ALLISON

🌹🦋 CHAPTER 6🦋🌹

The next day came faster than I expected.

Too fast.

“Wake up!”

I groaned and pulled the pillow over my head.

“Five more minutes…”

“No,” Hilda’s voice came, way too loud for this early morning. “You said that yesterday and almost missed first class.”

“I didn’t miss it,” I mumbled.

“You skipped it.”

“Same difference.”

The blanket was suddenly yanked off me.

I shot up immediately. “What is wrong with you?!”

Hilda stood there, hands on her hips, looking very proud of herself.

“A lot,” she replied. “But right now, your problem is school.”

I glared at her. “You’re not funny.”

“Get up.”

I sighed and dragged myself out of bed.

Senior year was already stressing me—and it had barely started.

After getting ready, we headed downstairs where Dad was already seated, sipping coffee.

“Morning, Dad,” I said, dropping into the chair beside him.

“Morning, trouble,” he replied with a small smile.

Hilda and Matilda greeted him too before grabbing breakfast.

“Try not to skip classes today,” he added casually.

I froze.

Hilda coughed to hide her laugh.

Matilda suddenly found her food very interesting.

“I don’t skip classes,” I said.

Dad raised an eyebrow.

“Frequently,” he added.

I scoffed. “Wow. No support.”

He chuckled.

“Just stating facts.”

“Betrayal runs deep in this house,” I muttered.

“Eat your food,” he said, shaking his head.

*****

Braxton High looked the same as usual.

Busy.

Loud.

Unnecessarily energetic for a morning.

We walked through the entrance, heading toward our lockers.

“Today feels long already,” Hilda complained.

“It just started,” Matilda pointed out.

“Exactly.”

I tuned them out as I opened my locker.

For some reason—

I found myself looking around.

Like I was expecting something.

Or someone.

Annoying.

I slammed my locker shut.

“Let’s go,” I said.

First class went by without much drama.

Surprisingly.

Even Mr Daniels didn’t pick on me.

A miracle.

By the time second period ended, I was already bored out of my mind.

“Free period again,” Hilda said happily.

“You’re too excited about that,” Matilda replied.

“I deserve it.”

“You always have free period.”

“And I use it well.”

“By doing nothing.”

“Exactly.”

I shook my head, grabbing my books.

“I’m going to the library.”

Both of them paused.

“The library?” Hilda repeated.

“Yes.”

“Voluntarily?”

“Yes.”

Matilda stared at me. “Who are you and what have you done with Allison?”

“Very funny.”

I walked away before they could say anything else.

The library was quiet.

Peaceful.

Exactly what I needed.

I walked between the shelves, pretending to look for a book.

Honestly, I wasn’t.

I just needed somewhere calm.

Somewhere without noise.

Without—

“Didn’t expect to see you here.”

I froze.

That voice.

Again?

I turned slowly.

Kaiden.

Standing a few steps away, a book in his hand.

Of course.

“Do you just appear everywhere or…?” I asked.

He smirked. “Or maybe you keep coming to where I am.”

I scoffed. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

“I’m not.”

I rolled my eyes and walked past him, heading toward a table.

He followed.

Of course he did.

“You read?” he asked, sitting across from me.

“I breathe too,” I replied. “Want to ask about that too?”

He chuckled softly.

“Easy there Tiger, seems You’re in a mood today.”

“I’m always in a mood.”

“I noticed.”

I opened a random book, pretending to read.

Pretending.

“You’re not reading that,” he said.

I didn’t look up. “Mind your business.”

“You’ve been on the same page for two minutes.”

I paused.

Then flipped the page.

“There.”

He laughed quietly.

I hated that I liked that sound.

“So what are you doing here?” I asked finally.

“Library.”

“No, really?”

He leaned back slightly. “Free period.”

“Same.”

Silence fell between us.

But again—

Not uncomfortable.

Just… there.

“Do you always go to quiet places?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

I shrugged. “Less noise. Less people."

“Less problems?”

“Exactly.”

He nodded slowly.

“Must be nice."

I glanced at him.

“What do you mean?”

He looked at me for a second—

Then shook his head.

“Nothing.”

I frowned slightly.

There it was again.

That thing.

Like he says something… then pulls back.

Annoying.

“Stop doing that,” I said.

“Doing what?”

“Starting something and not finishing it.”

He smiled faintly. “You don’t like unfinished things?”

“I don’t like confusion.”

“Then don’t be confusing.”

I blinked.

“Me?”

“Yes, you.”

I scoffed. “You’re the confusing one.”

“How?”

“You ask questions you don’t answer yourself.”

He tilted his head slightly.

“Fair point.”

“I know.”

For a second—

We just looked at each other.

No teasing.

No sarcasm.

Just… quiet.

Then—

“Kaiden!”

A voice called from across the library.

We both turned.

A girl stood there, waving slightly.

I didn’t recognize her.

But the way she looked at him?

Yeah.

Fan club.

He sighed quietly.

“I’ll be back,” he said, standing up.

I raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t ask you to come back.”

He smirked. “I know.”

And just like that—

He walked away.

I watched him for a second…

Then quickly looked back at my book.

Why do I keep noticing him?

Annoying.

From across the room—

The girl who called him frowned slightly.

Her eyes shifted.

From Kaiden…

To me.

And something about that look?

Didn’t sit right.

******

The rest of the day went by… surprisingly normal.

No drama.

No chaos.

Just classes, bored teachers, and Hilda complaining every five minutes about assignments like her life depended on it.

“And I’m telling you,” Hilda continued as we walked out of school, “if Mr Daniels gives us that assignment tomorrow, I’m dropping out.”

“You say that every year,” Matilda replied, unlocking her car.

“And one day I’ll mean it.”

“Today is not that day,” I added, sliding into the back seat.

Hilda sighed dramatically and got in.

Matilda started the engine. “Where to, your highness?”

“Home,” I said immediately, leaning my head back.

“I’m tired.”

“Of what?” Hilda asked. “You literally skipped half your classes.”

“Mentally tired,” I corrected.

“That’s worse,” Matilda muttered.

I ignored them, staring out the window as the car pulled out of the school parking lot.

The streets of LA were busy as usual.

Cars moving.

People walking.

Life happening.

Normal.

But my mind?

Not so normal.

It kept replaying little moments.

The way he smirked.

The way he talked.

The way he looked at me—

Okay, stop.

I sat up suddenly.

“What?” Hilda asked immediately.

“Nothing.”

“You just jumped like you saw a ghost.”

“I didn’t.”

“You did.”

“I didn’t,” I repeated, more firmly this time.

Matilda and Hilda exchanged a look.

Then smiled.

I groaned.

“I hate both of you.”

“We love you too,” they said in unison.

By the time we got home, I was already half asleep.

“Wake up,” Hilda said, lightly hitting my arm.

“We’re here.”

“I know,” I mumbled, opening the door and stepping out.

“See you tomorrow.”

“Try not to skip all your classes,” Matilda added.

“No promises.”

They laughed and drove off.

I stretched slightly before walking into the house.

“Dad?” I called.

No response.

I dropped my bag on the couch and walked into the kitchen.

Empty.

He probably went out again.

I sighed and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, taking a long sip.

The house felt… quiet.

Too quiet.

I walked upstairs to my room, changed into something comfortable, and lay on my bed.

Just for a minute.

That was the plan.

But then—

My phone buzzed.

I groaned and reached for it.

Hilda: You alive?.

I rolled my eyes.

Me: Barely.

Almost immediately—

Matilda: We're going out tomorrow!.

I frowned.

Me: We?.

Hilda: Us. Don't overthink it.

Me: Where?

There was a pause.

Then—

Matilda: Park. Evening.

I stared at the message.

A park?

Since when do they plan things without telling me properly?

Me: Sounds suspicious.

Hilda: Just come.

I sighed.

Me: Fine.

I dropped my phone beside me.

A park…

For some reason—

It didn’t feel like a normal plan.

But I was too tired to think about it.

Then my drifted off to that fan girl of Kaiden at the library. The way she looked at me, Who is she?

Well I don't care.

Really?

Shhh! shut up inner mind

And within minutes—

I fell asleep.

******

Meanwhile…

Kaiden walked into the living room, tossing his car keys onto the table.

“Uncle Kay!”

He barely had time to react before a small body crashed into him.

He laughed, lifting her easily into his arms.

“Hey, troublemaker,” he said, spinning her slightly.

Laila giggled. “You’re late!”

“I had school.”

“School is boring,” she said seriously.

“I agree.”

“Then don’t go,” she suggested.

He chuckled. “I wish it worked like that.”

She frowned. “It should.”

“Maybe you should tell your mom that.”

“Tell me what?” a voice came from behind them.

Kaiden looked up.

Natasha.

Standing by the stairs, arms crossed.

Watching.

“Nothing,” he said quickly.

Laila pointed at him. “He said school is boring.”

Traitor.

Natasha raised an eyebrow. “Oh really?”

Kaiden sighed. “She asked.”

“And you agreed.”

“It is boring.”

She shook her head, walking over.

“You’re a bad influence.”

“I try.”

She took Laila from him, setting her down.

“Go wash your hands. Dinner soon.”

Laila nodded and ran off.

Natasha turned back to him.

“You seem… distracted,” she said.

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“I’m not.”

She gave him a look.

The same look she’s been giving him since he was a kid.

The “I-know-you’re-lying” look.

He exhaled.

“Nothing serious,” he said.

“Just… someone I met.”

Her expression changed slightly.

“Someone?”

He shrugged. “A girl.”

Natasha smiled.

Slow.

Knowing.

“Interesting.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Didn’t say it was.”

“She’s just…” he paused.

Different.

He didn’t say it out loud.

But Natasha caught it anyway.

“I see,” she said softly.

He frowned. “See what?”

“Nothing.”

He rolled his eyes.

“You’re annoying.”

“Runs in the family.”

He smirked slightly.

“Her name?” Natasha asked casually.

He hesitated for a second.

Then—

“Allison.”

Natasha nodded slowly.

“Well, Allison must be something… if she has you thinking this much.”

He didn’t respond.

But the small smile on his face?

Gave him away.