Chapter 2
Haden.
It's Haden Devent.
No. It can't be. I left him back there, in that town.
What are the odds of him being here in front of me right now?
But the moment he takes me in, recognition instantly clicks in his eyes. His face breaks out into a blinding grin, one so familiar that my heart skips a beat.
I don't know what to think, but seeing him now, sitting there with that huge ass grin on his face, I feel my heart drop to the pit of stomach. In a good way or bad, I can't really tell, and I don't even get a whole lot of time to decipher it.
I can only watch as he gets up from his seat next to Isla, and walks over to me. I'm frozen in place, with my jaw dropped to the floor and eyes wide as the moon.
"Hi Ky," he bites his lower lip with a smile, waiting for me to react to his familiar greeting.
It's him. It really is.
I can't help but let out a breathy laugh.
It's him.
My eyes well up with tears, and although I have no idea what's going on, I think I'm happy. Truly happy to see him.
"Hey Hay," my voice is barely audible, but he doesn't have to hear me to know what I just said. It's the same lame response I came up with about seven years ago. I wasn't a very creative 10 year old.
He opens his mouth to say something, but comes up short, unable to really keep it together either. So instead of saying anything, he simply moves closer and pulls me into a hug. Instinctively, my arms wrap themselves around him, welcoming all the comfort and warmth he always seemed to provide.
"I've missed you," he whispers softly. Maybe it's just my imagination, but I think his voice breaks with those words. It feels nice knowing he's just as shaken up as me.
I don't want to break away from our embrace just yet, so I rest my head against his chest, holding him tighter. I'm not sure if he did it on purpose, but he smells like chocolate, and I smile to myself at the stupidity of how we first met.
He's actually here. My childhood best friend is here. After we moved to LA three years ago, I thought I'd never see him again.
Look at us now.
"You've grown taller," I state in a small voice, not really knowing what else to say. I used to tease him for being shorter than me, but here he is, almost a head taller.
I'm trying really hard to keep my tears at bay. It's kind of ridiculous really. It's just Haden, why am I getting so emotional over this guy?
It's the same guy who'd call me silly names, and would always raid my candy stash. The same guy who threw a fit every time I skipped school. The one who made me disgusting soup when I was sick.
The only one who cried when I told him I was leaving.
Okay, maybe it's a little harder to keep from getting all emotional.
I press my face against his blue shirt, letting it soak up any lone tears. I feel him breathe in, before he opens his mouth, singlehandedly ruining the moment.
"You've grown... boobs."
I pull away a few inches to give him a dry look, in complete disbelief of what he just said. A) This is really not the time and B) It's just false.
"I always had boobs."
"When you were thirteen?" He raises his eyebrows as if to ask if I was serious. "There wasn't much up there."
I simply flip him off and he laughs at that. I know exactly why.
He missed this. And I missed it too.
I missed it so much.
"Okay," a third voice interrupts. "What the fuck?"
I blink, suddenly remembering that the whole student body is here with us.
Maggie sits there with an eyebrow raised in question. Not just her, almost the entire cafeteria is staring and whispering. Probably about how Kyra Taylor hasn't been single a week and has already found a new boy toy.
"What?" I ask, looking a couple students in the eye. Immediately everyone looks away, busying themselves with their lunch and idle conversations.
Then I turn to my friends, all looking at me with a gigantic question mark replacing their faces. It would be hilarious if only one's gaze didn't physically burn me. It takes a lot of willpower, but I manage to keep from looking over at Noah.
"Haden and I were friends back in Ohio," I explain, glancing at every one of my friends. Except a certain blond that's glaring daggers at me. Or is he glaring at Haden? I don't want to find out.
"Best friends," Haden corrects what he thinks is a slip up.
But it wasn't. I just assumed I lost the right to call him my best friend after...
I sigh.
Not the time.
Instead, I let out a laugh, confirming what he just said, "best friends."
Cami's eyes light up at hearing this, the romantic in her definitely taking an interest in our friendship. "I have so many questions," she says, maybe a little too excited.
"Why don't y'all sit down?" Maggie pats the seat next to her, her eyes telling me I'm in for an interrogation.
Haden sits across from me, taking his place beside Isla and Alan. I happily take the opportunity to sit next to Maggie, as far away from Noah as possible. I'm doing everything in my power to avoid his gaze and admittedly, now that Haden's across from me, it isn't that tough.
"You're from Ohio, huh?" Isla asks Haden, joining our conversation. I can hear the evil in her voice already, and I really hope Haden can handle the girl.
"Yup," Haden nods, giving Isla a smile that I could only describe as plain charming. "It's way different back there."
"How come you moved here, then?"
My brain catches onto her words a second later, and I cut him off as he starts to speak. "You've moved here?"
"Duh," he rolls his eyes with a smile that matches my own growing one.
Excited.
That's how I feel. I'm not only seeing Haden today, but I'm going to be seeing him everyday for at least a while. It could really be like old times.
The only question that's bugging me now is, why did he move here?
He answers Isla with a vague, "just circumstances," not really answering anything.
I feel like pulling him away from the group just so I can catch up on everything. So much has happened in these three years and there's a lot I want to ask him. Unfortunately, getting away from here is close to impossible with Cami, Isla and Alan already pelting Haden with their own questions.
"Best friends, huh?" Maggie discreetly whispers in my ear, her suggestive undertone clear as day.
"Yeah," I answer absentmindedly, motioning for Cami to pass me an apple. She always has an extra couple for whatever reason. It's very convenient for me considering I never carry lunch.
"It looked like a lot more than that."
I choose to simply ignore her remark. Instead of replying, I take my time biting into the apple, making the stupid mistake of looking around the table. My gaze instantly locks with a pair of fiery blue eyes.
Noah holds me captive in his gaze for a total of three seconds before I clear my throat and turn back to Maggie. "Where's Peter?"
"Samara," she sighs her reply, clearly as exasperated with that girl as the rest of us are.
"How do you think we should get rid of her?" I keep my voice low, making sure Isla doesn't hear me. We usually be as harmless as possible, but Isla always takes it to the next level.
"I have the perfect idea," Maggie's smile grows, her blue eyes glinting in childlike mischief.
"You do?" I encourage her to go on, resting my head up on my hand.
All I get is a pat on the shoulder. "I'll let you know tomorrow." With that, she lifts her tray and silently walks away, adding to the dramatics. I roll my eyes. Maybe she and her brother are more alike than they think.
I turn back around, deciding to join the conversation Haden and Alan are having when Noah calls my name over the table. I freeze in my spot, slowly turning my head to glance at him. Thankfully, the others seem too invested in conversation to notice the tension.
Noah goes to say something that I most definitely don't want to hear, so I stop him before he can begin. "Ah, I almost forgot. I had to ask Maggie something important," I announce to the table, using the lamest and most unoriginal excuse possible, I admit.
But at least it keeps him quiet long enough for me to grab my stuff, mumble a quick apology to Haden and speed walk out of the cafeteria as fast as my legs can take me.
I'll just have to catch up later, I guess.