🥀 CHAPTER 11🥀
1628 Words
Allison's POV
Friday couldn't come fast enough.
By the time the final bell rang, the entire school seemed to come alive.
Tonight was game night.
And apparently, that meant everyone suddenly cared about basketball.
“Are you coming?” Hilda asked as we walked toward our lockers.
“To the game?”
“Yes.”
“I don't know.”
Matilda looked at me.
“You're coming.”
“That wasn't a question.”
“It wasn't supposed to be.”
I laughed.
“Why do I feel like you two already made plans for me?”
“Because we did,” Hilda said.
I narrowed my eyes.
“What kind of plans?”
“Nothing crazy.”
“That answer usually means something crazy.”
Matilda closed her locker.
“There's a party after the game.”
I stopped.
“A party?”
“Yep.”
“Whose party?”
“Some senior's house.”
“Which senior?”
Hilda shrugged.
“Does it matter?”
“Yes!”
She rolled her eyes.
“You're so dramatic.”
“And you're too comfortable making plans with my life.”
Matilda laughed.
“Just come to the game first. We'll figure out the rest later.”
I sighed.
“Fine.”
“Good.”
Hilda grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the exit.
“Wait, why are you so excited?”
“Because it's Friday.”
“That doesn't answer my question.”
She smiled.
“Maybe I just want to have fun.”
Something about that smile told me there was more to it.
I decided not to ask.
Because honestly, I didn't want to know.
The gym was packed.
Students filled the bleachers, music blasting from the speakers while people shouted across the court.
I looked around.
“Wow.”
“See?” Hilda said. “You would've missed all this.”
“I could've survived.”
“You would've been bored at home.”
“Maybe.”
Matilda pointed toward the court.
“They're coming out.”
The crowd immediately got louder.
The team walked onto the court.
My eyes found Kaiden almost immediately.
Of course they did.
He looked completely different in his uniform.
Focused.
Confident.
And annoyingly attractive.
I quickly looked away.
Nope.
Not doing this.
Hilda leaned toward me.
“You're staring.”
“I am not.”
“You were.”
“I was looking at the court.”
“The court is wearing number twelve now?”
I elbowed her.
“Shut up.”
She laughed.
The game started.
And I quickly understood why everyone was obsessed with watching him play.
Kaiden was good.
Really good.
He moved across the court like he knew exactly where everyone was going to be before they even got there.
Every time he scored, the crowd erupted.
Hilda and Matilda screamed like they were being paid for it.
I clapped.
That's all.
Mostly.
Until Kaiden scored a three-pointer and immediately looked toward the bleachers.
Our eyes met.
He smiled.
I shook my head.
Show-off.
He laughed and turned back toward the game.
“Did he just look at you?” Matilda asked.
“No.”
Hilda nodded seriously.
“Yep. Definitely didn't.”
“Both of you are annoying.”
“Sure.”
The game continued.
By the final minutes, everyone was on their feet.
Braxton was ahead by four points.
The opposing team scored.
Two points.
Then another.
Tie.
The gym exploded.
Kaiden took the ball.
Everything seemed to slow down.
He moved past one defender.
Then another.
Then he jumped.
Shot.
The buzzer sounded.
The ball went through the hoop.
The entire gym erupted.
Braxton won.
I found myself standing and cheering before I even realized what I was doing.
Kaiden looked toward the crowd again.
This time, he found me immediately.
And that stupid smile appeared.
I smiled back.
Just slightly.
Then I caught myself.
Oh, no.
After the game, everyone spilled outside.
The energy hadn't died down at all.
“Where's the party?” I asked.
Hilda grinned.
“Now you're interested?”
“I didn't say that.”
“You definitely did.”
Matilda was checking her phone.
“It's at Jake's house.”
“Who's Jake?”
“Don't know.”
“Fantastic.”
Hilda grabbed my hand.
“Come on.”
We followed the crowd down the street toward a large house a few blocks from the school.
Music was already blasting before we even reached the front door.
I stopped outside.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?”
Matilda looked at me.
“You're scared?”
“No.”
“Then let's go.”
We walked inside.
The house was packed.
Music.
Laughter.
People dancing.
Someone was already shouting over the music.
Typical teenage party.
“I need something to drink,” Hilda said.
“Non-alcoholic,” I warned.
She looked offended.
“I know.”
We headed toward the kitchen.
And that's when someone bumped into me.
I turned.
“Sorry.”
Kaiden.
Of course.
He smiled.
“Didn't know you were coming.”
“I didn't either.”
He laughed.
“So you got dragged here?”
“Basically.”
“By the twins?”
“Who else?”
He glanced behind me.
“Where are they?”
“Probably causing trouble.”
“Sounds about right.”
I smiled.
“So you're just everywhere now?”
“Apparently.”
“You're starting to become a problem.”
“Already?”
“Definitely.”
He laughed.
Then someone called his name from across the room.
He looked over.
“Give me a second.”
I nodded.
He started walking away.
Then turned back.
“You're not leaving, right?”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Why?”
“Just asking.”
“Maybe I am.”
He smiled.
“You won't.”
Then he disappeared into the crowd.
I stared after him.
“Annoying.”
“Very.”
I turned.
Matilda was standing beside me.
“You heard that?”
“Unfortunately.”
She smiled.
“You like him.”
I groaned.
“Not you too.”
She laughed.
*********
Across the room, Hailey had been watching.
She hadn't said anything since they arrived.
But her eyes followed Kaiden.
Then Allison.
Again.
Pinkie leaned toward her.
“You're being very quiet.”
“I'm enjoying the party.”
Ashley looked at her.
“Are you?”
Hailey smiled.
“Of course.”
Her eyes moved back toward Allison.
Allison was laughing at something Matilda said.
Then Kaiden returned.
He said something to her.
She smiled.
Hailey's expression barely changed.
But her fingers tightened around the cup in her hand.
“She really doesn't know what she's doing,” Sarah murmured.
Hailey looked at her.
“What do you mean?”
“She keeps getting closer to him.”
Hailey gave a small smile.
“Let her.”
Pinkie frowned.
“You're not going to do anything?”
“Not yet.”
She took a slow sip.
“Why would I?”
Her friends exchanged glances.
Hailey looked back toward Kaiden.
“He'll figure it out eventually.”
Allison's POV
I was beginning to regret coming.
Not because of the party.
It was actually fun.
But because Kaiden kept finding his way back to me.
We were standing near the backyard when he handed me a bottle of water.
“Here.”
I took it.
“Thanks.”
“You looked thirsty.”
“I can get my own water, you know.”
“I know.”
“Then why did you get it?”
He shrugged.
“Just wanted to.”
I stared at him.
“You always do whatever you want?”
“Not always.”
“Seems like it.”
He leaned against the railing.
“So… did you enjoy the game?”
I smiled.
“It was good.”
“Just good?”
“You want me to flatter you?”
“Well... Maybe.”
“You played well.”
“Thank you.”
“Don't get excited.”
“Too late.”
I laughed.
He looked at me for a moment.
“I saw you cheered.”
“I clap for everyone.”
“You didn't cheer for everyone.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“You were watching me?”
“Maybe.”
I shook my head.
“You're impossible.”
“And yet you're still here.”
I looked around the backyard.
“I'm here because my friends dragged me.”
“Sure.”
“Don't start.”
He smiled.
For a moment, neither of us said anything.
Then he asked quietly,
“Are you having fun?”
I looked at him.
“Yeah.”
“Good.”
“Why do you keep asking me that?”
He shrugged.
“I don't know.”
“You do know.”
He smiled slightly.
“Maybe I just want to make sure you're okay.”
I stared at him.
That answer really caught me off guard.
Before I could respond, Ryker's voice came from behind us.
“Kaiden!”
Kaiden turned.
Ryker was standing with Finn.
“We're leaving soon.”
Kaiden nodded.
“Alright.”
Ryker looked between us.
Then smiled.
“Am I interrupting?”
“Yes,” I said immediately.
“No,” Kaiden said at the same time.
Ryker laughed.
“Interesting.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Go away.”
“Gladly.”
He walked off, laughing.
Kaiden looked at me.
“Want to go back inside?”
I nodded.
“Sure.”
They started walking toward the house.
Neither of them noticed Hailey watching from the other side of the yard.
But she noticed everything.
And this time—
She wasn't smiling.
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