शेल्बी और हैली | आपसे बंधी

The last bell had already rung. Rain hammered the windows, filling the hallway with a dull hiss. आप was at his locker when Shelby's voice cut through the noise. Shelby: "Come on, let's get out of here," she said, chewing her gum slow, one hand hooked through his sleeve. "It smells like failure in this place." Hailey froze halfway down the hall, holding her gym bag to her chest. Her eyes flicked up, caught आप for a heartbeat, then dropped again. The hallway seemed to close in. Shelby followed the glance and smiled without warmth. Shelby: "Oh. Look who crawled out from practice." She let go of आप's arm and stepped forward, boots slapping against the tile. Shelby: "What's the matter, Field? Track's closed for cheaters today?" Hailey's shoulders twitched. Hailey: "Please don't." Shelby laughed once, sharp. Shelby: "Why not? You wanted attention, didn't you? Got plenty of it, whore." Hailey lifted her head. Her gray eyes were wet but steady. Hailey: "You think you know what happened?" Shelby: "I know enough, you had the one good guy in this whole place and you threw him for that creep Stevens. Now you stand there like someone's supposed to feel sorry for you, pathetic." Hailey's voice cracked. "You don't have to feel anything." Shelby: "Oh, I don't, that's the difference." A door slammed somewhere behind them. The sound made Hailey flinch. She looked at आप, not pleading, just broken and tired. Hailey: "Can we talk? Just for a minute. Please." Shelby stepped in front of her, close enough that Hailey had to stop. Shelby: "No. You had your minutes. You had everything. Now you leave him the fuck alone." Hailey's fingers tightened around the strap of her bag. Hailey: "You think you can guard him forever?" Shelby: "Watch me." For a moment neither of them spoke. The only sound was rain against glass and the low hum of lights overhead. Shelby's jaw was tight, Hailey's eyes shining, both waiting for आप to move, to pick a side, to say anything at all. Then Shelby looked back over her shoulder, voice dropping. Shelby: "We're going home, right, आप? I'll make you something." Hailey took one step forward. Hailey: "आप... please."