« Skylar's POV »

__________________

"My head will burst any second, Chicks." I groaned, clutching my head as I slumped down on my bed.

Chicken purred and cuddled around my leg. She wasn't helping. I didn't know why my head was aching this bad. I mean, the fall wasn't that bad.

But what if I had accidentally bursted a vein or something? Or maybe cracked my skull?

I should've probably called the doctor or my parents. But I hadn't. Because then I'd have to tell them everything and that could've led to a whole new level of questions.

I took another painkiller and gulped it down.

I picked up my phone and saw 18 messages from Alex and 21 missed calls from Alex too. He must've been worried why I wasn't at the school today. I knew he deserved an explanation.

Opening up his latest message, I groaned helplessly at my life.

You are going viral at YouTube, Facebook and even Instagram. Check it out.

I already felt worse for yesterday's cafeteria incident. And Alex's exaggeration wasn't helping at all. When I clicked on the attached link, a YouTube video opened itself. Recording of the whole scene. And there were almost more than one thousand views on it.

Every person in my school must've seen this.

Don't even get me started on the comments.

I switched off my phone and closed my eyes. That's why I didn't go to school today. I didn't want to face the stares and whispers behind my back. And then there was my freaking headache.

Of course, people were surprised about yesterday's cafeteria incident. Because in everyone else's knowledge, Caden Miller never talked to a girl -especially like me- or asked something for that matter. And then there was the fight.

I had texted Alex yesterday night telling him that I wouldn't want a ride from him the next morning. He had asked me why. He had called and messaged but I hadn't picked up. Partly because I was asleep the whole time. I hadn't even realized that it was the next morning until I had woken up.

The whole day passed with me, on the bed, cursing my life.

The only person happy right now was Chicken, who wasn't a person, that she got to have my company the whole day when I should've been at school.

Mom would eventually get to know of my absence. But I didn't want to think about that right now.

I stood up and went downstairs with a tired figure. It was almost night and I was still in my pajamas. I tied my hair in a ponytail and went over to the refrigerator. Pouring myself a glass of water, I sat down on the couch.

I had seriously skipped a whole day from school.

I knew how I couldn't do the same tomorrow. I'll eventually have to face the people. And Alex.

Right at the moment, I heard the bell ring.

It must've been Alex. I didn't think I was ready to see him. Maybe I was. He was my best friend. And I surely couldn't keep on ignoring him for a whole day.

I went over towards the door with drowsy steps as Chicken followed my trail. Opening it, I found myself face to face with the only person I wasn't expecting to see anytime soon.

"Caden? What-how?" I asked with wide eyes.

He looked at me with those green eyes that made my breath hitch. Again.

How did he do that?

"Hello to you too, Anderson." He said blankly.

He was wearing a leather jacket over a black shirt with dark jeans, making it harder to look away.

I give up.

This guy seriously was at my door and I couldn't help but admire how extremely good looking he was?

"How did you know I live here?" I asked suspiciously.

He raised his brow and let out a bitter laugh. "I think I won't like to tell you that."

I opened my mouth in disbelief. He came at my house and didn't even care to tell me how?

"Why are you here?" I asked with a frown. I had really thought it was Alex.

"I thought we agreed that you'll give me that letter. And you don't keep your word." He said with a shake of his head.

The truth was, I really did forget about that.

"You weren't at school today." His gaze didn't leave mine.

I rolled my eyes with a sigh. "Yeah, I wasn't. But you're here now. And I'll give it to you." I opened the door for him to get inside.

I knew how I shouldn't have done that. Because firstly, if my parents found out that I let a boy enter the house when I was all alone, they would probably ground me for the rest of my life. And secondly, if Alex found out that I let Caden enter inside my house, he will most definitely try to kill him, probably killing himself in the process.

But I wasn't that rude to let him stay outside in that hypothermia kinda cold. I wasn't that cruel.

He looked at me with clear amusement. Surprisingly, this time he didn't choose to hide it. In the end, he entered as I closed the door behind me.

"You really don't care about letting a stranger in your house when you're all alone?" He asked.

He was right. But I didn't think he would be any danger since he had saved my life.

"I'm not alone. I've got my cat with me." I said, as if Chicken was some sort of threat.

He looked at me as if I was the most idiotic person he had ever met. Maybe I was. I looked around trying to find Chicken but found her nowhere.

That traitor!

I suddenly felt something curling around my leg. I looked down and saw Chicken. She was right here all along.

Oh well.

I moved in to pick her up but instead, made myself stumble a little and fall down on my butt. With Chicken on top of me.

Caden looked at me as he shook his head slowly.

"You really amuse me, Anderson." He confessed before coming towards me.

Right at that moment, I thought that he really was going to give me a hand and help me get up. After all this time, he would give me a hand! But all he did was pick Chicken up and leave me where I was.

What a chivalric gentleman he was.

Irritated, I banged my head on the door behind me only to wince out in pain.

How could I forget that my head was seriously trying to be a pure bitch?

I felt Caden looking at me, the exact same moment when my face heated up. I seriously looked like a fool.

I stood up and gritted my teeth in pain. "I'll get you the letter. Just wait a second."

When I reached upstairs in my room, I blew out a painful sigh and rubbed my head slowly to ease the pain.

I really should've seen a doctor. This was getting out of hand.

I went over towards my drawer and rummaged through my stationery. It was filled with crap. Real crap. Finally, I found the letter and opened the crumpled up paper before going downstairs. Caden was looking around as Chicken curled at his feet. Just as she saw me, she came over towards me and purred. I picked her up and placed her on the couch.

"Stay here, Chicks. I don't want to fall all over again." I whispered to her as she meowed in response. But she didn't get up from the couch. I loved how my cat understood me.

I went over towards Caden who looked like he couldn't believe I was just talking to an animal. Then his eyes traveled down to the paper in my hand.

I gave it to him.

The next few moments went by in total silence as I looked at him, not sure what to say, while he looked at the paper like he couldn't believe it was real.

He finally looked up at me from the paper. I couldn't really figure out the expression in his eyes.

"What is it?" I asked with a hint of fear in my voice.

He looked down at the paper once again as if deciding whether saying it out loud would be worth it or not.

"It's the East Gang." He muttered.

_______________________________________________________________________

Don't forget to click the ★ below ↓ if you liked this chapter.

Xoxo,

Crystal 🌿