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"Those who stand for nothing fall for everything." — Alexander Hamilton (favorite Broadway 💕.)
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Chapter 33
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"That good for nothing asswipe," Maggie scoffed as she saw Kade enter Mr. Crawfields' class with us.

I smiled just at the sight of him, my mind elsewhere. "He's actually not that bad." Not at all.

Her eyes glared after him, popping the flavorless gum in her mouth. "Not that bad?"

I shrugged, my cheeks slowly reddening. My shoulders fell with relief as the teacher rose from his chair: the perfect distraction.

"Toe fungus isn't that bad," I heard Maggie whisper harshly, "But, it has nothing on that dickwad."

I giggled at that. I didn't quite know how long her distastefulness toward him would last, but I figured she would come to like him later on.

On cue, Kades' eyes shifted. He was turned around in his seat, back against the wall, searching until his eyes finally landed on me.

I froze under his impeccable stare, stricken by the icy look. I stared back, smiling slightly at him.

Instead of a smile, his lips shifted into a smirk. I frowned in confusion, shrugging as he turned back around.

Mr. Crawfield clasped his hands together, eyeing the classroom before turning to the board. "Alright..." His words only became mush as I gave into my deep thoughts.

I had been this way ever since last night. The rush of the night was one thing, but our kiss at the end was an entirely different thing. I couldn't take my mind off of the fact that I, we, had became so much more.

I didn't know what to do with this. I had no clue what to do with us. If we clarified to one another that we were in a relationship, maybe that would make things easier. But, with us, it would probably only make it worse. There were a lot of things that I had pushed away in terms of our past, and I knew that I would have to come to terms with them one of these days. But, I could only wait for that day to come. Until then, I would live in the moment. Our moment.

I was broken from my daze as I felt a vibration against my leg. I knew that it was my phone, but it still felt unfamiliar to receive texts. Since the teachers' back was turned, I pulled the phone from my pocket.

Kade: Are you paying attention, sweetheart?

I reread the message a great number of times. I was bewildered at the fact that Kade was texting me, and that he was actually attempting to flirt with me.

I looked up from my phone. I expected to catch eyes with him, but instead, his back was still my way.

My fingers hovered over the keyboard. I couldn't think of what to say in the moment, and that only worsened my edginess.

Me: Yes.

It only took a matter of seconds for him to respond. I clutched either of my thighs for dear life, staring down at my phone as I awaited a response.

Kade: I didn't mean paying attention to me, love.

I blushed at that. We weren't even looking directly at each other, but I still knew that he was smirking.

Me: I'm not looking at you.

Kade: Then, you're staring hard as hell at the back of my head. You obsessed, sweetheart?

I couldn't withhold my smile. It peeked out from under my blush, no matter how hard I tried to hide it.

Me: You wish.

I hit send before I could read over the text. Mentally slapping myself, I bounced my leg uncontrollably under the desk as I waited for his response.

Kade: Really now? Fine.

Me: You sure your pillow will keep you enough company?

Kade: Positive, sweetheart.

Me: I bet. But I'm not sure if that ego of yours is even capable of fitting in the bed with you.

I recoiled over myself as I reread over our set of messages. I didn't know where the hell my sudden wave of courage was coming from, but it felt amazing and overpowering.

As I awaited another text, my head—as well as everyone else's'— snapped up at the loud sound of a chuckle. I frowned at everyones' curt attention, oblivious to the fact of why they were so fascinated by laughter. But, once I figured out who was laughing, I soon joined into their admiration.

Kade was the one laughing. A sound of gold. A sound so unique coming from him.

I bit my lip in order to hide my smile. I watched his pretty lips and perfect teeth become visible as he scanned over his phone. I wished that he would laugh or smile more; it was a magnificent sight every time. I stared in awe as I watched his lips downturn once he caught the eyes of our classmates. Immediately, they looked away and pretended to be occupied.

"Is there something you would like to share with the class, Mr. Ryder?" Mr. Crawfield asked, his eyebrow raised in question.

"I probably would've raised my hand already if I needed to say something," Kade responded with a snort.

The class erupted into snickers and chuckles, even a small one from Maggie and I. I remembered the instance when Kade came in late, but with one threat to the teacher, he was clear. I guessed whatever power his mother had around this town was very influential.

Mr. Crawfields' bushy eyebrows fell back down, as did his lips. "No more disturbances."

Class passed by terribly slow, though it seemed to be more amusing than usual with Maggie next to me. Her snarky comments satisfied me enough to continue on.

She thumped her eraser against the textbook, groaning under her breath. "This class is utter—"

On cue, the bell rung.

Just like the rest of the class, Maggie was just as speedy with her packing. In an impressive pace, she was standing with her bag. "I hope you're away from that asswipe by lunch." Her expression remained neutral but I saw the seriousness in her eyes' before she left the room.

Nearly everyone had left, including the teacher. I expected Kade to have gone with them, but instead, he waited on me right by the door, his eyes patiently watching me.

I blushed under his gaze as I attempted to zip my bag. I tugged so hard on the zipper, the bag fell from my desk, spewing all of its contents onto the floor.

I kneeled down to the floor, muttering profanities. I believed that I wouldn't have been so embarrassed if Kade wasn't right in front of me, watching.

"Wow," Kade muttered with a chuckle to follow.  "Clumsy, clumsy girl."

"You're so..." I trailed off as he began to step toward me.

He lowered himself to me, his hair swinging over his eyes as he leaned over to help. Today he wore a pair of sweats, along with a short sleeved tee that clung to his body perfectly. As he swung closer to grasp a journal, his heavenly scent of masculinity hugged my nose.

"Close," I mumbled to finish.

His lips grew into a crooked smirk before he gestured toward my fallen books.

I reached for a notebook, unknowing of the fact that he had the same plan. Our skin grazed, and in that moment, I felt bolts of electricity jolt through our small contact. But, just as swiftly as it came, it left as he removed his hand from mine. Even though it had ceased, I still felt the after effects roaring through my blood.

He bit the inside of his cheek before helping me up. After zipping my bag up, I turned to him. "Come on," he said, grasping my hand.

I frowned as we passed my second period class. "Where are we going?" I asked in utter confusion.

Instead of responding, Kade continued to walk toward the exit. I followed in a trance of curiosity, even though I knew that we were breaking some type of rule. We just walked out, my confusion growing as I wondered what in the hell had gotten into him.

It was quiet outside, the empty cars scattered across the parking lot. Kade didn't stop walking until we were at his sports car. With one hand still around mine, he used the other to open the door then motion for me to get inside.

My eyes widened as I shook my head. "I-I can't."

"We'll be back before lunch," he offered. "I swear."

With a tight chest, I guessed around the empty lot. No one would see, and unless the school felt a reason to, they shouldn't watch the security cameras. Once we were back, I'd make up a lie and say that I had an upset tummy and stayed in the bathroom. It should work.

I knew that this was wrong, and the consequences might be terrible. But, we would be back before lunch and there wasn't like I'd be missing anything important in class.

I waited for Kade to get into the drivers' seat before I asked, "Where are we going?"

I felt the car hum from under us. "My house," he answered, his hand on the back of my seat as we pulled out.

What? "So...we left school, to go to your house?"

"That sounds about right," he responded with a chuckle.

I stared at him for another moment before sinking back into my seat. This man never ceased to surprise me.

The ride sunk into a silence as we drove to his house. I didn't know what to say to him, though I had millions of things on my mind that I was curious about.

Once we pulled into the driveway, Kade went to my door and we both got out of the car. I followed behind as we entered his house. Since there seemed to be no one else here, we continued up to his room.

I waited a few beats before turning toward him. "Why are we—"

My words were cut short as he grasped my face in his hands. His lips fell on mine with every ounce of desire and want he could give. My eyes widened at his sudden touch, but I fell into him anyway.

He pulled back just enough so that our lips were still grazing. "I've been wanting to do that all damn day," he said, voice rocky.

His fingers grazed either arm until he got to my hands, squeezing. His head tilted as he began to lean again but this time, I placed my hands across his hard chest. "W-we're skipping school to kiss?" I tilted my head with the question, gazing up at him.

Kades' eyes were now glazed over, his hold transferring coats of warmth throughout my entire being. "What, sweetheart? I thought you liked my lips on you." I knew that he was joking, but the remark still brought on waves of blood to my cheeks.

At my flushed expression, Kade's head tilted as he examined me over closely. I smiled under his gaze, considering the many, many romance books I had read. It started with this, and now, he was supposed to kiss me until my lips swelled.

But, then I remembered that it was Kade. Not some romantic character.

I looked at him again. "Why didn't you just kiss me at school?" I asked, my words quite pretentious.

His eyes lowered for a second, before raising back to mine. That wasn't an answer though.

I released his hands before I thought the words through, "Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?"

He looked as if I had shot him with a gun. His expression was loose with shock, eyes widened and mouth agape.

He shook his head immediately. "Fuck no," he responded. He didn't hesitate nor did he stutter, so I believed him to be serious. "I didn't want to make you uncomfortable or anything from the attention; I didn't know how you would feel about it."

My body was still warm at the soft feel of his lips. Without thinking, I lifted my hand to his face. My heart pinched as he flinched against my hand.

My lips slowly tipped up. "I don't care about us being seen," I said truthfully. "Not at all."

I meant it entirely. I didn't care what the others would think; it was our lives and our feelings. A part of me slightly cared what people said, but with Kade, their words didn't matter anymore. Nothing but what I alone thought of him did. I felt beautiful and...alive every time I was with him. For the first time in seventeen years, it felt as if I could finally breathe.

"Besides, it's not like you hanging around me will stop them, right?" I joked with a sigh.

Kade fixated his gaze on me, eyes squinting. "What?" By the profound glint in his eyes, I knew that my words weren't considered funny to him. Quite the opposite, really.

I shook my head, my cheeks pinching with color. "Nothing." I attempted a smile of confidence. By his frown, I knew that it hadn't worked in the slightest on him.

Kade's expression darkened as he released me. "They still fuck with you?" he asked slowly. "Who?"

"No one," I said quickly. "They don't, not as much as before." People still talked, I just didn't pay as much attention as I had.

I did still catch the snickers and hateful mumbles, but it definitely wasn't as worse as it before. As for Natasha and Amber, their insults didn't hit the same. I wasn't sure if I had just heard all of the insults so many times, they became nothing or if I just didn't care anymore. Either way, I relished on the fact that I would never see any of them again in a couple of months.

The corner of his eyes were now wrinkled with anger until I moved my gaze to get away from the intense stare. "Who gives a fuck if it's not as much? They still mess with you?"

I sighed at the scrutiny; I didn't want those people to spoil this moment. "Can we not talk about this right now?"

It was obvious he didn't want to end the conversation, but at my discomfort, he did.

Kade pressed his center into my own before my knees hit his bed. "You won't have to worry about them anymore, you get me?" Before I had a chance to respond, his fingers grazed my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. "If I see or hear this shit happening, don't expect any manners from me, sweetheart," he mumbled against my lips.

My chest sunk in as I let my fingers trail through his curls. "You have manners?" I teased.

Kade grasped either hand, pulling them up until they were near the headboard. His smirk was sharp as he leaned in until our lips were grazing. "There's a lot of things that you don't and never will know about me, sweetheart."

His lips were too close to remain that way. "I bet," I mumbled before leaning up.

***

"You know," I told Kade, staring down at the very...crude message Maggie had sent since I didn't come to the cafeteria. "Maggie doesn't like you."

Kade chuckled at my words, staring at the four leaf clover. "Less dark magic on me, sweetheart."

"That's good luck, don't waste it!" I caught the clover in my hands as it wandered dangerously close to the ground. "And, don't talk about her. Ever."

"She talks shit about me. I only return the favor."

I glared at him, catching his small glances through my lashes. "No, she doesn't."

He looked at me through a knowing expression, his smirk never dying. He leaned back onto his palms, spreading his long legs over the lawn.

I lowered my eyes. "Okay, fine she does. But, I don't talk about Luke, so you don't talk about Maggie."

I saw him shift in the corner of my eye. "Luke's a natural mean ass to people who don't really know him but he has his reasons for some of the shit he does, even if it doesn't look like it," he said quietly.

I glanced up to him, then. I caught it in his voice. Something dark, hateful and familiar, shielded those words about Luke, but I guessed that it was something kept just between the three. I could tell in the way he said it that it was, and that he was protective of him, though I would guess that Luke and Levi were fine protecting themselves.

I could understand it, and I didn't want to pry. I'd never looked too far into Luke's life, nor Levi's, because I didn't think it was right to. No one's demons or troubles were any of my business.

I couldn't think of my wish. "So does Maggie," I retorted, smothering the clover with my fingers. The texture was interesting, like a waxy feather.

Lunch had begun, and right before the bell rang across campus, we managed to slip into the large crowd. Kade had bought us lunch from a drive-thru, so we decided to sit outside and eat instead of deal with the stares of our peers, just for today.

Now, we were outside with the large oak tree behind us. This brought back memories of my first day at the school, and the day that he had stolen my diary. I was in this same spot. That girl would have never believed what the hell had happened since then.

My eyes raised to Kade, who was glaring ahead to the building. "Do you?" I asked slowly.

His eyes skipped over to me with curiosity. "Do I what?"

I bit my lip before asking, "Have a reason?" I hoped he understood what I was implying, because that was all I was able to get out right now.

My heartbeat was close to it's peak at the thought of having this conversation with him. It would be hard, and I knew of this. But, I needed answers. I needed to know why I had been the one he tormented.

His gaze cruised my figure. I shielded away at the hard stare, my confidence lowering as the seconds ticked by. By the fixated frustration in his eye, I knew this would be something that I probably would regret knowing, if he would even tell me in the first place.

The wind took shots right at my hair. I sighed as I inhaled it, pushing short strands behind my ear.

Before I could hear of an answer, the bell rang. I mentally cursed as I saw the cafeteria doors swing open, but Kades' lips seemed to shut close.

I quickly turned around as I thought of what to say. Before my words could make an appearance, Kade was walking away from me.

And, away from my questions.