The Fill - In Boyfriend
Episode 20's

I took two steps towards him and my feet landed on top of something sharp. With a quick breath between the teeth, I checked to make sure it wasn't glass. It was just a piece of shell and it was just a surface scratch. I brushed my leg off and then joined Hayden.

"So as soon as I take off my shoes, I step on—"

"Gia," Hayden interrupted, grabbed my hand and pulled me to his side. I stumbled a little but he hugged me firmly. I want you to meet Eve and Ryan.

"Hi."

And, guys, this is my girlfriend, Gia. ” He slipped a hand into my back and gave me a kiss on the cheek after the announcement.

Gee. Whahuh? In the two minutes I was gone, something changed and I wasn't sure what. I smiled and stretched out my hand. "It's nice to meet you."

The man took my hand. "It's nice to meet you." When he let go he took Eve. Oh. And there he is. Bec wrong. That was the number one option Eve was interested in. He wanted Hayden here to make sure he still missed her, but he was still very attached to whoever this man was.

Eve's bright smile had faded a little as she accepted me. From this close distance I could see the shirt. I said, I like turtles. I'm not sure if it's supposed to be funny or if he really likes turtles.

"You brought someone," he said. "I didn't realize you. . dating anyone. "

Hayden said, "I hope it's okay. The invitation says plus one. ”

The invitation said plus one? And here he looked surprised that he actually brought someone.

"good. Is correct. I know how close you and your sister are, so I thought. . . But yes, of course it doesn't matter. Let's go get some food. I'm sure you'd like to meet some people you haven't talked to in a long time. Everything is here. "

“Yes, I want Gia to meet everyone. Are you ready, honey? ”

I took his offered hand and squeezed it. "Yes." Yeah." We started to leave, then I turned around. “Oh, and thank you for inviting us, Eve. It looks amazing. Happy graduation. ” He nodded thanks and then walked in the other direction.

"Sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Hayden murmured softly as we walked towards the long table full of food near the porch of the house.

“Do not. I owe you."

We stopped in front of the table and I stared at the food spread out in front of us. "Are you hungry?"

His gaze was fixed on the ocean in the distance, his jaw stiff. It seems he didn't hear my question at all.

I put my hand on his back. "Are you okay?" I don't know why I'm asking that; obviously not. She came here tonight thinking her ex-boyfriend had invited her because she wanted to come back with him and she just found out she didn't invite him.

"Hayden?"

"What's? Yes, food. Let's eat. Are you hungry?"

“We can go. We don't have to stay. "

We'll stay. He said it like I didn't challenge him and he got up to the challenge.

"good. We'll stay. You have other friends here, right? ”

He's nodding.

“Come have fun.”

"Agreed."

"Where Are You? I haven't seen you at school lately, "a guy from across the desk asked.

I was grateful for the distraction because Hayden moved both elbows to the table and leaned forward as he spoke. I already exist. Busy with graduation. ”

Busy being a hermit, according to Bec.

“Yeah, nice to meet you. Where will you go to school next semester? ”

“San Luis's. You?"

"I am too." The man looked at me then. "You put up with this guy, huh?"

I smile.

“You didn't go to school with us, did you?”

I started saying no, but Hayden beat me up to the answer. “He entered Bec's new school. We met through him. "

On the one hand, I think we did. He drove Bec to the dance. I dragged her to be my date.

"Cool," said the man, then he stood up, nodded, and walked away carrying his empty plate.

Hayden pointed to the olives I picked from my pizza. "What's going on there?"

I am not a fan of olives.

There are other options without olives.

“I like the olive flavor left in the pizza. I just don't like the texture of the olives themselves. "

He laughed and put one of my discarded olives in his mouth. Bizarrely.

"Hey."

“I like the weird one. Normal is very boring. "

"Good." The problem is that I am a very normal definition. He may have just learned the most interesting thing to know about me. I am not Eve. That's not important.

I looked around and realized that we were the only ones sitting at the table right now, leaving plenty of room as Eve and her boyfriend walked around and joined us.

"I'm so glad you came" she said again as she sat down with her own food on the chair right next to Hayden. So close he could put his hands on his knees as he spoke. And he did. Obviously Hayden had tried to make him jealous and obviously it worked. Maybe he'll get his wish at the end of the night.

"I don't think you'll do it" he continued. His hand finally slipped from his feet. I wondered if the glare of my death had anything to do with it. He had no right to play around with Hayden's head. He might want it back, but Bec is right. This girl is bad news. I suddenly agreed with Bec's plan to keep this girl away from Hayden. I put my shoulder on his shoulder.

"Why didn't you think I was coming?" Hayden asked, looking at him. I was proud of the way he didn't react, just giving him an innocent-looking look.

“I should have known you would do it,” he said. You're a good man. Isn't he a good man, Mia? ”

“Name Gia,” says Hayden.