ALLISON

🥀CHAPTER 17🥀

Allison's POV

Monday mornings should be illegal.

There was something deeply unfair about being expected to function like a normal human being before nine in the morning.

I walked through the school entrance with Hilda and Matilda, holding my coffee in one hand and my bag in the other.

“I hate Mondays,” Hilda announced.

“You say that every Monday,” Matilda replied.

“And every Monday proves me right.”

I took another sip of coffee.

“I'm not participating in this conversation until I've had at least three more sips.”

Hilda looked at me.

“You're becoming an old woman.”

“I'm becoming a tired woman. There's a difference.”

Matilda laughed.

We continued toward our lockers.

I wasn't looking for anyone.

I wasn't.

At least, that's what I told myself.

But the moment we turned the corner, my eyes automatically scanned the hallway.

And there he was.

Kaiden.

Talking to Finn near the lockers.

I immediately looked away.

Too late.

Hilda had noticed.

She leaned closer.

“You know, at this point, you don't even have to look for him. Your eyes just find him on their own.”

“I was looking at the hallway.”

“The hallway is behind you.”

I stopped.

“…Can we not start this morning?”

Matilda laughed.

“She's embarrassed.”

“I am not embarrassed.”

“You're blushing.”

“It's warm.”

Hilda glanced at the air-conditioning vent above us.

“It's freezing.”

I ignored her.

We reached our lockers, and I started rearranging books that didn't need rearranging.

Anything to look busy.

Then I heard footsteps approaching.

“Morning.”

I looked up.

Kaiden.

Of course.

“Morning.”

He leaned against the locker beside mine.

“You disappeared yesterday.”

I frowned.

“I went home.”

“I know.”

“How?”

“You told me you were going home after we left.”

I stared at him.

“Then why are you saying I disappeared?”

“Because I didn't see you.”

I closed my locker.

“That's not disappearing. That's called going home.”

He smiled.

“I missed seeing you.”

I paused.

He said it so casually that I almost forgot how to respond.

“You really say things like that without thinking, don't you?”

“I think about them.”

“That somehow makes it worse.”

He laughed.

“Why?”

“Because now I know you're doing it deliberately.”

“I am.”

I shook my head.

“You're becoming too confident.”

“Maybe because you're getting less difficult.”

I gave him a look.

“Don't push your luck.”

“I wouldn't dream of it.”

Hilda cleared her throat loudly beside us.

“We're still standing here, by the way.”

Kaiden looked at her.

“I noticed.”

“Just checking.”

Matilda closed her locker.

“We should probably leave them before Allison starts throwing books.”

“I don't throw books.”

Hilda looked at me.

“You threw a pillow at us on Saturday.”

“That was a pillow.”

“Exactly. Imagine if it had been a textbook.”

Kaiden laughed.

I pointed at all three of them.

“You're all annoying.”

“Have a nice day,” Hilda said cheerfully before dragging Matilda away.

I watched them disappear down the hallway.

Traitors.

Kaiden smiled.

“They're never going to let you breathe, are they?”

“Not anymore.”

“Sorry.”

“This is partly your fault.”

“How?”

“You keep giving them reasons to tease me.”

He looked genuinely amused.

“I didn't realize I had that much power.”

“You don't.”

“Sure.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Anyway, how was your Sunday?”

“Quiet. I helped Natasha with a few things around the house, then Laila spent the rest of the afternoon showing me every drawing she'd made that week.”

I smiled.

“Every drawing?”

“Every single one. Some of them were just circles with eyes, but apparently they were very important.”

“She sounds adorable.”

“She is. Exhausting, but adorable.”

“You say that like you're complaining.”

“I am complaining.”

“You're smiling.”

“I can complain and smile at the same time.”

I laughed.

“That's actually true.”

He looked at me for a moment.

“You really liked her, didn't you?”

“Laila?”

“Yeah.”

I nodded.

“She was sweet. And surprisingly confident for someone that small.”

“She gets that from Natasha.”

“Definitely not you?”

He placed a hand against his chest.

“I'm extremely confident.”

“That's exactly what someone who needs to convince people would say.”

He laughed.

“Okay, maybe you have a point.”

The warning bell rang.

I sighed.

“That's my cue to suffer.”

“What class?”

“History.”

“I've got English.”

“Lucky.”

“You hate History?”

“I don't hate it. I just hate remembering dates, names, wars, treaties and approximately five thousand things that happened before I was born.”

He smiled.

“I can help you study.”

“You already offered that.”

“And you didn't say yes.”

“Because I was considering whether you're actually qualified.”

He looked offended.

“I have excellent grades.”

“You also spend half your free time playing basketball.”

“Which doesn't stop me from being smart.”

“I'll believe it when I see it.”

He leaned slightly closer.

“Then let me prove it.”

I stared at him for a second.

“Maybe.”

He laughed.

“There it is.”

“What?”

“That word.”

“Get used to it.”

“I think I already have.”

The second bell rang.

He stepped away from my locker.

“I'll see you at lunch?”

I shrugged.

“Maybe.”

He shook his head, smiling.

“You're impossible.”

“And yet…”

“And yet I keep coming back.”

I looked at him.

He smiled before turning toward his classroom.

I stood there for a second.

Then quietly muttered,

“Problem.”

*********

By lunchtime, I had already survived two classes and one unexpected pop quiz.

Which, in my opinion, was enough suffering for one day.

Hilda and I were sitting outside near the courtyard when Matilda arrived with a folder in her hands.

She looked annoyed.

Not regular annoyed.

The kind where someone had already ruined her day.

“What happened?” I asked.

She dropped the folder onto the table.

“Group project.”

Hilda immediately groaned.

“With who?”

Matilda pointed toward the other side of the courtyard.

Ryker.

He was sitting on a bench with Finn, completely unaware of the disaster heading his way.

Hilda looked at me.

“This should be entertaining.”

Matilda glared at her.

“Don't encourage him.”

Ryker noticed us.

He stood up and walked over.

“You look happy to see me.”

Matilda stared at him.

“I just found out we're partners for the history presentation.”

His smile disappeared for half a second.

Then returned.

“That's perfect.”

“No, it isn't.”

“Why not?”

“Because I actually want to pass.”

Ryker placed a hand over his heart.

“You wound me.”

“I've seen your grades.”

“That's unnecessary.”

“It's also accurate.”

Hilda covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

Ryker pulled out a chair.

“Okay, let's be serious. What are we doing?”

Matilda opened the folder.

“We have to work in pairs to prepare a presentation on the human body. We have to explain how a particular body system works and create a visual model for the class.”

“Sounds... Interesting.”

She stared at him.

“You're going to help, right?”

“Of course.”

“You're not going to disappear halfway through?”

“I might disappear emotionally, but physically I'll be there.”

Matilda sighed.

“I already regret this.”

Ryker smiled.

“You'll thank me later.”

“I seriously doubt that.”

He leaned back.

“Give me a chance.”

She studied him for a moment.

Then finally nodded.

“Fine. After school. Library.”

“It's a date.”

“It's a project.”

“Same thing.”

“No, it isn't.”

Ryker laughed.

I looked at Hilda.

She was already smiling.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Why are you smiling?”

“Because Matilda has finally met someone who can annoy her at her own level.”

Matilda pointed at us.

“You're both horrible.”

Ryker grinned.

“Don't worry. I'll take care of her.”

Matilda rolled her eyes.

“I can take care of myself.”

“I know.”

Something about the way he said it made her pause.

He wasn't teasing that time.

He was serious.

Matilda looked away first.

I noticed.

So did Hilda.

Neither of us said anything.

Not yet.

******

Reaching home, I found Dad in the kitchen cooking.

I dropped my bag onto the couch.

“You're home early.”

He looked up from the kitchen counter.

“I finished what I needed to do earlier than expected.”

“That's rare.”

He smiled.

“How was school?”

“Long.”

“That's not exactly a detailed report.”

“You asked how it was, not for a documentary.”

He laughed.

I walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.

“You hungry?”

“Always.”

“There's pasta.”

I turned around.

“You made pasta?”

“I did.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“What's the occasion?”

“Can't I cook for my daughter without there being an occasion?”

“No. You're suspicious.”

He shook his head.

“You've become too much like your friends.”

I smiled.

We sat down to eat.

For a few minutes, neither of us said much.

Then Dad looked at me.

“So… how's everything going?”

“Everything?”

“School. Friends. Life.”

I shrugged.

“Pretty normal.”

“That's good.”

I immediately pointed my fork at him.

“Don't start.”

He laughed.

“I wasn't going to.”

“You were.”

“Maybe I was.”

I shook my head.

Dad studied me for a moment.

“You seem happier lately.”

I looked down at my plate.

“Do I?”

“You do.”

I didn't answer immediately.

Then I smiled slightly.

“Maybe school isn't as terrible as I thought.”

“Or maybe there's something else.”

I looked at him.

“Are you interrogating me?”

“No. I'm your father.”

“Same thing.”

He laughed.

“I'm just saying, you seem lighter.”

I thought about Kaiden.

The park.

His house.

Laila.

The way talking to him never felt forced.

I pushed the thought away.

“I'm just having fun.”

Dad nodded.

“That's all I wanted for you.”

I looked at him.

“What do you mean?”

“You're growing up, Allison. Senior year will be over before you know it. College, work, whatever you decide to do next… everything will start moving quickly.”

I sighed.

“Everyone keeps talking about college.”

“Because it matters.”

“I know.”

He reached across the table and squeezed my hand.

“You don't have to have everything figured out right now. Just don't be afraid to try things because you're scared you might choose wrong.”

I looked at him quietly.

“That sounds suspiciously wise.”

“I'm your father. Occasionally, I know things.”

I laughed.

“Occasionally?”

“Very occasionally.”

I smiled.

“Thanks, Dad.”

He squeezed my hand again.

“Always.”

For some reason, his words stayed with me long after dinner.

Maybe because he was right.

I didn't have everything figured out.

And maybe I didn't need to.

Maybe I could just enjoy what was happening right now.

Without asking where it was going.

Without forcing it to become something before it was ready.

My phone buzzed from the living room.

I already knew who it was.

I walked over and picked it up.

Kaiden: Did you survive History?

I smiled.

Me: Barely. Your tutoring offer might actually be necessary.

His reply came almost immediately.

Kaiden: Finally admitting you need my help?

Me: Don't get excited.

Kaiden: Too late.

I laughed quietly.

Then another message appeared.

Kaiden: Library tomorrow after school?

I stared at the screen.

This time, I didn't make him wait.

Me: Fine. But if your tutoring is terrible, I'm leaving.

Kaiden: Deal.

I smiled.

Me: And don't be late.

Kaiden: Wouldn't dream of it.

I locked my phone.

For once, I didn't need to wonder what tomorrow would bring.

I already knew I'd see him.

And strangely enough…

I was looking forward to it.