HIDDEN (hide or die)

Chapter Sixteen

KYLE'S P.O.V

I kept my back pressed tightly to the conveniently large tree bark, I can feel his eyes on me, even though I’m very well hidden beyond the sanctuary of the thick woods.

I don’t even know how my wobbly knees held my weight as I ran here, I nearly let off into the air right then and there. That fact irks me a bit. How could he affect me this badly?

One kiss. His hands on my hips and I was about to ruin everything my mum worked so hard for, but I couldn’t be happier really… what happened was supposed to be only a fantasy.

But it happened. And I went ahead and ruined it because I couldn’t handle my oversensitive hearing. But perhaps for the best.

Seeing as Andrew’s friend’s car skidded to a halt in front of him.

I watched as he rode with Mathew, and followed— what’s the point of going back to school if the subject of my attention isn’t there? Now mum would surely be mad… but I’m already ahead of them anyway.

I shrugged off my jacket, and took off into the air. I was still close to the earth that I was basically floating, I kept my eyes out for the car as my wings silently flapped along and nearly went face first into the tree ahead, when Mathew recklessly swerved to the curbside by Andrew’s house and sat the car in parking.

No one got out, and I could see them talking, but couldn’t hear much at this distance. I could, if I moved closer… but I didn’t want to eavesdrop.

I could tell Mathew was angry by the way his face twisted and tightened but then he laughed and Andrew got out and into his home.

And I was left with unsatisfied curiosity. No. I said I wasn’t going to eavesdrop… this creepiness stops now. I went through the backyard and into the house, mum was still at work obviously so I pulled a snack out of the pantry, and stalked up to my room. I opened my window a bit and listened out for any sound in the house across the road, there was a thud, a moan and then quickly followed some light snoring. I held in my smile, and allowed my body to deflate.

He fell asleep.

I closed my blinds then, and stripped down to my skin. I spread my wings out fully, grunting when the muscles bunched up and knotted at the base of my scapulars. I didn’t feel like taking a bath right now, so I pulled on a pair of boxers and the softest hoodie I had. I could use some reading…

With that thought in mind, I pulled the latest book I’m in the process of reading from beneath my pillow, and flew down to the study room. I stopped by the door frame when I realized that I had left my snack upstairs… yeah whatever, I curled up in the couch on the far corner by the heavily tinted window, and opened my book.

My head swam with recap thoughts of the book and its characters, and I was reminded that I stopped at the moment where the male main character pulled the trigger to a bounty hunter’s heart when he was about to shoot his bride right after they finished exchanging vows. Like how rude could you be?

I had a couple of chapters left and then the epilogue that wrapped up the series. Mum wasn’t too happy when I ordered a 5+ part historical romance from the 1800s but then again she was never happy with any book that was romantic. Though she did slightly prefer those as opposed to the science fiction books I liked…

The words blinded together as another thought dominated my mind, greediness. I was slowly becoming greedier when it comes to Andrew. First it was the want to be in his presence. Then the whole school scheme just to get him to notice me.

Yeah he noticed me alright.

And then, although he was the one to initiate it, the kiss we shared. I shivered at the memory of his firm yet soft grip on me as he literally stole my breath away. That’s not the point. The point is, I have this growing need to be near him at all times.

And I’m talking a physical heaviness in my chest that only lifted when I was in his intoxicating presence. It’s like we’re linked together, and every time we went far apart, the thread tying us together stretched dangerously. Though that would only happen in my paranormal fantasy books.

This is ridiculous. The whole thing has been ridiculous since the moment I decided it was a good idea to get attached to someone I couldn’t be with. Even if he wanted an ‘us’ to exist, what about my mum? His parents? The whole damn town?

What about me?

What happens when we progress to that stage where I have to explain to him why I wear such ridiculous clothes and—

“I’m so damn hungry” my head snapped in alert, who the hell was that? I focused my hearing to see if someone had broken in because that’s defiantly not my mum’s voice. But it was eerie silent.

I looked out the window, maybe I heard someone passing by, but aside from the slight wind howling about, the street was deserted. So I shook my head and brought my attention back to my book.

“This town is a f*****g joke.” can’t I have some damn peace to read! Wait what? I lurched from my position on the couch.

That could’ve only been Andrew! But… how? I ran to the mud room’s window by the front door that gave clear view into our neighbor’s kitchen window which was never closed.

Said boy was on the phone, ordering pizza... we don’t have a pizzeria? That must have been why he slammed the phone down. Good thing it didn’t break.

“Pixie’s will have to do.”

Wait so he’s hungry. Could he be the one I heard earlier? No, that voice was merely a whisper. Andrew’s voice is deeper and more defined. Then who— a startled gasp left my lips and I jumped back when I locked eyes with Andrew.

That wasn’t possible through the tinted window, but he was looking straight at me as though he knew I was there. Where is he going at this time? It wasn’t evening yet but soon it will be… yeah who cares. I dashed upstairs to my room and switched my hoodie to one that did its purpose and wasn’t completely backless, stuffed some money in my pocket and threw on a pair of pants.

I jumped over the banister, but quickly jumped back when I was reminded of my restricted wings and took two steps at a time. I rushed to shove my feet in a pair of sneakers and then took the back exit.

I walked through the backyard and into the woods, then further down until I came to a sturdy tree high enough to climb. Okay so I was only a couple of yards behind Andrew.

I climbed back down, and risked going to the thinner tree-lining to keep him within my sight. I was maybe twenty feet to his left when he paused, I perked up, but stayed camouflaged behind the trees.

Everything was still for a couple of minutes before he simply shook his head and continued down the road that leads to the restaurant that my mum works in ‘Pixie’s’ what a coincidence.

I moved a bit closer, but stopped once he halted in his steps again, he was looking around, but I have no idea what he’s looking around for…

“He is near, I just know.”

Here is that whisper again. It seemed to reverberate from Andrew’s direction but that’s impossible because he lips moved none. I listened out for more, and kept my eyes trained on his mouth, but nothing happened.

I looked around when some houses turned off, realizing that it must be close to seven in the evening… oh! He’s going to go back home without dinner isn’t he?

Comfortable in my spot within the shadows, I ran across the forest’s muddied grounds until the near edge, I slipped past a few houses before I was in front of the restaurant.

I stood in line behind a few people and rung my hands together. What will happen if my mum saw me here? I have no idea… I could say I was hungry. But the house was plenty full..

Would she be mad? I mean I’m no longer in hiding– at least not as much so does that mean—

“Hey, you go Albert Mercury High, right?"

I craned my head to look into deep chocolate eyes that belonged to the complete stranger. A handsome complete stranger… I nodded my head once, feeling awkwardness creeping in.

“Yeah, my sister does too. And she’s been going on about a cute blonde boy and, oh well, it’s a small town, I figured that would be you.”

I blinked twice, unsure on how to reply to that. The compliment didn’t miss my ears, and I fiddled in my place when his eyes ran over me but he quickly shook his head and extended his hand.

“I’m Daren. Very pleased to meet you.”

He smiled and I tried to return it in what must have been a wobbly grimace, but I shook his hand nonetheless. The contact sent a wave of alertness through my body and I had the urge to bust out of there as quickly as possible.

“N–nice to meet you Daren, I’m—”I was in the process of turning beet root red at my shaky voice when he cut me off, his hand tightening around mine just a bit.

“Kyle, I know.”

He smiled again, but he was called into the pickup line before he could say anything else. He leaned close to my face, and I was near freaking out when he whispered by my ear,

“I’ll see you around Kyle.” He backed off, as though he never violated my personal space, and walked away. But not before I caught the dark mischievousness in his eyes. Goose bumps ran the length of my spine in such an abnormal way that scared me.

“Are you going to order?”

I scrambled closer to the counter, and gave the cashier lady an apologetic smile before blurting out the first thing that had chicken on it and hoping for the best.

I moved to the pickup line, and tried to stop my foot from tapping against the ugly bright yellow tiles, but I couldn’t. I was too aware of the amount of people crowding the diner and the fact that I stood alone didn’t help.

My eyes darted around the place, taking in all the hot pink details before I accidently locked eyes with a man but I was quick to lower them, I didn’t need another stranger to creep on me…

“Order for a Kyle?! Oh. Here you go.”

I quickly paid for the food and left, this took at least twenty minutes so I ran across the street, and multiple houses until I was at the crossroads where Andrew stood with his back to me.

“Andrew! Wait!” I yelled out panicked, he was about to leave and I couldn’t just waste my efforts. He whirled around, eyes dilated and confusion shone in them beneath the flickering street light.

“The hell where you doing there? Does your mum know you’re out?” he said as I came to a stop in front of him. I bit down on my lower lip, and tried hard not to blush, yet failed miserably. Was he really scolding me?

I decided to ignore that and instead lowered my eyes to the floor. I haven’t thought this far ahead… what do I say when he asks about the why and the how? I blushed even more at my stalker tendencies and thrusted the bag into his hands

“I… got this fo– for you.”

Fucking stutter. I had to stutter like an absolute fool as if I wasn’t perceived as a total buffoon by half the town. I fought to remain calm and unaffected by his presence but then I looked up and his eyes were so bright and gentle, that I couldn’t stop myself if I had wanted to.

And I didn’t want to.

I propped myself onto my toes and even then I was barely reaching his face. I pressed a quick kiss to his firm jaw and backed away just as fast. I was genuinely clueless as to how he’ll react so I took off to the safety of the woods as I always do.

Pressing my back tightly against the tree bark, and waiting for my heartbeat to slow down. I closed my eyes and tried to focus but they snapped open on their own accord when a soft whisper caressed my ear.

“Thank you.”

It was him! There is just no way for it to be someone else. But… how? I shrugged off my jacket, preparing to take off after him, but I froze when I become too aware of my body.

Or… one specific part of my body.

Oh god.