C H A P T E R   E I G H T 

By the time we get through the woods and to the Haas's lake access, my hair has abandoned its ponytail to fly everywhere in my face. 

Kade, the cheater that he is, won the race, though Caiden pulled a miracle to come in second. Joshua and Philip, respectively, were close behind. 

"I don't think it's thick enough," Philip calls from the edge of the lake. He's straddling the grass and the water, and the thin cover of ice has cracked where he's tested his weight on the lake. 

"Are you sure?" Kade is determined to go skating. He runs around to another side of the lake, but gets the same result as Philip. 

The boys jog back to their ATVs. Kade's scowl is visible even in the dark. 

Caiden shrugs. "If we head back to the house, we can go swimming." He begins to turn the quad around, but I squeeze his shoulder. 

"Distract them." I whisper, glancing at the boys as I slip away to the lake. 

Caiden's expression is bewildered, but luckily, he follows my lead anyway. Making sure to choose a spot far from where the boys tested, I approach the water. Crouching low, I lay my hands on the fragile ice and call the frost from within. 

The storm hardly stirs before it begins spew from my palms. It cascades and then eases as I target a particularly weak spot in the lake. I can visibly see the ice thicken, and by the time I gather the strength to reign the frost in, I know I've overdone it.

On the bright side, nobody will be falling through this lake anytime soon. 

"Hey!" I cry as I step away. "This side seems to be steady." 

When the boys turn as one, I watch understanding dawn on Caiden's face. His grin is wide, and our secrets shine within his honey brown eyes. 

"You sure?" Kade is naturally skeptical, but I nod and retreat to let him check my handy work. 

His expression is happily surprised when he whirls back around, and he tosses the boys a thumbs up before dashing away to retrieve his skates. 

While Joshua and Philip join Kade in yanking off their shoes, Caiden walks across the grass to meet me. 

"What would we ever do without you?" 

He speaks lowly, humor in his voice as he gently squeezes my hand. I can't help but return Caiden's grin, and he turns to lead me back to the ATV's to grab our own skates. 

As Kade takes to the now frozen lake, he glances back at us. "Come on, guys!" His eyes flicker to my hand in Caiden's, but just as quick as he's noticed, Kade turns away and skates to the far side of the lake. 

Even so, I instinctively let my hand drop from Caiden's. I feel as though we've been caught doing something we shouldn't; after insisting Caiden and I aren't dating, holding his hand certainly says differently. 

When Caiden turns to look at me, I push him playfully to soften the blow. Grabbing skates I think will fit, I hurriedly start changing my shoes. 

"Last one on the ice gets the firing squad." I squeal, referring to one of our power exercises. I don't bother tying my laces, tucking them into my boot instead before taking off for the lake. 

Autumn has been giving me the silent treatment for a week now. Honestly, I think she's going a bit overboard with the radio silence this time. Even Mom said something during dinner the other day, and I'm beginning to debate whether I should just confront Autumn. 

I'm explaining my predicament to Elise -- and by extension, River -- at lunch, when Rowan and Eva make their daily appearance.

Elise nods their way, her eyes trained over my shoulder. "Where's your sister?" 

I don't bother to check. "Probably still fixing her makeup in the bathroom. She'll be here." 

But Elise shakes her head. "It's rare that she's not with those witches. . . but now that I think about it. . . I haven't seen her with Rowan and Eva in a while, Noah, and you know I have class with all three of them." Elise flinches at some less than pleasant memory, but I'm more concerned with her sudden news. 

Because the more that I think about it as well, I haven't caught Rowan and Eva at the house with Autumn in a while, and I haven't seen the three of them in the halls together either. 

"There she is." River raises the hand resting over Elise's shoulders to gesture behind me. 

This time, I make a full turn. Indeed, Autumn is now walking through the cafeteria doors, looking as well put together as she always does. The only problem is, as she walks through the lunch room, I realize she's not headed for her usual table -- the one she and her squad shares with Caiden and his friends. 

Instead, I watch in shock as she takes a seat beside none other than River's sister: Kaia. 

"Are they friends?" Elise asks. 

"I don't think so." I answer absentmindedly, even as Autumn scoots closer to Kaia. The latter looks up from the book she's reading to answer whatever question Autumn's asked. 

"Sure looks like it," Elise quips as their conversation continues. 

I whirl around to face River. "Did you know they we're hanging out?" 

River pauses, dropping his fruit-cup. "I knew Kaia had made a friend; she's been going out more recently. . . but I didn't know it was Autumn. I didn't think to ask." 

"Take it easy, Noah." Elise says quietly. Her expression is concerned, yet her words are defensive.

I must be coming off a little stronger than I intended. I take a deep breath, trying to relax. "Sorry. I'm didn't mean it like that, River." 

Yet, my mind is moving at a hundred miles an hour. River said that Kaia was going out -- which means that Kaia and Autumn have been meeting outside of school. I can't believe I haven't noticed Autumn's absences or the fact that she's been going out with Kaia instead of Rowan and Eva. 

At the same time, I also know how easy it was for me to lie about going out with Elise when I was sneaking around with Caiden those first few weeks. Sometimes, I didn't even bother to give Autumn an explanation; I just hiked it up the street to Caiden's BMW. 

This was the fallout of our emotional dynamic. The distance between us also made it way too easy for things to go unnoticed. . . until it was too late.

I make sure to wait for Autumn after school this time. It takes an hour and a half for her to finish with her Dragonettes practice, but I don't mind. 

The drive home is awkward at best. Autumn doesn't bother to start a conversation, and I'm focused on psyching myself up for a confrontation I'm sure will end badly. 

It's only when we enter the house that I'm bold enough to speak up. 

"Autumn." I call before she can disappear. 

She pauses on the stairs, her back to me. 

When it's clear she's not going to respond, I decide to just go right ahead with the speech I prepared. 

"I know we're awful to each other sometimes, and we have our fights. . . but I'm worried. The fact that Caiden and I are hanging out shouldn't completely ruin our relationship. 

I understand that you're upset, and. . . I'm willing to compromise. If you want me to talk to him about you, I will. Maybe you guys can - uh - be friends?" 

The thought twists something in the pit of my stomach, but I steel my nerves and curl my fingers into my palms. I hate caving to Autumn. I hate giving her what she wants when God knows she always gets her way, but after watching her with Kaia. . . 

I've decided that some things are more important. Despite how much I liked having this one secret to myself. Despite how much I liked having Caiden to myself. 

Finally, Autumn turns around. She meets my eyes, but hers are empty. For a second, I think she's come to her senses -- that my attempt at reconciliation actually worked. But I'm horribly wrong. 

Autumn's lips quiver before she ultimately scoffs. "Not everything is about you, Noah." She sneers before turning to walk up the stairs. 

The next morning, Autumn is out the door before I even wake up to shower. 

"Noah!" Elise exclaims as she turns to meet me at her locker. She's clutching a flyer in her hand, and she wastes no time presenting it to me. 

"The Annual?" I glance at Elise's face as I study the flyer. It's announcing the annual Winter Dance, which is costumed themed this year. 

"Yes!" Elise practically squeals. I'm surprised she doesn't just die from excitement at that point. 

"No offense, El, but you're only so excited because you have River. Even if I wanted to go to this -- and I don't -- I don't have a boyfriend or anything close to a date, and I really don't feel like being a third-wheel." 

Elise pouts as I hand her back the flyer. "You have Caiden!" 

Immediately, I shake my head. "No. I don't. Caiden and I are. . . friends, but I don't think we're ask-you-to-a-dance friends." 

Clutching the flyer to her chest, Elise smiles wistfully. "You never know until you try, Noah." 

Kade is being especially annoying today. Ever since the evening I spent with Caiden and his best friends, Kade has been slowly turning his antics up a notch, but today, it seems he's reached an apex. I'm not sure he can get much more irritating than this. 

"I fucking swear, Kelley." I murmur, my eyes turning to daggers. 

Kade holds up his hands, feigning innocence. "I should wash out your mouth, Noah. What would Miss Adeyemi think of this?" He takes the opportunity to clock our teacher at her desk, ensuring she's properly distracted. 

I'm determined to ignore him this time; I hunch my shoulders as I redouble my efforts to complete the short answer I'm working on. 

"So. . . " Kade says after a pause. "You going to the annual?" 

My ears perk despite myself. "The annual?" 

"Yeah. The dance. I'm sure a hoard of boys have already asked you, and you're just deciding which one to pick." 

If looks could kill, Kade Kelley would be six feet under. "Funny," I snap, "but no." 

Kade arches a brow. "And Caiden?" 

"What about him?" I ask, returning to my assignment. 

"He hasn't asked you? I assumed you two - " 

I don't let Kade finish. "You seem to do that a lot, huh? Assume." I watch Kade scowl from beneath my lashes. 

"It was an innocent question, Noah." 

And I know it was, but the topic of the winter dance and whether golden boy Caiden Haas would be asking someone like me has suddenly become a little too uncomfortable for my liking. So, I do what I always do: I deflect. 

Grateful my curtain of hair conceals my face from view, I bristle. "Just drop it, Kade." 

And to my surprise, he does. 

"Focus." 

Caiden's eyes flare, the flames within them dancing as he brings his hands up to mine once more. He works slowly, pooling his energy in his palms before he attempts to transfer it to me. The moment he feels the frost surge, however, Caiden pulls away, sighing. "What's up with you today, Noah?" 

I drop my hands. "Nothing." 

Everything. 

Like always, I'm overthinking and second guessing. Why would Kade ask me if I was going to the Winter Annual with Caiden? Does Caiden want to go with me? As friends, of course, but. . . Did he mention something to Kade? 

Kade is his best friend, after all. Maybe he said something. Should I just ask Caiden to the dance? 

Ugh, I've become the kind of girl I usually loathe. The type of girl who obsesses over boys when I have no idea what the hell any of them are thinking. I've become Autumn. 

The thought almost makes me giggle, and Caiden shoots me a curious look. He stands up from our bench, pacing the length of the maze square. "I thought we were making progress, but you're worst than ever today." He pauses. "No offense," he adds, glancing my way. 

I shrug. "None taken," I mutter, because I know Caiden's right. Energy transfers are the furthest thing from my mind right now, and it shows. 

I realize then that I probably won't improve until I get this off of my chest, and breathing deeply, I decide to just come clean. I mean, it's just Caiden, right? And Caiden's my friend. 

"Okay, I lied." I admit, watching as Caiden stops pacing and turns to face me. 

"I'm sorry if I -" he begins, but I wave a hand dismissively. 

"Not about that, Haas. You didn't hurt my feelings. Kade. . . mentioned something during class today." 

Caiden walks over, stealing his seat on the marble bench once again. "Okay, I bite. What did he say?"

"Uh, he mentioned the Winter Annual. And you. And me." 

It's obvious this was nowhere near what Caiden was probably expecting me to say, but I forge on, my gaze flickering between his wide eyes and a point somewhere behind his head. 

"So, I was just wondering if you wanted to go with me. To the dance. As friends. . . of course." 

When I meet Caiden's eyes, they're filled with surprise. A minute passes. Maybe two. And then I watch as Caiden's gaze slowly softens. 

"Well, I would love to go with you, Noah, but someone already asked me, and I said yes." 

"Who?" 

Although I'm entirely shocked that I even had the nerve to ask the question, I also know that I need to know the answer. 

please don't say Autumn 

please don't say Autumn

please don't say Autumn

"Genifer Nguyen." 

"Oh." 

at least it's not Autumn

I'm fighting to keep my expression neutral as Caiden watches me carefully. 

"Maybe we should try again?" He asks gently, holding his hands up.

I nod, grateful for the segue, and pick my own hands up to hover them in front of his. 

Caiden's eyes spark as he ushers a wave of energy through his body and out of his palms. It barely registers when he jumps back, dropping his hands in the nick of time. 

"Noah - " 

"Maybe we should call it quits for today," I say quickly, getting to my feet. An ache has developed in my chest and it's surprisingly strong; I don't think I can sit here and work through energy transfers with Caiden anymore. Not after what just happened. 

"Noah - " he calls again, but I'm already walking out of the garden square. 

n o t e :

even i felt that burn. poor Noah. 

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- gift.