ALLISON

🥀CHAPTER 15🥀

Kaiden's POV

People always assumed basketball was my favorite part of school.

It wasn't.

It was the easiest part.

The hard part was everything outside the court.

While inside the court, I have control. I know how to move and counter my opponent, but outside... is just reality.

I spun the basketball lazily on my finger as Ryker continued talking beside me.

"...and then she actually told me I'd wear myself out first."

Finn looked up from his notebook.

"She wasn't wrong."

Ryker looked offended.

"Whose side are you on?"

"The entertaining one."

"Traitor."

I laughed quietly.

Practice had ended twenty minutes ago, and the gym was slowly emptying.

Coach had kept us back longer than usual because of an upcoming tournament.

My legs were tired.

My shoulders ached.

But somehow...

I was in a good mood.

And Ryker seems to noticed.

"You've been smiling a lot lately."

"I do smile a lot."

"Not like this."

Finn closed his notebook.

"He's right."

I looked between them.

"What is wrong with both of you?"

Ryker smirked.

"Nothing."

"It's just..."

He spun the basketball toward me.

"...you've been acting different."

"I've been acting normal."

"You volunteered to help Coach pack equipment even he was surprised."

"I was being nice."

"You hate packing equipment."

"I can change"

Finn laughed.

"No."

Ryker nodded dramatically.

"Definitely not."

I sighed.

"You two have too much free time."

"We're just concerned."

"About?"

"You."

"I'm fine... for real guys I am"

Ryker folded his arms.

"So Allison has nothing to do with it?"

I nearly dropped the basketball.

"...Where did that come from?"

Finn smiled.

"There it is."

"What?"

"That reaction."

"I didn't react."

"You absolutely reacted."

I rubbed the back of my neck.

"You guys read too much into things."

Ryker grinned.

"So you do like her."

"I didn't say that."

"Okay, You don't like her"

"C'mon I never said that either"

"Then like it is"

Finn said, both of them smiling.

Before I could defend myself, Coach called from across the gym.

"Torres!"

"Saved by the bell," Finn muttered.

"I'll be back."

I walked over to Coach, who handed me a folder.

"Can you drop these attendance sheets at the front office?"

"Sure."

"And don't lose them."

"I won't."

Leaving the gym, I headed toward the administration building.

The afternoon sun poured through the hallway windows, making everything feel warmer than usual.

The school was quieter now.

Most students were either at practice or already heading home.

I stopped by the administration office and handed the folder to the secretary.

"Coach Daniels asked me to drop these off."

"Perfect timing," she said with a smile.

"Thank you."

"No problem."

I stepped back into the hallway, adjusting my backpack before heading toward the parking lot... I'm sure the guys would be waiting for me there.

As I rounded the corner—

I stopped.

Allison.

She was kneeling beside a stack of books scattered across the floor.

Papers were everywhere.

A freshman stood opposite her looking like he wanted the ground to swallow him.

"I'm so sorry," he kept saying.

"It was an accident."

"I know," Allison replied, gathering the papers.

"You've said sorry six times."

"I can make it seven."

She laughed.

"No need."

I walked over.

"What happened?"

She looked up.

"Your favorite hobby."

"My favorite hobby?"

"Appearing everywhere."

I smiled.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"It wasn't."

The freshman looked between us.

"I accidentally bumped into her."

"I noticed."

I crouched beside Allison and picked up a few sheets before the breeze carried them farther down the hallway.

She reached for the same paper.

Our hands bumped.

She quickly pulled hers back.

"...Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Within a minute, everything had been gathered.

The freshman accepted his books.

"I'm really sorry."

Allison smiled reassuringly.

"It's okay."

"You sure?"

"I'm sure."

He thanked us again before hurrying away.

I looked at her.

"You handled that well."

She shrugged.

"He was scared enough already."

"You would've scared him if you yelled."

"I know."

"So why didn't you?"

She stood up, dusting off her skirt.

"I'm trying to become a better person."

I blinked.

"...Really?"

She laughed.

"Don't sound so shocked."

"I've heard stories."

"Oh?"

"Apparently you threatened a freshman on the first day."

"Well, He deserved it."

"I figured."

She nudged my arm lightly.

"I wasn't that bad."

"You kind of were."

"I was defending Hilda."

"I know."

"Besides my dad threatened not to buy me the car I requested for my birthday if I continue to be a bully... those twin witches ratted me out" she said and I laughed.

She's adorable when she rambles.

We started walking down the hallway to the parking lot together without really deciding to.

"So..." I said.

"How was your History test?"

She groaned dramatically.

"Terrible."

"It couldn't have been that bad."

"It absolutely could."

"You studied."

"I studied the wrong chapter."

I tried not to laugh.

She noticed.

"Don't."

"I'm trying."

"Try harder."

"I can't."

She rolled her eyes.

"I knew I shouldn't have told you."

"I'll help you study next time."

She looked at me skeptically.

"You?"

"What?"

"You?"

"I get good grades."

"You play basketball."

"...And?"

"I assumed that was your whole personality."

I placed a hand over my heart.

"You wound me."

She smiled.

"Good."

"Well it'll surprise you that I'm more of a nerd than a basketball player when I tutor you"

We reached the courtyard.

Students were scattered around the benches, waiting for rides home.

A little girl suddenly ran across the walkway chasing a pink balloon.

She couldn't have been older than six.

The balloon slipped from her hands and floated toward the school gate.

"Oh no!"

Without thinking, I jogged after it, catching the string just before it drifted into the road.

The little girl beamed.

"My balloon!"

I handed it back.

"There you go."

"Thank you!"

She hugged my waist before running back toward the woman waiting for her.

I turned around.

Allison was watching me.

"What?"

She smiled.

"Nothing."

"You've been spending too much time with me."

"I have not."

"You definitely just said 'nothing.'"

She laughed.

"I noticed something."

"What?"

"You're different with kids."

I shrugged.

"I like them."

"No."

She tilted her head.

"You adore them."

I couldn't help smiling.

"Maybe."

"Laila isn't your only weakness, is she?"

"I guess not."

She folded her arms.

"Interesting."

"What?"

"I've never seen that side of you before."

"There's a lot you haven't seen."

The words came out before I could stop them.

She looked at me for a second.

Then smiled softly.

"I suppose that's true."

Before either of us could say anything else—

"Kaiden!"

I turned.

Natasha.

What's she doing here... that's odd.

She climbed out of her SUV with Laila already unbuckling herself in the back seat.

Laila spotted me instantly.

"Uncle Kay!"

She sprinted across the sidewalk.

I caught her before she could crash into me.

"There she is."

"I came to surprise you!"

"I can see that."

She looked past me.

Then her eyes landed on Allison.

She whispered loudly,

"Who's that?"

I laughed.

"Someone I wanted you to meet."

Allison looked slightly caught off guard.

I smiled at her.

"Allison..."

Then looked at Laila.

"This is my favorite little person."

Laila puffed out her tiny chest proudly.

"I'm Laila."

Allison crouched so they were eye level.

"Hi, Laila."

"I like your hair."

Allison blinked.

"...Thank you."

"I like your shoes too."

I laughed.

"She compliments everyone."

"I do not."

"You literally complimented Coach's socks yesterday."

"They were shiny."

Allison laughed.

A real laugh.

Laila looked at me triumphantly.

"See? I made her laugh."

"You did."

Natasha walked over, smiling.

"So..."

She looked at Allison.

"This is the Allison."

My eyes widened.

"Natasha..."

She ignored me and extended her hand.

"I'm Natasha. Kaiden's older sister."

Allison smiled politely as they shook hands.

"It's nice to meet you."

Natasha's smile grew warmer.

"It's nice to finally meet you too."

I sighed.

"You've made this awkward."

"I've done no such thing... Besides I didn't plan this sudden visit, Laila kept disturbing after I picked her up from school that she wants to go home with her uncle and I decided to drive here... I didn't expect you'll have a special company with you." She winked and I mentally face palmed my self.

Laila tugged on Allison's sleeve.

"Will you come eat ice cream with us one day?"

Allison looked surprised but smiled warmly.

"Okay, When will you want us to?"

"This weekend" Laila replied.

"Laila is that too soon?" I questioned Cos I don't want Allison to feel overwhelmed.

Laila nodded seriously.

"I decide fast."

I laughed.

"She definitely gets that from our family."

Allison looked between all three of us before smiling.

"Okay, weekend it is"

"Yay!!!" Laila was excited.

"Thanks Allison" I said.

"For what?"

"For agreeing to take Laila out"

She shrugged innocently.

"You're not the only one who have soft spot for children"

Laila frowned.

"I'm a big girl now, Grandma said so."

Allison gently tapped her nose.

"Of course you're."

Laila grinned.

"I like her."

Natasha looked at me with the smallest knowing smile.

I immediately looked away.

Nope.

I wasn't giving her the satisfaction.

Not today.

...Unfortunately...

The smile on my face probably already had.