ALLISON

🌹🦋CHAPTER 8🦋🌹

Allison's POV

Saturday. Oh how I love weekends.

No alarm.

No uniform.

No Mr. Daniels.

Why Mr. Daniels of all teachers? Cos I hate maths and he teaches maths.

No school bell screaming in my ears every forty-five minutes.

Heaven.

I was lying across my bed, scrolling through my phone when it buzzed.

Hilda: Get dressed.

I frowned.

Me: Why?

Three dots appeared immediately.

Hilda: We're going out.

Me: Who is "we"?

Hilda: Me. You. Matilda.

Me: Where?

She didn't reply.

I stared at the screen.

Me: Hilda?

Nothing.

Me: Hillie?

Still nothing.

I groaned and threw my phone onto the bed.

These girls were going to be the death of me.

I got up and walked toward my closet.

After several minutes of staring at my clothes, I settled for a fitted black top, blue jeans and white sneakers. I left my hair down and grabbed a small handbag.

I walked downstairs.

Dad was sitting in the living room, reading something on his tablet.

He looked up.

“Going somewhere?”

“With the twins.”

“Where?”

I paused.

“That's still under investigation.”

Dad laughed.

“Just be careful.”

“I will.”

“And don't let Hilda talk you into anything crazy.”

“Why am I the one you have to warn?”

“Because you're Allison.”

I placed a hand on my chest.

“Wow.”

He smiled.

“Have fun.”

I walked over and kissed his cheek.

“Love you.”

“Love you too, trouble.”

Just then, a car horn sounded outside.

“That's them.”

I grabbed my bag and walked out.

Hilda's plan turned out to be an afternoon at The Grove.

Shopping.

Food.

Walking around.

Basically everything I enjoyed doing when I wasn't pretending to hate everything.

Matilda parked and we got out.

“I still don't understand why you two made this sound like a secret mission,” I said.

“Because you ask too many questions,” Hilda replied.

“I like knowing where I'm going.”

“You complain less when you don't know.”

“That's a lie.”

Matilda laughed.

We walked through the shopping area, stopping at different stores and making fun of things we couldn't afford.

At least, I did.

Hilda was already planning what she would buy when she became rich.

“You know,” Matilda said, “we should start thinking about college seriously.”

I groaned.

“Why does everyone keep bringing up college?”

“Because we're going in a few months.”

“I know.”

“What do you even want to study?”

I shrugged.

“I don't know.”

Hilda stared at me.

“You've seriously not thought about it?”

“Of course I have.”

“And?”

“Nothing.”

Matilda laughed.

“You're going to wake up one morning and realize you're supposed to apply for college tomorrow.”

“I'll figure it out.”

“You always say that.”

“Because I always do.”

Hilda opened her mouth to respond.

Then stopped.

Her eyes widened.

“Oh my God.”

“What?”

She looked behind me.

“Don't turn around.”

I immediately turned around.

“Why would you say that if you don't want me to—”

I stopped.

Kaiden.

Finn.

Ryker.

Standing a short distance away.

I stared at them.

Then at Hilda.

“You did that on purpose.”

“I swear I didn't.”

Matilda laughed.

“Apparently we're all having the same idea today.”

Kaiden noticed us.

His face immediately broke into a smile.

And before I could pretend I hadn't seen him, he started walking toward us.

“Hey.”

“Hi,” Hilda replied.

Matilda smiled.

Ryker looked between all of us.

“Wow. This is becoming a habit.”

“What is?” I asked.

“Running into you.”

“Maybe you're following us.”

Ryker placed a hand on his chest.

“Why would I follow you?”

“Exactly.”

He grinned.

“Maybe I wanted to see you.”

Matilda rolled her eyes.

“You've known me for four days.”

“Four memorable days.”

She stared at him.

“You're ridiculous.”

“I've been told.”

Finn shook his head.

“You two are already starting.”

“We're not starting anything,” Matilda replied.

Ryker smiled.

“Not yet.”

She glared at him.

I laughed.

Kaiden looked at me.

“You seem happy today.”

“I am.”

“Good.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Why?”

“No reason.”

“You always say that.”

“Maybe there really isn't one.”

“Hmm.”

He smiled.

“What are you girls doing?”

“Shopping.”

Kaiden looked around.

“Clearly.”

“Then why ask?”

“To talk to you.”

I blinked.

He said it so casually.

Like it was nothing.

I recovered quickly.

“Well, congratulations. You're talking.”

He laughed.

“Do you ever give straightforward answers?”

“Yes.”

“Give me one.”

“Okay.”

He waited.

“I don't like answering questions.”

He shook his head, laughing.

“That's not what I meant.”

“I know.”

“You enjoy making things difficult.”

“I don't.”

“You do.”

“Maybe you make it too easy.”

His smile widened.

“Could be.”

There was something about the way he looked at me that made me suddenly aware of how close he was standing.

I took a small step back.

“So what are you guys doing here?”

Finn answered.

“Ryker wanted food.”

“That's a lie,” Ryker protested.

“You literally said you were hungry five minutes ago.”

“I can want food and still have other reasons for being here.”

Matilda folded her arms.

“What other reasons?”

Ryker looked at her.

He smiled.

“Maybe I'll tell you later.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Whatever.”

We eventually decided to get something to eat.

Somehow, the boys joined us.

I wasn't sure when that decision was made.

I just knew I was sitting at a table with Kaiden beside me, Hilda beside Finn and Matilda sitting across from Ryker.

Suspicious.

Very suspicious.

Kaiden leaned slightly toward me.

“You've been quiet.”

“I'm eating.”

“You can do both.”

“Not everyone likes talking while eating.”

“You talked plenty at school.”

“That was different.”

“How?”

I shrugged.

“You were annoying me.”

“And I'm not annoying you now?”

“Not as much.”

“I'll take that as progress.”

I smiled slightly.

“You're very optimistic.”

“Someone has to be.”

He took a sip of his drink.

“So, what's something I don't know about you?”

I looked at him.

“Why do you want to know?”

“Because I'm curious.”

“That's not an answer.”

“It is.”

“No, it's a reason."

He smiled.

“Okay. I want to know because you're interesting.”

I looked down at my food.

Interesting?

Nobody had ever said that to me in such a simple way.

I quickly looked back at him.

“That's your problem.”

“Probably.”

I sighed.

“Fine. Ask.”

He thought for a moment.

“What makes you happy?”

I blinked.

“That was unexpectedly serious.”

“I'm capable of serious questions.”

“Apparently.”

I thought for a moment.

“My dad.”

He nodded.

“Your dad?”

“Yeah. It's just me and him.”

“Your mom?”

I hesitated.

“She left when I was little.”

His expression changed.

“I'm sorry.”

I shrugged.

“Don't be. I barely remember what it was like before she left.”

He nodded slowly.

“So your dad raised you?”

“Yeah.”

“He must be proud of you.”

I smiled.

“He is. Even when I'm being a pain.”

“I can imagine.”

I elbowed him lightly.

“Don't ruin the moment.”

He laughed.

“Okay, okay.”

I looked at him.

“What about you?”

“My family?”

“Yeah.”

“Big family?”

“Not really. My parents, my sister and my niece.”

“You have a niece?”

He smiled immediately.

“Laila.”

Something about his expression changed when he mentioned her.

“You adore her.”

“Very... She owns me.”

I laughed.

“She must be spoiled.”

“Very.”

“Hmm... By you?”

“Mostly.”

“Your sister must hate that.”

“She does.”

I smiled.

“What's she like?”

“Natasha?”

“Yeah.”

“Protective. Stubborn. Sometimes annoying.”

“Sounds familiar.”

He looked at me.

“Are you saying I'm like my sister?”

“Maybe.”

“Then you should meet her before deciding.” He said or more like asked, with a bit of nervousness.

I paused.

“Meet her?”

He shrugged.

“Maybe someday.”

Something about the way he said it made my heart beat slightly faster.

I quickly took a sip of my drink.

“Maybe.”

Across the table, Matilda suddenly laughed.

We both looked at her.

“What?”

She shook her head.

“Nothing.”

Ryker leaned closer to her.

“You've been smiling at your phone for five minutes.”

“I'm not.”

“You are.”

“It’s none of your business.”

He reached toward her phone.

She quickly pulled it away.

“Don't touch my phone.”

“Now I'm definitely curious.”

“Good. Stay curious.”

Ryker smiled.

“Challenge accepted.”

Finn laughed quietly.

“You two are going to kill each other.”

“Probably,” Matilda muttered.

Ryker grinned.

“Worth it.”

I looked at Hilda.

She was watching them with an amused expression.

“What?” I whispered.

She shook her head.

“Nothing.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“You're doing that thing again.”

“What thing?”

“That look.”

She smiled.

“I see nothing.”

Traitor.

After eating, we walked around for a while.

Kaiden and I ended up a few steps behind everyone else.

“So,” he said.

“So?”

“You never answered one thing.”

“What?”

“What do you want people to remember about you?”

I looked at him.

“That is a weird question.”

“Still waiting.”

I thought about it.

“I don't know.

“You always say that.”

“Because I don't know.”

He nodded.

“Fair.”

“What about you?”

He looked ahead.

“I want people to remember that I gave everything I had.”

“For basketball?”

“For everything.”

I glanced at him.

He wasn't joking.

“You're serious about it.”

“Very.”

“You think you'll make it?”

“I have to.”

“That's a lot of pressure.”

“It is.”

“Why have to?”

He was quiet for a moment.

Then he looked at me.

“Because I don't want to wake up one day and wonder what would've happened if I'd tried harder.”

I smiled faintly.

“That actually makes sense.”

“Thank you.”

“Don't get emotional.”

He laughed.

“You really can't give a normal compliment, can you?”

“Nope.”

“I've noticed.”

We walked in silence for a few seconds.

Then he looked at me.

“You know what I like about you?”

I immediately became curious.

“What?”

“You don't treat me differently.”

I frowned.

“Why would I?”

“Most people do.”

“That's their problem.”

He smiled.

“Exactly.”

I looked away.

“Don't get used to it.”

“I think I'm already getting used to it.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Of course you are.”

********

Neither of them noticed Hailey and her friends entering the same area a few stores away.

But Hailey noticed them.

Her eyes immediately settled on Kaiden.

Then Allison.

Walking beside him.

Laughing.

Talking.

Closer than before.

Her expression hardened.

Pinkie followed her gaze.

“Oh.”

Ashley looked over.

“Again?”

Hailey didn't answer.

She simply watched.

And for the first time, the smile on her face disappeared completely.

Meanwhile, Allison laughed at something Kaiden said.

She didn't see Hailey.

She didn't know she was being watched.

And she definitely didn't know that the harmless afternoon she thought was nothing more than coincidence had just added another name to the list of people paying attention to her.