Friday

I saw Kaden sitting over at the lunch table alone as he typed on his phone. I had told him to come here without me when he came to pick me up a little while ago. I jogged--trying to be as sneaky as I could at the same time, happy that other students were around--then I threw my arms up and wrapped them around his neck.

"Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you!" I sang.

I didn't except him to jump or anything so all he did was chuckle, "Nice try, brat." I pursed my lips as I sat down next to him and held the container of two double chocolate peanut butter icing cupcakes. His favorite.

I sat down next to him, "I made you these." I said, smiling again.

He opened the contained and examined them, "You made them?" he questioned and arched an eyebrow.

"Weeeeell," I said slowly. "I had help."

I'm no Betty Crocker and Kaden knows that. If I try to bake anything, it's always either undercooked or burned. My mom an amazing cook though and she knows how to make the best cupcakes.

"I made the batter which was constantly examined every five seconds by mother dearest. I also spread the icing, so I get credit for mixing and icing," I said chuckling. He chuckled too and took a bite.

As he chewed, he nodded, "Hmm, not bad, Jesse,"

I gave him a confident grin, "Well, not to brag but I am amazing." I said, leaning back on the seat.

He gave me a one sided grin, making my heart skip a beat, "Don't think you're Betty Crocker now. You had help so don't think that you're a genius,"

I just rolled my eyes and lifted my bag to take out the milk pint which I gave to him. He thanked me and finished both the cupcakes. He took gulps of the milk and it was empty in matter of ten seconds. My mouth dropped.

"Whoa, hungry?" I asked. He nodded.

"Yeah, I am. I ate breakfast, but I am still hungry for some reason."

"Well, cupcakes aren't really a good choice for breakfast, but I guess since it's your birthday, it can be overlooked." I said.

He frowned, "It isn't my birthday till ten thirteen tonight," Again, I raised my eyebrows at this. What is scaring him? Why does he hate it when someone brings it up? It's like when his friend Danny brought up having a party this weekend for him and Kaden got pissed off and told him 'no'. All he did was get mad whenever someone would bring up his birthday and I'm getting pretty sick of it.

"Okay, tell me," I said, crossing my left leg over my other, crossing my arms over my chest in the same motion. He gave me a confused look and raised an eyebrow. "Why are you so scared? What's so bad about your birthday?"

"You wouldn't understand, Jesse." he said again for the thousandth time.

"Understand what?" I asked. "Just tell me and I'll try,"

He shook his head, "No, I can't. I'm sorry, but I can't,"

Getting irritated, I scowled at him and got up from the chair and threw my bag over my shoulder, "You know what, Kaden? Forget it. Sorry that I'm just curious and concerned for you. I thought I could help and hopefully make your eighteenth birthday wonderful." with that, I turned and walked away.

I heard his chair screech, "Jesse wait, I'm sorry!" he called out, but I continued to walk away.

I crossed my arms over my chest and stared down at the ground as I got lost in thought. Why does he have to be such an immature jerk? What is so big that he couldn't just tell me? I'm his friend for God sakes! We pretty much grew up with each other and now he decided to become distant? In grade school and throughout his high school years he didn't mind people knowing I was his friend! Now he thinks he's a senior he can just treat me like I'm some girl in the crowd like the rest do?

Screw him! Who needs him?

"Hey, Jesse," said someone but before I could stop and look up, I ran into someone's chest. My face heated up and I stepped back up to see a smirking Logan.

My blush deepened, "Oh, sorry. Wasn't watching where I was going."

He chuckled, "It's okay. Have you thought about seeing a movie with me tomorrow yet?" he asked.

Last night he asked me to see a movie tomorrow and just to play a little hard, I said 'I'll think about it, but don't hold your hopes up'. One of the good things that come from being friends with Tabby is that I learned how to flirt. She's always flirting with someone and just being around her and her constant flirting taught me well.

I nodded, "Yeah, I have. Since Kaden is being a drag and stubborn, I'm up for it."

"What is up with Kaden?" he asked. "I posted on his wall on Facebook happy birthday and I checked not so long ago he deleted the post along with the other peoples' who wished him."

I shrugged, "I have no idea. He won't tell me or anyone else."

"Oh. Well, whatever to him. So, do you have an idea what movie you want see?"

"Well, I hear they're replaying the X-Men First Class at Landor's Movie Theater," I said. "I didn't get to see it when it released since Kaden dragged me along to watch him play football or basketball court most of the summer." I said.

He raised an eyebrow, "You sure spend a lot time with Kaden. Is there something between you two or something?"

My cheeks heated up,"Wh-what? No. We're just friends that live next to each other. We've known each other since childhood and our parents are friends so we have to be friends."

"You sure? I don't want to be around someone else's girlfriend. No offence, but I can't do that to Kaden," he said.

"I assure you there is nothing between me and Kaden," I said, giving him a smile. I shrugged, "Even, if there was, why would I keep it a secret? We're just friends,"

He nodded and grinned, "Good. So, can I walk you to class? I'll love to see what Miss. Sinclair has been up to."

As we started walking, I turned on my flirting game, "Is that the only reason why you want to walk me? To see a forty year old lady who wears way to much blue eye shadow, deep red lipstick, and have puffy hair that should have died along with the eighties? I must say Logan, I'm a little hurt." I said faking a pout.

He threw his arm over my shoulders and pulled me closer to him, "Well, I am sorry for my jerk move, you can pick out five boxes of candy tomorrow and I'll pay for them."

"You were going to pay anyway," I chuckled. "You should never make a girl pay. What? This is your first date?"

He nodded, "Yup." he said. I gave him a 'yeah right' look and rolled my eyes. "No, serious. This is my first date....with a girl I like a lot," he said, pulling me closer to him.

I chuckled, "A lot, huh?"

God, just tell me to be your girlfriend already. I just want to kiss him so badly, but I don't want to just kiss him and that is it. I don't like the fact of kissing someone who you're not with. Call me old fashion, but I find it just wrong. Most of the summer we've been texting and I really think he likes me. I mean, I kind of know he likes me. He's always flirting with me and he's super nice to me. I just wish he would ask me to be his girlfriend already.

"Yup," he said, popping the 'p'.

*

'Lol. You wish. ;). Even short skirts aren't my thing. Too bad for YOU!', I texted back to Logan. He joked around saying if I wear a mini skirt tomorrow; he'll be my 'slave' for the whole next week.

Even though he can be a little perverted, he can be pretty funny and entertaining. Still, Logan isn't the type to be 'pushy'. I know this from being acquainted with the girls he dated before. They were surprised he never pushed, but the girls were the easy type though.

BING! BING! BING!

I heard my doorbell down stairs and I leaned up on my bed and looked out the window and saw Kaden at my door. I groaned in annoyance. All day he's been trying to apologize, but I've been ignoring him. He ignored me and gets pissed off at me for no reason why, Of course, I don't want to talk to him!

Though, my feet didn't care. They swung off the bed and I got up. I held my phone in my right hand as I left my room and down the stairs. I went over to the door and opened it.

"Yes?"

"Aren't you going to come over?" he asked, pointing at his house. "This is the time we would grab the cake boxes and make the cakes,"

I began to close the door, "We're too old for that-," Kaden cut me off by putting his hand on the door, stopping me.

"We've been doing this since we were little. You wanted to do it Monday so it's what we're going to do. We're doing this and it's going to make you happy." he said and I jerked at his demand. Why the heck is he being so possessive?

My phone went off playing a Brad Paisley song and our eyes went down to my phone. He stepped forward, but I stepped back. Oh no, he's not taking my phone again! I turned around and ran to the stairs, but only made it half way when Kaden tackled me and I fell. I grunted, but held my phone with my two hands and against my chest. He would never think of taking it from here!

I obviously overestimated his chivalry. He dug his hand between the steps and reached my chest. My stomach fluttered with butterflies and I froze from the shock. A lump formed my throat and the next thing I know, I am feeling my phone quickly slid between my hands.

Shit, I cursed in my head.

Kaden didn't up get up from me, though. He just put both legs on each side of me and leaned up as he read the text aloud.

"'Come on. I bet you'll look so hot' wink face he added, 'I promise to keep my hands above your ass just to show you that I'm such a gentleman-"

"That's private, Kaden!" I yelled coldly and squirmed around under him, but he was sitting on my lower back and pressed his weight on me.

"What is he talking about, Jesse?" he asked, ignoring my outburst.

"Um, that is none of your business!" I said in a 'duh' way. "And get off me! You're big!"

He chuckled, "That's what she said,"

I groaned and dropped my forehead in my left hand, "You and your perverted mind,"

"Whatever. Now, back to my question: What is he talking about you being sexy?" he asked.

"And again, none of your business." I said.

"It is too my business,"

"How?"

"Because I say so." he said. "Hmm, what embarrassing things can I text back to him and-" I began to squirm under him again.

"No, please! Don't! Kaden, don't! I'll do anything! Just don't text him back!"

He chuckled, "Say you'll come over so we can have our annual way of celebrating my birthday,"

I turned my head around, "I thought you didn't want to celebrate it?"

He shrugged, "I want to do this. This is our thing and my birthday isn't really until a little after ten. Now, come with me or you don't get your phone back."

"This is blackmail, jerk,"

Again, he shrugged. "Eh, I don't care. Actually, tell me what he meant by you looking sexy and come back to my house."

"Why do you care so much about what Logan meant?" I asked, arching one of my brows.

"That's my business, Jesse," he said and my mouth dropped. What an asshole! So he wants to know my business but I can't know the reason why he cares so much? Kaden always like this, being a jerk. He's always ordering me around and I for some reason do it. I'm just to good of a friend. Ugh. "Now," he said, turning the phone around so the keyboard can show up on the iPhone, "say it or I'll write back saying you're on the toilet since you ate some bad Chinese food-."

"Don't!" I yelled frantic. "I'll tell you and come over! I promise," a huge smirk appeared on his face.

"Good, now talk." I groaned and rolled my eyes.

"He wants me to wear a mini skirt tomorrow and if I do, he'll be my slave the whole next week in school," Kaden froze and just stared down at me.

A moment later, it was like fire flashed in his eyes and he got up, "That mother fucker-,"

"Whoa, where do you think you going?" I quickly asked as I got up and grabbed his hand before he walked out of my house.

"He has no right talking to you like that."

"Kaden, you're not my brother," I reminded him. "And I don't mind! He's just playing around. You can't say you don't do the same thing with girls."

"It's different,"

Irritated again, I let go of his hand, "How is it different?"

"It just is!" he yelled coldly and my eyes widen as I jumped in shock and to admit, a little scared. Kaden never raised his voice to me like that. What the heck is wrong with him today? Kaden noticed my scared look and his face softened, "Oh my God, Jesse. I didn't mean to yell at you like that." he said, taking one of my arms and pulled me to him.

I laid my cheek on his face, but kept quiet. He wrapped his arms around my waist and held me tight. I sighed, loving how I felt just perfect in his strong arms. Hmm, I wonder if he's getting sick. His body felt a little hotter than usual. But I don't care if he is and I get sick too. Kaden never really hugs me like this. It's usually a side hug or a quick hug, not a tight hug like this where I felt somewhat special.

"You don't have to come over if you don't want to." he whispered in my ear, sending goose bumps down my arms.

I wrapped my arms around his waist and shook my head, "No, I want to,"

*

Kaden and I grinned at each other and down at our master piece. It was a double stack rectangular vanilla cake with chocolate icing in the middle and around with some colorful sprinkles.

We each dug one hand in the cake and he said, "Okay, on the count to three. One-."

He didn't get to finish when I quickly took my hand out with cake in my hand and smashed it against his mouth. I laughed my butt off, "Pay back for last year!"

Kaden growled and before I knew it, he grabbed the neck part of my black t-shirt-we usually change into old t-shirts as this competition is messy-and opened it with my bra along and he dug the cake and chocolate icing down my shirt. I took in a sharp breath and stepped back.

"Kaden! I'm wearing my good bra! Jerk!"

He laughed real hard and licked around his mouth, "Never do that again, brat,"

I scowled at him and stepped forward. At the same time, I grabbed the top of his pants and took another hand full of cake. When I tugged at his jeans to pull them outward to throw them in his crotch, I was shock and a little pissed to he was wearing a belt and I couldn't pull them.

He chuckled, "Oh, my, my, my Jesse. I would have never thought that after all these years you wanted me."

I snorted and thought of something fast I could do with the hand full of cake. Kaden is obsessed with his hair so I smirked up at him and before he could blink twice, I smashed the cake up side of his head. He breathed out his nose angrily and I ran to the backyard-laughing like a crazy person.

I heard him pick up the cake plate and run behind me. I felt an arm wrap around my waist and lift me up. I squealed and covered my face with my hands.

"Move them!" he ordered and I shook my head. "Fine," he said and he started tickling my rib change. I couldn't stop the reaction of my hand flying away to try and stop him. Next thing I know, the whole cake is smashed on my face.

Kaden let go of me and I ran my hand down my face so I could breath. "Jerk!"

"Brat!"

"This crap better not damage my skin!" I said as I wiped icing off my face.

He chuckled, "You know that phrase about girls caking they're faces up? Well, Jesse, you're the queen,"

I scowled at him and rolled my eyes, "Jerk."

"Brat."

I bent down quickly and what's left of the cake and threw at his shirt.

For the next five minutes, we kept throwing pieces and mush of cakes at each other. We were having such a good time and I was glad that Kaden and I were acting like the best of friends again. This is a good part of our birthdays. We like to play around with each other like we are little kids again. But I will never dare him to kiss me again. How embarrassing. I can't believe I did that back then. Looking back, I wish I would have stayed there and let him kiss me though then run away a second later.

When we finished, Kaden lifted me up and threw me over his shoulder, "Hey! What the heck, Kaden? What's with the cave man move?"

He chuckled as he walked back in his kitchen and set me down on the counter next to the sink, "A way of saying sorry to you for smashing the cake on your face. I gave you a freedom of walking a few feet,"

I rolled my eyes, "You're a dork."

"Takes one to know one." he said and bent down at the cabinet under the sink and took out to rag to clean our faces and hands.

As we cleaned ourselves off, Kaden's mom and dad came home and came into the kitchen. His mother, Claire, put her purse on the table and her hands found her hips, "I thought I told you two to never do this again."

Kaden went up to his mom and bent down to kiss her cheek, "It's a tradition for me and Jesse." she shook her head.

"Of all night though, Kaden?"

"We still have time," he said. "It's only seven o'clock. It doesn't start till ten." he said.

Kaden's dad, Joe, came in and put an arm around his wife, "He's right, Claire. He needed to do something fun before it happens."

I jumped off the counter, "Before what happens?" I asked.

Kaden and Claire looked down at the ground, but Joe just smirked, "In good time, Jesse,"

Kaden looked up, "Huh?"

Joe just continued to smirk, "Same goes for you, Kaden." he said and took off his coat. "Jesse, you should go now, though. Kaden has to take a shower and we have to leave in thirty minutes."

"Where are you going?" I asked. Maybe Joe will tell me what's up since Kaden won't.

"We're having a family reunion. It's a few towns over and we need to get there to a certain time." he said.

I looked at Kaden and crossed my arms over my chest, "You couldn't have just said that instead of being really rude."

He scratched the back of his head and looked away, "Yeah, sorry." he looked back at me. "I'm sorry I was being mean. It's just...I don't like family reunions and it...just sucks that it's on my birthday."

I rolled my eyes, but I smiled up at him, "Don't be selfish. You can share your birthday and spend time with family. Odd, I thought family reunions happen in like, the afternoon,"

"Our family is different," Joe said.

I nodded, "Well, I wish I could be there," I told Kaden.

He frowned, "Trust me, Jesse, you wouldn't if you knew what happens and the meaning of these reunions."

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