Chapter 7 Chapter 7
Kaelani POV
After the bell rings I make my way to the locker room to shower and change back into my clothes.
When I step out of the locker room Kaia is leaning against the wall.
“Were you washing your hair too? I’ve been here for 10 minutes,” she complains.
I chuckle and roll my eyes.
“Looking girly seemingly takes more time.”
She stops and looks at me.
“I had no idea you were a girl.”
We both burst out laughing and continue walking down the hall.
“You’re so annoying.”
The laughter feels good. Everything has been so weird since this morning that for a few minutes I almost feel normal again.
“So how was combat?”
“Oh you know, I laid Kieran on his ass.”
I smile.
She squeals.
“Oh I would have paid to see that.”
I cross my arms over my chest.
“Yeah it definitely felt good to wipe that grin off his face.”
When we step into the cafeteria it's chaos.
Students are everywhere, music is playing somewhere and the doors leading to the quad are open as students move freely in and out.
I feel eyes on me.
I follow them to Kieran.
He’s sitting in the center of the cafeteria with Aliza on his lap.
His eyes are glued to me.
Not the food. Not his friends. Not his girlfriend. Me.
It makes absolutely no sense. Yesterday he barely knew I existed. Three years of walking the same halls, attending the same classes, competing in the same tournament and suddenly I'm the most fascinating thing in the room. If I wasn't living it, I wouldn't believe it.
Part of me wants to march over there and demand an explanation. The smarter part of me knows that would only encourage him.
“This is going to get messy,” Kaia says.
I shake my head.
“No it’s not because I will not engage.”
At least that's the plan.
I walk to the food line and grab a burger and fries before getting a vanilla shake from the drink station.
I find a table far away from Kieran.
Far enough that he should get the hint.
Liam, Sebastian and a boy I don’t know sit down with us.
“Hey ladies,” Sebastian says.
“And you are?”
The other boy smiles.
“I’m Canon, Liam’s Gamma.”
“Nice to meet you Canon.”
I dip a fry into my shake.
“So how are you guys liking the school?” Kaia asks.
“It’s cool. There’s a lot of hot she-wolves here.”
“Such a guy answer.”
I roll my eyes.
A shadow appears behind me.
The guys all look up.
“Kaelani can we talk for a minute?”
I don't turn around immediately.
“Oh dear goddess what is wrong with this boy?” I mutter under my breath.
The table laughs.
I slowly turn in my seat.
“Yes Kieran?”
“Can we talk privately?” he asks, lowering his voice.
I glance toward Aliza.
She is glaring at me.
Just great.
If looks could kill, I'd already be dead.
We may not have had a perfect relationship but it’s definitely about to get worse.
“Kieran you have the worst timing.”
“You wouldn’t talk to me any other time.”
Frustration laces his voice.
“Kieran I don’t have to talk to you. We’re not friends. Before today I didn’t exist to you. What is it about today?”
That's the part nobody seems to understand.
If Kieran had always talked to me, this would be different.
But he didn't.
All these years of nothing and suddenly he can't leave me alone.
That is the part that keeps bothering me. If Kieran had always been like this, I probably wouldn't think twice about any of this. But he wasn't. We existed in completely separate worlds. He had football, friends, parties and Aliza. I had training, the tournament and staying as far away from drama as possible. Our lives barely crossed before today.
“I don’t know. I just want to know what I did to you.”
He snaps.
I run my hands over my face.
“Look Kieran it doesn’t matter. It’s not like we’re friends or something. Just forget it.”
I turn to sit down.
He grabs my arm.
“Wait, can I just ask when?”
I pinch the bridge of my nose.
One answer.
That's all I'm giving him.
Because if I give him more than that, then I have to relive it. I have to remember exactly how stupid I felt and exactly how long it took me to get over it. Some memories deserve to stay buried and freshman year is definitely one of them.
“Freshman year. Now leave me alone please.”
I sit back down.
I wait until he walks away before releasing the breath I was holding.
That should have been the end of it.
Unfortunately I have a feeling it's only going to make him more determined.
“So what did he do?” Sebastian asks.
I can feel Liam watching me while he waits for my answer.
“It’s not important. Just drop it.”
I pick up my burger and take a bite.
Nobody besides Kaia needs to know about the most embarrassing moment of my life.
Taking it to the grave because I'm not that girl anymore.
“Okay. So are you two going to Marco’s party on Friday?” Sebastian asks, changing the subject.
I can still feel Liam watching me before he looks away and I suddenly become very focused on my food.
The last thing I need is two different Alpha heirs trying to figure me out at the same time.
My phone goes off in my pocket.
I glance at the screen.
It’s a text from Aliza.
Aliza: whatever you think you’re doing with my boyfriend Kaelani quit it, I will destroy your reputation and you know I can big sister.
I stare at the message.
Of course she would make this my fault.
Not Kieran following me around all day. Not Kieran interrupting conversations. Not Kieran refusing to leave me alone.
Me.
My jaw tightens.
The worst part is that she isn't bluffing.
Aliza has always known exactly which buttons to push and exactly which rumors to start.
The thing is, she isn't a bad person. She just hates losing. Doesn't matter if it's a competition, an argument or a boyfriend. Once Aliza decides something belongs to her, she digs her heels in and refuses to let go.
Unfortunately for me, she has apparently decided I'm the problem instead of the boy chasing me around the school.
Just great.
Now I have to deal with Aliza’s scheming to keep a boyfriend I don’t want anything to do with.
A boyfriend who didn't know i existed until this morning.
As if this year couldn’t start off any worse.
A magical countdown hanging over my head.
A tree I can't find.
Kieran acting strange.
And now my sister has decided I'm the enemy.
