Kaiden

I'm aware of Nathan's gaze on me and Vanessa looking a little too interested.

"What game?" I chuckle feebly.

"Our Lacrosse game!"

"Oh that. She just invited me along. I haven't given a confirmation!"

"But my girlfriend, Anastasia told me, Sasha was bringing you as her plus one?"

Oh god. Seth's girlfriend is the one who invited Sasha? I walked into this one myself.

I rack my brains for a suitable reply.

"That's why?" Vanessa shouts suddenly, making us all jump. "Is that why you're turning me down? Because you want to get into Sasha's pants?"

Someone take this girl away please.

Seth and Nathan both begin to laugh.

I smile tightly, annoyed at all the unnecessary attention Vanessa is bringing to me. Half the people at the bar probably think I'm Casanova.

Poor Charles left us for other people. He definitely thinks that us high schoolers are full of crap. I don't blame him.

"Vanessa bro, where does all that confidence come from?" Seth snorts. "How does it fit into your tiny body?"

Vanessa has gone red from anger.

"Please lower your voice!" I sigh.

"No, you tell me! Were you thinking of two timing us? Oh ho ho, I see how it is now! Well Kaiden Pierce, I reject you! I don't want to be your side hoe! I deserve better!" She shouts.

I want the earth to swallow me whole.

Vanessa picks up her glass of water and splashes the contents on my face, before strutting away, swinging her hips in a very exaggerated manner.

I blink, water dripping from my face.

"Did she really -?" Seth laughs, handing me several paper napkins.

"I want to leave," I mutter.

I dry my face with the cheap towels, feeling everyone's eyes on me.

"Goodnight Seth, you play really well. Invite me again at your next gig? I'm coming alone next time."

I rush out of the dingy place, unnerved at Vanessa's audacity. How dare she?! I know girls are manipulative but this was way out of line! Normally I would retaliate and blow her confidence to pieces but I didn't want to reduce myself more.

"Kaiden! Kai! Kaiden, wait!"

"What?" I yell.

I turn around, Nathan is standing there. I shouldn't be taking out my anger on him.

"Are you alright?"

His tongue is in his cheek like he's trying to hold back on laughter.

"Do I look alright? I got publicly humiliated by a sixteen year old! For something I didn't even fucking do? And how, how the fuck, did it go from me telling her I don't like her, to her assuming I want to get in Sasha's pants?"

I kick a rock away, blowing my damp hair out of my face.

"That's Vanessa for you," Nathan shrugs.

"You haven't told me how you know each other! Never mind, I don't want to know anything about that little bitch anymore. Goodnight Nathan," I huff and walk to my car.

Raven is probably going to laugh her head off. I don't even want to know what the guys will say to me. I'm going to become the laughing stock of the whole class again. God, I'm stupid. I shouldn't even have come here.

"Um, Kaiden?" Nathan calls.

"What?! Spit it out already, I want to go home!" I groan.

"Uh, well, Seth was my ride here. Could you please drop me home?"

I am tempted to refuse but then, he didn't do anything to me. Sighing, I nod and unlock the car.

"Thanks," he smiles, putting the seatbelt on.

He looks really nice, in an olive button down and dark denims. An earring glistens in his left ear. The top two buttons of his shirt are open. Shit, how did I just now notice how hot he looks?

"I'm always getting stuck with you huh?" I laugh, my irritation dissipating a little. Not that I mind being with him.

"Well, we do go to the same school now," he smiles.

"Can I ask you something?" I ask and roll the windows down. It's a lovely night, perfect weather.

"Sure."

"The song made you tear up, didn't it?"

He bites his lip and it distracts me so much, I almost forget the question. He runs his tongue over his bottom lip and I force my eyes back on the road.

"It did. It was so intense, wasn't it? I've never heard anything quite like it."

"Haven't you attended Seth's concerts before?"

"Well, I wasn't in touch with him a lot after junior year. We had kind of fallen apart," he says quietly, looking out the window.

"He called me a few weeks ago to reconnect just before I came to Credence."

"Oh okay. So you were good friends back in Westbrook?"

"Something like that."

The wind blows back his curls and he shuts his eyes, enjoying the feeling, a small smile on his face. He looks adorable.

"Thank you, you know, for comforting me," he says, his beautiful hazel eyes staring right at me. "It's been long since I've felt safe around someone."

The words make my heart melt.

"Sometimes it gets too much. Then, I feel like I want to run away, you know? Just leave everything behind and run."

He sighs.

I know. I completely understand.

"I'm - I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that to you, you don't need to burden yourself with my shit."

"No one should ever have to feel like that, Nathan," I whisper. "You don't have to apologise."

I reach out and hold his hand, giving it a little squeeze. All I know is that I want to give him a hug and protect him from everything and everyone.

"You wear nailpolish?" he asks, looking at our still-entwined hands, interrupting my thoughts.

"Well yes. It's usually clear or a nude shade but I felt black would go with my outfit today," I shrug.

"It does. You look amazing," He smiles.

It's not normal for a heart to beat this fast.

"Thanks."

We fall silent. Until I am reminded of my lack of a sleeping place tonight.

"Nathan?"

"Hm?"

I don't know if I should ask. He turns to me, waiting for me to say something.

"Um, well, I kind of have a situation."

"Oh okay, go on."

"My dad came back from his ship and he has guests staying over for tonight. All of my friend's houses are busy and you were my last option, even though we're not really close. I thought of Max but I haven't been to his house ever. It's okay if you say no, I can go to my cousin's but she lives a long way from here and it's a school night..."

"Kaiden!" He laughs, pressing a hand to my mouth, shutting me up. "You're word vomiting."

I laugh, embarrassed.

"Of course you can stay at mine, Zeus will be happy to see you!"

"Who's Zeus?"

In five minutes, I park outside his door and collect my duffle from the boot.

"Mom's gone to her sister's," he says, probably reading my expression. I almost sigh in relief.

The giant Alsatian, attacks me happily, bringing me slippers and cushions and everything in sight. I pet him, his bushy tail wagging rapidly.

"What a cutie! Who's a good boy? Yes you, you are! What is your name?"

I automatically start baby-talking. I don't think any sane person can talk normally to dogs or cats.

"He, is Zeus," Nathan smiles.

Zeus happily rolls over. I tickle his tummy, enjoying the feel of his soft fur. Nathan keeps him really well.

"He loves you," He says, turning on the lights in the living. "He isn't very friendly you know? He was in the K-9 and was a sniffer dog. It took him almost six months to trust me when I adopted him."

I laugh and Zeus cocks his head to the side.

"Does your mom approve of him?" I ask.

Nathan's face falls and I get my answer. He changes the subject instantly.

"You hungry? We could order pizza?"

I am hungry, despite the burger and milkshake I had not even an hour ago. I nod. He dials a number and I look around.

The house is sparsely furnished, only the basics. The paint is white, only primer. There's one bedroom off the dining area. The staircase is from the entrance hallway and I think there's two other rooms upstairs.

It's decent sized but cold. There's nothing personal, no photos, no decoration, not even a vase, except for a drab abstract painting in the living room.

No wonder he wants me to paint his room.

"Pizza's on it's way!" He says. "You should get changed. Your hair is wet, do you need a towel?"

"No, I have my things"

He leads the way upstairs, carrying my bag. His room is nice and airy with a big balcony overlooking the porch.

"I use it to escape at night sometimes."

"How haven't you broken your leg? Do you just jump off?!"

"Nah, it's not that high. There's a ladder here,"

He leans over the other side of the balcony.

"Convenient!"

Thirty minutes later, we're lounging in the bedroom, eating pizza and watching Attack on Titan on the TV. He said his mother uses the room below and that's why the TV is in there.

"Whose house is this?" I ask, biting into the hot pizza.

"It's my mom's family home. My grandpa and maa passed away a while ago. Mum doesn't have any immediate siblings so it's hers to keep," he says.

I wait for him to elaborate but he doesn't. I wonder about his dad. He has only ever mentioned his mother.

"You said you had an older brother? Where is he?" he asks.

"London. He's doing a masters in pharmacy."

"Oh, that's great!" He nods.

"What do you do when you're bored?" I ask. There's no playstation or anything else around.

"I don't have time to be bored. I have soccer. Then my job takes away most of my evenings. I work until ten but I have Wednesdays and Saturdays off, only last week I had to go in. That's why I fell sick and couldn't attend Sasha's party. It is a pretty easy job. I also get paid decently so I'm saving up. I'm thinking of doing psychology as pre-med," he says. I listen intently.

"What about you? You didn't tell me what you want to do?"

"Uh, design. Either graphics or fashion, I don't know. I love fashion for obvious reasons. I've been writing a blog."

"Can you show me your blog?"

"Definitely, I'll send you a link! Just, don't laugh at me when you see it!"

"Like hell I would!"

"You sure didn't mind laughing when Vanessa dunked me in water!" I frown, throwing a pillow at him. He throws it back.

"Hey come on, you were all flustered and stuttering! It was funny to watch the cool, calm, no-fucks-given Kaiden struggle to form a sentence!" he laughs.

He thinks I'm cool and calm?!

"Psh, fuck you too," I mutter, feeling giddy with his compliment. He smiles, his dimples caving in. I resist the urge to poke them.

"How's it going with Sasha though? You seem close?"

A mischievous glint lights up his eyes.

"Why?" he grins, poking my arm. "Are you jealous, Kai Pie?!"

Fucking hell, am I that transparent?!

"Who, me? Psh, no. Why - why would I be jealous? If anything, Daniel is. He's been crushing on Sasha forever and he hates you hanging out with her."

"He hates me anyway, might as well give him a reason to," Nathan shrugs. "But I don't like Sasha romantically. I'm not interested in anyone right now."

Oh.

"Nobody at all?" I ask, miffed.

"No. It's just been three weeks of school, Kai. Let's give it some time. Um, I'm going to bed. It's late. You can stay here or come upstairs with me."

He stretches, his shirt riding up, exposing his V lines and happy trail. It puts sinful thoughts in my head. I completely get why Raven obsesses over them.

"Huh?"

"You zoned out. Do you want to sleep here, or do you want to come upstairs with me?"

"I AM NOT SLEEPING IN YOUR MOTHER'S ROOM!"