ALLISON

🌹🦋 CHAPTER 12🦋🌹

Allison's POV

The party somehow got louder as the night went on.

I didn't understand how that was even possible.

The music was already loud enough to shake the walls, but apparently, everyone had decided it needed to be louder.

I followed Kaiden back inside, keeping a comfortable distance between us.

“Where are your friends?” he asked.

“Somewhere in this chaos.”

He looked around.

“That's reassuring.”

“They're probably looking for me too.”

“Probably?”

I shrugged.

“They're used to losing me.”

He laughed.

“How do you get lost at a party?”

“Easily.”

“You're actually serious.”

“Very.”

We walked through the crowded living room.

I spotted Hilda near the kitchen almost immediately.

She was talking to Finn.

Matilda was nowhere in sight.

I frowned.

“Where's Matilda?”

Kaiden glanced around.

“Ryker's probably bothering her.”

“That's not funny.”

“It wasn't a joke.”

I sighed.

“I'm going to find her.”

“I'll come with you.”

I looked at him.

“Why?”

“Because it's crowded.”

“And?”

“And I don't want you getting lost.”

I smiled.

“You're really enjoying this whole protector thing, aren't you?”

“Maybe.”

“I don't need protecting.”

“I know.”

He said it so easily that I paused.

“You do?”

“Yeah.”

“Then why—”

“Because I want to.”

I stared at him for a second.

Then looked away.

“Whatever.”

We eventually found Matilda outside by the pool.

And, of course, Ryker was there.

They were arguing.

Again.

“I told you I wasn't going in there!” Matilda snapped.

“I never said you had to.”

“You literally said, ‘Bet you won't.’”

“That's different.”

“How?”

“I was encouraging you.”

“You were provoking me.”

Ryker grinned.

“Same thing.”

Matilda looked like she wanted to throw him into the pool.

I walked over.

“What are you two doing?”

“Nothing,” they said at the same time.

I looked at Kaiden.

He looked at me.

We both laughed.

“Don't,” Matilda warned.

Ryker pointed at her.

“She started it.”

“I did not.”

“You did.”

“You're irritating.”

“And yet you came outside with me.”

She froze.

“I came outside because it was too loud inside.”

“Sure.”

“Stop smiling.”

“I can't.”

I shook my head.

“You two are exhausting.”

Kaiden leaned closer to me.

“Give them a few weeks.”

I whispered back.

“A few weeks for what?”

He smiled.

“You'll see.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“I don't like that answer.”

“You don't like most of my answers.”

“Because you're suspicious.”

“I'm just observant.”

“Same thing.”

He laughed.

Eventually, the party started winding down.

People were leaving in groups, and the music had finally been turned down.

Hilda walked over to us.

“Are we leaving?”

“Please,” I said immediately.

She laughed.

“I knew you'd be tired.”

“I'm exhausted.”

Matilda grabbed her bag.

“Let's go.”

Ryker stood up.

“I'll walk you guys out.”

“We have a car,” Matilda said.

“I know.”

“Then why?”

He shrugged.

“Because I'm nice.”

She gave him a skeptical look.

“That's debatable.”

“Still coming.”

Finn laughed behind him.

Kaiden looked at me.

“See you Monday?”

I nodded.

“Probably.”

“Probably?”

“You're everywhere. I'll probably see you.”

He smiled.

“Goodnight, Allison.”

“Goodnight.”

I turned away before I could smile too much.

But I failed.

Hilda saw it.

Of course she did.

She didn't say anything.

She just smiled to herself.

I hated that smile.

The ride home was unusually quiet.

Matilda was driving.

Hilda sat beside her.

I was in the back seat, staring out the window.

“She's thinking about him,” Hilda suddenly said.

I looked up.

“Who?”

She glanced at me through the mirror.

“You know who.”

“No, I don't.”

Matilda laughed.

“It's not subtle anymore.”

“What's not subtle?”

“Your face.”

I frowned.

“My face looks normal.”

“Your face looks happy.”

I looked out the window again.

“I had fun.”

“Because of Kaiden?”

“Because of the party.”

Hilda turned around slightly.

“Sure.”

I sighed.

“Can you two leave me alone?”

They laughed.

“Fine,” Matilda said.

A few seconds passed.

Then—

“So… did he kiss you?”

I nearly choked.

“What?!”

Hilda burst out laughing.

“No!”

“Why would you even ask that?”

“Just curious.”

“No.”

Matilda glanced at me.

“Did you want him to?”

“Matilda!”

She laughed.

“You're blushing.”

“I am not!”

“You are.”

I covered my face with both hands.

“I hate you guys.”

“We love you too,” Hilda said.

I groaned.

But somewhere underneath all the embarrassment…

I was smiling.

Kaiden's POV

The house was quiet when I got home.

Too quiet.

I dropped my keys on the table and headed toward the stairs.

“You're late.”

I stopped.

Natasha was sitting in the living room.

I looked at the clock.

“It's not that late.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“It's almost midnight.”

“Okay. That's late.”

She smiled.

“Did you have fun?”

“Yeah.”

“Good.”

I started walking upstairs.

“Kaiden.”

I stopped.

“What?”

She studied me for a moment.

“You seem happy.”

I shrugged.

“It's been a good night.”

“Because of basketball?”

I hesitated.

She noticed.

“Ah.”

I sighed.

“Don't.”

“I didn't say anything.”

“You were about to.”

She smiled.

“Who is she?”

I looked at her.

“Who?”

“The girl.”

I laughed.

“You're ridiculous.”

“I know that look.”

“What look?”

“The one you're trying very hard not to have.”

I shook my head.

“Her name is Allison.”

Natasha smiled.

“Allison? I think you've mentioned her before”

“Yes, I have"

“Hmmm, interesting"

“Don't make it weird.”

“I'm not.”

“You are.”

She laughed.

“So what is she like?”

I thought about it.

“She's…”

I paused.

“Difficult.”

Natasha smiled.

“That's what you like?”

“Apparently.”

“Is she nice?”

“Sometimes.”

“Funny?”

“Very.”

“Pretty?”

I gave her a look.

Natasha laughed.

“You didn't have to answer that.”

I shook my head.

“She doesn't treat me like everyone else.”

Natasha's expression softened.

“That matters to you.”

“Yeah.”

She nodded.

“Then take your time.”

I frowned.

“I'm not doing anything.”

“I didn't say you were... but you should”

She smiled.

I was about what she meant by I should but she cut me off.

“Goodnight Kiddo”

“Goodnight.” I sighed.

I started upstairs.

Then stopped.

“Natasha?”

“Hmm?”

“She'd probably like Laila.”

Natasha smiled knowingly.

“Then maybe you should introduce them someday.”

I thought about Allison laughing earlier.

Then smiled.

“Maybe.”

Allison's POV

It's Saturday morning...

I woke up with a headache and immediately regretted every decision I'd made the night before.

My phone was on the floor beside my bed.

I reached for it.

Seven missed messages.

Four from Hilda.

Two from Matilda.

And one from—

Kaiden.

I stared at his name.

I opened the message.

Kaiden: You survived?

I smiled.

Me: Barely.

His reply came almost immediately.

Kaiden: Dramatic.

Me: Says the basketball player who thinks he's famous.

Kaiden: I am famous.

Me: In your dreams.

Kaiden: You watched the whole game.

I paused.

Me: Unfortunately.

Kaiden: You cheered.

Me: Don't start.

Kaiden: Too late.

I laughed quietly.

Then another message came.

Kaiden: You doing anything today?

I stared at it.

I didn't know why such a simple question suddenly felt important.

I typed.

Me: Why?

His reply came.

Kaiden: Just asking.

I rolled my eyes.

Of course.

Me: Maybe.

Kaiden: That's not an answer.

Me: Get used to it.

I put my phone down.

Then picked it back up.

Because apparently, I wasn't done.

Me: Why?

There was a pause.

Then—

Kaiden: I wanted to see you.

My smile disappeared.

Not because I didn't like the answer.

Because I did.

And that was becoming a problem.

A very big one.

I stared at the screen for a long moment.

Then finally typed—

Me: We'll see.

I placed the phone down again.

And this time, I didn't pick it back up.

At least not immediately.

Because I needed to remind myself of something.

This was still just the beginning.

And beginnings were supposed to be simple.

Weren't they?