Broken souls

- Chapter 15 -

It's been two weeks since the day at the park.
Somehow we have established a routine of Caden meeting me at my house every morning to walk together to school.
Usually we listen to music, sharing new songs that we discover and talk about our favourite ones.
Sometimes we talk about other stuff too.

Caden tells me stories about his siblings or weird people that he meets at his job at the gas station.
It's hilarious, and by the time we walk into class, I have forgotten about all my worries.
No thoughts about my parents, who have returned from their "business trip", no thoughts about the bruises that have now heeled on Caden's face and no thoughts about my dad who screamed at me for two hours upon his return.

At school we still sit together in all of our classes and during lunch I sit with Rosie at a small table in the back of the cafeteria.
To my delight, she took my advice and distanced herself from her old friends.
It has shown a positive effect on her too. She's much more out spoken and not the quiet girl that I first met, who used to cover from other people.

Caden hasn't come back to the cafeteria since that day and I'm wondering where he is spending his lunchtime.
I have been thinking about inviting him to our table, but I know that Rosie is slightly scared of him and I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable.

It's slowly getting colder outside and we are nearing winter. I'm personally not a big fan of winter. I hate the holidays, especially Christmas, since it's only fun if you have a family to celebrate it with. However my parents are going to Switzerland like every year, while I'm going to stay at home and probably watch the grinch.

The only good aspects of winter are hoodies and snow.
I'm hoping we are getting some this year.

Grabbing the books for my next classes, I slam the locker shut and turn around, walking straight into a wall.
Wait. Not a wall.
Someone's chest.
Expecting to see Caden, I take a step back and look up, only to be met with a pair of unfamiliar brown eyes.

"Uhm..Hey?"
"You are Avery right?"
I slowly nod.
He is tall, not as tall as Caden though, with brown curly hair and matching eyes. Straight nose and full lips. He would be considered attractive, but I get a slightly uneasy feeling around him, by the way his eyes are sweeping over me.

"Yes?"
"You are new here right?"
I nod again.
"I'm Jake, captain of the football team"
"That's..nice?"
He hums in return.

"Can I help you somehow?"
At that he grins.
"Actually you can. You are very pretty and I was wondering if you would like to come over to my house sometime"
"Thanks? But I don't know you so I will pass" I reply.

Anxiety is rushing through me and I'm looking for a way out of this situation. Preferably now.

His wide smile slightly falters, annoyance flashing in his eyes.
"We can get to know each other there" he replies, big smile back in place again.

He then takes a step closer, making me take one back in return, but my back hits the locker doors.

"I'm really busy at the moment" I say, hoping he will leave me alone.
"I'm sure we will find some time"
I feel my hands getting clammy and my heart thumps hard against my ribcage.
Luckily before he gets a chance to say another thing, the bell rings, indicating the end of lunchtime.
Students rush into the hallway, giving me the perfect opportunity to slip away from Jake.

"See you around Avery" he yells after me, but I don't turn back around.
My sole focus is on getting out.
I need some fresh air to breathe.
Pushing out of the back doors, I walk to the closest wall and slide down onto the ground.
Letting my head fall down onto my knees, I start counting backwards from 100, hoping to calm myself back down.

I reach 42 when suddenly someone tabs my shoulder and I yelp, nearly jumping three feet into the air.

Caden stands in front of me, regarding me with a mix of concern and amusement.
I must have been so distracted, that I didn't here him coming up to me.

"Are you alright?" He asks. Voice soft and deep.
"Yeah." I reply, adding "I'm okay" when he still looks unconvinced.
"What happened?"
"Someone talked to me and I got uncomfortable. But I'm fine now so don't worry"
"Are you sure? Did they do something—"
"I'm sure" I assure him, giving him what I hope looks like a convincing smile.
"Why aren't you in class?" I ask him, mainly to distract him from asking further questions.
"You weren't there so I got worried and came looking for you" I melt a little underneath his soft gaze and the thought about someone caring for me.
"Well you found me." I smile "Thank you"

Together we head back inside and I really hope I won't cross Jake again, even if my subconscious is telling me otherwise.