Chapter Six
LEXI
The last few weeks have been hell. Hell.
I didn’t think it was possible, but once again, he’s ruined my life.
Walking around campus, It seemed I was now a social pariah whom no one bothered to talk to or even think of dating.
The guy who I’d been flirting with in chem class, ghosted me.
When I sat down with the guys from my study group, they packed up and left.
Rumour had it that Kayden was behind all of it.
According to that rumor, no male was to pay me any attention now that I was becoming his stepsister.
Everyone on campus seemed to know about my fucked up situation since Kayden announced it Saturday night.
I gripped my backpack, my teeth grinding together, avoiding prying eyes as I made my way to the library.
Everyone whispered around me, and tears briefly filled my eyes as I tried my best to ignore them.
I still had a little bit of a walk, and my phone rang, giving me a tiny distraction from the tedious thoughts surrounding me.
I answered on the second ring and instantly regretted it. “What you did this weekend was rude and extremely uncalled for. You didn’t even say goodbye? What the hell, Alexis? You embarrassed me.”
A sigh escaped my lips, my stomach twisting in knots.
“You kind of threw a lot at me. I wasn’t expecting him, of all people.
You knew exactly who his son was and didn’t even think to stop it?
You knew they were best friends! You were there when he used to come over to the house and torment me.
How on earth do you think I would be okay with that? ”
There was a groan on the other side, “That was a long time ago. Kayden is a completely different person now.”
I scoffed, “Different person, my ass. He’s already threatened me, left me on the side of the road, and not to mention, scared off everyone on campus because of our situation.
I came here because this is where Jake and I planned to go, but I’m honestly thinking about transferring for junior year.
I don’t think I can handle another year of this... torture.”
She sighed, “Give it some time, and we will figure things out. I don’t need you disappearing on me. I need you.”
Need me? What was she smoking? She never admitted to needing me. For anything.
“You’ve practically forgotten I existed, Mom.
And don’t try and tell me otherwise.” The library was coming into view, “Look, I've got to go. I’ll talk to you later.” I hung up, not wanting to hear any more excuses.
Next thing I know, she’ll be telling me how amazing Kayden is.
That he’ll be a great stepbrother, and that he’ll look out for me like Jake used to.
Such a crock of shit.
But hasn’t he, in his own kinda way?
It brought me back to when we were in highschool, and I was getting something from my locker after school...
"You're Jake's sister, right?" A guy named Derek asked, and I was already uncomfortable around him.
“Yeah,” I responded, but quickly put what I needed in my backpack because he was standing a little too close for comfort.
“You’re really pretty,” he said, reaching out to stroke my cheek, and I froze. Why is this guy touching me?
I shut my locker, taking a step back, but he followed me.
"I’ve got to go..." I'd started, but he'd cut me off, his other hand coming up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. Warning bells went off, as I took another step back.
"Come on," he'd said. "Don't be like that."
Who in the world was this guy? And why was he acting like I was going to fawn all over him?
Suddenly, Kayden was there, stepping between us.
"Looks like you need to take a class on body language," he said through clenched teeth.
Derek rolled his green eyes. "We're just talking, man."
"No, you're not," Kayden stepped closer to him, "You're leaving. Now."
There'd been a moment where I thought Derek might push back, but he held up his hands and stepped back. "Whatever, man. She's not even that hot."
Kayden waited until he was gone, and turned towards me.
"You okay?" he'd asked.
I nodded, not knowing what to say. He left after, another word not leaving his mouth.
I erased the memory from my mind and stepped through the sliding doors and into the library. The campus Starbucks was off to the left, and the front desk was in front of me, with a wide opening up top, showing the many floors and parts to the library.
I always went to the third floor to study because it was the quietest floor to be on.
Away from study groups, and away from prying eyes.
I could study for my upcoming math test in peace.
While I loved Hazel to death, she currently had someone over, and I was not going to be trying to study while listening uncomfortably to their moans.
After getting settled, I lost myself in equations and problems I couldn’t quite understand. Whoever invented Calculus needed to be evaluated. Looking at the clock, it was close to four and time for me to head to the rink to meet Hazel.
As much as I wanted to ignore her comments the other day about my “stalking”, I needed to be there. Being at the rink was the only place I could breathe. Be myself.
I closed the computer and placed my things in the backpack, but as I did so, there was an eerie feeling that festered in my belly. It’s as if someone were watching me.
I looked around, but most students had already left for the day, except for a few who were still stuck in their books.
I lifted the backpack onto my shoulders and headed towards the elevators when someone grabbed me from behind and stuffed me into a study room.
Too shocked to scream, I trembled in silence.
A strong, masculine hand covered my mouth, and when the person in question turned me to face him, my eyes widened.
“Don’t freak out.”
Kayden stepped away from me, the lights in the room remained off, but kept his body in front of the door so there was no escape. The sun came in from the window, the rays shining on his face. My hand lifted, slapping him.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing Kayden? Have you lost your mind?” I sneered. Sometimes I wondered if he was in the right state of mind. Maybe the upcoming draft was weighing on him or something. Clearly, he wasn’t thinking like a rational person.
“We need to come up with a plan and fast.” His voice sounded off, and his eyes looked like he hadn’t slept in over twenty-four hours.
I took a couple of steps back. “Why?”
He ran a hand through his messy blonde hair as if he’d been doing it all day. “My dad called.”
I leaned against the table and crossed my arms over my chest. “And?”
If he thought we were going to magically break them up in a few days, he had another thing coming.
There was no way in hell that could happen.
Unless one of them was cheating or something.
I took a deep breath; I wanted to get to the rink and fast. I needed to let loose, to be in the place that I was most at peace.
Unfortunately, that place was also Kayden’s stomping ground.
There was something off about him. Even though he was wearing athletic gear, it was all disheveled like he had just gotten out of bed.
Quit over thinking things, Lexi. He probably fucked a puck bunny or cheerleader before coming here.
No need to get all bent out of shape trying to figure out what was going on with him.
“He bought an apartment for me.” His face turned green, as if he were about to puke. This was so unlike him. I’d never once seen him so fazed.
I raised a brow, “So?”
That seemed to snap him from his vulnerable state, and all of a sudden his gaze turned angry. “His words, and I quote, Alexis is to move in with you indefinitely until you two can start acting like civil future step-siblings.”
Now I was going to puke.
My arms dropped to my sides, and my world tilted on its head. Correction, his dad had lost his fucking mind.
“I don’t...I don’t even know what to say to that.”
He took a step toward me. Then another. I swallowed, his gaze completely locked on mine.
Countless times I had fantasized about my brother’s best friend.
Him wanting me the way I wanted him. Not to torment me, but to be a friend.
Possibly even a boyfriend. There had been times where I’d seen a glimmer of hope from him but then he would turn around and squash it like a bug every single time.
“You will not, and cannot live with me. We have to fix this now.”
I sighed and removed the bag from my shoulders.
“Then give me a game plan, because I can’t read your fucking mind, Kayden.
You’ve always been like this. You hate me, I get it.
I don’t want our parents together any more than you do, but threatening me isn’t going to get you anywhere.
I was your best friend's sister, and at some point, we kinda were friends, too. So instead of being a fucking dick all the time, talk to me like a normal human being.”
Obviously that wasn’t the way to go about things. He stepped close to me, invading my space, eyes darkening. “The time is coming for me to cash in on that favor you owe me. Keep pushing my buttons, and you won’t like what you see.”
With that, he walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him, not caring that he disturbed others. And why would he? Golden boy on campus who was about to be drafted, he shouldn’t have to bend to anyone.
At least that’s what he thought.
I refused to bow to him. Whether that meant getting his worst, I didn’t care.
I wouldn’t back down this time. He couldn’t make me.