10. Kayden
KAYDEN
It wasn’t just a kiss.
I scared her. I fucking scared her away.
I should have anticipated that. I don’t know what the hell got into me that day.
Except for the fact that day, I sealed it. My plan. I decided I’m going through with it.
And the day is finally here. Maddy’s first day of college.
Can’t say it’s been easy to keep this a secret.
I can’t wait to see the look on her face.
My little sister’s gonna flip.
She did ask me if I’m heading somewhere too, because of the backpack I had resting on the backseat.
I said yes, but she didn’t ask me anything else, and I’m glad.
It would have ruined the surprise I’d worked so hard for.
The past year has been torture, and I can’t wait to have some fun.
Ever since that fateful day on her birthday, Madelyn’s been ignoring me, pretending nothing happened.
I was fine with it. Didn’t want her to make a big deal out of a kiss.
It wasn’t a love confession or anything.
It was a simple moment of weakness. A taste of what should be mine. Greed for something I don’t deserve.
Convincing our parents to keep quiet wasn’t hard. They liked me hanging around Madelyn, playing the role of overprotective brother. Miranda was delighted I’d chosen this path.
Plus, the convenience of it all, the documents prepared, yadda yadda, it would all be so convenient if we went through with my plan. I asked to keep it quiet in front of Maddy for her own good. Knowing the plan may have made her doubt or change her mind.
The whole ride is quiet. Maddy stares out the window, arms pressed into the backpack she’s been holding hostage over her chest, eyes avoiding me.
She changed her hair a bit. The rose streaks turned dark, and her whole hair is coated in a simple shade of brown now. Her clothes became neutral, too. A pair of black jeans and a white V-neck T-shirt, not wanting to stand out.
But she does to me.
Maybe I should have prepared myself better, too, instead of sticking with my usual T-shirt and sweatpants combo. Or at least trim my hair, instead of keeping it wild. It’s a bit longer than it used to be.
I don’t really give a fuck.
Pretty sure Madelyn isn’t delighted with me being her designated driver, but that’s how things are when you don’t have a driver’s license. And specifically, why I thought it’d be a fucking great idea to do this.
When we reach the campus parking lot, I kill the engine and break the silence. “We’re here.”
The tension between us could be cut with a knife.
“Nervous?” I ask.
Madelyn purses her lips. “A little bit.”
“There’s nothing to be nervous about.”
Truly, nothing, little sister, I’m here to keep an eye on you. You’ll be fine.
“I just wish I knew someone,” she confesses, fumbling with her fingers. “I hate starting over.”
It’s true. Her two best friends, Kira and what’s her name, both headed off to different places. One to law school prep, while the other decided to screw college in the face and go to beauty school.
So, Maddy is by herself. Or that’s what she thinks, at least.
“I get that,” I throw out an attempt at sympathy. It’s the first time in forever she’s opening up to me again, and I’m eating it up. Tell me more, princess. Show me your pain. “That’s the worst.”
She scans me. I’m leaning back, one hand on the steering wheel, the other on the edge of my seat.
I don’t look like I know what I’m talking about at all, but I do.
“I’m an expert at starting over. I’d moved around ten times by the time our parents got together,” I tell her.
“That does suck.”
“Yeah, it does. You’re complaining about starting over once. Imagine starting over…” I say. “And over, and over, and over, and—”
She straightens her hand in front of me. “Okay, got it, pretty boy. We both agree starting over sucks.”
“Yep.” I pause, realizing what she said. “Wait. You think I’m pretty?”
“Shut up.” She pushes my chest backward, her touch electrifying, swimming down to my twitching cock.
“Is that a yes?”
She glares at me, pretty sure she’s trying to shoot lasers through her eyes.
“No comment.” Maddy clicks on the lock and snaps open the door, body already in motion. “Well, I guess this is me. Thanks for driving me here, Kayden.”
“Not a problem.”
She’s out, backpack dangling over one of her shoulders, hair falling to her sides. Beautiful as ever. “See you at—” She digs out her phone and stares at the time. “Four-ish?”
I smirk. “Actually…” I snatch my backpack from the back seat and get out of the car. “You might be seeing me earlier than that.”
She winces, her eyes following my hand holding onto the strap of my backpack. “Are you kidding me?”
“Okay.” I snort. “That’s not the reaction I expected.”
She puts her hands on her hips, staring up at me from the other side of the car. “Are you coming with me?”
I draw myself closer, walking to her. “Yep.”
“Did my mom put you up to this? Hired you as my bodyguard or something? I know you were looking for some extra activity with all that coding becoming monotonous.”
Standing right in front of her now, I lift her chin with my thumb. “Not everything is about you, Little Demon.”
“So you’re not here because of me?”
“No. You asked if I’m heading to college earlier, and I am. I’m starting here, at NJ State, too.”
Her mouth opens, and I’m met with a turmoil of emotions sweeping across her face. From surprise, to shock, to refusal to believe it.
“How did I not know this?”
“I didn’t want you to know. I didn’t want it to affect your decision to attend. But hey…surprise?”
She laughs, shaking her head. “You’re unbelievable.”
“Why’s that? You’re the one who told me to chase my dreams. So I did. You were right. Turns out, some schools don’t mind my shitty grades.”
“Fine. I’m happy for you, Kayden.”
We walk toward the main building.
“So, what are you studying?” she asks.
“You’ll see.”
“Can we stop it with the surprises?” Madelyn nudges me. “I don’t think I can handle another one.”
“I literally have no idea until I see my schedule.” I shrug. “Let’s go get those.”
***
Thirty minutes later, we’re both scanning our list of classes and dealing with the books and administrative information, about to head into our first class.
“You’ve got all the same classes as me?”
“A few.” I smirk. “Education is my minor.”
I had to choose something related to computers as a major, or my father wouldn’t have caved.
Originally, I planned to try college for the first year and focus on playing hockey.
I read somewhere that you don’t have to choose your major right away, and that sounded perfect for me.
I knew there was a team at NJ State, and it seemed like the perfect place, with all my favorite things. Hockey, and my stepsister.
But my father would never understand that, so I had to be smart about it and pretend I’m here to learn. Otherwise, he would be fine with me studying coding until the day I die.
“God.” Maddy is flustered, her eyebrows crunched as she stares at the paper with her classes. “This is going to be high school all over, isn’t it?”
“Why?”
“Oh, so many things.”
“Like what?”
“I’ll have to put myself out there and try to make friends.”
“You can do that. What else?”
“I’ll have to deal with you again.”
“You can handle me.” I smile at the double-meaning behind my words. I can’t wait until my little demon has to really handle me.
She has no idea what I have in store for her. Once I fixate on something, I’ll stop at nothing until I get it. And right now, Maddy is my fixation. The fuel I want injected into my veins. The pretty little toy I’m determined to play with.
“Can I?” She gnaws at her lip.
An image flashes through my mind, one that isn’t appropriate. One that I shouldn’t think about. But I can’t help it. I’ve always loved playing with fire.
“School makes you mean.”
“I’m not mean.” I’m worse.
“You’re evil when you want to be.”
“That, I can’t deny. But you’re not far behind.”
A girl with long, dirty blonde hair pushes past us, cementing herself between us. She’s fumbling with the same paper we’re holding, wearing a tiny tank top and a miniskirt, an outfit that leaves little to the imagination.
“Excuse me, are you new too?” She glances back and forth between Maddy and me. A smile coats her lips as she eyes me.
Maddy nods. “I’m Maddy.”
“Jordan.” She extends an awkward hand towards Maddy. “Who’s he?”
“That’d be my brother—”
“Step.”
“Stepbrother.” She raises an eyebrow. “Kayden.”
Jordan arranges a streak of hair behind her ear, as if her rack isn’t dragging enough of my attention, a smile cemented on those way-too-pink lips. “Nice to meet you, Kayden.”
“Sure.” I nod her way, not attempting to make any more conversation, and pushing both my hands into my pockets.
“He’s an asshole, don’t mind him.”
Of course, Maddy hurries to paint me in a bad light.
I glare at her and drag a line across my neck with my fingers.
I know, very childish of me, but she started it.
And she was the one talking about making friends. Hell, she manifested this one.
“Do you want to look for our classes together? I’m terrible with directions,” Jordan says. “I bet I’ll get lost if I do this alone, and I’d much rather not. This campus is huge.”
“W-what are you majoring in?”
“Education. I’m going to be a teacher. I loooove kids.” Jordan hypes herself up, her tits bouncing up and down as she talks.
Maddy gasps. “No way! Me too. I’m…studying the same.”
“I’m calling this fate then. We’re going to be besties.”
Maddy attempts a smile, curling up one side of her lips.
Always so shy, always so intriguing.
Jordan hooks an arm with Maddy. “Let’s go.”
They don’t ask me anything, ignoring the shit out of me.
I scoff and decide to tag along as the girls start walking.
I have no problem being a shadow. They won’t even notice I’m here.
They stare at each other’s papers, exchanging them as they walk.
“Oh! We’ve got the same classes! Yay!”
“Except this one,” Maddy points out. “Spanish.”
“Right,” Jordan says. “I’m minoring in Spanish. I thought it’d be fun to study a language on the side.”
Unlike Jordan and me, Maddy, is putting her all into teaching, choosing only one major.
“Cool,” Maddy says as we come across a tall building that seems to be our first stop for the day.
Orientation.
I sigh as I catch a glimpse of the other people our age, venturing into a new chapter of their lives.
My stomach churns. I’m trying to figure out if it’s with nerves or excitement.
One thing I’m sure of, though? I’m going to enjoy the hell out of this.
Maybe Maddy isn’t so wrong after all.
There’s a hunger within me. One that strives for chaos, and being here, in this place with all these people, with her, it itches. And I may just scratch it.