Chapter 14

"Hey, Bella, what's a guy gotta do to get on your list?" Kellan Jones asked, walking up to me as I stood at my locker on Monday.

"Uh, not look like you." I shot back, raising my eyebrows.

"What about me?" Adam Jensen smirked and I realized about six guys from the team were standing there.

"Get an A in a class for once." I offered, knowing he was notorious for having the lowest GPA on the team, barely making the cut to play every week.

"So you'd say I got a chance?" Jonah Lincoln asked and I felt a smile cross my face as I saw my opportunity.

"I dunno, guess it'll cost ya... What did I hear I'm going for these days? A hundred bucks?" I raised my eyebrows, backing away from them.

Jonah's eyes widened and his face turned bright red, making my smile only grow.

"You better pay up, Lincoln, because that's a bet you'll never win."

And I walked away, leaving the guys all yelling with excitement and laughter as Jonah just stood there mortified.

"What was that about?" Jesse asked as she fell into step next to me.

"Did you know Jonah Lincoln bet Kellan Jones a hundred dollars that he could sleep with me by the end of the season?" I raised my eyebrows. "So I just told him it was never gonna happen and he might as well pay Kellan now."

"He bet that?" Jesse's eyes widened. "What a jackass."

"I know right." I rolled my eyes.

"You're worth way more than a hundred." Jesse teased, bumping my hip.

"Gee, thanks girl." I laughed, knowing she didn't mean it in a bad way but also wondering if she really did see me as some elusive over-sexual person.

"What're you doing later? Do you wanna come over? Have a Harry Potter movie marathon with insane amounts of junk food?" Jesse asked hopefully. "Kinda just want a low-key night, ya know?"

"I've got soccer practice until 7 but I totally can come over after that." I said happily, really pleased with the groove we'd found with our friendship again.

"Good." Jesse breathed with relief. "My loser brother might join us but like, whatever it's just Kade." She shrugged, slowing down as we got to her class.

"Jimmy Johns for lunch?" I offered as I continued walking.

Jesse grinned, her eyes lighting up. "Yeah, yeah I'd really like that."

I smiled back at her, feeling light and happy as I continued down the hall towards the Intro to Piano class that I was taking.

The closer I got to the class, I noticed that I was also getting awful close to the student parking lot.

Class Piano didn't really matter that much anyways... I'd known the teacher all four years and it wasn't as if she was going to fail me for one or two (or ten) absences right?

So instead of turning to walk down the stairs to the music wing, I just continued straight out to the student lot and happily got in my car.

I sent a quick text to Jesse to let her know that I was bailing but that I'd come back for lunch if she wanted, and then I drove home.

The rest of my day was so chill anyways, I didn't plan on going back to school.

I was going to go home, put on some comfy clothes, and lounge on the couch. Wouldn't be missing anything important...

All of my classes right now were fluff. I qualified for a diploma, I was in to the University of Michigan, who cared?

The house was thankfully empty when I got home, my dad was at work at the school and would definitely be there until past 6 with the boys team practicing.

So that meant I was free until my own practice, which I didn't even want to go to at this point.

I dumped my backpack next to the couch, heading down the hall to my room to put on some pajamas.

I put on my fluffy cloud pants, fuzzy socks, and a large sweatshirt, all straight from a basket of laundry fresh from the dryer. They were toasty warm and I figured I might as well take a nap instead of watching TV. My dab pen was sitting on my desk and I considered taking a hit or two, just to help me sleep better.

But nah, if I was staying the night at Jesse's later, I could get up to no good with Kade after she went to bed, which was much better than getting high alone.

So I left it on the desk, grabbed a pillow and my duvet, and headed down the hall to the living room.

Jesse texted back just as I was settling into the couch, telling me not to worry about lunch and to just bring carry out over later.

So I turned on the TV to Friends reruns but happily fell asleep in my warm cloud heaven.

~*~*~

I almost didn't go to soccer practice.

I was so close to just staying on the couch and watching more tv in between my naps, but right at the last second I decided I should go.

I made a commitment to this team and even though I was quitting after my birthday this weekend, I still was going to follow through while I still could.

I'd quit after the game on Sunday, that's what I'd do. Play one game as a nineteen year old and then bid my farewell to the sport.

Kinda sad.

But practice was uneventful. State cup was coming up and Coach Diane was having us go back to fundamentals, so I didn't even sweat during the entire practice. We just did passing drills and trapping drills and footwork. I could do this nonsense in my sleep.

I picked up Thai food on the way to Jesse's house and we set up camp in her enormous living room.

We started with the first Harry Potter movie and intended to just watch them until we fell asleep and then pick back up the next morning.

Tuesdays were late start days at school and since both of us had blended first hours (we only had to be there half of the days), neither of us actually had to be there until 11:30 tomorrow.

Disappointingly, I didn't see Kade the entire evening and although I tried to stay up in hopes of seeing him when he got home, I fell asleep on Jesse's couch during the fourth Harry Potter movie.

~*~*~

"Hey." Someone whispered, poking my forehead.

I jumped up in shock, swatting the offender away as my heart started racing.

"Shush, shush Bella it's me." Kade whispered, crouching down next to my end of the couch.

I glanced over at Jesse as I carefully sat up.

"What's going on?" I whispered, frowning at him. "What time is it?"

"Like half past three, I dunno." Kade shrugged, still whispering, as he leaned against the edge of the couch. "I'm bored."

"Yeah and I'm sleeping." I laughed, shaking my head.

I nodded my head in Jesse's direction, raising my eyebrows.

But Kade just shrugged, both of us knowing she was a damn heavy sleeper and wouldn't wake up for anything, let alone the two of us quietly whispering.

"If she wakes up and I'm gone..." I shook my head even though I was already carefully untangling myself from our shared blankets.

"Come on." Kade nodded towards the stairs, running up them two at a time as I was still unplugging my phone.

I didn't bother fixing my bun, although I knew half of it had fallen out and my hair must be everywhere. I just tucked the loose pieces behind my ears, not bothering to cover my yawn as I walked into Kade's room.

He had taken off his sweatshirt and was sitting on his bed, watching the door for me.

"What's going on?" I laughed, shutting it behind me.

I walked over to the bed, slowly crawling up on it before plopping down on my stomach with a sigh.

"I dunno. Told you I was bored." Kade shrugged, laying down on his side with his head propped up by his hand. "Figured I'd see what you were up to."

"You mean wake me up?" I teased, kicking his leg with mine. "You're lucky I'm not a bitchy sleeper."

"Took my chances." Kade smirked, biting his lip.

I sighed, closing my eye for a moment as I rested my head on my arms.

"I hope you didn't wake me up for sex, because I may be nice when I'm sleepy but I'm so not in the mood." I whispered, opening my eyes to look at him again.

"I just got a phone call from my mom." Kade told me.

My stomach sunk as I reached for his hand. So that's why he woke me up...

"No shit." I whispered. "What was it about?"

"She's coming home in two weeks." Kade told me with a sigh, looking pained. "I feel like Jess isn't ready for that..."

"Well are you ready for that?" I asked quietly, sitting up on my knees as I scooted closer to him.

Kade shrugged, looking away from me.

My heart went out to him... I couldn't even imagine the position he was in.

Especially since he was so far away from everyone he was comfortable with wherever he was at University.

"Hey." I sighed, reaching for his hand. "Jesse's gonna be fine, you know that right. She's got you, she's got me... I know your mom isn't the most reliable when she gets home from these things but she always lasts like at least 6 months or so." I offered.

"But she doesn't have us." Kade shook his head. "I mean you're skipping town in like two months and I'll be heading back to school as soon as mom's back. I'm still paying rent on a bedroom right now that's just sitting there empty. I've gotta get back to work, start getting everything back on track."

My stomach twisted at that thought. What were we playing at the other day, thinking we were any sort of serious. Sure, we weren't sleeping with other people right now but that's the only restraint we could put on this... And that was complete coincidence too, not even a conscious decision.

"We're still here until then." I said softly. "And hey, in two weeks when Marian gets back, Jesse's gonna be well into the 'bad ass independent bitch' stage of the break up and nothing can take her down." I offered with a smile.

The corners of Kade's mouth barely turned up as he shook his head, still looking away from me.

"Kade." I sighed, laying down on my side to get on his level. "Everything is gonna be fine. And who knows, this time could be different with your mom, yeah?"

Kade let out a sigh, turning to face me.

"Doubt it."

"Be a bit optimistic, really changes your outlook on life ya know?" I said softly, reaching to put my hand on the side of his face.

Kade pulled back with a start, trying to get away from my touch.

"You don't need to treat me like a fucking baby." He suddenly snapped, a frown growing on his face.

I pulled back instantly, quickly getting off the bed as I flushed with embarrassment.

"You woke me up." I said harshly, grabbing my phone from the bed. "Screw this." I rolled my eyes, walking towards the door.

"Whatever." Kade scoffed, rolling away from the door and picking up his phone.

I felt my body grow warm as I clenched my fists.

I was completely taken aback by his sudden change of character. Five minutes ago, we were sitting here actually talking and I was in a happy place with him. I felt actually wanted. But who was I playing at?

I was just a "fun time" while he was home. Clearly nothing more.

So I wasted no energy slamming the door as hard as I could to prove a point to him.

Sure enough, Jesse was still sound asleep on the couch as I plugged my phone back in and slid back into my warm spot under all the blankets.

There was no hope in me sleeping now so I turned the TV back on, resuming the Harry Potter marathon where we had left off, just before Harry brought Cedric's body back from the cemetery with Voldemort and all that drama.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't help but overthink what just happened with Kade.

Did I do something wrong?

Was that my fault in there?

I was just trying to be a supportive friend...