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"You've got to know the rules before you can break 'em. Otherwise, it's no fun." — Sonny Crockett in Miami Vice
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Chapter 18
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Raven appeared behind me in the mirror I was staring into. "Kimberly, just calm down." Her hands ran up and down the lengths of my arms.

I jerked around towards her, my nerves skyrocketing. "How can you tell me to calm down? I'm about to go on a date." I hoped it sounded as dramatic as I needed it to.

"So?"

I threw my arms up with a groan. "With Kade," I emphasized.

She laughed, and fell back on my bed. "Hey, I was calm on the date with Levi, wasn't I? Now it's your turn."

I never told Raven that I knew about her and Levi's plan. Kade and I decided that it would be smarter to lie to the two schemers. After a couple weeks, we would tell them that Kade and I decided we would be better off as friends. Then, they would voluntarily drop their plan and forget about forcing us to talk to one another.

I landed on the bed next to her, staring up at the cracks in my ceiling. I knew that our 'date' was fake, yet I still felt on the edge about being with Kade again. I had no self control around him, and I hated feeling that way.

I felt Raven shift until she towered over me with a grin. "So, tell me how this all went down again?"

I rolled my eyes at her. "I already told you the same story five times now."

"I know, but it's too cute," she gushed.

Before I left Kade, we planned everything out perfectly to trick our friends. We would tell the both of them that I had gotten scared and went to Kade's car, then we talked and he asked me out. The lie was quick and simple, and hopefully foolproof.

I huffed then began my sixth telling of the lie, "I thought I heard someone getting near the car, so I hopped out and ran over to Kade's. And after that, he helped me feel better and next thing I know, he was asking me out."

I jumped in surprise when she leaped from the bed. Her hands were clasped together as she bounced. "I can't wait until you two get married, buy a three story house and—"

I cut her hopes off with words of my own, "Okay, way too far, Raven." Her delusions might end up getting my own up.

She nodded, tucking strands of hair being her ear. "I'm sorry, I just think you two are meant to be, you know?" She plopped back down on the bed.

This girl and her fantasies.

"Yeah, sure Raven," I said to finish this.

Her eyes scanned the sweatpants and sweatshirt I was wearing, and a look of discontent followed once they landed on my old converse. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Nothing really," I told her as I scanned my appearance. "I just want to be comfortable."

I put my brown hair up into a low ponytail, and left my face bare. I saw nothing wrong with my outfit like she did. There was no way that I was going to purposely try and impress a guy who hated me. Hot or not.

"I hate how you're still hot in a sweatshirt and sweatpants," she told me with a frown.

I looked back at her, and my eyes widened in shock when I saw the seriousness. Had she seen herself in the mirror lately?

"Are you kidding me?" I asked in disbelief, my voice pitched.

Raven outstretched her arms and placed them behind her head. "Nope, and if Kade says any differently then we'll just cripple him for life, okay?" Her expression was a little too serious.

I raised my brow at her suggestion. Yes, she was sort of insane and scared me with the things she said, but I still loved her.

"Okay, yeah," I agreed with a nod. "I'm in."

She continued on about what she would do to Kade if he harmed me, and by the time she was finished I feared for Kade's life. God only knows what the girl would do if I came back crying tonight.

"So, does your dad know about your date?" she asked, bumping into my shoulder.

I nodded as a response. I knew better than to not tell my father about a date. He seemed fine if I were.

I hopped up from the bed and pulled open the door only to bump into Ryland's chest.

His hooded eyes glared down at me. I was nearly taken aback as he huffed, "Your date is here." I noted the traces of anger and frustration.

He was angry that I was going on a date with another guy. He had given Carter a chance, and that was because I was new and needed friends. But now, he didn't want me to date anyone. I didn't tell him the entire story, just enough to confirm that Carter was entirely out of the picture.

I stood on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "Lighten up, Ryland," I told him.

Half grown stubble grazed my face gently. I smiled at the familiar feeling of him.

I pushed past him to walk down the hallway. Once I was closer to the front door, my ears zoned into the conversation.

"How are you and your mother, son?" I heard my dad ask.

"We're doing fine," Kade answered before I heard him clear his throat. "Thank you for asking, sir."

Once I walked to the doorway, their conversation halted. Kade's eyes roamed over my body, and he smirked at my appearance.

I rolled my eyes behind my father, before he turned around.

It seemed that he was surprised by my sweatpants as well as everyone else in the room. But, he continued with the support.

The corners of his eyes crinkled as he offered a smile. "You look beautiful, Kim."

I knew he was lying, but hugged him either way. "Thank you, dad."

He turned back around to face Kade before I saw him grasp his shoulder. "You know, I've trusted you since you were a kid, and I trust you with my daughter too. Do good by her, boy."

My brows furrowed once I heard my dad. What was he talking about? I never met Kade until we moved here.

"I will. I'll have her home at a decent time, sir. it was nice to see you again," Kade answered to my father, though his eyes were on me.

Raven walked up next to me, and concentrated on Kade with squinted eyes. "Now you listen to me, Ryder. If you don't treat her right tonight, then I won't be able to treat your dead body right either, got it? I've seen Criminal Minds."

Kade seemed unfazed by her threat, though my eyes were bulging out of my head. If someone were to put my body over a unlit fire place, they'd have enough heat for a year.

To others, the sly grin across his lips looked sincere, respectful. But, I knew better. "I promise to be an amazing date," he reassured Raven.

Those words hit me without a warning, though I knew they weren't directed at me. I knew that this date was fake, I did. It was only a pawn to get my diary back. But, something about the words that left his mouth swung at me too hard.

"He says that now."

I turned, wide-eyed at my brother. He mumbled the words, but if I heard it, that meant that everyone else in the room did too.

I wanted to shrink back into the wall. Could I ever get away without getting embarrassed in the process?

"Ryland, really?" I murmured as he strode over to us.

The annoyance was clearly evident on his face. He crossed his arms over his big chest while he spoke,"Well I'm just saying. You can't teach a old dog new tricks."

I looked toward the doorway to see Kade's eyes flash with a great amount of anger before returning back to normal. He said nothing, though I could tell he wanted to by the glare sent Ryland's way.

I hurried to the door. I needed to get away from this, even if I were led into a sociopaths lair. "Okay, well we're heading out," I told them all the while pushing Kade out of the doorway.

Quickly, I shut the door behind me. I could finally breathe.

Though, when my eyes returned back to Kade's handsome face, my breath was stolen from me all over again. He wore a black sleeveless shirt that stretched across his upper body as well as black shorts. His dark ink extended down the long length of his muscular arms. I couldn't help but stare at him a moment longer than I should have. It seemed that every time I saw him, he only grew more attractive.

"Why are you staring at me?"

I snapped out of the trance his looks encaged me in, and looked up to curious brown eyes.

Because you're a walking sin. "I'm not."

Underneath his hard gaze, I didn't have enough time to form a good enough lie. Instead, I stayed silent.

"Did it work?" he asked once we were inside of his warm car.

I glanced at him, my mind still wrecked. "Did what work?"

The car woke to life, before he pulled off from my house. "The lie."

Oh. "Yes, it worked. How about you?"

He nodded, and in the midst of silence, I heard the roar of his engine. I glanced to the catch of glimpse of the number 72 even though we were in a 35. His expression remained neutral, as if he did this every day.

I clasped onto the seatbelt placed around my body for dear life as he gradually picked up speed. "Kade, slow down!"

He chuckled, but made no effort to do so. I saw his leg dip lower as the car roared and jerked forward.

My stomach stomach flipped once the car barely missed the the Honda next to us. My head swam with the different outcomes that could have occurred if we had crashed into that car. Then, the outcomes that would happen if he continued at this rate.

"Can you not slow down?" I yelled at a very relaxed Kade.

He shook his head as his fingers whitened around the steering wheel. Yep, he was insane. "Can you not live a little bit?" he yelled in return with a chuckle. I could barely hear him over the engine.

Before I could say anything, he spoke again,"Hell if I know why that Raven chick is friends with a bore like you."

"And God only knows why you have as many friends as you do with that kind of attitude," I responded to both my surprise and his.

Did I just snap back at Kade Ryder?

I guess Raven influenced me more than I thought. That was a good thing, or at least I thought it was.

Kade lips twitched as if he wanted to smile, though he guarded it with a scowl. I caught a glimpse of it before every hint died.

I glanced outside the window though it was hard to grasp anything. I didn't know the town too well but I knew I'd never been here. "Where are we going?" I asked him after minutes of silence.

"My house."

I pasted a smile marked with sarcasm onto my face. "Wow, such a fantastic date idea, Kade." My heart thumped with excitement at my argument.

He shrugged then flicked the wheel so hard, my body moved with it. "I told you not to except roses and fancy restaurants, did I not?"

I held a roll of my eyes, but said nothing. He was right, he did establish that so I didn't know why I expected more from him anyway.

You expect more, you get less.

My mother embedded those six words into my head by the time I could talk. I knew they weren't going anywhere, no matter how far I ran.

I nearly screamed with victory once I felt the car slow to a stop. A part of me wanted to fall to the pavement in triumph but stopped myself from doing so. I didn't want to give him anymore ammunition than he already had.

We both got out of his car. My legs were wobbly as I slammed his door shut. I tilted my head in confusion when I saw the red car in his opened garage.

I glanced at Kade who had a neutral expression. "I know this is a fake date, but inviting someone else?"

Kade jingled his keys as he locked the car. "My bad, love. I thought you'd be interested in a threesome or some shit."

He rolled his eyes at me then began to the door. "Come on."

My anger for him grew, but I followed behind his steps. The quicker I got this out of the way, the better.

The door was already unlocked. He pushed it open, and inside was a woman.

Her back was faced to us. "Kade, I'm glad you're home! If you could help me—" Her words came to a halt once she turned around and saw me - a stranger - standing in her home.

The woman sighed, and massaged her temples with two perfectly manicured hands. "Kade, I already warned you about bringing different girls here without my permission."

Kade's arms went to cross over his chest as he worked his jaw. "I don't need your permission for anything I do."

I nearly fell back at his tone, and it wasn't even directed at me. My father would never tolerate it.

I scanned over his mother with slightly widened eyes. I could easily pair the resemblance between the two.

Her pale skin was smooth without blemish. She had dark hair the shade of a midnight sky, which reached the very edge of her even shoulders. She was a small, petite woman, standing a couple feet below her son. Her light brown eyes matched his as well. I noticed that there was something slightly different in their eyes though. Her own told tales of pain, yet hope and happiness for the future. Meanwhile, her son's told nightmares full of hatred for the world, along with unexplainable anger. A hint of psychopath as well.

If you looked at the two, you could tell they were mother and son. Both agreed in the looks department, but it seemed that they were entirely different in personalities. I hasn't even known the woman long enough, but it was an easy observation.

His mom sighed, though she maintained a smile toward me.

Her purse hung on her shoulder as she stepped closer. "I'm Susie Ryder," she introduced herself while offering a hand to shake mine.

Slowly, I placed my hand in hers. Her wrist alone - cased with different jewelry - looked far more elegant then my plain one.

Her eyes met mine in apology. "I am terribly sorry for my rude introduction, but my son didn't mention to me that he was inviting someone over," she offered, and I smiled in return.

Kade decided to interject again. "It's none of your business, Susie, so if you don't mind—"

I cut off Kade before he could say anything else that would hurt her. "I'm Kimberly Wrighton, it's so nice to meet you. I'm sorry if I intruded." I didn't know what it was, but I knew this woman had been through enough. An asshole of a son shouldn't be added to the list.

I tried not to make it obvious as I admired her beauty. She wore a black suit that tailored to her figure perfectly. In her business attire, I suddenly felt disgusting next to her in my sweatpants and sweatshirt.

Physical beauty was surely one thing her and her son had in common.

"You're so beautiful," I blurted out double checking it through my brain.

My eyes widened at my own words. I just met his mother, and I already embarrassed myself. I should have ran away earlier.

She looked taken aback for a minute, but a grin slowly began to grow on her flawless face.

Susie looked at Kade, her face glowing with appreciation. "I like her."

Kade was on his phone, completely oblivious to the rest of us. Finally, he sighed before responding,"Does it look like I give two fucks who you do and don't like?" His chuckle added to the disrespect as he shook his head.

I frowned at Kade, but he was too busy typing something on his phone. I couldn't figure out why he was being so mean to such a sweet woman. But, then again it was Kade.

His mom frowned as well, and a look of sadness washed across her expression. Once she caught my eyes on her, she soon lightened up.

"Thank you Kimberly, for the compliment," she cleared her throat as she hauled her purse higher. "I wish I could stay longer—"

I heard a scoff from beside me. "Don't feed her bullshit, Susie. Now, could you please go ahead and get the hell out?"

Susie's eyes squeezed shit a moment longer, and she released a shaky path of air. "I guess that's my cue to leave." Her voice cracked as she straighter her suit down.

She tried to keep her composure while walking to the door, but I was far from oblivious when it came to pain. I could tell that she was breaking every time Kade disrespected her.

Before his mother stepped out of the door, she turned around and met my eyes with a smile. "There is food in the kitchen. It was nice to meet you Kimberly, dear."

I smiled in return. "It was nice to meet you too."

She looked to her son, her red lips lifting in a struggling smile. "I'll text you when my plane lands. I love you, Kade."

He sat there, his eyes still on his phone. I noticed his jaw clench under her gaze, though he said nothing to her in response.

Well, okay.

His mother's face fell, and she quickly shut the door behind her. I stared at the spot she was once in, before looking at Kade.

He caught my stare moments later. With a snappy tone, "What?"

"Why were you so rude to her?" I asked to him.

"Not that it's any of your business, but," His eyes remained on the small electronic in his hands. "Because she's a bitch."

If looks could kill, then he would have been deep in the ground by now. I hated that he had no idea how lucky he was. He had a big house, all of his friends, and a mother who loved him. And, he didn't appreciate any of it.

We sat in silence for what seemed like forever. He directed all of his focus on the phone, and ignored my presence. Not even a glance.

Without thinking, I snatched the phone from his hands. Once I got my hands on it, I had no idea what to do after that.

He looked at me, his eyes cemented into a angry stare. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

My fingers trembled around the vibrating phone. "What's wrong with you?" I shot in return.

I stood on two legs, trying to keep my annoyance under wraps. I felt his eyes follow after me before chuckling,"Shit. Don't tell me..." he paused to shake his head. "This is fake, Kimberly so quit being so sensitive. It's not real, love."

My chest sucked in. I didn't know why his response hit as hard as they did.

Before I could think otherwise, I was walking to his front door. If he was going to act this way for the remainder of the night, then I was going home.  I could be in my own domain rather than this bullshit.

Fuck the plan, and fuck him.

"Where do you think you're going?" I heard Kade shout from behind me.

I ignored his angry tone, and continued toward the exit.

"Don't ignore me."

I did exactly that as I pulled the door open.

Until, someone pulled me back inside. His hand remained on my wrist until he jerked me around.

I glared at Kade's annoyed face, then directed my gaze above his head. I was too angry to look at him because I knew that I didn't deserve this awful treatment from him. I didn't deserve any of this. I had suffered terrible treatment half of my time here on earth, and I wasn't going back to it now. Especially from a guy like Kade.

Once he realized I was committed to my silence, he snapped, "Can't you just sit there and do what you're told?"

"I'm not a dog." My anger multiplied as I yanked away from him. "Can you not be a complete asshole, and treat people like shit when they try to actually be nice to you?" I snapped back at him.

When Kade said nothing, I pushed him away from me entirely. It was strange how a couple of days ago, I craved his nearness. But, right now, it was only setting me off.

I could feel the anger dousing my entire being. All I saw was red. I turned back around toward him as it finally set in stone.

"You know what, Kade?" I paused then with every surge of rage I could muster, I said, "Fuck you! You've done nothing but treat me like shit every since I came here! And, for no goddamned reason.

"You have my diary, but you need to know that I'm not as scared as you think. I'm not a puppet, Kade. I'm not the girl you can play with then flick off when you're finished." My chest heaved before I here to courage to finish. This could change the course of everything entirely, but I was finished with his shit. "So, you know what? Tell my secrets! Tell everyone about my mother, about my brothers. Go ahead and do it! Because, I don't care anymore! I genuinely don't give a shit, okay? And? if leaving shows you that, then fuck you." By the end of my rant, I was far too distraught to continue. My vision blurred before I turned away. He didn't deserve to see me break.

I was bluffing entirely that I didn't care, but he didn't need to know that. I didn't want him to tell my secrets, that was the last thing I wanted. But, if all of that humiliation and shame meant leaving this house, and leaving him? I'd suffer through it.

I began toward the open door again before I heard his outburst from behind me.

"What...What can I do to make you stay?"

My foot was halfway out the door when I heard him. I stayed in my spot, despite the urge to turn back.

His voice sounded desperate, so I was guessing he was being a bit sincere. But, I didn't trust him entirely, it was impossible to. "I'm not playing your games, Kade."

"I told you I'd never lie."

I stared at the street ahead of me before I slammed my eyes shut. "You have to get off of your phone."

"Anything else?" I heard him ask in a soft tone. I wasn't sure if my ears were playing tricks on me, but I thought I heard his footsteps from behind me.

I turned to him, my eyes trained to his desperate face. "You can't be an asshole to me." The rage still burned through my veins, but I was beginning to feel it burn out.

His head dropped, before he lifted it. His jaw worked as he attempted to fight a smile. "That's going to be difficult as hell, love." I cursed my heart for skipping at the nickname.

I bit my lip to prevent a smile from surfacing. I knew it didn't belong. I hadn't seen the tolerant Kade for a while. Seeing it caused a small flicker of hope to beam inside of me.

"I'll try to make it hard for you," I half-heartedly joked.

His pink lips separated to speak. Before he could get the words out, my stomach interrupted with a loud growl.

Kade's eyes remained on mine, though his hand motioned to the kitchen.

I felt awkward underneath his hard stare, but I tried to keep my reaction as normal as possible. We were going to be here for a while, so the last thing I wanted was to argue.

"Just grab whatever hits your interest and I'll just start cooking, okay?" he said to me.

I nodded, peering into the refrigerator.

Finally, I turned to him. "How about a pizza?"

He went to grab his phone again,"Okay, I'll just order one—"

I laughed as I waved him off. "No, I meant let's make a pizza."

He frowned, his expression full of confusion. "What in the hell are you talking about?"

I peered into the fridge again. "Cmon, it's easy," I told him while reaching for the ingredients.

He remained in his spot, still confused.

I inhaled in a deep breath, before reaching toward him. My fingers lightly grabbed him by the hand, and pulled him closer.

Let's see how this goes.