Chapter 13: Pink (Venus's POV)

As we entered the house, my dad went right into my parents' room. Clarissa was sleepy and went on upstairs as well. 

"Mom." 

She stopped, turning to face me. 

I walked over to her. "Can I ask you something?" 

"Of course, honey," she smiled. 

I hesitated because I didn't want her to tell my dad. "Do you really hate Mrs. Juniper?" I asked. 

She stared at me for a minute. "Juniper Locke?" she clarified and I nodded in response. "Why are you suddenly asking me this?" 

"I um, I was there in the bathroom when you came inside to touch up with her. I heard you two talking and laughing. It just confused me, that's all," I explained, half lying. I mean, I wasn't in there alone.

She sighed, slowly shaking her head. "I don't hate her. Not one bit. We're friends," she admitted. 

My mouth fell open. "You're what?" I sputtered. 

"Don't tell your father, Venus," she said warningly. 

"I won't. Promise," I said quickly. 

"Look, when I married your father, this feud between us and the Lockes was already there. But I never knew how serious it was until a few months into the marriage. So I learned quickly that it would be best for me to do as I was told and stay away from them. And anyhow, nobody knows that we're friends." 

I nodded in understanding. 

"But that doesn't mean you and Clarissa are excused to do the same. You both are still expected to stay away from the Locke boys." 

"Of course," I shrugged. "I was just a little confused so I asked you. Anyway, goodnight," I smiled. 

She went into her room and I went up to mine. 

I fell into thought about what I had somewhat agreed to with Caden tonight. I'm starting to doubt it now. I want it. I want to know him a little bit better and there's no denying, he's a fine-looking guy. The finest I've seen. It can't go wrong. 

And as for my virginity, it is important to me but not so important that I hold onto it until marriage. He was right. Having sex with someone doesn't make me any less dignified. Nobody put my dignity in my vagina. Fair enough. 

When and if I want to have sex with him, I will. But that's not my concern right now. My first concern is, can we even do this without getting caught? And my second concern is, how far can he go to convince me without getting caught? Because I don't want him to get in trouble because of me. 

I sighed and started getting ready for bed. This can wait. 

➵ ➵ ➵ ➵ ➵

Wednesday. I made it wait until Wednesday. It's Wednesday today. 

Caden didn't act on his words and we didn't talk to each other apart from taunting each other and annoying each other in some classes. So, I automatically assumed that it was forgotten about and we were moving on. Boy was I wrong. 

I walked into my first period, Math. I stopped, looking at my seat. 

Caden normally sits behind me in this class but today he's sitting right beside me. 

I blinked multiple times. I slowly walked over, taking my seat as some students walked in, looking at Caden weirdly. I sat down, putting my bag on the floor and taking out my notebook. I stood up, trying to ignore all the eyes on me and went to the cabinet at the front of the room, and pulled out a textbook for myself to use. I sat back down in my seat as the last bunch of the class entered, followed by our teacher, Mrs. Sebastian. 

"Page one-ninety, everybody. Questions fifteen to forty." 

I opened the textbook, grabbing my calculator from my bag, and started working on the questions. 

I was done with the first five when the teacher called my name. "Solve the first one on the board, please." 

I always hate doing this because I'm not the best at math but I stood up and grabbed the marker from her anyway. I referred to my notebook and copied my work out onto the board. 

She nodded, "That's correct. I'll call the next person in two minutes." 

I nearly sighed in relief but just went back to my seat. I was staring at the question in confusion when a leg nudged mine. I glanced up at the teacher before turning to Carden. I arched a brow. 

He tore a piece of paper from the back of his notebook, which he surprisingly brought, and scribbled something down before giving it to me. I read the note. 

My socks match your dress ;) 

I glanced down at his shoes, noticing the pink socks peeking out. I pulled my lips into a thin line, trying not to smile. But he clearly couldn't hold it in. He let out a chuckle, miserably covering it up with a fake cough. 

"Something wrong, Prince Caden?" Mrs. Sebastian asked. 

He shook his head quickly. "No, sorry." 

And everyone's watching us again. I wrote down on the other side of the note: 

On Wednesdays, we wear pink. 

I wanted to see if he would get it. If he's seen the movie. I wanted to know if Carden Locke has watched Mean Girls. I slid it on his desk without anyone noticing. 

He read it and then looked at me, rolling his eyes. He wrote: 

Haha. 

I folded up the note and stuffed it into my bag so no one would find it and read it. I had to remind myself for a second that if we do sleep together, it's casual. This is going to be casual sex for him and he's already made that fairly clear. I need to remember that. I need to remember that even if it's my first, that doesn't matter. 

I can do casual. 

"Ms. Princeton." 

I looked up. 

"You're up again." 

I glanced at the board. "Um, I haven't done that one yet." 

"Prince Caden," she said. 

He stood up, leaving his notebook and calculator behind. He solved the question in five seconds, left the marker, and then sat back down. Even Mrs. Sebastian took longer than him to solve and confirm his answer. He turned to me after he sat down and threw me a wink. 

I rolled my eyes and turned my attention to my paper. 

The class would be over in five minutes. I was finishing up my questions, hoping not to have them as extra homework when Caden dropped his pen beside me. I would have picked it up for him because it was closer to me than him. But then I remember he's Caden Locke. And I remember what my mother told me. 

I still have to stay away from him. At least until he convinces me otherwise. 

He leaned down to pick it up, trailing his finger up my leg as he brought his hand up. I stiffened when he touched my skin and goosebumps followed his finger up. He sighed in content when he came back up, twirling the pen in his hand. I glanced at him just as the bell rang, catching his smirk. I packed up quickly and stood up to leave as he stood up behind me. 

The class crowded at the door, getting out in small numbers and he was right behind me, pressing into me. He moved even closer, maybe he was being pushed. One of his hands faintly grabbed my wrist and pulled me back just a little. I held my breath while he trailed one finger up the inside of my arm. I could sense his smirk. 

When the person in front of me moved and I had enough space, I rushed out of there, glancing back at him, catching the wink he threw my way before walking the other way. I shook my head to myself. I have to at least resist a little bit. If I don't, then where's the fun in that? 

I tried ignoring Caden as best as I could and then finally, lunch rolled around. Remy and I grabbed a spot and we sat there talking like we do every single day. I told her about the party from Saturday a little more, obviously leaving out every Caden-detail. 

"Look out!" 

I ducked immediately without even bothering to look where the ball was. I glared up at the guys, noticing Nate looking this way. Caden was playing too. He gave Nate a push and said something to him while someone else asked me to get the ball. I looked over and saw it rolling under the bleachers. I clicked my tongue in frustration but stood up nonetheless, going to grab it. 

I grabbed the ball, turning to leave, and saw Caden jogging over and then crouching to get under the bleachers. 

Oh, dear. 

"Here." I held it out for him to take, praying he would just take it and leave me alone. I've been thinking more and more of what my mom said. 

He took it from me and tossed it way behind me. "Say you couldn't find it," he shrugged. 

"Why?" I asked slowly, watching him warily. 

"Because I won't let you go if you don't do as I say," he smirked. "Ask me what I want," he nodded. 

I asked him hesitantly, "What do you want?" 

"And tell me you have no guesses." 

I think I do. 

"I don't know, what do you want?" I repeated. 

He stepped closer, leaning down until we were nose to nose. "You." 

Oxygen left my body then and there. "Aren't they waiting on the ball?" I asked. 

He's so amused right now, it makes me want to punch his pretty face. "I'm just making sure you know that it's you that I want. And now that I want it, I won't stop till I get it. And anyway, what could I possibly do to you under the bleachers?" 

"A lot, I bet," I mumbled. 

"Well, that's true," he shrugged. He moved out of my way and I headed to leave while he went to get the ball. "By the way!" 

I spun around.

"You look cute in pink," he grinned.

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Chapter 13

next chapter: plan