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Disclaimer: I don't own anything at all associated with The Originals. I just like to play around with the characters at times. I only own the plot... mostly.

Chapter 16 - Not Your Fault

Running around the ship trying to find Elijah was definitely de ja vu. And the reason why she was, was also de ja vu. What had she done in life, or a previous life, to deserve to be in this situation in this lifetime? Finding Elijah no where, Hayley went to the pool. She knew Keelin and Freya would be there.

"What's wrong, Hayley?" Keelin asked, noticing Hayley was out of breath when she fell down onto the lounger next to her.

Hayley shook her head angrily. If she were a cartoon character she would've had red smoke coming out of her ears. "It fucking happened again!" she exclaimed. "And I swear I did absolutely nothing at all to deserve this shit this time."

Keelin shrugged her shoulders. "What happened again?"

"Jackass happened!"

Keelin's eyes widened. "Oh, shit! What the hell did jackass do this time?"

Hayley sat up and turned her body fully towards Keelin. "Jackass kissed me in front of Elijah. And now I can not find Elijah anywhere."

"What?!" Keelin shrieked, loud enough to get the attention of everyone around the pool. "Sorry. My bad. Ignore us."

"I did not stutter," Hayley said, running a hand over her face. "I can't believe this happened again. What is this... like the second or third time?"

"When did it happen?"

"Not long after you left to come here."

"What the freaking hell is wrong with that man?" Keelin asked, shaking her head.

"I have no idea." Hayley shrugged her shoulders. "I mean, he said something about Genevieve ending things with him and that it was my fault she broke up with him. Then he said that I ruined his relationship, so he ruined mine right back."

Keelin was silent for a moment. When she replied, Hayley almost wanted to slap her.

"Well, at least your ruse worked." Keelin smiled. "Jackass really thinks that Elijah is your boyfriend."

Hayley glared at her. "This is literally so not the time, Keelin."

Keelin shrugged, holding her hands up in a surrender stance. "Sorry, couldn't help myself."

"No offense, but your ex is a total asshole," Freya piped in from beside Keelin.

"None taken by ne," Hayley replied honestly. "Thank freaking goodness Elijah and I are not an actual couple at the moment. I mean, otherwise this would be one totally fucked up beginning to our relationship." Hayley sighed, slumping back down against the lounger. "Honestly, at this point... I would not be surprised if friends is all Elijah and I ever are."

Freya sat up so she could look over at her. "Oh no, Hayley. Don't you worry." She grinned. "My brother is very much smitten with you," she assured her. "And no amount of stupid actions done by your ex is going to be able to change that."

Without giving it any thought, Hayley blurted out, "Then why the hell would he not check me out earlier when I was standing bare ass naked in front of him?!"

Freya's eyes widened.

"And I know he was into it because I felt how much he did when he picked up my towel and gave it back to me."

"Whoa now!" Freya exclaimed.

"Oh, sorry," Hayley offered her an apologetic smile. "I did not mean to blurt that out to you."

"Apology accepted. Just please don't say anything else that will put unwanted images into my head."

Hayley chuckled. "I promise to do my best."

"So what are you going to do about this?" Keelin asked, rubbing suntan lotion on her arms.

"Honestly, what can I do? I mean, other than finding him and once again having to explain that my ex is a freaking asshole."

"You know what, I'll help you," Freya said, grabbing her phone off the table next to her.

"How?"

"Just be at the wave pool in half an hour."

"Wave pool?"

"Just trying to pick a place where your jackass ex is probably least likely to be."

"Ah, gotcha. Good idea."

"I'll get through to my brother... again."

Hayley stood up, smiling. "Thanks. Hopefully this will be the last time this ever has to happen."

"If jackass would stay away from you," Keelin said with a scoff.

A laugh escaped Hayley's throat. "Hell has a better chance of freezing over it seems."

"You can say that again."

~AllAtSea~

Hayley made her way up to the wave pool in half an hour just like Freya had told her to. A small smile and wave of relief washed over her when she saw Elijah standing there as well. Hayley made a mental note to personally thank Freya with a big hug. And that was coming from her... someone who wasn't big on hugs and really physical contact at all.

"This is the second day in a row that we've had to deal with something like this," Elijah said as Hayley walked up to him.

"I am so sorry," Hayley apologized. "I do not know what the hell has gotten into him. He was never like this up until a year ago." She frowned. "Why the fuck am I apologizing for him?"

"Do no get angry with yourself. None of this is your fault."

"Thanks, but it kind of is..."

"And how's that?"

"I, for whatever reason, keep letting him get to me and give him the chance to pull this shit."

"He's a manipulative bastard," Elijah said, shocking Hayley into silence. "That's all on him."

Hayley stood their speechless, her eyes widened and jaw slightly dropped down.

Elijah eyed her questioningly.

Answering his questioning look, Hayley explained, "I have never heard you talk like that. You've always been so proper with your words."

Elijah shrugged nonchalantly. "I am just telling it how it is."

"Haha." Hayley smiled for a brief moment. "I still can't... this still wouldn't all be happening if..."

The rest of her words died on her tongue as Elijah wrapped his arms around her, bringing her closer to him. She felt his lips on hers before he brain could even process it happening. Just as she was coming to and melting into the kiss, Elijah pulled away.

"Seriously, Hayley. Stop. No blaming yourself. Alright?"

Hayley nodded, still speechless from her surprise of Elijah having kissed her. She wasn't going to complain. He was a really good kisser, after all.

"Now come on. Let us go have some fun before we have to go get ready for tonight?"

Finding her voice again, Hayley asked, "Tonight?"

"Yes, we have dinner plans with Freya and Keelin."

"We do? I was not aware."

"We've have plans since about half an hour ago."

"You talked to them after I did, didn't you?"

"Maybe."

"And they explained everything to you?"

"More or less."

"What do you mean by that."

Elijah chuckled before he responded with, "That friend of yours told me to get my head out of my ass and remember just who your ex is."

"Which is?"

"An asshole."

Hayley laughed.

"Of course, to no surprise, Freya agreed with her."

"Oh, yes, of course."

"Then I put two and two together and it dawned on me that he must have known that I was there at that exact moment..."

"So he kissed me to mess with both of us," Hayley finished for him, shaking her head. "He truly is an asshole."

"We all have that one ex."

"I'm aware," Hayley replied as she thought back to all that happened days before with the Celeste situation.

"At least neither of us have any other crazy or asshole exes."

"Agreed. That's a big relief."

"So what shall we do first?"

Hayley smirked, glancing around. "I mean, we're already here at the wave pool..."

"Think you can withstand the waves longer than I can?" Elijah challenged.

"Oh, I know I can."

"You sure about that?"

"Damn straight."

"Prove it."

"Gladly," Hayley replied before running off. "I'll beat you to it!"

"You're not being fair," Elijah called out to her, following after her.

"Never said I was!" she called back over her shoulder. "Now catch up. We don't have all day."