her through the screen. Her fingers hovered before she tapped on one of his photos—a candid shot of him leaning against his motorcycle, a cigarette hanging lazily from his lips. His dark, piercing eyes held that usual arrogance, the kind that made people both fear and crave his attention.

She scrolled down, her grip tightening around the phone as she absorbed each picture. 

•••

Hailey stepped out of her dorm room later that morning, the door clicking shut behind her. She had barely taken a few steps down the hall when she collided into someone… again.

Jasmine.

The same girl she had bumped into the other day. 

Jasmine smiled brightly at her, genuinely happy to see her.

“Good morning, Hailey” 

Hailey blinked in surprise, taking a small step back as she met Jasmine’s gaze. 

“Good morning” Hailey mumbled.

“You have a class this morning?” She asked.

“Obviously, what about you?” Hailey asked as they began walking out together.

Jasmine tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her smile never fading. 

“Nope, not yet. I just like taking a walk in the mornings”

Hailey glanced at her curiously. 

“That’s nice. You must be a morning person”

Jasmine chuckled. “Not really, but I try. Fresh air helps clear my mind”

They stepped outside and Hailey adjusted the strap of her bag. 

“So, where are you headed now?”

Jasmine shrugged. 

“Nowhere in particular. Just wandering. Mind if I walk with you for a bit?”

“Sure, I don’t mind”

A familiar voice suddenly called out from a distance.

“Hailey!”

She turned her head just in time to see Jessa hurrying toward her, and the moment she reached Hailey, she grabbed her arm, slightly out of breath.

“You look hot!” Jessa exclaimed, barely acknowledging Jasmine.

Hailey smiled.

Jessa shot a glance at Jasmine before tugging Hailey closer, lowering her voice. 

“We need to talk. Alone”

Jasmine raised a brow but took a step back. 

“I’ll catch you later, Hailey” she said before turning and walking off.

Once Jasmine was out of earshot, Hailey turned to Jessa. 

“Okay… what’s going on?”

Jessa’s jaw tightened as she watched Jasmine walk away. 

“You’ve been hanging out with her?” she asked, crossing her arms.

Hailey frowned. “Not really. I just bumped into her again”

Jessa scoffed, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Seems like she’s always conveniently around you”

Hailey gave her a confused look. “What’s wrong with that? She’s nice”

Jessa rolled her eyes, trying to mask the jealousy simmering inside her. 

“Nice? Please. You barely know her, Hailey”

“Why do you sound so… mad?”

Jessa quickly schooled her expression, forcing a smirk. 

“I’m not mad. I just don’t trust her”

“You don’t even know her” Hailey pointed out.

“Exactly” Jessa muttered under her breath.

She hated the way Jasmine made her feel—like some outsider watching from a distance while Hailey smiled and chatted with someone else. It made her chest tighten in a way she wasn’t ready to admit.

“You’re behaving weird”

Jessa scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder. 

“Weird? I’m just looking out for you, Hailey”

“I can see that”

“I don’t want any lady close to you, I want to be the only one” Jessa said and Hailey squinted her eyes trying to not overthink. 

“What do you mean by that?”

Jessa hesitated for a split second before forcing a casual shrug. 

“I mean… I just don’t want you getting too close to random people. You’re too trusting”

Hailey tilted her head, studying Jessa’s expression. Something about the way she said it felt… off. Like there was more to it.

“Explain why you don’t want me talking to Jasmine”

Jessa clenched her jaw, her fingers twitching at her sides. The truth was on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed it down. Hailey wasn’t ready to hear it. Heck, she wasn’t ready to say it.

Instead, she smirked, masking her frustration with teasing. 

“Maybe I just like having you all to myself”

Hailey laughed lightly, but there was curiosity in her eyes. 

“That sounds like jealousy”

Jessa’s heart pounded. Was she that obvious?

“Pfft” she scoffed. 

“Jealous? Of what?” She added.

Hailey arched a brow. 

“Jasmine”

Jessa rolled her eyes. “Please. She’s not even your type”

Hailey frowned. “My type?”

Jessa froze. 

Shit.

“I—I mean, you just… you wouldn’t click with her” Jessa covered quickly, waving a hand dismissively.

Hailey stared at her for a long moment before shaking her head with a small smile. 

“You’re acting strange, Jessa. But fine, I’ll drop it”

Jessa let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding.

“Good. Now, let’s go or we will be late for class”

“Are we still going to see the movie?” Hailey reminded her.

“Of course, we are. I already picked the perfect movie. You’ll love it”

Hailey rolled her eyes playfully. “Let me guess… horror?”

“You know me too well”

Hailey sighed. “I should’ve known. You just want an excuse to see me get scared”

Jessa shrugged. “Guilty”

Hailey suddenly stopped walking, tilting her head. 

“Wait… do you hear that?”

“Hear what?”

A faint, hurried set of footsteps echoed down the hallway behind them. Hailey turned, but no one was there.

Jessa rolled her eyes. 

“Probably just another student rushing to class. Come on, don’t get all paranoid on me now.”

Hailey hesitated but eventually nodded, falling back in step beside Jessa. 

Hailey suddenly stopped in her tracks again, her breath hitching.

Jessa groaned. “Now what?”

Hailey’s eyes darted down the hallway, her heart pounding. She could’ve sworn, just for a split second that she saw him. Xavier. Standing near the corner, watching her.

But when she blinked, the space was empty.

Jessa followed her gaze and frowned. “Hailey?”

Hailey swallowed hard. “I thought I saw someone…”

“Who?” Jessa asked.

Hailey hesitated. “Xavier”

Jessa’s face immediately twisted into a scowl. “That asshole? Please. He’s probably off somewhere being reckless as usual”

Hailey turned back toward the hallway, her pulse still unsteady. It felt so real. His dark eyes locked on hers, his presence overwhelming even from a distance. But now, there was nothing. Just silence.

Maybe she was imagining things. Maybe she was thinking about him too much.

Jessa nudged her. 

“Hey, snap out of it. If he was here, he would’ve made his presence known”

Hailey forced a nod, but deep down, she wasn’t so sure.

“Yeah… maybe I was just seeing things”

Hailey looked around for the last time.

Jessa sighed beside her. “Hailey, seriously, let it go. You’re acting paranoid”

But Hailey barely heard her. 

Jessa watched her intently, her expression shifting. A slow smirk tugged at her lips.

“You really can’t stop thinking about him, huh?” Jessa murmured, stepping closer.

Hailey blinked, finally glancing at her. “What?”

“You’re looking for someone who isn’t here.” Jessa leaned in, just a little, close enough that Hailey could feel her breath against her cheek. “Maybe you should focus on the people who are”

Hailey froze, her heart hammering for an entirely different reason now. Jessa was too close… closer than she ever had been before.

Then—

A strong force crashed into Jessa from behind, sending her stumbling forward.

She barely caught herself before nearly knocking Hailey over.

“The hell?!” Jessa spun around, irritation flashing in her eyes.

But the moment she saw who it was, her breath caught.

Xavier.

Standing there, towering over her with his usual careless smirk, hands stuffed into his pockets like he hadn’t just shoved her aside.

“Oops, Didn’t see you there. Don’t try what you wanted to next time” he winked at her and Jessa’s jaw clenched. 

Xavier’s gaze flicked to Hailey, and just like that, she forgot how to breathe.

“Why are you looking for me, princess?” he murmured.

Hailey’s heart slammed against her ribs.

“I wasn’t”

“Come with me to somewhere tonight,  will be waiting” he patted her shoulders before walking away.

___

💕TBC💕