Ch. 9
I couldn't have been more wrong. My day was ruined almost as soon as I walked into school.
We walk by Ryder as we get off of the hovershuttle. Kaden has one arm wrapped around my waist, and I feel his grip tighten. I look over to him for an explanation.
"What?" he asks, "I don't like him."
"I know, but it's really fine. I'm with you," I assure him.
"It's not that I don't trust you," he replies, "I just don't trust him."
We walk to my locker. As we make our way down the halls, I feel a couple of juniors' eyes on me. Kaden has unwound his arm from my waist by now, our fingers interlaced. I feel his grip on my hand tighten.
"Kaden, what has gotten into you?" I ask, stopping in my tracks.
"What are you talking about?" he replies with a question.
"Oh, as if you don't know," I start, "Every single time any guy has laid their eyes on me, you've gotten all clingy,"
"I don't like them eyeing my girlfriend," he explains, "and you know I don't like Ryder."
"Ok, I get the thing with Ryder, but it wasn't like I was returning any of their affections. I just ignore them, can't you?" I finally tell him, and I walk off to class.
He trails behind, probably wanting to talk, but I ignore him. The last thing I want to do right now is have a heart-to-heart with Kaden.
I arrive at history class, and it is super boring, as usual. This time, I feel like it is even worse, because I am not about to chat with Kaden on my Tab like usual. Despite my resolve to stay silent towards him this class, my Tab repeatedly flashes a message notification light. After the first one, I don't even bother checking. It's Kaden, and I'm not in the mood for his apologies. I know he doesn't really mean it, he just wants me back.
When class is over, I make sure to stick around as long as possible so that Kaden and I won't run into each other in the halls.
Once I arrive at lunch, I grab a purple meal and take a seat across from Ashley at our usual spot.
Weird, Kaden's not here. I get if he was trying to ignore me, but Ashley is his friend, too.
"Hey, Ash. Where's Kay?" I ask, using our nicknames.
"I'm not sure. I thought he was with you," she replies.
I scan the room for Kaden and find him sitting in the middle of what we three used to call the Brainless Blond table. Not all of them are blond, but they are that giggly type that act so stupid that you seriously question how they pass school. I never would have expected that.
I am about to shrug it off and look away when I notice that Kaden has his arms around two of them and they are all giggling toward him. I feel myself clench my fingers into fists at my sides. I faintly hear Ashley trying to comfort me, but I don't want her sympathy.
Two can play at this game.
I spot Ryder at the next table over from Kaden, within his sight line. His table has a few others, but not too many, perfect.
"I'll be back," I mumble to Ash.
"Where are you going?" she asks, but I am already walking away.
A few moments later, I am sitting down next to Ryder.
"Hi, Ryder," I speak first, as he looks a little bit confused.
"H-hi, Brinley," he shakily replies.
"I think I like you," I tell him.
I never realized that I had this manipulative side to me, and I'm not sure that I like it. A glance at Kaden shows him staring at me, his body seeming relaxed, still wrapped around two Brainless Blonds, but if looks could kill, I would be past dead. I just smirk. I look back to Ryder, glad that my plan is working.
"But what about Kaden?" he cautiously asks.
"Don't worry about him," I reply, before making a ridiculously brave move.
I lean forward and grab his neck, pressing his lips to mine. I don't feel any sparks, and his lips aren't as soft or warm as Kaden's. It is a short kiss, only lasting a few seconds. It was nice, but not mind-blowing, like Kaden's kisses.
When I pull away, Ryder looks shocked, and I start to move back over to Ashley, but I am stopped halfway back. A hand jerks my forearm hard all the way out of the cafeteria. That hand belongs to the one and only Kaden.
"Ow! You're hurting me!" I almost yell at him once we reach the hallway.
His hand immediately drops, and he looks even more pained than he did before once he realizes what he is doing.
"What the heck are you doing?" he demands.
"If I remember correctly, you're the one who had his arms around two other girls," I spit back at him.
"Well, you told me to be less clingy, and when you stormed off this morning and didn't even bother to check my messages, I assumed you wouldn't want to talk to me, so I didn't sit at our table. As for the other girls, one of them waved me over and they made me sit with them. It was pretty much torture, but I was willing to go through it if it gave you the time you needed," he explains.
I suddenly feel very guilty.
"I'm sorry, Kaden. I really didn't know, and I thought you were trying to make me jealous, so I acted out. It wasn't right of me to do that, and I really feel bad, now. It wasn't fair to you, and I put Ryder's feelings on the line, when he doesn't deserve it," I apologize.
"I understand now that you didn't mean it, but you have to trust me more," he takes my hands in his.
"I'm so sorry," I repeat, "I do trust you, I just got mad, and I wasn't thinking right."
"Hey, B," he uses my little kid nickname, making me blush, "stop apologizing, it's ok."
He pulls me in for a warm hug, and my head rests on his shoulder for a couple of seconds before he pulls away.
"I've forgiven you, but you probably have some explaining to do to Ryder, don't you?" he asks.
Now I really feel bad. Ryder's a good guy. He didn't deserve this at all.
We walk back into the cafeteria, and he goes back to sit with Ashley, as I take my time making it over to Ryder's table.
When I finally arrive, I sit down next to him.
"What's wrong, Brinley?" he asks in a caring tone.
"I-I didn't mean what I did and said," I muttered.
"So you don't like me?" he looks crushed.
"I mean, you're a great guy, but I was just trying to get back at Kaden," I explain, "He was making me upset, so I used you against him. I'm sorry."
"This isn't something that I can take lightly, exactly, Brinley, nor do I like the situation, but I can't do much about it can I?" he asks.
I shake my head in return.
"Then I guess that is settled. Sorry to put you through this," he accepts it.
"You shouldn't be apologizing," I quickly tell him, "Friends?"
I doubt that he will accept my offer.
"We can try it, I guess," he agrees.
"Thanks," I say as I get up.
I walk back over to my table, and Ashley still seems in a daze. It confuses her even more when I sit down and snuggle up to Kaden.
"So, Kay won't explain it," she starts, "What is going on?"
"Kaden and I are still good and still together. There was a mix-up, and Ryder and I are friends but nothing more," I sum up, leaving out a ton of details.
"Later, I want details, but now, you're clearly mentally dead, and lunch is about to end," she says, settling for what she can get at the moment.
Just as she finishes speaking, the bell rings, ending the most eventful lunch I think I have ever attended. I have never been more relieved to design outfits. Off to fashion class!
