Finding Us| ✔️

Chapter 16

I don't know what hurt more. Him calling me his best friend after what just happened, or hearing the crunch of the dude he punched- who I've decided to call Jared.

"Oh, man," Jared sneers at Kaden, his hand feeling his nose which is bent out of place. "You'll regret that."

Kaden makes a pretend sound of him thinking. "Hm. Don't think so."

I feel very awkward and uncomfortable with Jared's friends watching me with interest- the bad kind. "Kaden, let's just go." I offer to him, looking at him pleadingly because I don't want this to escalate further.

He spares a glance over his shoulder, eyes softening into that charming expression he's always had.

Jared seems to know Kaden's anger is dissipating, because he mocks me in a high pitched voice, "Oh, Kaden, let's just-"

He finishes with an "oomph" sound due to Kaden's punch to the jaw. Blood spews from Jared's nose, and his jaw clenches after he spits out the remaining blood. My stomach rolls nauseously.

Unfortunately, Jared immediately responds with his own punch towards Kaden. At that, I lurch towards my friend, only to be grabbed by Jared's friends. The blonde one holds my arms behind my back. A wince comes from my lips. The other redhead grabs my legs from off the ground, causing my heart to leap in panic.

"Kaden!" I screech when they start dragging me off, away from my best friend. On instinct, I manage to take advantage of the redhead by pulling my legs to my chest- which he didn't secure very well- and thrust my legs back out towards him. My feet hit his face.

They're both back to grabbing me instantly. What can I do? I continue my screaming for Kaden, who seems lost in the thrill.

His honey eyes are filled with cruelty as he throws more and more punches. All Jared can do is attempt to block the attacks, which gets him nowhere since he's already on the ground with Kaden overtop him.

"Suck a dick!" I manage to scream while thrashing. I slam my head back into the guy behind me. But when I wiggle one of my feet free, I kick the other guy, while trying to free the second leg. It's hard to do this though, as I have absolutely no strength to be fighting. My stomach already burns from holding myself off the ground.

The one at my feet falls first, getting a rock to the head. I can barely see at this point, since my glasses have fallen off. The sudden blurriness of the world makes me feel dizzy. Am I really this blind? Goddamn it.

Then the person behind me lets go of me and runs. I breathe a sigh of relief but my heart sinks when I look at Kaden. He seems like a completely different person. I'd never seen him- never expected him to start a fight. He's normally that chill guy-next-door type.

"So much for a nice, normal movie night right?" I manage to say in attempt to lighten the mood.

His burnt-sugar-like eyes slid up to mine. They soften, and his shoulders sag in exhaustion before he lets the rock fall from his hand. "Just our luck."

The way he still seems irritated makes me think against speaking again. So I don't. The last thing I want is to make him angry again, especially after what I just saw.

Kaden paces a few feet in front of me while I sit back in the trunk. The movie is long forgotten as I watch him. His eyes are conflicted, his hands tugging his golden hair with the bright screen behind him.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I ask tentatively. The only response I get is the crickets, which causes a sharp pain in my chest. We were going to kiss. Is that why he's like this? He doesn't know what he wants. It has to be that.

This whole time he's been treating me like I've treated Jaxon.

Jaxon. Wow, I have I really not thought of him at all? I wonder what he's doing- how he's doing. Maybe he's conflicted also, or he's already found someone else to be crazy about. I know that's not it, because I know from experience that it isn't that easy to forget.

"Which part?" Kaden asks suddenly, turning to face me with a strange expression. "Which part do you want to talk about?"

I shrugged, feeling small with his intimidating tone and the anger threatening to reignite in his eyes. "Maybe the fight that just happened? You seem pretty affected by it."

"I don't know," He dodges the topic easily and turns around so his back faces me.

My chest aches in frustration. I say in a pleading tone, "Please, Kaden. I'm begging you, just talk to me, please. You're the most important person in my life and I'm ready to stop this no communication thing."

He doesn't respond, so I keep talking. "We used to tell each other everything. What happened?"

"What happened?" He echos as he spins around swiftly, glaring at me. "Beth happened! Since she came along you've been acting really weird. Like you're jealous or something."

Jealous. My heart sinks down into a pit of fear. When I speak my voice sounds slightly wobbly at first. "Jealous? Well, yeah, of course I'm jealous. That's because you hang out with her more than me. And you don't even see how horrible she is to me."

"If you don't like her, just tell me," He says. "Your approval means everything."

I huff, "Then I'm telling you now that I don't like her- I don't approve. No girl will ever be good enough for you."

"Oh wow thanks for the heads up," Kaden practically snarls. "It's too late now."

While the conversation is serious, I laugh humorlessly. "Too late, huh?"

"Yeah, it is! Because I love her."

An odd feeling tenses my shoulders, my throat tightening too. My whole world seems to crash. He is my world- my everything. I never imagined him saying he loved a girl other than me. My voice is incredibly thick with emotion when I say, "Wha-What? You love her."

"Yeah... I do." His arms fall to his sides. His eyes flick down to the grass, with his golden locks grazing his forehead. Kaden's voice sounds like he's reassuring himself.

Before I can even think more about it, I push myself off the car. It hurts too much to think about it. I feel tears well up in my eyes and it takes everything in my power to keep them from falling. I spare one last look at Kaden, and I wish I didn't. It makes me fall in love with him all over again.

He seems frozen to the spot with the same guilt and confusion in his eyes. I know he's not thinking clearly, but it still hurts so bad. My heart is being stabbed on repeat when I walk away from him, glad he's too stuck in a trance to stop me.

He doesn't love her, I can tell. But it's like he's trying to convince himself that he is, I think to myself. He's just too stupid.

AUTHOR'S NOTE
GREETINGS, Earthlings. I have returned from the deep pit of Instagram edits of Bryan Dechart. Well, not really, I'm still y'know... checking for new posts every hour and following about 700 accounts.

BUT OK. It's been forever since I've written a note. Just a little life update on ME 😂: I am thinking about dying my hair a rose-gold color and... well idk it's just a lovely color!

I really, REALLY hoped you enjoyed!!! I'm planning on updating this book tomorrow also? If I finish the chapter I've started. ANYWHOO

-What do you think is going on with Kaden?
-Are you enjoying the book so far?

MUCH love and I hope you have a FANTASTIC evening/day/night,
🌼PineappleGoddess🌼