Summers & Starbucks - Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Kaiden
Next day dawns nice and sunny. Pulling up at Nathan's house, I see my friend's vehicles already parked outside. I ring the bell. There's laughter coming from inside and it warms my heart. They're having fun.
"Just a sec!" Nathan's voice calls.
He opens the door and smiles. It takes everything in me to not hug him right then. He looks handsome, in a baby pink tee and black sweats, hair fresh and wet from a shower.
"Um, hi!"
"Hey! You look great!" I mutter, scratching the back of my neck.
"Thanks!" he laughs. "You too, I love your jacket!"
"Kaiden! Come on in!" Ryan calls.
Daniel isn't here but Raven, Bella, Aaron and Alex are, along with Max. I am a little surprised to see him there but then, he's the captain of the team and Nathan can invite whoever he wants.
Zeus jumps on me immediately, abandoning Bella who pouts. I pet him gently and he runs off to bring his toy.
"I thought it was the pizza!" Max grins at me.
"We just ordered one before we began with the painting. We set up everything so that we could begin immediately. Did you start the photoshop?" Nathan asks.
I shake my head. I want it to be perfect, for him.
After his random but heartfelt confession yesterday, my crush on him has intensified abysmally to the point that I haven't stopped thinking about him the entire night.
"Working on it. It'll be done soon enough!"
He goes to the kitchen and I follow, with Zeus following me. Nathan tells me to grab beers from the fridge and he gets a pack of chips.
Zeus solemnly carries his bone with us, looking proud of himself. 🥺
"Thanks man, you're the best!" Max smiles when I hand him the beer.
"Where are your parents?" Bella asks.
"They're out for the weekend," Nathan says, sipping on his drink.
His jaw ticks. It's like his body is rejecting the lie but his face gives nothing away. He's so used to the little white lies. He probably does it so his mum won't go apeshit on him. He never mentions his dad. I want to know what he does and what their relationship is.
He sits on the loveseat, behind me. I rest against his legs. As if on cue, he runs his fingers through my hair.
Oh fuck.
I shut my eyes, enjoying the sensation, sipping my beer occasionally. If anyone thinks it's odd, they don't mention it. I look up at him, eyes half closed but he is busy listening to Raven tell some story about a cute old lady at her bakery.
I really really want to kiss him.
I don't care he might be straight but his fucking beautiful face is making me want to straddle him on the sofa and make out with him. Just like I wanted to yesterday.
He looks down, sensing my gaze and smiles, his curls falling on his eyes.
I straighten up and scoot away, throat going dry from all the fantasizing. This is the fifth time he's caught me staring. He probably thinks I'm insane.
The bell goes and I jump up, thankful for the excuse to leave the room. It's the pizza guy and I pay for the two pizzas and garlic bread.
Ignoring Nathan's gaze, I set the boxes down and everyone takes a piece.
"Guys, there's an open to all party at my cousins fraternity at WSU!" Ryan announces.
"This weekend?" I ask, biting into the piping hot pepperoni pizza, sitting on the other side of the living room. My heartbeat is erratic right now.
"Yup! I am invited and he says I can bring friends. If you want to take admission there, it might be an initiation too!" Ryan says.
"So, are we going?" Aaron asks.
"Y'all are a bunch of underage idiots. Who's going to let you in?" Max snickers.
"I don't think they will ID us. It's a fucking party, they'll be too wasted to bother!"
"Sounds like a plan. When is it? Hopefully you can crash at my place," I shrug.
"Next Friday, the night before Homecoming Game. Fuck, that weekend's going to be crazy. We can't get too drunk or we won't be able to beat the Hawks!"
"You lose that game and I'll murder all of you and then the Coach will murder me!" Max warns, completely serious.
"Chill out dude, I'm sure we'll flatten the Hawks in no time!" Alex shrugs carelessly.
Everyone agrees to come eventually, under Max's threat that they will not get sloshed.
"I'm sure you'll be great babe," Bella says softly, pushing his hair back from his forehead. She is sitting on his lap and it makes me feel a bit lonely. They look so much in love. He kisses her forehead.
I wish I had someone to kiss me like that.
"Anyway, let's get started on the painting!" I announce, not wanting to see the PDA anymore. Everyone follows me to Nathan's bedroom upstairs.
"So, Captain Kaiden, your call!" Alex says, holding up a paint roller like a spear. "What is this?"
"It's a paint roller, dumbass. Not a pitchfork!" Ryan sighs.
I laugh, rolling my eyes. Alex and art never mix.
"So the midnight blue first? It's only whitewash, we can just start painting, no prep. Then we can go Jackson Pollock and use the white and yellow to create a sort of galaxy."
"I thought it was just graffiti! Don't make me work too hard!" Alex groans.
"All we're going to do is splash paint, Alex, even Nathan's dog can do that!" Ryan sighs.
"His name is Zeus, not dog!" Bella says immediately. Zeus woofs at his name. He's super happy having so many people spoiling him with pets.
Soon, all of us are working on the wall. They're half decent with the brushes and I touch up any awry brush strokes. The music is loud enough to deafen.
"Nice to meet you where you been, I could show you incredible things!" Raven sings loudly and off key.
Alex joins in the chorus, twirling around with the brush. Ryan is on the step ladder painting the top of the wall, with Max holding it steady.
"You were right, they're really loud!" Nathan laughs, pushing the bandana back from his hair, leaving a blue paint streak on his forehead. I can't resist wiping it off.
I push his hair back a bit. He smiles, eyes crinkling.
"I know. Isn't it totally fun?" I laugh, watching Alex try to twerk miserably.
"Nathan, come dance with me!" Raven giggles and pulls him away to the middle of the room.
Max and Ryan hoot and cheer, making her blush.
An odd feeling creeps up in my stomach, watching them dance. Alex changes the song to a slow one. Nathan puts his arm on her waist. Raven is enjoying it, her caramel skin almost flaming red.
He dances really well, twirling her around. It's a slow waltz and he dips her gracefully towards the end. Everyone claps.
"That was good!" Bella cheers. "You look beautiful together!"
They really do.
Fuck, I keep getting jealous of Raven, my best friend. Just because she's a girl. Fuck.
"Come on Raven, what are you waiting for?! This is the perfect moment?" Ryan teases.
"For what?" Nathan asks, confused. He looks embarrassed by all the attention.
"Um, uh, - nothing!" Raven says quickly.
"Aw come on man, don't chicken out like this!"
Ugh, stop the drama Alex.
"What's up Raven?" Nathan asks.
"It's uh, well - do you uh, maybe, wanna go to the Homecoming Dance with, uh, me?"
She bites her lip, looking up at him with big doe eyes. Nice touch.
Nathan blinks.
"I mean, if you want to! If you wanna go with someone else, it's totally fine because I wasn't obviously looking forward to going with you and uh, no pressure, I guess. Unless you want to?"
"Sure, definitely yeah! I would like to go with you!"
Well, he didn't hesitate.
"Oh, uh, okay! Brilliant!" Raven says in a pitch six times higher than her usual voice. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go have a private freak out!"
She speed walks into his bathroom and shuts the door, making everyone laugh. I turn back, resuming the painting. Alex changes the song to a Weeknd one.
Nathan is standing beside me, painting the lower half of the wall.
"She's... something," he says quietly so that only I can hear. The others talk and bicker among themselves.
Yeah, her crush on you can be seen from space.
"Yeah, she is."
"I didn't expect her to ask. I had honestly not thought about anyone to go with, was thinking of skipping altogether," he shrugs.
"Why?"
"Just."
Ugh, why is he so fucking secretive.
"What about you? Do you have a date?" He asks.
"Not yet, I'm not all that bothered over one. Anyway, be prepared with a red shirt or pocket square something. Raven's got a short lace black dress but she's wearing Louboutins and has a red clutch."
"Thanks for the heads up! I'm guessing you put the outfit together?"
I nod, still focusing on the painting, trying to ignore the ache in my chest. He falls silent and hums the tune of the song.
I don't think I can continue being his friend if my feelings are so intense. I need to sort my shit out, I can't sabotage Raven's feelings for my own. Besides, he will never like me.
Why do I keep forgetting that?
Nathan
Kaiden seems weird.
By the time the wall is finished, he hasn't looked at me once. Maybe what I said to him yesterday got in the wrong sense.
Oh god, I don't want to ruin our friendship.
Kaiden is literally the only person I can be open with. I can be as volatile and moody as I want and he always always understands. I know it's awful but I actually like that... he cares.
But he obviously likes Raven. I think he was meaning to ask her and he is mad that I accepted her invite. But then he probably wasn't expecting her to ask me either.
He even picked out her outfit!
His face is like a porcelain mask. I can barely make out what he's thinking most times so it is unfair how he can read me like a fucking book.
It is dusk by the time everyone leaves, finishing the wall completely. It finished way faster than it would have taken just me and Kai alone.
I see them off. Raven gives me a hug, beaming. She looks very pretty when she smiles like that. I'm glad she's happy at least. Kaiden offers to help me clean up, bagging the beer cans.
"Why are you so quiet?" I ask following him to the kitchen with the empty chip bowls. "Are you mad at me?"
"Mad at you? Why would I be mad?" He chuckles. "I'm just tired I think. We were painting for quite a long time."
"I don't know. You're being cold. Is it because Raven asked me?"
"What?! Oh gosh, no. She's been planning to ask you for the whole month!" He grins.
So he's not angry. Fuck you brain, stop overthinking.
"For a month?!"
"Isn't it painfully obvious that she likes you Nathan?"
"Um, what? I only thought she asked me so I wouldn't feel left out," I laugh.
"Left out?! Are you fucking serious?" he sighs.
I nod, wiping the counter clean.
"There's fifty girls in our year who were dying to ask you out! You, Nathan, would be the last person to be left out! Seriously, are you that dense? I always thought of you as a player and here you are, not even understanding when a girl is head over heels for you!"
Kaiden laughs.
"What? Me, a player?"
"I always think you're so confident and smooth, easily making friends, girls swooning left and right. I never thought it was because you are such a huge dumbass!" He teases me, poking my stomach. I blush and chuck the sofa cushion at him.
"I shouldn't have ruined that impression!"
"No. I'm glad you did. I want to know the real you, not the one I saw at camp."
He looks so sincere and earnest. I turn to the carpet, feeling tears prick my eyes. Why am I suddenly so emotional?
"What's the difference between Camp Instructor Nathan and this Nathan?" I ask, forcing a laugh.
"Well, camp Nathan was cheerful. He was social, carefree. He was the life of the party. However, it's all a big giant wall of happy. It would take rappelling gear to scale that wall!"
"Oh is it? What else?" I humour him.
It's insane that he sees right through me. All those awful things I said come rushing back. The guilt might as well drown me.
He is nothing like that.
"Well, this Nathan pushes everyone away to be safe. He lies a lot to get out of situations. He hides things and it's so difficult to get him to open up! Camp Nathan was better company but he wasn't real."
Fuck.
"Okay enough psychoanalysis! You should go, before my mum comes!" I laugh airily, jumping up from the couch.
"Yep, there it is - the shutdown." He sighs. "Every time anyone talks about you, you dismiss the topic completely."
"Fuck off!" I laugh, pulling the curtains shut, just so I shouldn't have to look at him. Even if I blink, I'm going to cry.
"Fine, I'll get going, or you'll probably end me!" Kai concedes, smiling.
"Finally!" I laugh, willing my voice to not crack.
He grabs his leather jacket and puts it on, pushing his hair back.
"Goodnight Nathan! See you at school? It's Hat day tomorrow for Spirit Week! Don't forget to wear one!" He grins.
I nod.
"Are you okay?"
Just go, for fuck's sake. If you ask me that one more time I'm going to crumble.
I clear my throat, the lump becoming painful.
"I'm fine Kaiden, goodnight! Text me when you reach okay?"
He looks unconvinced.
"Come here," he says softly.
"What?"
He grabs my wrist and pulls me to him, his arms locking around my waist. He rests his head on my shoulder, making my heart do a backflip. I bury my head in his neck, feeling my whole body relax. He smells like his bodywash which I absolutely love.
I let go first, feeling choked up.
"You looked like you needed that."
"Thanks," I whisper.
"Anytime!" He grins and leaves, waving at me from his fancy ass car.
I watch him leave, realising I really really like him.
And I'm so afraid.