C H A P T E R    T H R E E 

Autumn doesn't speak to me during the ride home. 

Instead, the sound of our phones constantly buzzing fills the stale car air. For Autumn, I'm guessing word about my public rendezvous with not only Kade Kelley, but also Caiden Haas (which, according to Autumn, is the love of her life) has spread. Her harem of witch bitches are probably updating her as we drive -- that is, if she doesn't already know. It's hard to tell if that's what she's thinking about, or if she's still pissed about the peprally. . .  not that we conversate much more than this on a normal day. 

For me, I know all my text alerts are from one person: Elise. When we pull up to the house, I take a second to promise her a full recount of what happened ASAP, but right now, I've got to deal with Autumn. 

"You're welcome." Autumn says before I've even taken one step up the stairs. 

I turn around slowly. She's standing in front of the door, arms crossed, hair pulled into a dangerously high pony. She's still wearing her Dragonettes performance uniform. 

"For what?" 

Autumn scoffs. "The lights? If it wasn't for me, you would have been exposed." 

So Kade really was telling the truth. Yet, I don't feel very thankful. Autumn's stunt with the gym lights just brought on my demise that much quicker. 

She seems to know what I'm thinking, though, because she rolls her eyes. "Let's be honest, you wouldn't have been able to stop yourself either way." 

I'm done with this conversation. I turn around to take another step up the stairs, but Autumn isn't finished. 

"And Caiden?" 

The venom in her voice rings clear. And here I was thinking that I was off the hook. I'll give Autumn props, though; it must have been hard controlling herself up til now. I'm surprised she didn't go off on me in the car. 

I don't bother turning around this time. "What about him?" 

"You two are friends now?" 

As much as I would love to rub a friendship with Caiden in Autumn's face, doing that would only further her interest in my business with him. She'd never let it go. So, for the sake of keeping my secrets secret, I play right into her hands. 

"No," I shake my head, glancing at her over my shoulder. "Caiden and I barely know each other. He only wanted to ask a question about the syllabus for College Calculus. We have class together, and that's it." 

This is true. Caiden and I do have 3rd period together, though we sit on opposite ends of the classroom.

"Really? And Kade?" Autumn's voice is still tight, and I almost pity her. She's been pining after Caiden Haas since he moved here in the 5th grade, but he's never given her the time of day, despite her looks and popularity. To be honest, it's sad; every boy in Fairfield city limits would probably be willing to give an arm and a leg to just breathe the same air as Autumn Brandt, except the one boy she actually wants. Tough nuts. 

"Autumn, if Caiden Haas isn't head over heels for you, what makes you think he'd want me?" I force laughter. "And Kade just wanted to make it clear he'd be cheating off of me for the rest of the semester. Believe me, I don't know them like that." 

And with that, I hike it up the stairs and head straight to my room. The second I inch the door closed and turn the lock, my phone sounds once again. 

But this time, it isn't Elise. 

It's Caiden Haas. 

I tell Autumn I'm going to hang out with Elise by way of screaming the news up the stairs. Then, I hightail it down the block and around the corner to where Caiden is waiting in a white BMW. 

I explained our unconventional meeting point by using Autumn as an excuse. In a way, I didn't really lie; we both know Autumn would actually lose her shit if Caiden Haas ever showed up at our house only to pick -- of all people -- me up. 

"Hey." Caiden's smile is light and easy-going, and though this only marks the 2nd time I've ever been less than 30 yards away from him, I get why nobody has a bad word to say about Caiden Haas.

Unlike Kade, who either gives me panic vibes or heavy vertigo when I'm around him, Caiden gives off a sense of warmth and comfort. I hardly know him, and yet I feel strangely at home in this sleek, clean, woodsy-smelling car. 

"Hi." 

Caiden pulls away from the curve before reaching over to turn his music down. He has his Spotify playlist hooked up to his car system, but where I'd instinctively assumed he'd be an avid rap junkie like most senior boys at Elysian, Caiden's listening to indie pop. 

"Is Dom's okay?" He asks. Caiden's referring to Dominick's, an out of the way retro-style diner on the outskirts of Fairfield. 

"Yeah." I've only been to Dom's two times in my entire life, but I know, without a doubt, that they have the best milkshakes in all of Fairfield. Dom's is one of the best kept secrets when it comes to Elysian, and that means our chances of running into another Elysian high student are next to nothing. 

We settle in soon enough, and Dominick himself comes to attend to our orders. He's a middle-aged man with a well-kept beard that's staring to grey. His long hair is bound in a bun and covered with a hair net to boot. He's cheerful as always, hands stuffed into his apron pockets. 

"What will it be, kids?" He asks, notepad now at the ready. 

Caiden looks to me from the other side of our leather booth. 

"Uh, can I get a pistachio milkshake and a cheese burger, hold the fries." Although my visits to Dom's are more than rare, my usual order comes to me instinctively. 

Dominick nods, smiling brightly. "And for you Caiden?" 

Caiden tucks my menu under his before handing both to Dom. "Do you have to ask, Dom?" 

"Every time, Haas. Every time." He claps Caiden on the back before walking away. 

I'm staring at Caiden when he turns his gaze back to me. "So you come here often then?" 

Caiden shrugs. "Dom's a family friend." 

I nod, stifling a smile. "Oh."

"Noah," Caiden says after a beat. "Is it. . . You. . . What about. . . You're -" 

"a freak?" I finish for him. Seems like we're going to get right down to it. 

Caiden's expression is stunned, and he shakes his head vehemently. "No! I was going to say that you're like me. . . you're special." 

"Special. Sure. Caiden, this is a curse." 

"What do you mean? The fact that we're like this? This is a gift. Being different. . ." Caiden trails off, studying me carefully. 

"Being different means keeping secrets. It means being alone." This is more than I ever meant to say. So quickly, I fallen into the trap that is Caiden Haas. 

His golden eyes seem to soften. "So it's just you?" 

My answer is immediate. "Yes." He doesn't need to know about Autumn. And Autumn will never know about him. We've all gone six years without crossing paths like this; what's a year more? 

"It runs in the family for me. My sister. . ." 

"You have a sister?" 

"Mia. She goes to Northwestern, so I doubt you'll be seeing her around." 

"But she's like you." 

Caiden smiles softly. "Like us." 

"Here you go!" Dom chooses to show up then, skillfully carrying our orders on a tray with one hand. He transfers each plate and glass to our table; it's then that I see that Caiden has ordered a double stack steak burger along with a chocolate shake. 

I slurp on my shake as we wait for Dom to finish. Caiden thanks him as he leaves, and then takes a huge bite of his burger. I watch him chew from beneath my lashes. 

"So in the gym," he says once he's finished. "The ice. That was you?" 

I wipe at my mouth. "I have a problem. . . with control." 

He cocks his head. "Control?" 

"Yeah. Sometimes I panic, and then. . . boom." 

Caiden nods slowly. "Okay, noted. I can work with that." 

I freeze, almost choking on my milkshake. "Work with that?" 

"Yes." Caiden leans forward, lowering his voice. "Noah, I can help. You have a problem with control? I can teach you." 

"What would you know that I don't?" 

A sly smirk comes to Caiden's face. "I'm willing to bet that the answer is. . ." His eyes spark, an iridescent glint coming to his irises. The air between us warms, and he reaches over the hover a hand over my plate. ". . . a lot." I watch my burger bun toast before my eyes. The cheese slice on my patty sizzles. 

When I look up at Caiden, his eyes have dimmed, but the smirk is still present. "Let me help you, Noah." 

Caiden looks sincere, and whatever reserves I have dissipate. I have nothing to lose. And somewhere in the back of my head, I know what this could mean for me. I know this is what I want. 

"Okay." 

The sun has begun to set when we leave Dom's, and as Caiden drives me home, a thought comes to mind. 

"I'm surprised you even know who I am." 

Caiden glances sidelong at my face. "What do you mean?" 

"I mean me. Half of Elysian just knows me as 'that freak', and the other half doesn't even have a clue. I mean, why would they?" 

Caiden winces. "I really wish you would stop calling yourself that." 

I frown. "What?" 

"A freak." Caiden doesn't meet my eyes, and for a moment, I have nothing to say. 

"Oh." 

But Caiden just continues. "And of course I know who you are. Noah, you and Autumn may be twins, but you can't just trade one out for the other. You're not invisible, and you're not a freak." 

I stare down hard at my hands perched in my lap. 

"And I'm sorry," Caiden adds, "about the fire evacuation stunt. It was a stupid prank. . ." 

"Kade, yeah." I look up then, glad to be back on familiar territory. 

"You two are friends?" The words are spoken freely, casually. 

"I wouldn't say that. We have Miss A's together, and Kade needs help apparently." 

Caiden laughs, and the sound is gruff and deep. "Well, I certainly know about Kade's tactics when he needs help from a girl." 

"Yeah, that was weird. And I almost went along with it because I thought. . ."  

"That my little light show was him?" Caiden finishes for me, still chuckling. "Trust me, Kade doesn't have any special talents. Other than sticking his head up his ass half the time, that is." 

I stifle a snicker. 

"It's just me, Noah. Well, I think. Who knows. . . if anybody else is as good as hiding it as you and me, maybe there are others." 

Caiden pulls up to the corner where he picked me up, parks the car, and turns to meet my eyes. 

"Maybe." I shrug, climbing out of the car. 

"But until then," Caiden says, "it's just you and me." He holds out a single hand, fingers curled, pinky up. 

I'm mildly surprised, but it fades quickly. "You and me." I repeat, bringing my pinky to lock with his.

Caiden's eyes spark in the dark, and as he pulls away, he smiles.

I shut the door and head around the corner and up the block to my house. It's only when I'm on my welcome mat, fighting with my keychain that I notice Caiden's white BMW roll slowly by. 

I finally get my key in the lock, and as I step across the threshold, Caiden flashes his lights, just once and disappears into the night. 

you and me 

n o t e :

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