Unseen

5

I was walking to Zoey's car after school had ended because she was giving me a ride home when I was stopped by Kaden. At this point, I wasn't even surprised that he was the one stopping me. 

"What's up?" I asked, continuing to walk out the school with Kaden following me. 

"I need to ask you a question that may seem abrupt." He stated, his voice holding seriousness which it usually didn't. 

"Okay..." I mumbled slowly, narrowing my eyes as I came to a stop and turned to face him, suddenly feeling unsure of what this was about. 

"You know Dante? Dante Cheri?" 

I blinked a few times, taken by surprise at his question. 

He saw the confusion on my face so he told me, "I was going to walk to chemistry with you since we have it together after lunch. When I caught up with you, I heard Justin mention his name, saying something happened with him." He quirked an eyebrow, looking at me in question. 

I glanced around before grabbing his arm and pulling him to some random corner outside the school, "Look, I don't know what you heard and I understand the curiosity but tha-" 

"Hold on," Kaden cut me off, a very intent and serious look on his face. "I knew Dante. He was on the football team, moved a year ago. He was a jerk, asshole to everyone and anyone he ever met without reason. If something happened, you can tell me, Mar, you know that." 

I looked at him for a moment before sighing and running a hand down my face, "It's not exactly something - rather, someone, we talk about, Kade." 

Kaden nodded in understanding, "I get it if I was out of line to bring him up but when I heard Justin mention him, I knew nothing good would have come from a guy like Dante Cheri." 

I nodded, scoffing. "You're right about that." 

"Want to tell me what happened?" He raised his eyebrows, looking at me intently. 

I glanced around, watching as people flooded out of the school and headed to the buses or to their cars. I shook my head, looking back at Kaden, "No, not here." 

Kaden tilted his head, "If you want to talk about it, we can go grab coffee?" 

I sucked in a breath to think for a moment. I didn't want to tell Kaden about Dante but I had been honest with him about everything so I did trust him. It worried me because I was opening up to him but still didn't know anything about him aside from the fact that he's dating my sister for an unknown reason, and that he plays lacrosse and soccer. 

Not sure why, I nodded. "I guess. Let me text Zoey." As we walked to his car, I texted Zoey to let her know I wouldn't need a ride home. 

After a short ride that consisted of Kaden arguing about why old Taylor Swift isn't that bad, we finally arrived at a local coffee house. 

"So... why couldn't we talk about Dante at school?" Kaden got straight to the point after the waiter had taken our order. He narrowed his eyes slightly, folding his hands and propping his elbows up on the table so he could rest his head on his folded hands. 

I paused for a moment and then chose to change the subject, "Do you have any siblings, Kade?" 

Kaden was taken aback, an obvious look of confusion taking over his features. He recomposed himself, clearing his throat before answering, "I do. I have an older sister and a younger brother." 

"How old?" I leaned back, glad to be getting to know him for a change. It was nice to know he had siblings that he hopefully got along with. It would explain a lot about his character. 

"My older sister is 27, brother is only 9." He smiled lightly as he spoke about his family which told me he was close with them. 

"What are they like?" I tilted my head as I looked at him, amusement raking my body as I analyzed his features and expression. 

He inhaled, "My sister, Kiley, lives in New York with her husband. They've been together since college, very happy and the ultimate goal, really," he chuckled. "She's very mature and collected, super independent and always finding new ways to go even further in her law career. She's doing really good. My little brother is a sports junkie, always out playing soccer or basketball or swimming. Jason... well he comes off older than he is because he's very persistent on staying on top of trends." 

"They both sound... amazing," I exhaled, smiling. "You guys must be close?" 

He nodded slowly, "We are." 

"Are you close with your parents too?" I asked, an eyebrow quirking. 

Kaden's smile faltered, "My mom... she passed away when I was 14. It's been a few years so I've to terms with it but it still sucks all the time, not having her around. Dad works a lot but he's got a heart of gold. Don't know where any of us would be without him and his support." 

I smiled softly, a sheepish one. "I'm sorry, to hear about your mom." 

He nodded, "Thanks," he exhaled. "I figure you're not very close with your mom?" 

The waiter came and gave us our drinks, both of us nodding a thank you as he smiled and walked off. 

I shook my head, "Not at all, no. I spent my whole life trying to impress her but it never seemed to work so eventually I stopped and let her think whatever she wants because my efforts were going to waste and weren't making me any happier." 

"And your dad?" Kaden looked at me with a look in his eyes I couldn't pinpoint. He felt bad hearing this but also... maybe glad, glad that I was sharing it with him? 

I smiled softly, "Love the old man. He's my rock." 

Kaden nodded, smiling lightly, "That's good to hear." 

I nodded, pausing in thought. "Kade... I have to ask, why Avery?" 

He choked on his drink, coughing for a second before giving me a questioning look. "What? What do you mean?" 

I gave him a dull look, "I haven't known you for long but you two are opposites. Don't tell me opposites attract because come on, you two are nothing alike. She's dull and lifeless, materialistic and you're... I don't know, raw, genuine? Why are you with her?" 

Kaden swallowed causing his Adam's apple to bob. He licked his lips, "It's... complicated. She's not all that terrible." 

I scoffed, not buying his words but allowing the topic to change because it didn't seem like I would get any more answers on the relationship with Avery front. 

"So," Kaden started, leaning forward a bit, a curious gleam in his eyes as he looked at me intently, his gaze not leaving mine for a second. "Dante? How'd you know him?" 

I inhaled deeply, leaning back in the booth and wishing it would swallow me. I stalled the conversation for as long as I could but it didn't seem like I could do that any longer. 

I crossed my hands in each other and rested them on the table, mine and Kaden's gazes remaining locked. 

"Avery threw a party at our place last year which meant I was forced to be there. That's where I met Dante, through Avery." I spoke slowly and cautiously, keeping my tone calm and even. 

Kaden nodded, his eyes narrowing. "And..." 

I swallowed. "Dante and Avery were friends. He ran into me, recognized me from a family picture and started talking to me. It developed into a pretty formal acquaintance but for some reason, I peaked his interests so he continued talking to me, at school, after school, when he was at our house hanging with Aves. I didn't think much of it because he wanted to be friends which was fine with me but I didn't... I couldn't really see us getting along long-term." 

"Why not?" 

I shrugged, "I don't know, he kind of intimidated me. I mean, he intimidated everyone. He was stoic and aggressive, compulsive and easily enraged." 

"Did he hurt you?" Kaden eyes turned cold, his expression hard. 

I smiled weakly, "Let me get to it. I came home one night and some of Avery's friends were over, drunk and passed out along with her. Dante was drunk. He came up to my room and started... I don't know, trying to make a move on me. I tried to get him to stop and get off me, telling him he was drunk but it was useless and he was a big guy. It wasn't very pretty. He was on top of me, I was crying, long story short  - Justin, who had drove me home, came inside because I had forgotten my wallet in his car. He knocked Dante out which wouldn't have worked if Dante wasn't already drunk." 

Kaden didn't say anything. He looked at me with an expression I could not read. His face was impassive but his eyes were swirling with rage and pity and sadness for me, but he couldn't muster up what to say. 

"Afterwards, he apologized to me and I accepted it because he was drunk that night but I told him that he needs to stay away from me because this friendship was not going to work," I continued. "He didn't take that lightly. He... got aggressive, abusive." 

Kaden clenched his jaw, his hands tightening around his mug of coffee. "What did he do?" 

I tried to keep a calm look on my face in attempts to keep Kaden reassured but I wasn't sure it was doing much. I didn't want him to react badly to this but I could see he wasn't taking it lightly. 

"Kaden," I sighed. "It doesn't matter, it was a long time ago." 

Kaden's jaw flexed as he clenched his teeth, "It does matter, Mar. What did he do?" 

I exhaled deeply, craning my neck to one side. I paused and debated whether it was a good idea to continue telling him this. I didn't want him to blow it into a bigger thing than it needs to be because it's all old news. 

"Addison," Kaden spoke firmly. "Just tell me." 

I huffed, "He just... I don't know, he pushed me against a locker and... I don't-" 

"Addison," Kaden said again, his voice firm. 

I groaned, "He hit me, slapped me... but Carlos and Justin put him in his spot and it's all old news and doesn't mat-" 

"It does matter, Jesus," Kaden's voice raised as he grew angry causing me to shrink further into the seat. 

Kaden groaned aloud, shaking his head as he ran a hand through his hair, "I'm sorry," he sighed. "I just... don't want to think of some bastard laying a hand on you, hurting you in any way." 

I smiled weakly, "I understand but he's gone and there's nothing to worry about. Now you understand why Justin gets protective." 

Kaden smiled half-heartedly and nodded, "Yeah." 

Kaden was growing protective of me in the short amount of time he had known me. It had barely been three days. I didn't know how to feel about it because he was my sister's boyfriend so it didn't seem right... 

However, I was not complaining.