2 - Fattycake

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Kaiden

I try to leave immediately after the bell but Raven blocks my path. Sasha and Nathan leave, talking amongst themselves.

"What was that?!" She asks, crossing her skinny arms around her chest.

"What was what?" I mumble.

"You and Nathan! How do you know him? You don't even attend soccer games!"

"Just coincidence. We met at camp."

"And he just coincidentally happened to show up here? I'm sure you knew something! Why wouldn't you tell us?"

"I didn't know he was coming here Raven. If I did you'd know already."

"He has a nickname for you, Kai! That's cuz you were pretty close! And he didn't tell you that he's coming literally where you live? "

"He gave me that nickname to annoy me, not because it's cute or whatever. And no, he didn't tell me anything. It just never came up I guess. Come to think of it, I never told him I was in Credence."

"What did you even talk about then?" She asks curiously.

"Just things. Mostly about camp and his adventures, anime and videogames just things two guys normally talk about. It was nice."

I smile to myself, reminiscing. Summer was amazing.

"Nice? Just nice? Did you even look at him? He is dreamy! How does he look shirtless? He probably has a six pack!" she whispers, when we enter class.

He does, but she doesn't need to know that.

"Are you literally always horny?" I chuckle, sliding into my seat.

She joins me, rolling her eyes.

"A girl has needs okay? I'm going into my seventeenth year of life without knowing what a dick looks like!" she grumbles under her breath and I laugh.

"We're at school, Raven! Control your language!"

"Since when do you care about etiquette?"

"Touché!" I laugh. "Besides you're not missing out on much. Dicks are not a pretty sight."

She laughs.

I look to where Nathan and Sasha are sitting together, chatting. She seems to be enjoying the conversation, laughing. She rests her hand on his shoulder. I force myself to look away, the ugly feeling of jealousy rearing it's head.

"Hey Kaiden!"

I inhale sharply as the hottest girl of our year, Vanessa Sterling, walks to me, her dark hair flying in the breeze, perky tits sitting nicely in her school shirt. Every man's wet dream.

I didn't think she even knew my name.

"Hey, Vanessa!"

She doesn't say anything else, just proceeds to sit in the row beside me, burying her head in her phone. 

"What the fuck? Since when does Vanessa give you bedroom eyes?" Raven whispers incredulously.

I shush her just as the teacher enters.

The guys in my class give me glares, especially Adrian Carroway, the biggest bully and Vanessa's current boyfriend. He looks like he will punch my teeth in.

Hayley, my ex, glares at me as if she didn't cheat on me. I ignore them completely.

The audacity of some people!

Last year they were making fun of me and now they see me as competition.

It's funny and sad that everything changes once you get thin and semi attractive. People treat you like a human being and not some kind of abomination. You don't get the looks of disgust or pity. The sniggers stop and are replaced with admiring glances.

Class proceeds with me doing half of Raven's work for her like every year. She does mine in Creative Writing as I can't string words together, let alone write a whole ass story. It's a win win.

Vanessa glances at me again, before turning away, with a ghost of a smile. I blink, a little surprised at how she's acting. She's usually so aloof, above everyone else. I've barely even heard her speak.

The boys drool over her and the girls all hate her and. I wonder why. She seems nice enough. But then again, she's dating Adrian so she's probably not that nice.

Her giving me attention is a little crazy. I don't intend to do anything with her, I don't need Adrian anywhere around me at all. I've had enough of him last year.

Vanessa smiles at me again and I hesitantly smile back.

"Stop drooling! She's not that special and she's taken!" Raven snaps, when I erase the derivative sum for the fifth time.

I shrug. She rolls her eyes, tying her long brown hair into a bun with the pencil.

"Stop being jealous," I tease and she glares at me.

The bell goes.

My path outside is blocked by Adrian who towers over me. I'm nearly six feet now but he's even taller, intimidating, with the football biceps and thighs that could crush my skull.

"What do you think you're playing at, Pierce? Vanessa is my girlfriend!"

"Me? I didn't do anything. In case you didn't notice, she was the one smiling at me," I reply smugly.

For once I have the upper hand over him and what's funnier, he is so whipped that he can't be mad at her so he's taking it out on me. I hate this guy so much.

"Stay away from her, you brat!"

My petty side peeks its head in my chest.

"I will but will she?" I smirk, sauntering away from his red face. He looks close to popping a vessel.

Raven quickly follows me out to the lockers.

"You should listen to him, he didn't seem very happy, what if he murders you in your sleep?"

"You really should stop watching those crime documentaries, your thinking is going cuckoo."

"Just be careful Kai! You know how he is."

"Yeah yeah, don't worry about it. I don't intend to invite my own death anytime soon."

"Good. Anyway, I'm thinking I'll ask Nathan to the Homecoming dance!" She says brightly.

I stop at my locker, my gut doing a flip at his name.

Girls are easy, they're the norm. Nathan is the new rut in my wheel. I was pretty damn sure I was straight until I met him.

At first I was hella confused. Because since when did I feel my dick twitch at... a male's naked torso?? I'd always thought Kendall Jenner had a mad bod until I saw Nathan shirtless. I'm probably just having a Nathan-phase.

"Kai?" Raven snapped her fingers in front of my eyes, startling me. "Did you hear me? I said I'm taking Nathan to the Homecoming dance."

"Sure, go ahead. Why are you asking my permission?"

"Permission? I'm telling you I will. Psh, who needs your permission?" She scoffs haughtily.

"Permission for what?" Nathan asks.

He swiftly moves me away from my locker, grabbing my shoulders and opens his own which is next to mine. The sudden touch lights up my skin and I move away rapidly.

"Oh uh, nothing!" Raven mutters, embarrassed.

"Aw too bad, I can keep a secret you know!" Nathan smiles, putting an arm on her shoulder. She looks at him all moony-eyed.

She likes him too, doesn't she? Fuck.

"I'll tell you some other time, it's really not that important!"

I don't listen to rest of their conversation, trying to rid myself of the tingles in my body from where Nathan's fingers skimmed against me.

****

I didn't see him in Creative Writing because he takes Geography.

Now that he's here, I can't help but want to look at him all the time. I am trying (and failing) to convince myself that it's a passing fancy. A misplaced crush. A phase of mine.

"I feel stupid for not paying attention to soccer. Is every player on the Westbrook team as hot as Nathan?" Raven asks, sitting in the chair beside me in the cafeteria.

Bella giggles.

"Cut it out with the simping! It's annoying enough that he's here! It's suspicious as hell, don't you think so?" Daniel groans in frustration.

"Why is it suspicious?" Bella asks, sipping on her juice. "He's no longer a part of that team now right?"

"Bella, they annihilated us last season! It was embarrassing! They're our absolute sworn enemy okay? And just because he's not on his home turf, doesn't mean we trust someone from Westbrook!"

"Why are you boys so weird? Who takes sports rivalry seriously?"

"We do!" Ryan says, falling into the seat beside Alex. He looks exhausted from classes already, not being the brightest. But he works hard and soccer keeps his GPA afloat.

"Ugh, you're mental! Are you going to hate on the poor guy all year?" Alex laughs, looking up from his phone. "Honestly I am kinda dying to get him in our team."

Daniel frowns, his slanted eyes narrowing even more.

"Why is that?" Ryan asks, eating his burger sloppily, getting disgusted looks from Bella.

Alex leans forward conspiratorially, voice dropping.

"So that we could crush Westbrook this season! He knows everything about their team! We should use it to our advantage!"

Ryan and Daniel both look at each other, the biggest smiles on their faces spreading slowly.

"Alex my man, you're a fucking genius!" Ryan says, kissing the top of his curly hair. Alex pretends to gag.

"No touchy!" He says, pushing him away.

The conversation slips to movies and I look around, automatically finding Nathan. He is sitting with the football jocks and a few girls, including Sasha. Vanessa is missing.

Nathan is next to Sasha, talking happily.

"Ugh, they're flirting again!" Raven groans, following my line of sight.

"Who?" Daniel asks.

Uh oh, this won't be pretty.

"Sasha and Nathan! They sat together in Calculus too. And to think I was hoping he would be my Homecoming date," she sighs. "I have no chance against Sasha."

Daniel looks pissed. If he disliked Nathan before, I'm pretty sure he loathes him now.

Everyone in our year knows of the hopeless crush Daniel has on Sasha. He's been pining for her since freshman year but he doesn't have the guts to ask her out.

"That little bitch! Now I'm definitely going to get him in the team and bust his ass!"

"Seriously Daniel, calm down. You've had your chance for years and you've lost it now, because you were a pussy. All you've done is keep other guys away from Sasha instead of asking her out yourself," Alex says, rolling his eyes.

Dan shuts up immediately, looking dejected. Alex can be brutally honest, it's really sobering.

Bella pats Daniel's back in sympathy.

We dig into our food, everyone falling silent.

I look back at Nathan.

He's already looking and sends me a wink. I flip him off, grinning. He pretends to fall over, putting a hand on his heart.

Sasha asks what he's doing and he sits upright immediately, shaking his head. I smile to myself.

What an adorable dork.

*****

"Thank you for helping out, get home safe!"

The little librarian waves at me, locking the door. Normally I wouldn't be caught dead in the library but Mrs. Pretzel is a sweet woman and very old. Her assistant is on leave so she asked me to help while I was in the art studio next to the library.

I sigh, walking towards the school parking which is littered with the guys from the school sports teams.

The wind has sped up and it sounds awfully loud after the library's soundproof walls. The sky is overcast, like a storm is approaching. It will probably pour any minute now.

"Kaiden? Did you get janitor duty or something? Staying after hours?" Adrian sniggers.

"If I had, there wouldn't be trash like you still on campus!" I snap and there's a collective hoot from the other boys. Adrian scowls.

I walk away to where Ryan is waiting after their soccer practice.

"Be careful Kaiden, you know he can snap you like a twig now," Ryan says, fist bumping me. I nod, not really wanting that to happen.

Me and Ryan wave goodbye and part ways.

Big fat drops start to patter on the windshield and it turns into pelting, bullet like raindrops within minutes. I drive mindlessly, taking my sweet time, with Taylor Swift playing.

Stormy weather and sad songs is the best thing there ever existed.

I spot a guy walking on the sidewalk, half a mile away from school, with our school uniform. Passing by him, I look in the rearview.

It's Nathan.

Why is he walking in the storm?

I halt at the side and jump out, shielding my eyes against the rain.

"Nathan!"

"Kaiden? What are you -?"

"Get in!"

"Nah I don't wanna intrude. I might be out of your way."

"Cut it with the formality, dumbass. You'll catch a cold, the water is chilly as hell! Just hop in."

Sighing, he smiles and follows me in the car, shivering a bit. I turn up the heat and he thanks me.

"Why were you still at school? I mean you should have reached home a while ago. Why are you walking? Do you live close by?"

He sighs but doesn't answer, rubbing his palms together.

"Did you get on the team then? Is that why you stayed late? For tryouts?"

"Oh god, you ask too many questions!" he chuckles. "Yes, I stayed for tryouts. I want to play soccer so bad but then, your team looks like they don't wanna accept me."

"You shouldn't let that bother you, most of the team are my friends, they will come around. It's not like you're in Westbrook anymore. If you like soccer, it shouldn't matter who you play with or against."

"I know."

"You didn't tell me that you went to Westbrook, though. Why?"

He runs his fingers through his hair, a habit he has. He does it when he's frustrated, tired or bored.

"I... I thought you would treat me differently if you knew."

"How do you mean?"

"I was surprised you didn't recognise who I was. It was refreshing, having a normal friendship with a guy from a rival school, without the constant drama and pressure."

"Fair enough. But then, how did you know who I was?"

"I'm not completely unobservant like you, Kai-Pie," he chuckles.

"Fuck you! We've literally never crossed paths before, so where did you even see me?"

A slow smile spreads on his face.

"Fine, I'll bite. Remember your first job during sophomore year at Walmart? The guy who ran the trolley into the wine bottle arrangements?"

"Fuck yes, I remember that! It was hilarious! That was you?! " I laugh. "The manager went apeshit! I think you ran away, because if you'd been caught, you'd have to pay a hefty fine!"


"Well, no. I was the one who dared the guy to do it. You were the poor employee who spent the whole damn day cleaning up the mess." Nathan laughs. He has a pretty laugh.

"I watched you clean the whole thing. I hung around, waiting to apologise but I didn't know how to approach you in case you ratted me out and I got caught."

"You little bastard!" I groan, turning a right when he tells me.

"I made up my mind to approach you, but then Ryan and Daniel showed up. They would have recognised me immediately so I left without saying anything. That's how I knew you were in Credence. Also, who could forget Fattycake with the big green eyes?"

I shove him with my free hand and he laughs.

"Seriously though, you have changed so much, Kaiden. Remember how you were dying halfway up the hill on the first day of camp?"

"Okay okay yes, I get it! I wasn't your fittest camper! I don't need a recap of how unfit I was," I grumble.

"You were the cutest though," he snickers.

I almost crash the car into the curb. The amount of butterflies in my gut is concerning. Why does he affect me so much? I've literally never felt like this towards a boy before!

"Enough trolling me, why did you leave Westbrook?" I ask, trying to divert myself from doing something stupid.

"Stop here. That's my house."

It's a quaint cottage like home with a pink Bougainville climbing up the porch. It looks cozy from afar but still kind of unwelcome. The rain has slowed considerably.

"Go then, I'll wait until you get inside!"

"Oh no, you can leave. Thanks for the ride!"

"You know I live just a few blocks away maybe I could pick you up for school, if you don't have a vehicle?"

"It's fine Kaiden, I can manage. Thanks anyway. Goodnight!"

He gets out and I drive off, watching in the rearview. He opens the gate and I turn the corner, him leaving my sight. He doesn't live too far off but still not close enough to walk everyday.

If he doesn't own a car, I wonder how he can afford an education at Credence.

Westbrook rivals Credence in matters of academics, prestige, facilities and co curricular activities. It is one of the best in our state.

I wonder why he left then.


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