C H A P T E R   F O U R T E E N

My phone rings in my pocket, drawing me out of my thoughts.

I lay Autumn's warm hand down to retrieve it, my eyes scanning the screen.

Caiden

I set the ringer to silent before abandoning the phone on the bedside table to pick up Autumn's hand again.

Finally, the call ends, and I sigh. I've been ghosting Caiden ever since the disaster in his garden on Sunday. I'm both ashamed and irritated. Ashamed, because of what I did to Caiden. Irritated, because he doubts Kaia's guilt. He doubts me.

Today, it's Monday, and although I begged to stay with Autumn, Mom made me go to school. I spent most of the day avoiding Caiden while also batting nosy questions about my sister.

Autumn hasn't missed a day of school since kindergarten -- she'd never rob the masses of her presence -- but today, of course, her attendance streak ended. And everyone who was anyone noticed.

For now, I'm reporting that Autumn's sick, but Mom and I agreed that if things stayed as they were, we'd start telling those who asked that Autumn left the state to visit family. In the Bahamas, of course -- because the only reason Autumn would ever abandon her kingdom here would be to enjoy an extended vacation.

Besides me and Mom, the only people who know the truth about Autumn's absence are Caiden. . . and whoever attacked Autumn.

Kaia.

Still, the fact that everyone else believed my lie about Autumn so easily is almost. . . infuriating. I just wanted to grab each of my classmates by the shoulders and scream. They're all so oblivious. Not one of them could sense that something is so terribly wrong, but I know that this is how it has to be. How it should be. 

The only person I feel somewhat guilty lying to is Elise. The concern and genuine care in her eyes at lunch today was so startling that I found it hard to meet her gaze.

Yet, as I look at Autumn now, I know that in this case, family comes first.

I have the urge to fret over my sister -- fix her in all the ways I can to make up for the one way in which I can't. Yet, Mom and I realized yesterday night that Autumn isn't just in a normal coma. Instead, she's frozen in time. She doesn't need our care, the kind Mom is used to providing at the hospital.

My phone goes off again, and I scowl. Caiden isn't taking the hint; maybe I have to decline his call for him to get the point.

I pick up the phone to do exactly that, but hesitate when I glance at the name lighting up the screen.

Kade

I take one more look at Autumn's face. Her skin is pale, her expression impassive. I squeeze her hand one last time before slipping out of her room. Answering my buzzing phone, I hold it up to my ear.

Kade picks me up in less than an hour. We go bowling and then grab ice cream before roaming around Fairfield's downtown area. Before I know it, three hours have gone by, and I reluctantly ask Kade to take me home.

"So. . ." Kade says lowly as he pulls up to my house. "I may be getting ahead of myself. . . but when can I see you again?"

I grin. "You see me everyday. Monday through Friday."

"You know what I mean, Noah." Kade rests his hands on the steering wheel as he turns to face me. A playful smirk curves his lips. "I want to spend time with you outside of school."

I laugh, but as the weight of my situation begins to press in again, my face falls. "I - uh - I have some stuff going on at home."

Kade's eyes search mine, and at the sincerity in them, I have to look away.

"It's why I was busy before, and why I can't be out as much." I continue.

When Kade grabs my hand, intertwining his fingers with mine, my head snaps up, and I meet his gaze once again.

"You know I'm here for you, Noah, right?" He squeezes my hand, and something in my chest melts.

"Of course," I whisper. "I - I had a really great time tonight."

Kade nears, and I'm suddenly all too aware of the silence in the car. Our loud breaths. The air between us.

"Great enough to want to do it again?" His eyes dart down to my lips, making my heart sputter.

"Yes." I murmur, caught in his warm gaze, but as Kade inches even closer, I freeze.

"Then we will," he answers. His eyes fall closed, and Kade dips in for a kiss, but I angle my head into the crook of his neck and wrap my arms around him instead.

At first, he seems floored. His body is tense, and his arms remain still at his sides.

"Kade," I say then, my voice soft in the quiet. "You don't know how much this means to me."

I don't mean to rebuff him. I'm not turning him down -- not the way he probably thinks I am -- but I'm scared. And guilty.

I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't be with Kade, not when my sister is trapped in her own body. I shouldn't be acting like everything is normal -- bowling and grabbing ice cream on a moonlit date -- when I know Autumn may never open her eyes again. Yet. . .

Kade is my solace. He's my escape. The one person who makes me feel as though I'm somewhat normal. He makes me forget, and though I know I shouldn't, though I hate myself for it, that's what I want. For just a few hours, the weight of all my problems and powers and failures was lifted off of my shoulders. But I also knew that the feeling wouldn't last. . . and it didn't; as soon as Kade pulled up to the house, I was forced to acknowledge the reality of my situation once again.

Yet, before I return to the life I know, I will allow myself this one moment in time. I squeeze Kade tightly before completely sinking into him.

"Thank you," I whisper.

Kade finally circles his arms around me. He holds me close. He holds me gently. And though I'm sure he is just as confused as I am conflicted, he nods against me.

"You're welcome, Noah."

At lunch on Tuesday, Elise leaves the table to go buy another bottle of iced tea. Almost immediately, River leans over conspiratorially, his eyes scanning the lunch lines behind me to keep track of Elise.

"So. . . her birthday is coming up in two weeks. . . " he begins, his eyes meeting mine.

I nod. This week marks our last before winter break begins, and Elise's big 18 is in early January. We have a yearly ritual, but I get the sense that River's thinking a little bigger than a Harry Potter movie marathon in Elise's bedroom.

"What's up?" I ask, nibbling on a baby carrot.

"I want to throw her a surprise birthday party."

At the questioning look on my face, River rushes to explain. "It'll be small, with only a few close friends. And I'll have it my house."

My ears perk, and the gears in my mind begin to turn.

River continues to lay out the schematics for the party -- covering a theme, guests, and food in less than two minutes. He hesitates as Elise begins to return, promising he'll send me a full itinerary by the end of the week. 

I'll know I'll need it, because after River announced that this whole bash would take place at his house, I didn't hear a single word he said after.

Instead, I've been plotting.

River's house. . . is Kaia's house.

Caiden didn't believe me when I insisted that Kaia was the one who messed with Autumn. He said we needed proof -- definite proof.

And in two weeks, I intend to get exactly that.

"Quiet, quiet! I think that's them!" Isla motions for everyone to return to their hiding spots before ducking into the alcove adjacent to the front door.

I sigh, squatting low behind a couch.

We're all waiting for River to show up with Elise in tow; we're locked and loaded with the balloons, confetti, music, and cake.

The doorknob jiggles and hushed giggles sound throughout the living room. As soon as the door creaks open, everyone around me jumps out.

"Surprise!"

I'm late by a fraction of a second, the joints in my knees creaking as I pop up from behind the couch.

"Oh, shoot." Isla has stepped out of the alcove right into Caiden Haas's path. "You're not Elise."

Caiden smiles. "Nope. Nice to see you, Isla. And I guess that means they haven't arrived yet?"

Isla shakes her head before slipping away, headed for the snack table. Immediately, Caiden's eyes scan the room, and his gaze meets mine. He's wearing a blue button up and dark jeans, a wrapped present in his hands. He walks over slowly, our eyes still locked.

"Do you know where I'm supposed put this?" Caiden's smile is tentative. There's something in his eyes that I can't quite read, and there's tension in the air, warping the atmosphere between us.

I jut my thumb to a table behind me, where a pile of gifts is growing. 

Caiden nods, eyeing me slowly. "Okay. . ." He moves to walk past me, and I find myself melting. 

"H-how's the hand?" 

Caiden stops in his tracks. He's still wearing a bandage, though his sleeve covers most of it. "Almost fully healed." Transferring Elise's present to the crook of his elbow, he frees his injured hand to wiggle his fingers at me. 

"I - I am sorry about what happened, Caiden. You know that, right?" 

Caiden turns halfway, enough to meet my gaze. "I know. And I'm sorry about. . . Autumn." 

At this, I look away. "I know." But Caiden's sincerity doesn't change the fact that he still doesn't believe me. And I know he won't -- not fully -- not until he has proof. Proof I intend to get. Today. 

"Places!" Isla drops her half-eaten brownie on the table in her panic. The doorknob is jiggling again. "Everyone, places!" She screeches quietly before making a mad dash for the alcove. 

At the bewilderment on Caiden's face, I grab him by the arm and lead him to the couch. There, we crouch together, waiting for Isla's signal. 

"Now!" She whisper shouts, as the door inches open. 

We all jump out, and this time, I make it right on time. "Surprise!" 

Elise is shocked and speechless, and I watch as happy tears pool in her eyes. "Oh my God!" 

I wait until the party is in full swing to slip away. 

River Wu lives in a single story bungalow. He's designated areas of the house for use during the party: the kitchen, a bathroom, and the living room are free rein, but a certain hallway has been declared off limits. 

I'm willing to bet that that's where both River's and Kaia's bedrooms are. Kaia, of course, isn't home today. She's not really Elise's friend, and I'm also pretty sure that birthday parties aren't her scene. 

I lay out my plan in my head after I catch up with Elise and River and wish the former the happiest of eighteenths while also promising more to come -- but sans everybody else in the room other than the two of us. 

When Caiden is distracted, and Elise and River head to the kitchen, I drift away. Scanning the scene around and behind me, I walk slowly into the carpeted hall. 

The first door I try opens easily. A quick peek at the decor and bed sheets, however, tells me that the bedroom belongs to River rather than Kaia. The second door, which lies straight ahead, is a full-bath. 

I turn to face the last door. When I grip the knob, it doesn't turn. 

Locked. 

But it's nothing a bit of ice can't fix. It takes more concentration and time than it should, but I'm determined to leave next to no traces. Finally, the doorknob turns brittle, and when I yank it again, it comes away in my hand. I tuck the knob away in my pocket before using my foot to push the door open. 

Jackpot. It inches open, creaking softly, and my eyes scan the room. The walls are blank, simple and unadorned. Kaia hasn't put much out in the way of pictures or mementos either; I find it strange, but not unheard of. 

I step in carefully. With my luck, she'd have booby-trapped the entire room, but I also know that she has no reason to believe I'd come here. Satisfied that I'm relatively safe, I shut the door behind me quickly and begin my search. 

I probably don't have long before Elise or Caiden notices I'm missing, and so I have to work fast. Starting by searching Kaia's drawers, I begin the hunt. I check her closet and look for hidden compartments in the floor. 

She doesn't have much furniture, but I check everything I see. I scan the walls for hiding places as well, and finally, I look on, around, and beneath her bed. 

When my search comes up empty, I almost scream with frustration. I don't know what I was thinking. Evidence? I don't even know what I'm looking for. Something that belongs to Autumn? Something that places Kaia at the baseball fields? Something that indicates that she knows our secret? 

There isn't a clear picture in my head, which makes this whole hunt more like a wild goose chase. But I can't leave like this -- I can't go home empty handed. I need to find something that will convince Caiden. 

Autumn. . . it's Kaia's doing. 

I'm sure of it. I'm sure. . . I think. 

But maybe it's not just Caiden I'm so hellbent on convincing. I know need a culprit. I know I desperately need someone to blame. Someone who isn't me. 

Maybe this whole thing -- maybe it's not about Caiden. Maybe the truth is that I need to find something that will convince. .  . me. 

Without a shadow of a doubt. 

And with that realization and the anger of my failure swirling in my chest, I move to retreat from beneath Kaia's bed. I act too fast, however -- I push up before I've wiggled all the way back, and my head hits the wood framing beneath the bed. 

Biting back a curse, I close my eyes against the pain and lie flat against the carpet, slipping out and away. Both my pride and my head have taken a beating, and I intend to turn away and abandon my search for proof entirely, but instead freeze when I spot something new peeking out from beneath Kaia's bed. 

It's a book. Not more than an inch or two thick and encased in worn black leather binding. I reach under Kaia's bed once again but lay my hand directly on the wooden frame. 

When I find the homemade shelf, I smile. Crafty.

And if this book is worth hiding, then it must have some secrets to tell. Secrets Kaia doesn't want anybody to know. I grab it, taking a seat on Kaia's bed as I lay it on my lap. 

Flipping it over, I spot an eerily familiar symbol pressed into the leather cover. 

Something tells me this is what I've been looking for. 

n o t e :

hi. 

i kind of hate this chapter lol. it took me waayy too long to write, and idk why. it also reads a little weird to me, but maybe i'm just being picky. anyways, on to bigger and better next time. if this felt a little filler-y, we should be right back on track with chapter 15. 

also, if you haven't already noticed, i've settled on updating every Monday and Friday -- so expect chapters then! 

as always, don't be a silent reader! pls vote & comment, and thank you for reading!

general comments/questions can go here >>

see you soon,

- gift.