ALLISON

🥀 CHAPTER 9🥀

Allison's POV

Monday.

The worst invention known to teenagers.

I stared at myself in the mirror while fixing my tie for the third time.

Why did school uniforms have to be so uncomfortable?

I grabbed my backpack and headed downstairs, where Dad was already sitting at the dining table with his coffee and newspaper.

“Morning, Dad.”

“Morning, sleepyhead.”

“I wasn't sleeping.”

“You came downstairs ten minutes later than usual.”

“That doesn't mean I was sleeping.”

He smiled.

“Sure.”

I sat down and reached for a pancake.

Dad watched me for a moment.

“How was your weekend?”

“Good.”

“Just good?”

I paused.

“Yeah. We went to The Grove.”

“With the twins?”

I nodded.

“Did you have fun?”

“Yeah.”

I took another bite.

Then, for some reason, Kaiden's face flashed through my mind.

The way he'd looked at me when he asked about my family.

The way he'd talked about basketball.

And that stupid smile.

I quickly took another bite.

Dad raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“You're smiling.”

I immediately stopped.

“I am not.”

“You were.”

“I was thinking about something funny.”

“Hmm.”

He clearly didn't believe me.

Thankfully, my phone buzzed.

Hilda: We're outside.

I stood up immediately.

“I'm leaving.”

Dad laughed.

“Have a good day.”

“You too.”

“And Allison?”

I turned.

“Try not to get into trouble.”

I smiled.

“No promises.”

********

Braxton High was already loud when we arrived.

Students filled the hallways, some rushing to class while others stood around their lockers talking about the weekend.

I walked toward mine with Hilda and Matilda.

“So,” Hilda started.

I already knew where this was going.

“No.”

She hadn't even finished.

“I haven't said anything.”

“You were going to.”

Matilda laughed.

“She's getting good at reading you.”

“I've always been good at reading her.”

Hilda opened her locker.

“So... The Grove?”

“What about it?”

“How was it?”

“Fine.”

Matilda looked at me.

“Just fine?”

“Yes.”

Hilda closed her locker and leaned against it.

“You spent half the afternoon walking around with Kaiden.”

“We weren't alone the whole time.”

“But you were alone for part of it.”

“So?”

“So nothing.”

She smiled.

I narrowed my eyes.

“Don't.”

“I didn't say anything.”

“You're thinking it.”

Matilda laughed.

“You're becoming paranoid.”

“I'm surrounded by two annoying people. I'd be stupid not to be.”

The warning bell rang.

“Saved by the bell,” I muttered.

We grabbed our books and headed to class.

Our first class was English.

Mrs. Smith stood at the front of the room, writing something on the board while everyone settled down.

I took my usual seat between Hilda and Matilda.

For the first few minutes, everything was normal.

Until someone dropped into the seat behind me.

I didn't need to turn around.

I knew that laugh.

“Morning.”

I slowly turned.

Kaiden.

I stared at him.

“You're sitting here?”

He shrugged.

“Apparently.”

“Why?”

“Because the seat was empty.”

“There are about twenty other empty seats.”

“None of them were this one.”

I rolled my eyes and turned back around.

Hilda was already trying not to laugh.

I whispered, “Don't.”

She raised both hands innocently.

Mrs. Smith turned around.

“Is there something amusing over there?”

“No, ma'am,” Hilda answered immediately.

“Good. Then let's continue.”

I tried to focus on the lesson.

Tried.

But every now and then, I could feel Kaiden's eyes on the back of my head.

Finally, I turned around.

“What?”

He looked innocent.

“What?”

“Why are you staring?”

“I wasn't.”

“You were.”

“Maybe I was looking at the board.”

“The board is over there.”

He glanced at it.

“Right.”

I shook my head.

“You're impossible.”

“That's what you said last week.”

“And yet you're still here.”

“Exactly.”

I turned around before I smiled.

I wasn't giving him that satisfaction.

By lunch, the whole school seemed to be talking about the basketball team.

Apparently, Braxton had a game against Wilton High later that week.

Ryker wouldn't shut up about it.

“I'm telling you, we're destroying them.”

Finn looked at him.

“You said that last time.”

“And we won.”

“By two points.”

“A win is a win.”

Kaiden laughed.

We were sitting together again.

Somehow, this was becoming a normal thing.

And I wasn't sure how I felt about it.

Matilda sat opposite Ryker, while Hilda sat beside Finn.

“You guys are taking this game way too seriously,” Hilda said.

Ryker looked offended.

“It's basketball.”

“Exactly.”

“Exactly what?”

“It's a game.”

He placed a hand on his chest.

“That's offensive.”

Matilda laughed.

“You'll survive.”

Ryker looked at her.

“You're coming to the game, right?”

She paused.

“Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

“Why?”

“Because I need support.”

“You have an entire school supporting you.”

“I need yours.”

Matilda stared at him.

He didn't look away.

I looked at Hilda.

She looked at me.

We both tried not to laugh.

Matilda finally rolled her eyes.

“Fine. I'll come.”

Ryker smiled.

“Good.”

“Don't make me regret it.”

“No promises.”

“See?” she said, pointing at him. “That's exactly why I shouldn't come.”

He laughed.

Meanwhile, Kaiden was unusually quiet.

I nudged him lightly.

“You okay?”

He looked at me.

“Yeah.”

“You've been quiet.”

“Thinking.”

“About?”

“Friday's game.”

“That's all?”

He nodded.

“Yeah.”

I studied him.

“You're nervous.”

He laughed.

“No.”

“You are.”

“I'm not.”

“You keep tapping your fingers.”

He immediately stopped.

I smiled.

“Caught you.”

“Maybe I'm just impatient.”

“Sure.”

He leaned closer.

“You're enjoying this.”

“Very much.”

“You're supposed to support me.”

“Why?”

“Because I'm your friend.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Friend?”

He smiled.

“Unless you have a better word.”

I looked away.

“Nope. Friend is fine.”

“Good.”

He sat back.

But that smile stayed on his face.

After lunch, we had Chemistry.

Mrs. Nelson was already waiting when we entered.

I sat beside Hilda while Kaiden and the boys took seats a few rows behind us.

The lesson started normally.

Until Mrs. Nelson announced a group assignment.

I immediately knew I was doomed.

“Groups of four,” she said. “You'll be working together for the next two weeks.”

Students began moving their chairs.

Hilda looked at me.

“Please don't let me get stuck with someone annoying.”

“You're already stuck with me.”

“That doesn't count.”

I laughed.

Mrs. Nelson started assigning groups.

Then—

“Group four: Allison Wayne, Hilda Walker, Kaiden Torres and Finn Wright.”

I froze.

Hilda slowly turned toward me.

“No.”

I covered my face.

“Of course.”

Behind us, I heard Ryker laugh.

“That's actually hilarious.”

Mrs. Nelson glared at him.

“Mr. Nguyen, would you like to join them?”

“No, ma'am.”

“Then be quiet.”

He immediately shut up.

Kaiden moved his chair beside our table.

“Well,” he said, “looks like we're partners.”

I looked at him.

“Don't get too excited.”

“I'm trying.”

Finn sat beside Hilda.

“So, what are we doing?”

Mrs. Nelson handed each group the assignment sheet.

Hilda scanned it.

“Chemical reactions.”

I groaned.

“Great.”

Kaiden looked at me.

“You don't like Chemistry?”

“I don't like anything that requires too much thinking.”

He laughed.

“That explains Maths.”

“Don't mention that subject.”

“You really hate Mr. Daniels.”

“He hates me too.”

“How do you know?”

“He looks at me like I'm personally responsible for every bad thing that's ever happened to him.”

Kaiden laughed.

“You're exaggerating.”

“I'm not.”

Hilda nodded.

“She isn't.”

Finn smiled.

“I believe her.”

Kaiden looked at me.

“So, what subject do you actually like?”

“English.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I like writing.”

He looked surprised.

“You write?”

“A little.”

“What do you write?”

“Stories.”

“What kind?”

I hesitated.

“Whatever comes to mind.”

“Would you let me read one?”

“No.”

He laughed.

“Why?”

“Because...”

“Because what?"

“Just because"

“That isn't a reason.”

“It is to me.”

He shook his head.

“You're very protective of your things.”

“Maybe.”

“Or you're afraid I'll judge you.”

I looked at him.

“Would you?”

“No.”

“You don't even know what I write.”

“Doesn't matter.”

“Why?”

He shrugged.

“Because it's yours.”

For some reason, that answer caught me off guard.

I looked down at the assignment sheet.

“Let's just finish this.”

He smiled.

“Okay.”

But for the rest of the lesson, I couldn't stop thinking about what he'd said.

After school, I stood by my locker packing my books when I heard someone behind me.

“Allison.”

I turned.

Hailey.

She stood there with Pinkie, Ashley, Sarah and Grace.

I glanced at them.

“Hi.”

Her eyes moved briefly toward the end of the hallway where Kaiden and his friends had just disappeared.

Then back to me.

“You seem to be spending a lot of time with Kaiden lately.”

I closed my locker.

“Do I?”

“You know you do.”

I shrugged.

“We're friends.”

Something flickered across her face.

“Friends?”

“Yes.”

“Interesting.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“Is there a problem?”

She smiled.

“No.”

Her tone said otherwise.

“Good.”

I walked past her.

Then she spoke again.

“Just don't misunderstand his attention.”

I stopped.

Slowly turned around.

“What exactly is that supposed to mean?”

Hailey smiled.

“You'll figure it out.”

Then she turned and walked away with her friends.

I stood there for a moment.

What the hell was that?

I hated vague people.

And somehow, I had a feeling Hailey Young was going to become a very big problem.

But I wasn't about to let her intimidate me.

Not now.

Not ever.