{ after the hunt / with Thalia }
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Hayes sat on the windowsill of his room, one leg propped up, the other dangling over the edge. From here, he had a perfect view of the garden and a body of water circling their dorm building. A few students were scattered around, laughing, talking, their faces lit by the soft glow of lanterns hanging from tree branches, taking a break from the party happening on the other side of the building. In the distance, he could hear the music from the party Renlin was throwing. It was getting louder as the night went on, but he couldn’t bring himself to care.
The temptation to go, to dress up in something that would turn heads was something Hayes could never understand. Sure, from time to time he could enjoy a good party, he could find himself enjoying the company of his friends but not in the way others did… And tonight? Well, he simply wasn’t in the mood for it. Not for the music, the drinking, or the mindless chatter that would drown out anything real. Hayes let out a quiet breath, leaning back against the window frame, his eyes following a pair of students weaving through the garden below, arms around each other.
He didn’t even attempt to pull himself together for this. His wardrobe remained untouched, his messy self buried under an extra layer of fatigue that had clung to him ever since the news had reached him - Miles wasn’t dead, he was back. But no one would let him see him. The thought stirred something restless inside him. Miles, the one person who’d always had his back, had been gone for what felt like an eternity and now he was back. Hayes had tried to see him the moment he heard, but the staff had been shutting him out at every turn. He could still hear the echo of the conversation in his head: “Miles is busy.” “He’s not ready for visitors.” “It’s best you leave this for now, Mr. Ferrell.”
As if Hayes could just leave it. As if it wasn’t his best friend who had returned from whatever hell he’d disappeared into, only to be kept behind locked doors like some ghost. He hadn’t even laid eyes on him, and the frustration was eating him alive.
At this moment it was like Hayes didn’t exist. Miles hadn’t reached out, hadn’t sent a single message before coming back and that stung more than Hayes wanted to admit. He’d always been the one to shut others out, to hold people at arm’s length, but this… This was different.
Hayes clenched his fist, his knuckles brushing the cool glass of the window. The music downstairs thudded louder - it was enough to remind him that, despite everything, life was still moving. The party was still happening. Renlin and Vinnie were probably deep into some mischief by now, half the school likely drunk or dancing or both. And as much as he hated to admit it, curiosity tugged at him. With a resigned sigh, Hayes swung his legs off the windowsill and stood up, glancing at the reflection of his rumpled jumper in the mirror. If things between him and Renlin weren’t tense he could already hear him teasing him for showing up late, Vinnie trying to drag him into whatever chaos was bound to unfold. But part of him needed the distraction, even if only for a few hours.
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The party was in full swing by the time Hayes finally made his way downstairs, but unlike everyone else he was not dressed up. Students were laughing and dancing in the dim, golden glow - Renlin had outdone himself again, managing to pull not only the entire Umbra Coven into this chaotic event but the entire school. However, Hayes wasn’t here for them. His mind was still on the game that took place earlier that day, on the winners, on the twisted truth of the school’s obsession with excellence. On Thalia. She won. Not just her, but she was part of it, one of the best students this school had and that was exactly what bothered him. The school rewarded the brightest, the most ambitious, pushing them to greater heights while conveniently forgetting to mention the cost. That hunger for success? It came with a price - one Hayes had seen too many pay, including Miles. The temptation to excel, to be the best, it devoured you until there was nothing left.
Thalia wasn’t just any student, though. She was Nessa’s friend, the quiet one who often lingered in the background, lurking in shadows. Hayes had noticed her before, back during their sophomore year. She had this odd habit of hiding in the dark, taking pictures of things and people she found intriguing. More than once, he’d caught her following him, camera in hand, snapping shots of him like some weird stalker. If she didn’t give off that weird, murderer stalker vibe maybe Hayes would even admire her… Not that he doesn’t know, don’t get him wrong…
He never called her out on it, though. She didn’t seem like much of a threat, more curious than anything. Just a quiet girl with a camera and some brilliant writing skills, staying out of the spotlight. And now she’d won the scavenger hunt, her talents pushing her into that very spotlight he knew could burn. He glanced sideways, subtly shifting his weight to avoid the drunken sway of two girls stumbling past. His eyes, however, darted back to Thalia. The way her eyes flicked toward him whenever she thought he wasn’t looking gave her away. Hayes clenched his jaw, feeling the familiar coil of curiosity and irritation tighten in his chest. How long had she been doing this? The watching, the following? If someone wasn’t going to miss anything then that was Hayes.
Tonight, he decided, for a few reasons he was done playing the unwitting subject of her strange, private investigation. This was the perfect timing. Hayes took a deep breath, running a hand through his tousled hair before pushing off the wall. The noise of the party receded as he slipped past the crowded bodies, weaving toward the archway that led to the quieter corridor. He could only hope Thalia would follow him. Stepping out into the hallway, Hayes paused only long enough to light a cigarette. The familiar crackle and glow steadied him, the smoke filling his lungs as he moved toward one of the stone pillars that framed the corridor. He stood in its shadow, waiting. Minutes passed, music from the party the only sound. Just as he was beginning to doubt she’d take the bait, soft footsteps approached. Thalia’s silhouette appeared, light casting sharp angles on her face. Exhaled a thin stream of smoke, his voice cut through the quiet. ”Looking for someone?“
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@Kristi hihi