September, 2018
Saying Kaden's house was absolutely undeniably perfect was an understatement. It looked as if it was from a catalog, it had both a rustic and modern feel, if thats even possible.
"Careful Ave, you're gonna attract flies." Kaden laughed, addressing my dropped jaw.
"Sorry, but this is amazing!" I expressed, not even attempting to cover my awe.
"It's my moms pride and joy. When shes home and not stressing over work and worrying about my life, she's finding new ways to make our house look like it's directly out of a catalog."
"Well, she definitely did a good job of it."
"I'll be sure to tell her that." Kaden set his backpack onto a chair in the dining room before motioning for me to join him in the kitchen.
I set my backpack in the same place before following behind him.
"So did you forget to mention that you were loaded?" I joked, sitting on the bar stools of the unbelievably well designed kitchen.
"That's because I'm not, my parents however, make pretty good money." I rolled my eyes at his response while he let out a small laugh.
"Don't be a smart ass, you know what I meant."
"Okay, you're acting as if your family doesn't make money. I've seen where you live, you aren't exactly poor either." He was right, the whole town of Runswick definitely didn't do bad, but I was on the wealthier side. Even with that being said, his house still blew me away.
"Not this type of money." Kaden scoffed as I finished my sentence, sliding me a glass of water across the counter.
"Okay, we're getting off topic. Physics. Why do you think you struggle with it?"
"My brain doesn't do well with science. Any other subject I'm fine, but science? Yeah, thats a big no." It was as if Kaden could tell I really didn't want to do homework, because he began to procrastinate as well.
"Well, it's September 29th, how was your first month in Runswick?"
"Honestly? Surprisingly good. Usually I'm slower to adjust places. I like to think I'm good with people, but I guess it depends on the environment." I bit the inside of my lip - a nervous habit I've had since I was little. Kaden seemed to notice because he tilted his head slightly.
Momentarily, I considered asking Kaden why he was so closed off.
I thought of how the conversation would go in my head, the worst scenario being him kicking me out of his house and never talking to me again (which I knew was highly unlikely.) The best scenario being he tells me. The most likely scenario was him just brushing it off, or not answering me.
Let's just hope I'm over thinking this.
"Hey Kade, do you mind if I ask you something?" I asked, Kaden's face becoming unreadable.
"Sure, what's up?" His tone was casual and calm, which caused my nerves to ease a bit.
"Why don't you like... talk to other people. I mean, I know you talk to them but like, you don't really actually hang out with anyone. I'm really sorry if I'm over stepping, you really don't have to answer." When finishing my sentence, Kaden smiled as if he was amused by the amount of uneasiness in my tone.
"Ave, you can relax. There's not like some deep, complex reason behind it, I just don't really like bringing people into my life. The more people that I let in, the more that can leave and the more I can hurt. It might be a control thing I guessâit's just a lot harder to start thinking not just about how your actions affect yourself and begin to see how they affect those around you. I've gone my whole life really only trusting myself, so when it comes to other people I guess I'm just kinda uneasy." Kaden's answer made sense. One part of me actually kinda envied his ability to block out so much, and part of me felt for him. I think I'd drive myself crazy in his situation.
But one thing didn't click for me.
Why is he wasting his time talking to me?
If he had spent so long building a wall to block out the world, why would he let me break it? Why was he sitting here talking to me, when he had spent all this time relying on only himself.
I didn't know whether to feel honored or guilty.
"Then why are you here, trying to help me with my physics homework? It's just, I'm not really that interesting and-" Thankfully, before I could finish, Kaden cut me off with an amused laugh.
"Are you done?" He asked with his tone the same.
"Yeah, but it still doesn't make sense to me."
"You say it as if I put everybody in the school's name in a hat, than whoever I drew I would start talking too. It's really not that complicated, you just seemed like someone worth knowing."
I smiled at his words before responding. "Really?"
"Yes, really. Now, no more stalling, let's get to work." Kaden laughed as I let out an overdramatic sigh.
So much for procrastinating.
⦠psychotic â¦
"Kendall, why did you call us all here?" Kaden sighed, finally taking a seat at the large booth Molly, Cole, Kendall and I were sitting at.
"Isn't it obvious?"
"No." We all said in unison. Since Helen allows us to stay in the shop after hours, it was currently 10pm.
"I think it's obvious Ken, you just can't get enough of me." Cole spoke in an overly confident voice.
"I didn't even want to invite you! Avery and Kaden made me!" Kendall exclaimed, obviously frustrated. It was true, Cole worked here just as much as the rest of us, therefore he should be here for whatever announcement Kendall decided to make.
"Sure Ken, whatever you tell yourself." Kendall looked like she was about to scream, but Molly shot a glare at both of them, which caused them to calm down.
"We're all here because our friend Avery here, has never been to a hot chocolate hour."
"A what?" I questioned. Molly's eyes lit up at soon as Kendall brought up whatever a hot chocolate hour was.
"Oh! Oh! I'll tell you! Twice a month we all get together here after hours, drink hot chocolate and talk about whatever comes to mind. I swear, it's not as boring as it sounds. I remember at my first H.C.H, I thought it was weird too. But it's actually one of the highlights of the month for me!" I was taken aback by Molly's enthusiasm, you would think I would've gotten used to it by now.
"Sounds great to me, but what if one of us aren't free on the day?" My question caused the whole group to burst out laughing.
"Not an option. One time I said I didn't want to go, then Kendall showed up at house and dragged me here!" Kaden exclaimed like he had just remembered the story. Kendall just had a proud look on her face.
"I did do that."
"So yeah, hot chocolate hours are not optional." Molly continued. As if he read my mind, Cole answered my next question.
"They started because when I started working here, Kendall, Kaden and I could not get along to save our lives. So instead of firing us all, Helen forced us to meet after hours and just talk. Soon enough it became a tradition, with hot chocolate involved."
"So what are we waiting for? Avery do you wanna help make the hot chocolate?" Kendall asked, springing up from the booth.
"Sure." I followed her into the back, where I could still hear faint conversations from the main room.
"Kendall, what's up with you and Cole?" You know, today really was the day for ripping off the bandaid.
"We just have never gotten along. We're like oil and water, fire and ice, DC and Marvel." She shrugged, preparing the machine. As I grabbed the cream, the milk and all the other stuff used in Mugs hot chocolate, I continued to talk.
"You didn't tell me that you and Kaden didn't get along at first."
"It's because we got along just fine, we just didn't click. I did tell you that he wasn't an easy person to get close too. How much time he spends with you is absolutely insane, Cole and Molly think so too. You guys were together before I called you here, weren't you?"
"Yeah, he was helping me with my Physics homework."
"Interesting." Was the only word Kendall used as a response. When we finished with the machines, we turned them off and headed back to the main area.
"Maybe if you were less of an asshole, Kendall would hate you less." I heard Kaden remark in a tone that showed clear annoyance.
"But she makes it too easy."
"Not really, Kendall has gotten mad at me maybe twice." Molly added. Kendall let out a loud, fake cough, making our presence known. All of their heads snapped up, immediately ending their conversation.
When Kendall and I took a seat at the booth once again, my first hot chocolate hour started.
"Alright, who should go first? I veto Avery since its her first time." Molly proclaimed. I gave her a small smile in return.
"I think Kade should go first." I announced, eying Kaden. His face clearly showed that he was taken back by my boldness, but as soon as he met my eyes, it all faded away. He looked amused.
"Okay fine. I started senior year, I have basically all AP classes, and.... that's it." I knew he kept his response purposely short and boring, because he was smirking at me throughout the whole thing.
"Now that she know's how it works, why don't you go Ave?" I gave Kaden an overly polite smile before taking my turn.
"Well, I also started my senior year, I moved the the east coast for the first time, I've only really lived in tropical climates, so that's a change. I got my first job, and now I'm here." After my overly boring response, we all went around talking about the month along with asking random questions.
Kendall and Cole argued most of the time, Kaden and I even made bets on who would lose it first, even though the obvious answer was Kendall.
We were there for far more than an hour. Our conversation seemed never ending.
"Alright guys, I think Ave and I have to go. Her car is still at my house and it's 1am." Kaden spoke as if he read my mind. Kendall let out a disappointed sigh, along with Molly.
"Alright. I guess you can leave." She emphasized in a fake sad tone.
"Kaden's right. It's definitely way too late. I have a 9am shift tomorrow."
"Okay if you guys are leaving then I definitely have to go. Me? Here? Alone with Kendall and Molly? Yeah I'd be found dead." Cole laughed, getting up from the booth.
We all said goodbye to each other before going our separate ways.
"Well, thats what you get for choosing to work at Mugs." Kaden joked.
"Better turn in my resignation."
By the time we got back to Kaden's house, it was close to 2am.
"Thanks for driving." I spoke as I exited his car.
"No problem, I don't have morning shift tomorrow so I thought it would be better." I nodded in response.
"See you on Monday?"
"Yep." We gave each other one more a small smile before I got into my car.
The interior was cold and dark, which soon changed as I started to drive. The roads were empty and eerie, which scared my a little but I immediately brushed it off.
Pulling into my driveway, one thing caught my eye. The lights were on, and I know I turned them off before I went to school.
Shit
I slowly got out if my car, preparing myself for the wrath of my parents, who were supposed to be gone until Tuesday.
Taking a deep breath, I opened my front door, only to see both if my parents, their faces plastered with anger.
"Avery James! What are you doing out at this hour!" My mom yelled, practically jumping off the chair she was sitting in.
"Mom, relax I was ju-" I began, but was quickly cut off.
"Relax?!? Since when do you even stay out this late? Are you drunk?" My dad's voice was harsh and it took me back a bit.
"No, of course I'm not drunk! I was just hanging out with a few friends from work, it's really not a big deal." I tried to stay calm, but it was bothersome that all of a sudden they act like they care about what I do.
"Work? You got a job?"
"I've had a job, for almost a month."
"Where?"
"Mugs Coffee." My parents scoffed, and I started to get frustrated.
"Can I go now?"
"Absolutely not! Which friends were you with? Why didn't you answer your phone?" My mom voice was disproving and betrayed.
Don't yell, don't get mad, stay calm.
"If you really need to know their names, than I was with Kendall, Cole, Molly and Kaden. And are we really to the point where you don't trust me. I'm seventeen not seven, and I think I've proved myself plenty responsible, since you leave me here alone weeks at a time. Now excuse me, I have a shift in the morning."
Authors Note
this chapter is so bad i'm sorry but this was the last september chapter! next chapter will be october and wayyyy more eventful.
i hope this story doesn't bore you out of your mind so far and i swear more will happen really really soon.
have a great rest of your day!!