September, 2018
If I was ever given the opportunity to read another's thoughts, I'd choose Kaden Wells.
Not that I was the most observant of people, but he didn't seem to have many friends, however he always seems to know the right thing to say. Kaden tends to constantly wear a small smile and he's definitely not bad looking, so why did I seem to be the only person who took the time to talk to him?
Of course I see people approach him, occasionally talk to him about whatever, but he didn't really consistently hang out with anyone but me.
A part of me wanted to rip off the band aid and ask why, another part of me is reminding myself that I've known Kaden for two and a half weeks, at least give it a month before I mess up our kinda friendship.
"Uh, Avery?" The sound of Kaden's voice brings me out of my thoughts. I didn't know how long I was spaced out, but I try to hide my obvious embarrassment.
"Oh, yeah... sorry. I space out sometimes, I mean I think everyone does, but I just... I don't know I guess its just that I don't like World Religion, actually I take that back. I think different religions are fascinating and I love learning about them, I just can't stand the sound of Mrs. Clarks voice." I was ranting, I knew it but I couldn't stop myself. Kaden raised his eyebrows and laughed, thankfully cutting me off.
"Ave, its okay. You just spaced, its not like you ran over a puppy."
"We're on nickname basis now?" I smiled a little and laughed.
"Guess so, now pay attention." Kaden focused his gaze back onto the presentation we were receiving, while I was still completely lost in thought.
Our teachers words were dull and emotionless as she explained the basis of several different religions we were going to learn in this class. Usually I would be engulfed in a lesson like this, but I just couldn't bring myself to focus.
Relief washed over me when the bell rang, but it immediately vanished as a I realized my next class was physics, and Kaden wasn't in it.
"Ave, get up. You don't want to be late to physics." He laughed, knowing my hate for that class.
"Actually, I wouldn't mind being late. You know, I'm not feeling that good. I think I should just go home." I faked a cough, and Kaden gave me a look that clearly expressed he didn't believe me.
"Yeah, yeah. Now get up or I won't walk with you." His words caused me to finally get out if my seat, I didn't really feel like awkwardly walking by myself in the halls today.
After a long, boring, physics class, I went to Kaden's locker, since he agreed to drive me to work today.
"You look happy." Kaden laughed while putting his stuff into his locker.
"Screw you." I replied, my tone sarcastic and playful. Kaden slung his backpack over his shoulders before closing his locker.
"We need to get to Mugs, if I'm late again, Kendall will have my head."
"Kendall?"
"Oh yeah, I forgot you only met Molly and Cole. Kendall works with us, you'll probably like her. She annoys the hell out of me but Molly and her seem to get along well." The way he said that she annoys him showed that she really didn't, it was more in a friendly/teasing way.
"Well, I've been hanging out with you everyday, so I obviously need to make new friends."
"Yeah, you and Kendall will definitely get along."
After a short drive, Kaden and I arrived at Mugs two minutes early, which was a surprisingly big relief to Kaden. Opening the door, I automatically noticed that Helen wasn't in today, only Cole and a brunette who I assumed to be Kendall.
"Wow Kaden! Look at you being on time for once!" Kendall's tone clearly expressed sarcasm, I could already tell we were gonna be friends.
"Okay, in my defense, the 3:30 shift is hard to make. As soon as we get out of school I have to drive straight here or I'm late." Kaden defended in a fake serious voice.
"Yeah, yeah. Anyways, is this Avery?" She spoke, motioning to me.
"That would be me." I replied attempting to not be awkward.
"Thank god, it's about time we got someone new working here. As much as I love this job, I think I'd lose it if I had to spend another shift just working with Cole. Thankfully I've had Molly, but due to my luck, we hardly ever have shifts together and Kaden here, is always late."
"Don't be so dramatic Ken, we're not that bad." Cole spoke, deciding to join the conversation.
"I'm not being dramatic!" Kendall started, speaking to Cole. She immediately focused her attention to me, continuing what she was saying.
"One time-" Before she could tell me whatever she was gonna tell me, Kaden cut her off.
"Well, I need to finish training Ave. It's only her second day here and you guys are already gonna scare her off."
"Fine, but Avery, we definitely need to talk before our shift is over."
"For sure." Were the only words I could get out before Kaden dragged me into the back room, where the kitchen, supplies, machines etc. were.
Vaguely, I could hear Kendall and Cole arguing. Most of it was muffled, but what I could hear went a little like this:
"I will fight you!" Kendall yelled, implying both sarcasm and seriousness.
"Yeah, good luck with that."
muffle. muffle. muffle.
"Hi! Welcome to Mugs!" They said simultaneously as the bells at the door rang, indicating we had a new customer. Kaden obviously could hear them too, because he let out a small laugh.
"Are they always like this?"
"On a good day"
Suddenly, Kendall came into the room, looking annoyed.
"Hey Kaden, do you mind if I train Avery. I think if I spend another second with Cole I'm gonna explode."
"Sure Kendall, just don't scare her off." Kaden laughed once again.
"No promises." Kaden raised his eyebrows as he left the room, leaving me and Kendall.
"Sorry if I gave you a bad impression, Cole makes me crazy." She said in a deflated tone. I smiled at her.
"Trust me, you didn't. Frankly I probably would have handled the situation worse."
"Thank god. I swear I'm not insane."
"And I swear, I believe you." I replied, reassuring her.
"Alright, what did Kaden teach you yesterday?"
"Uh, how to work all of the weird fancy machines, and customer service. I think he said something about learning how to work the cash register today?"
"Ah yes. Personally, that was the hardest for me to learn, so let's hope you're a better learner than me."
"Wouldn't get your hopes up." We both laughed before going back to the main area of the shop.
"Move it Cole, I have to train Avery to use the register." Kendall snapped, causing Cole to laugh.
"Wow Ken, charming as ever." Kendall looked as of she was gonna say something back, but Kaden stepped in.
"Jesus can't you guys get along for one day. Cole, lets go wash tables." Cole huffed, but followed Kaden to the back to get cleaning supplies.
Surprisingly, The register wasn't as complicated as Kendall made it seem. I learned how it works fairly fast, and I was able to start my first real shift in about an hour.
I stood at the counter taking orders, trying to remember Kaden's lesson about customer service and Kendall's lesson about the register at the same time.
"Hello, welcome to Mugs. How may I help you today." My voice was overly cheery and to me kinda obnoxious, but Kaden said that its better to be too happy than too moody. After that, it gradually became easier and easier to take orders.
"Wow Ave, if only you put this amount effort into physics." Kaden teased as we were closing the shop.
"You see I could, but I think I'd rather stab myself with a spoon." After my comment, I could hear Kendall laughing.
"I can definitely tell that we're gonna be friends." Kendall said, joining the conversation. Kendall and I continued to talk as we cleaned up for the day, while Kaden had gone to the back.
"So, whats your relationship like with the rest of the workers?"
"Well Kaden and I have worked here the longest. I'm about three months older than him, so when he started working when he was fiftenn, I had already been here for about two weeks. So I guess we're friends, but he's a pretty difficult person to get close too. Molly is only sixteen, so she's pretty new, I think shes worked here for almost six months now. Molly and I are pretty close, but as I said earlier, we barely ever get the same shifts. And incase you didn't realize, Cole is one of my least favourite people on this planet." I laughed at her last comment because I could definitely tell.
"Why is everyone here so young?"
"There are older workers too, but they usually work the morning and midday shifts on weekdays. Helen puts us in the later shifts on weekdays because of school."
"Sorry I'm asking so many questions, but how many days a week do we usually work."
"No its all good, when I first started I probably asked more. Four to Five. Sometimes we have longer shifts on the weekends, and in that case then we only work two during the week." I nodded, satisfied with her responses.
"Alright guys, we can leave now." Kaden announced, entering the room. I nodded, taking off my apron and hanging it onto the hook.
"It was nice to meet you Avery. Hopefully we have more shifts together than I do with Molly." Kendall said as I walked with Kaden to his car.
"Hopefully." We gave each other one last smile before splitting directions.
"I told you that you and Kendall would get along." Kaden commented as I got into the passenger seat.
"She's really cool, you guys have known each other for a while right?"
"Yeah, she's the only person that I've worked with since I got the job."
"That's cool. You must really like working at Mugs."
"Yeah, it's gonna suck not working there anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"You know, when we graduate."
"Oh yeah, forgot about that for a second."
The drive home wasn't awkward, like I had kinda expected it to be. It was a stretch when I asked Kaden to drive me to school today, but luckily for me he didn't seem to mind. His car began to slow indicating that we've reached my house.
"Thanks for the ride, Kade." I proclaimed, mocking the fact that he had a nickname for me.
"No problem Ave." He replied in the same tone I had before driving away.
⦠psychotic â¦
Before I could realize it, it was already near the end of September. School was bearable, I had gotten to know more people that I had in any of my other schools. Two days ago, Kate eagerly has introduced me to some of her friends.
First was June Mayor. She had neatly curled, strawberry blonde hair and blinding grey eyes. As far as I knew she was fairly popular and overly nice to everybody.
Next was Connor Richards. He wore thick glasses and his black hair was tied up into a bun. Really funny, nice guy, incredibly fucking smart.
And my least favorite, a boy who had sandy brown hair and striking blue eyes, Dawson Johnson. Just from the small conversation we had, I could tell that we wouldn't be friends. He is the closest thing Pine Hill has to a stereotypical "golden boy." Definitely attractive, though he knowledge of it took away points. Apparently Dawson was friends with Laura, who I had recently figured out was super popular.
Kaden says that Kate's friend group is entitled and annoying, and Laura's is so narcissistic it's not even funny. However, Kaden isn't fond of most people, so I tend to push his opinions aside.
There are more people too, but I usually just stuck around Kaden. It's not like I had a problem with any of the people I've met. I actually really like quite a few of them. But Kaden and I were a lot alike, which made it easy for me to be around him.
School had just gotten out, I was was waiting while Kaden slowly got his bags.
"Can you hurry up, I'm pretty sure my grandma could lift weights faster than you're getting your stuff." I huffed, leaning against the locker besides him.
"Calm down, if I just throw shit in my locker it will end up looking like yours."
"Okay, keeping my locker clean isn't on my list of priorities." I defended.
"And what exactly is?"
"Getting good grades, keeping my job, getting into college, becoming rich and famous, you know." Kaden rolled his eyes, while I just laughed.
"Okay, okay I'm done. Let's go." Since Kaden and I both had today off, I am being dragged against my will to study with him. As we got to the parking lot, I thought I might as well attempt to get myself out of this.
"Can't we do something else? I mean Physics can wait, you know actually our teacher told me I didn't have to do the homework. So really you-" I began to rant, but Kaden cut me off.
"Are you done yet?"
"Yes." I drawled, my tone expressing defeat.
"Good, just follow me. My house is about ten minutes away."
"What if I turn around?"
"Fine, but when you fail calculus don't complain to me."
I sighed in response.
It was obvious that Kaden had a nicer car than me. While he had a black range rover, I was driving a 2014 Kia forte. Which I wasn't complaining about, since a lot of people my age didn't even have a car. But it's also why I basically make Kaden drive me to school three days out of the week. My parents thought it was a right of passage to have a first car that wasn't top notch, clearly Kaden's parents didn't have the same mindset.
Suddenly, Kaden honked at me, which made me assume it was time to go.
The drive to Kaden's house was short and scenic, like most of Runswick. It was in the opposite direction of where my house was, but still looked very similar to where I lived. Soon enough, we arrived at a small, gated community. Kaden opened his window, reaching his arm out to press what looked like buttons on a speaker. As soon as the gate opened and Kaden drove through it, it closed again.
Great.
To my luck, my phone immediately buzzed.
Kaden: The password is 0938
Rolling down my window, I pressed the four numbers, causing the gate to open.
The neighborhood was beautiful . There were only about six houses but they were all huge and gorgeous. All the landscaping was perfect and the scenery itself was breathtaking.
I noticed Kaden's car pull into the driveway of a large, brick mansion and my jaw dropped.
Jesus, I thought my house was big.
Alongside Kaden's car, I pulled into the driveway. As I got out, my jaw was still hitting the floor.
"Oh my god, this is where you live?" His house was about three thousand square feet larger than mine from the outside, it looked old but in a cool, stylish way.
"Nope." Kaden replied sarcastically.
I rolled my eyes. "Alright, let's go inside."
Authors Note:
yayayay another chapter! i know this is not the best so far but the first few chapters of a book are usually fillers and they're harder to make interesting, but i swear things will pick up pace really soon.
i don't have a whole lot to say for this chapter so please vote and comment and have a great rest of your day!!!