October, 2018
"You have horrible taste in music."
Kaden and I were sitting in his main room. While I was on the soft carpet playing with Owen, Kaden sat on the couch reading a book for school. It had been a fight, but he let me play my music.
"I do not!"
"Half of the songs from Twilight are on here, Ave."
"Bad movie, good soundtrack." I argued.
Kaden scoffed. "More like boring soundtrack."
"It's calming."
"Oh no, are you one of those people that listens to, like, 'rain noises' on their free time?" The fear in his voice caused me to burst out laughing.
"Definitely not." I choked out. Kaden raised his eyebrows and smiled.
"Thank god."
"Okay, but seriously. I have great taste in music." Kaden pretty much ignored me, giving me a slight "mhm" while his vision was focused on Wuthering Heights, the book we had been assigned to read in AP lit.
Yeah, I was gonna wait until the day before its due for that one.
I rolled my eyes. Normally I wouldn't have cared, but Kaden's lack of reactions in the past hour irked me.
"Kade." I spoke a little louder, purposefully hinting my voice with annoyance.
No response.
"Kaden!" I yelled, tossing one of the pillows on the couch at him, knocking the book out of his hands.
"Jesus, Ave!" Kaden exclaimed, trying to hide his amusement.
"Sorry, you were just boring me out of my mind."
"I was doing homework." He argued.
"That's not due until November."
"Okay fine, what do you want to do?"
"I don't know, socialize?" I suggested, causing Kaden to groan.
"Here, what about I make you a less horrible playlist." Kaden replied, grabbing his book off the ground and dog-earring it. I glared at him.
"My playlist is good!"
"Avery, there are two things everyone think they have. One being style, and the other being good music taste. Most people have neither." He shrugged.
"Oh, so you just happen to have both?"
"Music, yes. Style, eh." I mean, I didn't know about his music taste, since I haven't really heard the songs he listens too. However, as far as style goes, it wasn't that bad compared to some of the guys at my school who either wear the same thing over and over or colorful Nike shorts everyday.
"Okay, fine. What about we each make each other a playlist?"
"Fine, but no Twilight."
I rolled my eyes. "It's a good soundtrack! But okay, no Twilight."
I took out my phone and started to gather songs that I thought Kaden would like. I avoided my "girlier" music and put in more older alternative, along with a fair amount of the Neighborhood.
Owen had settled on my lap, slightly crushing me but it's worth it. Kaden had turned on the first thing that popped up on Netflix so it wouldn't be completely silent as we focused on making each others playlists.
It wasn't like, an awkward silence. It never was. It was like when we'd do homework, or study. To be fair, there was usually some muttered swears when we did school related stuff, but it was still mostly silent.
After around twenty minutes, I was pretty much done. I had collected forty-seven songs by various bands, most of which peaked in the 90's. I turned to Kaden, who was back to reading Wuthering Heights.
Seriously.
"Kade."
"It's about time you finished, I thought I'd be at least forty by the time you were done." Kaden's voice was overdramatic.
"Whatever." We sent each other the playlists we had made, before Kaden sighed and got up.
"Come on Ave, let's go." I furrowed my eyebrows.
"Where are we going?"
"Or we could not go and I could finish Wuther-"
"No! Let's go." Kaden laughed as he helped me up, leaving Owen sound asleep. I grabbed my coat off of the kitchen chair and slipped it on before following Kaden out the door.
When the front door opened, the brisk October air hit me immediately, causing me to cross my arms in hope to contain body heat.
"You gonna tell me where we're going now?" I asked, grasping the cool handle of Kaden's car.
He shrugged. "I don't actually know where we're going. Anyplace in mind?" I gave him an unamused look, but immediately replaced it when realizing that anything was better than Wuthering Heights.
"Spirit Halloween?" I shrugged, remembering that Halloween was a week away.
"Wow Ave, are you going trick or treating? I mean, it's a little weird, but I don't judge. Just don't talk to strangers and al-" Kaden's voice was mocking, a smirk appearing on his face as he began to pull out of the driveway.
"Ha ha. No, smart ass. I'm going to a party with Kate." Kaden laughed to himself before responding.
"Alright, Spirit it is."
I leaned back into the seat and closed my eyes. What I assumed to be Kaden's playlist played at a medium volume, and as much as I hated to admit it, he was right, he did have good taste in music.
Hah. Like I'm ever telling him that.
"Avery."
"What."
"Open your eyes."
"No."
"Come on! I'm the one driving thirty minutes for your Halloween costume, the least you could do is stay awake."
"Stop whining."
"Not even a 'gee thanks Kaden!' or 'Kaden, you're such a go-" He started, but as usual, I cut him off.
"Kade, if you didn't take me, Kendall would've."
"Then just call Kendall." Kaden didn't sound annoyed, he never did. In fact, he sounded like this conversation was the most amusing thing he'd heard all week.
"Fine. Kade, how will I ever repay you for your kindness?" I sat up, facing Kade even though his focus was steadied on the road.
"You opened your eyes." He smiled and as much as I wanted to keep my annoyance in place, I couldn't help but laugh.
"Are we there yet?" I set my knees on the dashboard due to habit, something that used to annoy Kade, but soon enough he gave in.
"Ave, if we were there we wouldn't be surrounded by trees."
"Good point."
Another ten minutes flew by, Kaden and I had many conversations, all irrelevant and most arguments, but Kade and I never could seriously stay mad at each other, which was something about our friendship that I valued most.
"Now, we're here." Kaden pulled smoothly into the parking lot, which was full probably due to the people like me who waited until the last minute to buy a costume.
Preparing myself for the chilling air, I crossed my arms once again, then stepped into the parking lot.
Kaden however, was wearing a thin black bomber jacket, and didn't even seemed phased by the cold, as usual.
Come on blood, really waiting for you to thicken up so I don't freeze to death every time I step outside.
"Don't worry Ave, you'll get used to it eventually." Kaden remarked as we began to near the entrance.
"I'm beginning to think that's a myth and eventually I'm just gonna freeze to death."
"I promise you won't freeze to death, it's literally forty-two degrees out."
"Well, I wouldn't make promises you can't keep." I immediately pulled the door open and sighed in relief as the warm air hit my skin.
"Fun fact, I actually do not break promises." Kaden spoke 'matter of factly'.
"Everyone says that, and everyone still does." Kaden shook his head, matching my pace as he walked right beside me.
"Not me." Kaden smiled slightly, causing me to smile back.
"Okay, okay. We're here." We approached the women's costumes and my eyebrows furrowed.
"Now it's time to find the one that makes me look the least slutty." I sighed, leading Kaden to burst out laughing.
Walking through the costumes, most of them were either cute and slutty, or just ugly. As I walked through the isles, we had reached the section with all the inflatable costumes. I picked up a t-rex one.
"Gee Ave, I wouldn't wear that if I were you. No one will be able to keep their hands off you." He joked with a laugh.
"For sure. But I don't know, I think the ostrich costume over there might win." I returned his laugh and rolled my eyes in a sarcastic manor before placing the costume back on the rack, continuing to pace.
"Screw this, I'm being a pirate." I exclaimed in frustration, grabbing the slightly revealing pirate costume right besides me.
"I'll just wear leggings. There problem solved, can we go now?" Kaden obviously found this amusing, his face showed it clearly. But he nodded.
"You say that as if you wouldn't wear leggings even if you got that nun costume over there." Kaden turned to face me, I could see that he was purposely messing with me.
Don't give in. Don't give in. Don't give i-
"For the last time, it is not my fault that I lived in California! We have thin blood! We wear winter coats in sixty degree weather!" I exclaimed loudly, throwing my hands in the air. Kaden nearly died he was laughing so hard.
"You make it way to easy Ave." He continued to laugh, but he was sobering up.
I huffed. "Let's just buy this already so I can get away from you." I attempted to sound mad, but I couldn't hide the small smile creeping up on my face and the thought that clouded my mind.
I'm so happy I didn't have to leave this time.
⦠psychotic â¦
"You're still coming to the party, right?" Kate asked nervously.
"Of course, I got my costume yesterday actually." A large smile spread on her face. I didn't understand why she wanted me to come so much, but it still made me feel, more adjusted to Pine Hill. The bell rang before they could continue their conversation, but Kate still added a "Great, see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah." I agreed, before walking out of the room. The hallways were especially crowded today, but it didn't take me long to realize why.
Dawson Johnson, Connor Richards and the one and only Cole Jennings. They each stood on chairs, laughing and wearing varsity jackets.
"Okay guys! Party tomorrow at my place, costumes mandatory." Dawson yelled, cupping his hands around his mouth for effect. Cole laughed along with Connor.
Cole was definitely well known around the school, mostly as your stereotypical jock who hooks up with every girl in sight. Seeing him in school was weird, he was like a completely different person. Less teasing, overly confident, didn't care what others thought because he was convinced he was better than everyone.
One thing I liked most about Cole, was that he wasn't obsessed with his reputation. He'd still talk to Kade and I in the halls and he was basically my only friend in physics.
I mean, it's not like Kaden was irrelevant either. He just kept to himself. Most people just gave him attention due to his looks, which boosted his already too big ego. I saw him reject at least three girls a week, unlike Cole who would probably date them all at once.
Cole met my eye and smirked, jumping off the chair he was standing on.
"Hey Vree, long time no see." He smiled in pride as soon as he realized the sentence has rhymed.
"First of all, Vree? Ave and Vree, you and Kade sure are creative with your nicknames. Second of all, I literally had a shift with you on Saturday. What do you want?" Cole continued to smile as he walked beside me.
"Can you do me a favor?"
"There it is." I added in a sarcastic tone.
"Please?"
"Depends what it is."
"Can you cover for me tomorrow after school? I have to help Dawson set up for the party."
"With Molly and Kendall?"
"Yep."
"When would I get off?"
"We close at five on Halloween."
"Okay, but you owe me." We had reached the door for calculus before Cole realized that his next class was on the other side of the school.
"Definitely. Thanks Vree!" He called back while running down the hall. I rolled my eyes and opened the door, revealing a very displeased Miss. Willis.
Of course, the one time I'm late she's early.
"Sorry I'm late, Miss Willis, I was just helping out a friend and I lost track of time." I felt awkward, thirty sets of eyes focused directly on me while Miss Willis raised an eyebrow as if she didn't believe me.
"You were 'helping' Mr. Jennings?" Her voice was suspicious and annoyed.
"Uh, yeah?"
"Mhm. Like I haven't had this conversation a million times with girls like you. I'm sure you were just 'helping' Cole." The whole class began to murmur after her words, Kaden began laughing, which I could probably hear from a mile away and my jaw most likely dropped to the ground.
"No, I assure you I was just helping him. Are you even aloud to say that to me?" I didn't speak with attitude, more in genuine curiosity. Kaden's laughter was impossible not to hear, especially since he knew better than anyone that Cole and I were not doing what she was implying.
"Just take a seat Avery."
"Gladly." The rest of the class I received weird looks, but they were easy to brush off. Kaden waited for me at the door after the bell, amusement covering his face.
"So, anything you want to tell me Ave?" He teased. I glared at him.
"Screw you."
"You have such a way with words."
"So I've been told." My mood had been lifted by one tiny conversation with Kaden, which I admit scared me a little.
My attachment to Kaden had grown faster than I could explain. I was with him nearly all the time, and I never got tired of his company. He listened to my complain about the littlest stuff, drove me around, even worked with me and never said a word to complain about it.
"Hello, earth to Avery?" Kaden lightly grabbed my arm, causing me to jump.
"Yeah?"
"I'll meet you at my locker after school and give you a ride."
"Okay." Giving him a quick wave, we parted ways and I headed to my next class.
The day dragged on slowly. Each class felt two times longer than it actually was and I was exhausted. When I finally got to Physics, it was actually a relief. My last class of the day.
I took a seat next to Cole, who looked way to amused.
Great, he'd heard about the incident this morning.
"Hey Vree, Mrs. Brooks is running late, wanna go make out?" It was clear that he was joking by his tone and the small laugh he'd let out.
"Fuck off."
"Aw don't be like that." Cole pouted, earning another annoyed eye roll from me.
Luckily for me, Mrs. Brooks had walked in before I could respond, starting the ongoing, dreadful lesson.
Throughout the class, I found myself humming varieties of songs from Kaden's playlist.
Damn.
When class finally came to an end, I searched through my backpack looking for headphones, plugging them in.
Before leaving the class, I looked around to see if Kaden was in sight. Most likely he wouldn't be in this hall unless I basically begged him to meet me here, since his class and locker were on the opposite side of the school.
But you could never be so sure.
I was definitely being overly cautious, but I couldn't give him the satisfaction of finding out I actually enjoyed the playlist he had made me.
Because he was right, like normal. He did have great taste in music.
When I convinced myself the coast was clear, I popped my headphones in my ear, blasting Kaden's playlist.
You know the feeling when you're listening to music and you doze off into your own world, pretty unaware of your surroundings, like you're in a movie.
Well, unfortunately for me, I was in that moment and before I could realize, I had already bumped into someone.
That someone was Kaden.
Immediately, I yanked my headphones out, clicking the small button on them that caused the music to pause.
But it was too late, a small, amused smile had spread upon Kaden's face.
"Whatcha listening too, Ave?" His voice was mocking, and his smile only grew.
"Nothing." I muttered.
"Hm, really? Let me see." He reached for the phone in my hand, but I immediately pulled it away.
"You are definitely listening to my playlist." His voice was full of achievement and it irked me.
"I was not!" I argued, but it was obviously not working.
"Yes you were!" He nudged my shoulder in a teasing manner, and I huffed, harshly shoving him back, causing him to laugh more.
"Dream on, Kade."
Authors Note
hey, long time no update. i don't have a whole lot to say, but next chapter is the halloween chapter! i think it will be two parts sorry :/
anyways, have a great rest of your day!!