Chapter 4: Flashback - August 30, 2037 No.2
I'm standing outside waiting for Kayden. I'm not sure if he's actually going to come. I sent him my location three hours ago. I'm starting to think it's some kind of joke. Or his friends dared him to ask me out and he did now he's hanging out with them laughing about how I really thought he was serious.
Either that- or he's finally come to his senses about dating a girl with no friends and a sorry excuse of a first-date dress. Do I realize this is a bit of an over-reaction? Yes. Do I care? No. Why do I assume this?
Well, either (a) he was higher than I thought when he asked me out, (b) he never got my message (I realize this is very probable) or (c) I was dreaming (this is more likely than anything, but-
"Hey!" a voice says. I look over to see Kayden standing in front of his red Dodge Challenger. Oh, so he doesn't hate me? "Hello," I say, trying to avoid the deadpan getting ready to envelope my face. "Sorry it took me so long, we're so far apart," he laughs. I nod. "Yeah," I say. Kayden tilts his head. "You upset at me?" he asks. I don't answer. Instead of prying, he just opens the passenger door. I hesitate before getting in, the same way Dad taught me. Do you really want to get into a car with a football player who has had more than five girlfriends this year and its only the beginning of the second semester? I get into the car and smooth my dress down. I watch as he walks around the car to the driver's side.
We sit in silence while he simply stares out the windshield. I look over at him. His driving posture is oddly attractive- you know the one hand on the wheel, the other casually resting on your thigh? That.
"You planning on saying anything?" Kayden says all of a sudden.
"No."
"You sure?"
"Absolutely not."
"I got you flowers," he says, reaching to the backseat to grab the bundle of flowers. It's the little things that mean the most to me. Like a bouquet of flowers, or opening the door. I look at him. "Thank you," I say. He smiles. "I'm sorry I took so long. I should've texted you to let you know what was going on," he says. Looking at his blue eyes I can't be mad or even upset. His messy curls and light brown skin make it hard to hold a grudge. It makes me feel like sh*t for being upset over something so small. "Don't apologize. I'm just jumpy, you know? Nervous and all that jazz," I say. He smiles. "All that jazz," he mocks playfully. I roll my eyes and punch his shoulder. "Shut up! You know what I mean!" I protest. He nods. "Yeah, yeah. And ouch, you punch like a girl," he says.
"Is that a problem, Mr. Lore?" I tease. Kayden glances over at me. "No, of course not Ms. Allen," he plays along. I smile. I didn't know he knew my last name. It's not like nobody knows it, it's on my volleyball jersey, but still. Every time he showed up to a game I always assumed it was for some random girl. Now part of me feels like there's a lot he did to support me and I never knew. Maybe Kira was right. I was stuck in my own head. I look at the small obituary chain hanging from his rear-view mirror.
Felix Lore
Beloved Son, and Brother
02.14.2005 - 11.29.2019
"Even when we don't
Believe in ourselves,
There's always someone
Who cares about you
More than you ever will."
I look away. I didn't know he had a brother. I didn't even know he had siblings. He seemed like the cool only-child type of person. If he was born in '05, that means he'd be eighteen this year. Which also means that Kayden had a twin brother. Which also means that his brother died when he was fourteen years old. Part of me wants to ask how he died. The other ninety-nine percent of me recognizes that if he's reminded of the death of someone as close as his twin brother everytime he gets behind the wheel, he won't enjoy me asking about his death. There's so much I don't know about Kayden. So much I assumed. So much I incorrectly guessed. An empty feeling sinks to the pit of my stomach. He's held onto so much pain.
"And then I was all like; who you lookin' at? And the guy got all up in my face and tried to push me so I punched him right in the face, hit 'em in the nose. Knocked his dumb a** right out," Kayden says, talking with one hand and steering with the other. I try to force a smile. "Damn," I say. He nods. "Right! And coach was all like, 'you can't get into fights like this, man' and I was like; I mean yeah, but this guy is an a**hole, he deserved that sh*t," he says. I laugh a little bit. "You're an excellent storyteller," I smile. Kayden glances over at me. "Yeah?" he says. I nod. He smiles, revealing his canines.
"I write songs," I say before I can regret it. Too late. Kayden smiles. "You serious? Do you sing too?" he asks, invested. I shrug. "I mean, not a lot, just a little bit," I lie. He nods slowly, "We have a studio in our house. If you ever want to record some songs, just come over," he offers. My heart races. "Seriously?" I ask. He nods. "I mean, yeah. Why not?" he replies. I look at the small buildings fade behind us as we continue forward. "Thank you," I say. Kayden looks back at the road. "Have you ever recorded a song?" he asks. I nod. "Yeah." I answer.
"Play it."
"What?"
"Play it. Play one of your songs," he says.
My heart races. "Uh, okay." I say.
I reach in my dress pocket and pull my phone out to look for a personal favorite. Over Ambition. I recorded the song a few months ago. The words are incredibly direct, I never expected Kayden to find it, much less want to listen to it. I connect to the car speakers, my heart racing as my finger hovers over the play button. "You sure?" I ask, trying to stall. Kayden rolls his eyes and clicks play for me. Sh*t. Sh*t. Sh*t.
I never the type to have a hallway crush
Even though we never talk that much
The way you smile make my cheeks go flush
Just like some roses
Your lips stay lush
In case you see this
Maybe I should-
[Hush]
People keep changing
Changing paces
Complacent
Tired of waiting
Be patient
Damn
I think I
Fell in love with my over ambition
Tell me that you love me
Love on suspicion
Fell in love with your erudition
[Probably don't know what that means-]
You won't admit it but you did
Fell in love with my overambition
I look over to see Kayden jamming to the music, enjoying it too much. "You're enjoying this too much," I say. He glances over as he pulls into the busy parking lot. "It's a good song. I'm adding it to my playlist," he says.
He said, she said
His eyes are blue
If they change it doesn't make it true
Dark hair
Brown skin
Curls I'm addicted to
Kayden glances over to me with mock-surprise on his face. "Awe, Dani it sounds like me," he says. I cover my face and groan in embarrassment.
Truth hurts
Love burns
They say beauty is pain
You must be hurting in a million different ways
"You're so poetic," he muses.
Never the type to have a hallway crush
Even though we never talk that much
The way you smile make my cheeks go flush
Just like some roses
Your lips stay lush
I won't admit it but I
Fell in love with your overambition
Over Ambition
Over Ambition
Me haces sentir bien
Incluso en el día más oscuro
Tu sonrisa ilumina mi mundo
Tus ojos son como fuegos artificiales
Mm
Kayden looks over at me. "You wrote it about me, huh?" he asks. I choke. "What?" I look away. Kayden laughs. "It's a cute song. My favorite part is the "yo quiero la forma en que me haces sentir, sone contigo, mi amor, no puedo decirte lo que hicimos" part. My hand flies over my mouth. "You speak Spanish?" I ask. His accent is so fluent, it must be his first language. "Yeah. My mom is Dominican," he says, "I know you speak Mexico's Spanish. It took me a moment to really translate it but I'm pretty sure you said; You make me feel okay, even in the darkest of days, your smile lights up my world, your eyes are like fireworks. Or something like that," he says. At this point, I can't get any more embarrassed than I already am. I thought I was being sneaky by singing in Spanish.
Kayden laughs. "Anyway, let's just go inside, get some dinner," he says. I nod and grab my small black purse. I reach for the door but he puts his hand out. "What are you doing? You don't open your own doors," he says, seeming the slightest bit shocked I didn't know that. "Oh." I say. He chuckles, playfully rolling his eyes before getting out of the car. I watch as he walks around the car and opens my door, offering me his hand. I tentatively grab his hand. People do this? I suddenly realize I've never been in anything close to a relationship with a guy who actually took the time to be a gentleman. But it seems like it comes so easily for Kayden. I smile as he holds my hand, putting himself between me and the road. Mrs. Lore, however you raised your son, you did a fantastic job. We walk into the building.
"Primo!" a loud voice calls from the kitchen. "Enrique! Good to see you," Kayden says, smiling. I notice he hasn't let go of my hand yet. I'm still in shock from the fact that he held it in the first place. "Ah, baby cousin! Who's the girl?" the man asks, somewhere in his early twenties. "This is Danielle, we go to school together," he says. Enrique smiles at me. "You found a good one," he winks. I smile. If I ever knew anything, it was that Kayden Lore is the most perfect representation of what a guy should be. He's perfect.
A few minutes later, we're sitting at our table eating sub sandwiches, laughing, and talking. Kayden tosses his head back when he laughs. It's easily the most adorable thing in the world. "You're doing it again," Kayden smiles. I wrinkle my eyebrows in confusion. "Doing what?" I ask. I self consciously smooth my dress and check using my phone camera if I have any food on me. Not a speck. Kayden leans back in his chair. "Being cute," he says. I can feel my face flush. "Ahem," I cleared my throat. He leans forward and kisses my cheek. "You're all flushy and blushy," he smiles. "And you, Mr. Lore, are always cute," I say.
When the story is complete!
There is a few [2] side stories coming when this story is done.
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