Chapter 18 Cadence
Cadence
Every morning before school for the past three days, Zach and I have been sneaking into whatever part of the school we can to see each other.
The janitor’s closet, the familiar spot in the library, the weight room.
This morning, we didn't get to school early enough so we bravely made it off to the theater room before lunch was over and I have to admit, that was the most electrifying yet terrifying moment of my life.
We were hidden behind the curtains of the stage, tangled up in each other while we kissed like we’ve never been kissed before—the way he kisses me really does give me butterflies like nothing else.
And one moment, we’re laughing at how crazy it was that we were tucked away for the few minutes that passing period allowed us, and the next moment we were scrambling for our lives to get out of there.
The lights had powered on, and voices started to fill the auditorium in a loud echo. I can still feel the sheer panic that pummeled through me when I realized that a whole class was about to witness us.
Thankfully, Zach handles situations under pressure like a pro and got us out of there unnoticed. But boy, was I so scared we were going to get caught.
As I look at him now, standing at the front of his Jeep outside my house, I know he’s thinking the same thing as I am.
I can’t wait to be alone with you this weekend.
He grins at me and I have to avert my gaze so that I don’t get caught smiling back at him like a fool. Because I always do. The past three days have been some of the best and now, I can’t wait to see what this camping trip holds for us.
“Do you guys have everything you need?” My mom looks between Bray and I, standing in the foyer with our suitcases packed and our shoes on our feet. The boys have a bye week today so as soon as we got out of school about an hour ago, we came straight home and packed.
Ryen and Zach have everything they need already packed up in Zach’s jeep and all that’s left is for our mom to stop being so worried about making sure we have everything and then we can head out.
“Ma, I told you for the fifth time. We have everything we need.” Brayden throws his head back, feigning annoyance which causes my mom to roll her eyes.
“We’ll call you as soon as we get up there, Mom. But we need to go now or else we’ll be traveling in the dark,” I tell her as I grab my suitcase and lean in to give her a hug.
“Okay, okay. Please check in every morning and every night.” She points her glare at Brayden before he gives her a hug.
“Nothing to worry about, Ma,” he reassures her and I can tell she’s still a little tense, but she’ll be fine. It’s always like this.
My brother and I turn to head out the door, taking our things to the Jeep.
Zach meets us around the back and helps us load the bags in. I can’t help but feel anguished at the fact that I can’t reach out and touch him or kiss him right now, seeing as my brother is mere feet away.
“Shot gun!” Ry shouts as she tears open the front door.
“No way, Sailor Moon. Boys in front,” Brayden tells her as he makes his way toward the passenger door.
“Asshole,” she says to him. “Sailor Moon has blonde hair.”
“Apologies,” he snarks. “Gothic Sailor Moon.”
She glares at him before moving to the back. Zach and I just chuckle as they argue with each other like little kids while we finish loading the bags and then we both head to hop in the car.
As we reach the driver’s side, Zach stops me right before we get to my door and he risks pulling me in. He lowers his mouth to my ear before he whispers, “I can’t wait to kiss you this weekend.” And I swear I can feel the blood inside my veins turn to ice and then melt again.
I gasp, but I have to put on a poker face as he reaches out my door, moving aside to let me in.
I climb in, Bray and Ry still bickering. But I keep my eyes on Zach, smiling at him as I watch him climb into the front. He starts the car, turns on the radio and in no time at all, we’re off.
“Girl, I honestly can say that I am truly such a proud parent watching you sneak around with your childhood crush. You’re like Kim Possible but with no superhero abilities unless down-bad-for-brother's-best-friend counts.”
Ryen twists the marshmallow on her stick, letting it burn in the flames of the firepit as she leans in and whispers to me. I playfully shove her with my elbow, watching as my marshmallow also starts to crisp.
We both break out into a laugh as she pulls her stick back and peels the gooey substance from the tip. I follow her lead and we both shove our mouths full of burnt marshmallow.
“You know,” she starts with her mouth full. I press my hands over my mouth as I finish chewing my food down and I wait for her to finish.
“You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about your little situationship and I’m not gonna lie…” Ryen pauses to add another marshmallow to her stick. “I loathe your brother, but I think you need to tell him.”
And just like that, my mood drops.
“I know,” I groan, tossing my head back. “I know, Ry but I kid you not, the other day I almost did it. I mean, I was so close but he just kept shooting me down.”
“I just worry about the fallout of it all if Bray finds out and he really is a giant asshole who doesn’t approve of it.
Which, I don’t know if you heard me but if he doesn’t approve of it, he’s just a giant asshole.
” Ryen shrugs and I let out a laugh. And while I agree to some extent, I also know that Brayden is just being an overly protective big brother.
He’d never do anything to intentionally hurt me.
I lean into the fold out chair, laying my head back to look up at the sky.
Peaks of trees tunnel in above and lead to a small circle of vast night sky.
I look between the stars, watching as silver twinkling lights glimmer against the midnight.
The cool breeze feathers against my skin as the heat from the fire dances against it, soaking in the calm of nature.
It’s our last night in the mountains; we head back to town sometime in the afternoon tomorrow.
The weekend truly did feel like it kind of flew by, but I guess that’s what happens when you’re laid back with no responsibilities having fun.
There’s at least a few dozen high schoolers up here, a mix of juniors and seniors, and of course a few parental chaperones to oversee everything.
But everyone has just been chill and enjoying the last bit of warm weather.
Last night after we got up here and unpacked, everyone started to build their tents and then broke off to either partake in truth or dare, scary stories around the firepit, or just wandering the woods and hanging out; kind of like what’s going on now.
Earlier today, pretty much everyone hung out by the lake where we blasted the Bluetooth speaker, jumped from the cliffs into the water. Well, I watched. Everyone else jumped from the cliffs.
It was kind of hard watching Zach and not being able to really even talk to him.
Wherever he was, Bray was usually not far behind so it made it impossible for us to attempt to plan to sneak off.
We’d glance at each other every now and again, stolen glances that were sometimes even long enough to make it obvious.
But the anticipation and tension that brewed between us was worth it, especially considering that we spent our morning together.
A memory that causes a smile to pull on my lips.
But now, everyone is just hanging out, eating BBQ and roasting marshmallows.
“Like, what if they fight?”
I lift my head and shoot Ryen a sarcastic look. Her sudden outburst pulls me from the moment of serenity but I can’t help but laugh.
“You’re ridiculous. They wouldn't fight,” I tell her, having the hardest time imagining a circumstance in which my brother and Zach would engage in physical violence with each other.
“Never know.” Ry sticks the new marshmallow in her mouth right as my phone chimes.
“Is that the man of the hour himself?” She teases and I can’t hold back my cheesy grin when I see that it is in fact Zach.
Do you wanna go to the lake with me?
But everyone is at the bonfire.
Exactly.
I lift my head up and look around, realizing that I haven’t seen Zach in a while.
But it’s dark and cold. I’m not trying to get sick.
If you get sick, I’ll take care of you. But we’re not going swimming.
Bring a blanket.
Okay, then what are we doing?
You’ll see. I just wanna spend some more time with you before we leave in the morning.
After the close call we had this morning? I can’t believe we almost got caught.
Was worth the risk.
I recall the memory of Zach climbing into my tent as soon as Ryen left to get breakfast this morning. I nearly shrieked when I saw someone else entering the tent, but then I relaxed when I saw that it was Zach.
I panicked, telling him that we were going to get caught but he zipped the tent behind him and immediately leaned into me.
It was the most forbidden kiss, because voices were present all around us and we both know that Brayden was likely one of them. But no one could see us, and savored the moment for as long as it lasted until-
“Hey, Cadester.” Bray’s voice broke though and Zach and I both froze. He was on top of me and I was flat on my back. We both stared at each other, silent save for the pounding of our hearts while we waited for him to leave.
But he didn’t.
“I need a phone charger so I’m gonna come in,” he said as he started to unzip the tent.
I panicked, frantically pushing Zach off me.
“No! No! I’m naked. I mean, I’m getting dressed!” Zach did everything he could to not laugh at me as I moved around the tent eager to find a damn phone charger.
I tore the blankets up off the floor with no luck but then, Zach reached his hand out.
A phone charger.
I grabbed it, unzipped a small portion of the tent, stuck my hand out to give Bray the charger and when he left, I nearly fainted.
Zach, chuckled as he made his way over to me.