Chapter Eight~Take a Pic, It'll Last Longer

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height


                                              "Tale as old as time
                                                    Tune as old as song
                                                        Bittersweet and strange
                                                             Finding you can change"

I looked back at my reflection and visibly flinched. I looked like an absolute mess. My hair was soaked with coffee, and my white skirt now had stains all over it. My red shirt had turned a darker shade of red due to the coffee and my white socks were soaked. The coffee was so hot I was actually flinching more from the burns it caused than the way I looked. I looked around trying to find paper towels but to no avail.

Leaning my hands on the cool white marble sink, I closed my eyes, searching for ways in my mind that Ruby could possibly know. I also knew that one way or the other, I had to let the twins know before she did and ruined the only good thing I have going for me right now. 

I looked at my phone and saw that Lilly had messaged me several times wondering what was going on before finally just giving me up and letting me know that she left and Kayden was walking me home.

Great. Now, what was I supposed to tell him when he saw me completely soaked in coffee. I thought.

I let out a growl of frustration and tears burned at the back of my eyes. Finally coming to the conclusion that I had no choice now other than to just go outside. I washed my face, with cold water, and flinched when the cold water hit the burn that the coffee had caused on my arm. I plastered my infamous smile on my face and walked out, only to find Kayden leaning against the wall outside the bathroom staring at his phone with the cutest expression on his face. 

I took this moment to simply admire him. His hair was messy and he was gnawing on his bottom lip, as if something was bothering him. His eyebrows furrowed and a concentrated look painted over his beautiful face. I broke out of my trance when he looked up catching me staring at him.

"Take a picture. It'll last longer." He said, but immediately the smirk was washed off his face when he scanned me.

"Oh my God! What the hell happened to you?" He asked, pushing himself off the wall and approaching me. I debated whether to lie to him or just say the truth. But I knew from the way he was looking at me, that he would be able to see right through my lies. His cold blue eyes pierced through me, shaking me to the core, when I stayed silent. He wasn't going to take silence as an answer.

"What. Happened." He asked emphasizing each word to convey his impatience. I gulped, and reached for my hair to tug at the strands.

"Ummm. I uh I was in the bathroom and uh Ruby walked in, she ummm told me to stay away from you, and then she may have uh spilled her burning hot coffee on me?" I stammered quickly, refusing to meet his eyes. When I looked up he had a shocked expression on his face, but it immediately turned into anger when it really sunk in for him.

"Are you okay?" His voice gentle, calming me down instantly, and his cold eyes now holding softness and concern for me. It's been a while since someone has looked at me like that, I realized with a startle. I nodded and he closed his eyes when his eyes fell on my arm where the burn was now becoming more and more obvious. I quickly tugged the sleeve down, and trudged past him towards the entrance. 

He followed and met my eyes.

"We have to go to Lilly's, apparently she has this whole movie night thing planned and she left early to set it up and to use the bathroom because she felt that public bathrooms were too disgusting for her." He chuckled at the thought of Lilly's obsession with good hygiene. I nodded in agreement, figuring that I'd just take a shower at her house and borrow some of her clothes.

"Don't tell Lilly about it please. She'll freak out and get herself into pointless trouble. It's not that big of a deal, I swear." I pleaded and he nodded obviously understanding where I was coming from. 

As we began walking to her house, I took this opportunity to get to know him a little better.

"So, what's the deal with you and Ruby. I mean she was pretty much all over you that day at lunch and now she's threatening me to stay away from you." I asked nervously playing with my fingers. His eyes fell on my fingers, and he gently took my hands apart, to keep me from wringing my hands together. He looked deep in thought, almost as if wondering whether or not he should tell me.

He finally seemed to make a decision as he took a deep breath and began to talk. 

"Last year, I wasn't the best version of myself. I mean I had everything, but I still felt as if I was missing something. I mean I was the captain of our Football team, I had good grades, and I even used to box, yet I didn't feel complete. That's when I met Ruby, she sat next to me in class and she was actually really nice about everything. She didn't seem like she wanted to use me for my popularity like most girls so I let her in. Later in the year I asked her out, we went out for about 3 months and things were getting pretty serious, or at least she thought so. 

 Then everything in my life just kinda fell apart. I didn't talk to anyone about it, and I just stopped talking to everyone, including her. We never really ended, just stopped. I hurt her, but I can't do anything about it now, and it can never excuse what she's doing to you now. Ever since that day she hasn't let it go, I mean, she just keeps coming back, and I literally can't take it anymore if she's gonna hurt and threaten my friends. I'm sorry that you had to go through that, I promise that I'll make up for it, and I'll even talk to her about knowing her place." He paused, his eyes searching my face for something, then he asked, 

"Also, you're not gonna do it are you? I mean stay away from me. I'll talk to her I promise, you don't have anything to worry about." I genuinely laughed out loud at the question, before looking up at him, 

"No you idiot, of course not, you don't think you can get rid of me that easily do you?" I answered through my laughs. He let out a relieved laugh as we reached Lilly's penthouse. Lilly's house was always my favorite place to hangout, I mean it was beautiful. Lilly's parents aren't home that much so most of the time the huge house made both of us feel a little alone but it was amazing to play tag in. 

As we stepped in I took the time to admire the place. The foyer was huge and there was a golden chandelier hanging right above both our heads. To the right was their simple coat rack and to the left was a spiral staircase which led up to the bedrooms. I looked to see Kayden finding his way through the house and we ended up in the kitchen. 

The beautiful and huge kitchen which was barely used now. Lilly mostly only used to microwave and we only use the kitchen to bake cookies or treats. We pass through the kitchen and step into the living room. There on a cozy warm blanket laid Lilly and Jayden. I smiled at the thought of the two of them together. He was currently lying on her lap as they both laughed at something Jayden had said. 

Kayden looked at me and winked, with a mischievous grin on his face. 

"Eh hem. Do you guys need more alone time, because if so I can show you to the bedroom." He said and ducked just in time as Lilly chucked a pillow at his face all four of us laughing now. Lilly looked at me and her eyes wide.

"What happened?" She repeated the question Kayden had asked about 15 minutes ago. I explained how some lady spilled her coffee on me by accident and I needed to borrow her clothes and use her shower. She looked at me suspiciously and then agreed telling me to take whatever I want from her closet. As I neared the staircase, I felt a gentle hand on my elbow and I turned only to come face to face with Kayden. He tugged at my elbow pulling me closer to him and the simple gesture had my heart beating wildly and sending weird tingling sensations throughout my entire body.

"Use a cold compress or a cold shower and apply it to the burn on your arm. I'll give one to you once you finish taking a shower, meet me in the kitchen." He told me, giving me one last look before turning away and heading towards the living room where Lilly and Jayden were. 

After taking the most relaxing shower I have in a while, due to the fact that I have to share a bathroom at home with Maddie and she takes forever in there. I rinse out my hair and finish my shower, quickly putting on one of Lilly's shorts and a hoodie over it. 

I send Charlotte a quick text that I likely won't be home tonight, and once I get a satisfying answer I make my way out of the room.

I race downstairs and into the kitchen like I was asked to, and I'm greeted with Kayden standing there with an ice pack in his hand. He looks at me and smiles, before handing it to me and when I take it into my hand, I scream,

"Cold! Cold! Cold! Cold! Cold!!!" I shriek in the most unladylike way dropping it on the floor, I look up to see him laughing, finding my misery entertaining. I throw him a playful glare before grabbing it again, but this time with a paper napkin. 

Kayden pretends to wipe a fake tear from his eye as he continues to laugh. Soon we're all gathered in the living room, Lilly and I watching Jayden and Kayden fight over who gets to pick the movie. As they continue to argue like five year olds about whether to watch Avengers or Fast and Furious, I grab Beauty and the Beast from the cabinet and put it in. 

Lilly smirks as the intro music begins to play and the boys look up from their playful tackling, both simultaneously groan but without a word settle themselves on the couch, Kayden next to me as I'm in the middle of him and Lilly, and Jayden is seated peacefully next to her and arm thrown over her shoulder as she rests her head on his shoulder. 

I make a mental note to ask her about what's going on between the two of them next time we're alone. 

While I watch the movie for the first time I realize the numerous similarities between myself and Belle.

Belle is a complete and total bookworm, exactly like myself. She lost her mother at a young age as did I. Belle lost her mother when she was just a little but I? I saw my mother's life leave her eyes and it was the scariest thing I have ever experienced. I now understand how Belle and I both have grown up without  a mother. Belle would go to the ends of the world without so much of a second thought for the people she loves. I am the same. 

For Lilly, Charlotte, and the girls, I wouldn't hesitate a second to put my life on the line to ensure their safety. Because even when family isn't blood it's family nonetheless. And that means so damn much to me and the girls. We all found comfort and a home in each other instead of roaming around to look for it someplace else. 

"What are you thinking about?" Kayden asks and I turn my attention to him. His eyes were shining bright and there were specks of gold dancing in them. I could stare into his eyes all day but I decided that would be pretty creepy.

"Nothing really. " I lie and turn my attention back to the scene playing on the tv. I hear light snores and turn to see Jayden fast asleep on Lilly's lap his long legs strewn across the couch. 

As the melody of the theme song begins to play, I feel myself start to doze off a little, and when my cheek hits something pillow like, I don't bother to even look instead making myself comfortable there and letting sleep drown me. 

A/N: WEEEE BACKKKK!!!!! YAY!

*Cheers erupt suddenly and people are clapping* 

Okay, but seriously, what did you think??? Made it long to makeup for the lack of updating, sorryyyy.

But good news is that we're back to our regular schedule! YAY! 

What do you guysss think of the new cover? Isn't it pretty?

QUESTION OF THE CHAPTER: Who is your fav disney princess?

Mine's Belle, she's incredible.

Next Update: Tuesday or Wednesday!

Signing off for now,

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net