ALLISON

🌹🦋 CHAPTER 14🦋🌹

Allison's POV

A week later...

If someone had told me a month ago that my biggest distraction in senior year wouldn't be Math...

I'd have laughed in their face.

Yet here I was.

Walking into Braxton High while unconsciously looking around for one particular basketball player.

I stopped walking.

Seriously?

Get a grip, Allison.

Remembering the time we spent last week Saturday at my backyard... just talking and laughing... It felt very natural and I kind of like talking to him or seeing him.

"You're doing it again," Matilda said beside me bringing me back to reality.

"Doing what?"

"Looking for him."

"I was looking at the notice board."

Was I?

"There isn't a notice board over there."

I looked in the direction I had been staring.

"...Oh."

Hilda laughed so hard she nearly dropped her bag.

"I've been waiting for you to realize that."

"I wasn't looking for Kaiden."

"Sure."

"I wasn't."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night," Matilda muttered.

"I sleep perfectly."

"You texted me at one in the morning because you couldn't sleep."

"That was because I had too much soda."

Hilda exchanged a look with Matilda.

Neither of them believed me.

Traitors.

We reached our lockers just as the first bell rang.

Students crowded the hallway, voices bouncing off every wall.

Someone slammed a locker nearby.

Someone else was running because they were late.

Normal Braxton High chaos.

I had just finished arranging my books when the hallway suddenly grew quieter.

Not silent.

Just...

Interested.

I didn't have to turn around.

Basketball team.

"Morning," Finn greeted as he walked past.

"Morning," Hilda replied.

Ryker leaned against the locker beside Matilda's.

"Missed me?"

She looked up slowly.

"No."

"Liar."

"I had a peaceful weekend."

"And?"

"You weren't in it."

"Ouch."

He placed a hand over his heart dramatically.

"I thought we had something special."

"We do."

His face brightened.

She smiled sweetly.

"My patience."

Finn snorted.

Even I laughed.

Ryker pointed at her.

"You know, one day you're going to be nice to me."

"I wouldn't count on it."

"I love a challenge."

"I noticed."

He grinned even wider.

"I'll wear you down."

"You'll wear yourself out first."

Hilda shook her head.

"You two argue like you've known each other for years."

"We've only known each other for a few weeks," Ryker said.

Matilda shut her locker.

"And somehow that's already too long."

He laughed.

"I'll take that as progress."

"You shouldn't."

While they continued bickering, I finally looked up.

Kaiden was standing a few feet away.

Talking to Finn.

His backpack hung over one shoulder, and as if he could feel someone watching him...

He looked over.

Straight at me.

There it is again.

That stupid smile.

"Good Morning," he said.

"Good Morning."

He walked over.

"So..."

"So?"

"You disappeared after Saturday."

"I went home... The twins lied to my dad that I went to get groceries and they were spending the night at my place"

Kaiden decided we take a stroll to the park last Saturday. We were laughing and getting to know more about each other more... I was enjoying it.

until Those twin witches called like the house was on fire... wait, why am I getting pissed?

"Oh Okay"

Kaiden voice brought me back to reality.

I folded my arms.

"You ask strange questions tho."

"I ask normal questions."

"Nope."

"They're normal."

"They're absolutely not."

He chuckled.

"I'll work on it."

"I think you should."

"You missed me."

I stared at him shocked.

"...Excuse me?"

"I said you missed me."

"What gave you that idea?"

"You smiled when you saw me."

"I smiled at everyone."

"No, you don't."

"of course I do."

He leaned in just a little.

"You glared at Ryker five minutes ago."

"That was different."

"How?"

"He deserved it."

Ryker looked over.

"What did I do?"

"Exist," Matilda answered.

"I knew it!"

Kaiden laughed quietly before looking back at me.

"You know..."

"What?"

"I think you're in a better mood today."

"I'm always in a good mood."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Really?"

"No."

"I was going to say..."

I rolled my eyes.

"I know."

Before he could answer, another voice interrupted.

"Kaiden."

A girl's voice.

Oh I know that voice.

Suspiciously Soft.

Confident.

We all turned.

Hailey.

She walked toward us with an effortless smile, dressed as perfectly as always, two of her friends trailing behind her.

The hallway seemed to notice.

People always noticed Hailey.

She stopped beside Kaiden.

"Morning."

"Morning," he replied politely.

"I've been looking for you."

"Oh?"

"Coach wanted to know if you were still free after practice today."

"I already told him yesterday."

"I know."

She smiled.

"I just wanted to remind you."

Something about the conversation felt...

Forced.

Like she didn't actually care about practice.

Her eyes drifted toward me for the briefest second before returning to Kaiden.

"I also wanted to ask if you're coming to Maya's birthday dinner this Friday."

"I haven't decided."

"You should."

"We'll see."

She laughed softly.

"Still impossible to pin down."

I noticed something then.

She kept stepping a little closer to him.

Not enough for anyone to call it obvious.

But enough for someone paying attention.

Someone like me.

Why was I paying attention?

I looked away.

Not my problem.

"So..." Hailey continued, lightly touching Kaiden's arm as she laughed at something he said which wasn't in anyway funny at all.

"You better come."

Kaiden subtly shifted half a step.

Not rude.

Just enough to create space again.

"I'll think about it."

She smiled.

"I'll hold you to that."

For some reason...

That tiny movement didn't escape me.

Neither did the brief look Finn exchanged with Ryker.

Almost like they'd noticed it too.

Hailey finally glanced at me.

"Oh."

Her smile remained perfectly in place.

"I didn't see you there."

I smiled back just as sweetly.

"I noticed."

There was a tiny pause.

"So..." she continued.

"How's senior year treating you?"

"It's only been a few weeks."

"I know."

"So ask me again in a few months."

Ryker bit his lip.

Probably to stop himself from laughing.

Hailey nodded.

"Fair enough."

Another brief silence settled over the group.

Then the second bell rang.

Students immediately started moving toward their classrooms.

"Guess that's our cue," Hilda said.

"Finally," Matilda added.

We started walking away.

I didn't look back.

I refused to.

.......

"Allison."

I sighed.

Of course.

I turned.

Kaiden jogged a few steps until he caught up beside me.

"You forgot your notebook."

He held it out.

I blinked.

"When did I—"

"You left it on top of your locker."

"Oh."

I accepted it.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

He smiled.

"I'd hate for Mr. Daniels to think you're irresponsible."

I gasped dramatically.

"Take that back."

"So you admit it?"

"I admit nothing."

He laughed.

"I'll see you later."

"Maybe."

"There it is."

"What?"

"That word again."

"Oh."

I smiled.

"Maybe."

He shook his head, laughing as he walked backward toward his classroom.

"One day you'll give me a straight answer."

"Maybe!"

He laughed louder this time before finally turning away.

Hilda immediately bumped my shoulder.

"You two are disgusting."

"What?"

"The flirting."

"We're not flirting."

Matilda looked at me.

"Really?"

"Yes, Really."

"You smiled."

"Why not?."

"No reason, just that you smiled differently."

"There are different types of smiling now?"

"Yes."

"I don't believe either of you."

"You don't have to," Hilda replied.

"We've got eyes."

I sighed dramatically.

"My friends are bullies."

"We prefer the term observant."

"Same thing."

They laughed.

*********

Lunch arrived faster than expected.

The cafeteria buzzed with its usual noise.

We had just sat down when Finn, Ryker and Kaiden appeared with their trays.

Ryker pointed at the empty seats.

"Occupied?"

"They are now," Matilda muttered.

"I'll take that as permission."

Before anyone could object, they sat down.

Kaiden naturally ended up beside me again.

I looked at him.

"Do you own another table?"

"No."

"Clearly."

"I like this one."

"Why?"

He looked at me for a second.

Then smiled.

"The company."

I looked away before he could see the smile threatening to appear.

Across the cafeteria...

Hailey watched the entire exchange.

She had deliberately walked over to Kaiden twice that morning.

She had laughed.

Started conversations.

Stayed close whenever she could.

Anyone watching from a distance would assume everything between them was perfectly normal.

But one thing bothered her.

Every single time...

Kaiden's attention drifted somewhere else.

Not dramatically.

Not obviously.

Just naturally.

Back to Allison.

Hailey's fingers tightened around the bottle in her hand.

Pinkie noticed.

"You okay?"

Hailey smiled almost immediately.

"I'm fine."

"You don't look fine."

"I'm just thinking."

"About Kaiden?"

Hailey didn't answer.

She looked across the cafeteria one more time.

Kaiden laughed quietly at something Allison had just said.

Allison rolled her eyes and nudged his shoulder.

It was small.

Innocent.

But comfortable.

Too comfortable.

Hailey looked away before anyone noticed the change in her expression.

No.

She wasn't going to lose.

Not without a fight.

Kaiden was hers and hers alone.