Monday

I got off the stupid bus and groaned to myself as people also got off, but someone bumped me in the shoulder as they either walked passed me or ran. Jeez, I hate that! It's why I was happy when Kaden got a car so I won't have to deal with jerk-heads. I crossed my arms over my chest stubbornly as I continued to walk over to the Hayden High School.

When I reached the door and was about to open the doors, I felt an arm go around my shoulder the same time whoever it was whispered in my ear, "Hello, pretty lady."

I gasped and jumped. I turned my head around to see a grinning Kaden. His face seemed a little tanner and his hair was way thicker and his nice hazel eyes shown a little brighter. Feeling comfort from his arm, I wrapped my arms around his waist and smashed my body against his, "Jeez, Kaden! You're back!"

He chuckled and wrapped his arm onto of my shoulders, "Missed me, huh?"

Feeling my cheeks blushed, I answered truthfully, "Well...yes. I have been so worried about you."

He rubbed the top part of my back, "Yeah," he said, his voice sounded a little sad. "Sorry. I missed you too...so much," he said, digging his nose in my hair, which I thought was a little weird, but ignored it and let myself relax in his arms....feeling so warm and comfortable like it was the most easiest thing in the world.

After a moment, I realized we were hugging like we we're a couple. It felt weird. I dropped my arms to move backwards but when I took a step back, he pulled me back into him.

My eyes widen in shock, "Um...Kaden?"

"Hmm?" he moaned.

"You can let go now."

"Huh?" he questioned. He dropped his arm, "Oh...sorry," he said.

"Oh man, Kaden!" I heard Danny voice coming inside the building. Our heads snapped inside the school and saw a smirking Danny coming our way. "What? No text or call saying your back?" he asked when he reached us and he held his hand up and Kaden also raised his hand and they smacked each other hand as they went into a guy hug. "Whoa, nice grip. Working out on this vacation or something?" he asked, chuckling.

Kaden shrugged, "You could say that."

"He's right." I said, referring to Danny comment about no text or call. "Why didn't you text me saying you were coming back?"

Danny laughed, "What? Are you his girlfriend now?"

My cheek rose up, "N-no, I'm just saying. He is my friend too."

Kaden threw his arm around my shoulders, "Sorry guys, I...lost my charger and didn't find it until this morning and sorry about this not telling you guys and texting you last week. Dad wouldn't let me text anyone while we were vacationing," he said. "You would not believe how many text messages I got; text message after text massage. By the time I got out the shower this morning, I had at least fifty and twenty missed calls," he said, smirking down at me when he said how many times I called him.

"Well, we were wondering where our future star soccer player was. We thought you actually moved and left us to lose," Danny said as we walked in the school building.

I felt awkward as a group of people came up to us and circled around us. Sure, I know them, but they usually would push me away so they can get to him. I crossed my arms over my chest again as I awkwardly looked down at the ground. When I tried to step aside, Kaden's hand tighten around my right shoulder where his hand was hanging and he pulled me back into him. I gave him a confused look, but he just continued to talk with his friends and laughing. I could feel some girl's eyes on me with questioned marks hanging onto of their heads, but I ignored them as I looked back down at the ground.

I looked up when I felt someone eyes on me and I saw threw the crowds Logan confused look and his eyes went to Kaden and his arm and he looked extra confused. Oh, jeez. Just freaking great. Now Logan going to really think Kaden's my boyfriend. Logan turned around and walked away. I felt bad now.

Again, I tried to step aside, "I have to get to class before the bell rings."

Kaden arm slid around my waist, "Okay, I'll walk you."

"Huh?" I questioned, trying to get out of his arm, but he just kept pulling me back. "Kaden, that's okay. You finish talking with your friends and I'll go talk to mine."

He chuckled, "Nah, its cool-"

A bleach blonde hair girl name Kaytlin went on the other side of Kaden and wrapped her arms around his free arm and gave him a flirty smile, "Hey, Kaden. I'm so glad your back," shesaid. I grimace at her for some reason, feeling jealousy build up in me. I dropped my grimace, but felt my body tense up with anger. She tried to pull him away, "Come on! We have a lot to catch up on."

"I'm sorry, Kaytlin, but I'm-" While he wasn't paying attention, I quickly stepped forward and turned around as I walked backwards.

"That's okay, Kaden. You hang out with Kaytlin. Kaytlin, you can have him all to yourself." I said, turning around, but before I did, I saw the frown on Kaden face. Even though I hate to admit it, there something different about Kaden. My friend would never hold me like that. It was weird and I don't care how comfortable I felt. I felt someone come up next to me and I turned my head to see Kaden.

"I'm walking you to class, Jesse."

"Why?" I asked. "You never did before."

He shrugged, "Thought it would be nice of me to walk my best friend."

"Best friend?" I questioned. "Since when did you ever use that word to describe me?"

He grinned down at me, "You always were my best friend, Jesse."

"No, Danny has always been." I said. "And I'm a big girl, I can walk myself," I said in a 'duh' way as I started to walk a little faster, but he only ended up catching up to me.

As I was about to walk up the stairs, I saw Logan leaned against the wall as he chuckled something with his friend Connor, but stopped when he noticed me. I gave him a smile and he gave me one to, but it was a little sad when he notice Kaden next to me.

"Hey," I said, walking up them with Kaden fallowing behind me like he was a lost puppy or something.

His smiled dropped now, "Hey." he turned his attention to Kaden. "Hey, man. Haven't seen you in a while." he said as they smacked their hands together and gave each other guy hugs.

Kaden shrugged, "Eh...vacation."

I stepped forward a little closer to Logan, "Sorry I didn't text you yesterday or Saturday. I was just feeling...a little down. Can I still answer that offer to go to the Last Summer Festival?"

"What?" Kaden said, his voice hard. He gave me a humorless chuckle, "Jesse, don't be silly. That's our thing."

I gave him a confused look, "We haven't gone to the festival together in over two years, Kaden. Remember?"

"Nu-uh! I remember going on the Ferris wheel."

"Kaden, we went on the same time, but on different chairs. You went on with Lindsey Moore and I went on with Melanie," I said. "What is up with you today?"

He pressed his lips together tightly, "Nothing," he said, grabbing my hand. "Come on before you're late for class." he said, dragging me up the next stair case.

"Hey! Kaden, let go of me!" I said, feeling my cheek burn up as people watched. I turned my head around, "I'll text you later, Logan." I said to eye wide Logan as he watched Kaden drag me away. I turned my head back around, "Okay, Kaden, let me go!" I said, putting my weight on my feet and snatched my wrist away when we got in the sophomore hallway. "What is up with you?"

He shook his head, "I have no idea what you mean, Jesse."

"Why are you so angry?" I asked, see his face turning a little red with anger.

He looked taken back and looked around the hallways, "Um...I'm fine. I just-I just going to need some air." he said, turning around and went out of the hallways and went down the stairs quickly and passed Logan and down the next flight of stairs.

Logan looked up at me confused and I returned it and shrugged me shoulders. I sighed as I turned around and went over to my locker. I unpacked all my stuff and grabbed my math and English folder as long with my books and favorite black pen. When I got up and closed my locker, I jumped when I saw Tabby standing there with her arms over her chest.

"Jesus, Tabby!"

She didn't look happy, "What were you doing with Kaden that has his arm around you?"

My eyebrows forward in confusion at her cold demand, "Um...I don't know. He just put it around me."

She didn't look like she didn't believe me, "Mh-hmm. Just stay away from him."

My eyes widen in shock, "Whoa, what? Excuse me?" How could she tell me that? Who does she think she is? Kaden has been my friend ever since we were little and I'm not going to let her tell me what do with my friend.

She frowned and look upset, "Don-don't you want me to be happy? I had a nice time with Kaden two weeks ago."

Oh, jeez. "Yes, I do. But how can you just tell me to stay away from him? We've been friends almost for decade."

She arched an eyebrow, "Jesse, decade means a hundred years."

I also arched an eyebrow at her stupidity, "No, Tabby, decade means ten. Century is a hundred years."

Her face dropped and her cheeks rose up, "O-oh. Well, anyways, do you think you could help me get another date with Kaden? I really want to be his girlfriend."

I wanted to yell out to her 'No! I won't! You want to know why? Cause I might also want him!', but I'll be a horrible friend to do that to her and even, I might not really want Kaden. Maybe it was the fact that we were separated for a long time and I had no idea what was wrong with him made my head go a little loca.

I sighed, "Okay, I'll try."

She squealed and clapped hands and hugged me, "Thanks, Jesse! You're the best."

I just patted her back awkwardly.

*

I was walking with Melanie to the lunch room and everything felt like the same old same old. People were circle around the popular senior table where Kaden and all his friends set at. I couldn't see his face, but I could see his blue t-shirt. I sighed as Melanie and I went over to the lunch line.

"Why so glum?" Melanie asked as she grabbed a blue tray and handed me it and grabbing one for herself. "I thought I would see that cheery smile now that you other BFF was here." she chuckled.

"I am happy he's back." I said as I grabbed a slice of pizza. "It's just...he was acting so weird this morning," I told her when I grabbed a small salad.

"What do you mean?" Melanie asked.

I leaned in a little closer to her, "I mean like putting his arm around me like I was his girlfriend or something. Then he wanted to walk me to class. Then he got all possessive for the minute I was talking to Logan."

She grinned, "Maybe the boy finally decided he wanted you."

I pursed my lips at her and rolled my eyes, "Shut up. Kaden use to hold my hand when we were little sometimes and he didn't like me. It's just casual for him to do that since he always has his arm around some girl in the morning and throughout the day."

She rolled her eyes, "Whatever you say, Jesse."

When we got up to the cash register, I zipped open my small pursed and my mouth dropped when I didn't see my wallet. Oh, jeez. I knew I forgot something this morning. How am I supposed to pay for my meal and drink?

I bit down on my lower lip, "Uh...I kind of forgot my wallet this morning. Can I just pay for it tomorrow double?"

The lady shook her head, "Sorry sweetheart, but no money, no meal."

I sighed, "Okay-."

I was cut off when I saw a tan arm hold out a five dollar bill. I looked up to see Logan, "I'll pay for her."

The lady looked at me and raised her eyebrow. I just shrugged. She took the five dollars anyways and handed him back a dollar fifty.

As I waited for Melanie to pay, I looked up at Logan, "You didn't have to do that."

He gave me a small smile, "It's okay. I couldn't have just let you starve. Even, this is first time you eating school lunch again since all last week you didn't. I was getting scared there for a second."

My cheek pinked up, "Oh...yeah. I wasn't really feeling well." I lied. I didn't want to tell him his real reason that I didn't eat was because my mind was mostly on Kaden.

"Well, you must be better now." he said, taking a sliced apple off my tray.

I hit his arm and chuckled, "Hey, that's mine!"

"Sorry, I love apples," he said.

"Well, so do I. So you owe me a chocolate cover apple at the festival this Friday," I told him.

He smirked and arched an eyebrow, "Is that your way of saying you'll go with me?"

I nodded and when I opened my mouth to speak, I felt someone come up next to me, "Go with you where?" Kaden asked, glaring at Logan.

"The festival...?" Logan said, confused by Kaden question.

"What's going on?" Melanie asked once she finally paid.

I shrugged, "Nothing. Come on, Mel," I said, wanting to leave the weird awkward tension that somehow was in the air.

I started forward to our lunch table that was inside where Tabby and one of her friends Addie was sitting. I felt someone behind me and I turned to see Kaden. I raised an eyebrow and he just shrugged his shoulders.

Um, okay....

I continued to walk and I sat down next to Melanie who was sitting next to Addie. Tabby smiled up at Kaden and patted the only seat next to her that was empty--that was also next to mine. Kaden sat down and I heard him push his chair a little closer to mine.

"Um, Kaden."

"Hmm?"

"I can't eat when you're this close to me.", I said, looking down at the two inch space that was open. "Can you move away a little?"

He raised an eyebrow, "Why?"

"What do you mean 'why?", I questioned. "You're like, really close to me."

He chuckled, "Haven't we been close to each other since we were little?"

I felt my cheek burn up. Okay, if he isn't going to listen, I moved my chair outwards a little and lifted my right foot up a little to his chair and when I tried to push him away, I was shocked to see it wouldn't even budge. I know Kaden is big and heavy, but he isn't that heavy that I couldn't push him away! I'm usually able to push him away just a little.

Kaden chuckled, "What are you doing?"

I dropped my legs and scooted back in to the table, "Nothing," I mumbled under my breath, "Jerk."

"So, Kaden," Tabby said, leaning on the table to look at him, "What are you doing over here?" she asked, winking at me. Oh crap, I didn't get to ask him yet.

Kaden shrugged, "Just thought I would eat with my friend Jesse."

Tabby looked taken back as she leaned up from the table, "Oh...I see," she said, glaring at me, which I just ignored. "Well," she said, putting her flirty voice, "I was wondering if you like to go to the festival this Friday with me."

"Can't," he said. "I'm already going with someone."

"Who?" asked Tabby.

"Jesse."

I almost spit up the fruit punch I was drinking, "Wh-what?" I questioned, looking at him like he was crazy. I gave him a humorless chuckle, "Kaden, what are you talking about?"

He raised an eyebrow, "What? Like I said, it's our thing."

"And like I said, it's been two years since the last time we went together. I'm already going with someone already to and Melanie going with Jason." I said so Tabby could also hear that I was not going with Kaden.

I saw Kaden right hand grip the table, "Who are you going with?"

"Logan," I said in a 'duh way. "That's what he meant by going with him."

He gripped the table hard and his knuckles were turning pale, "No, you going with me," he said, his voice turning hard. I looked at Melanie and she looked just as confused as me. Tabby just looked shocked at she watched his hand.

"Um..." I said, not sure what to say to that.

He gripped harden and I swear, I heard the table crack under the table, "You're going with the both of us then," he said, letting go of the table.

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