Summers & Starbucks - Chapter 21: Chapter 21

Kaiden
"Kaiden honey, are you okay?" Mum asks at lunch. "You haven't touched your food."
I made sure everyone left my house before my parents arrived.
"I'm fine Mum, just tired. How was your trip? How's aunt Carol and Nellie?"
"They're both fine. Nellie might visit us sometime soon, you should talk to her about what I said," Dad says. I sigh, nodding.
"I hope you're studying for your exams. They're in two weeks, right?" Mum asks.
I nod, lying straight up. So much has happened in this month that I have been slacking on studies a lot.
"I'm doing okay. Got a B on two pop quizzes but I'll do better in the exams I promise. It's the Homecoming game tonight."
"Oh right, right. Well, me and Dad have plans. You remember Austin? His parents invited us to spend the weekend at their cabin for a skiing vacay. So we're leaving tonight, our flight's at 11."
"You guys literally just arrived home!" I laugh. "Honestly you have a better social life than I do."
Mum laughs.
"When Kane comes let's go for a family vacation. Just us four okay?" Dad says, perking up.
"Sure. I'll keep my schedule free," I grin.
They talk about taxes and I realise how fucking privileged I am to have a stable family.
My mind goes back to Nathan and a tight knot appears in my gut. Why the fuck did he kiss me? I would rather not even know what he's thinking. I want the memory to be untarnished by anything.
I spent the day studying and working on a new project, just so I could distract myself from the recurring thoughts of the kiss.
There's only half hour to the game and I do not want to face Nathan yet. I loved every second of the kiss. I don't want to hear him saying it was a mistake.
I know he will apologise.
I don't know if I'll be able to do that, now that I know what his kiss feels like. Chernobyl in my head.
The message tone distracts me from my train of thought. My phone is blowing up with messages. I have twenty something calls from Raven and the others.
Nothing from Nathan.
He's probably getting ready for his first game with Credence.
Are we still supposed to be at yours after Calum's party? - Ryan
Fuck, I had totally forgotten about that.
Yeah yeah, still on for tonight. I'll reach school in fifteen minutes. - K
Cool, come soon! Raven saved a seat for you - R
Later. - K
Sighing, I head out.
It's gonna be a long ass night.
I find Raven and the others immediately when I arrive. The excitement in the air is palpitable, I don't know why I've never been to a school game before!
The Hawks team is already here and the bleachers are almost full, cheering for their respective schools. It's a wonderful feeling and my tension slips away.
I find Nathan on the field, his number 10 jersey standing out. He has a small smile playing on his lips. I want to talk to him so bad but I don't know what to say!
"Kaiden, I have to tell you something," Bella says, approaching me. She is fidgety, very uncharacteristic of her.
"Sure, what's up?"
"Not now, I'll tell you at the party."
The whistle blows and game starts.
Time to kick some Hawk butt!
Nathan is in his best form and we're already four goals in by halftime with one by the Hawks. Max is beaming. The referee blows the whistle and they're back on the field.
The ball goes to Calum and then Alex, who passes it to Luke. His defense is a little loose and he runs past him. Luke passes the ball to Nathan and he jumps to head it into the net. His opponent pulls him down and he falls on his back.
"Hey that's a foul!" I yell, pissed.
Nathan's not moving.
Nathan's not moving.
I don't even register my legs running down the bleachers, towards Nathan's unconscious form. The way he fell, it could give him a concussion bad enough to land him in bed for a week.
Ryan and Max carry him to the school clinic, careful not to move his head too much. My stomach is doing flips.
The game is called off and the Hawks lose. The on call doctor, Mr. Springs, tells us to wait outside. Ryan and Daniel are pacing the corridor. Bella is talking to Max. Raven runs to me, worried.
This was supposed to be a fun, celebratory game and now we're in the hospital.
The doctor comes out and everyone crowds around him.
"He's a lucky guy. He will be in pain for a while and have blunt force trauma but he's fine otherwise. Nothing is broken and he only narrowly escaped having a concussion. He's awake now, you can see him," he says and leaves.
The whole team sighs in relief, including Daniel. Coach, Max and the others go inside. I'm not sure he wants to see me so I head back to the school.
Nathan
Everyone is around me, talking at once. Coach asked me a few questions. Max is saying how lucky I am I didn't get a concussion. Alex and Ryan are bragging about how I could have scored another one if that asshole didn't push me.
But I can only focus on the fact that Kaiden's not here.
Calum, Max and Luke leave. Bella, Aaron and Raven come in. Kaiden's still not with them. Raven takes my hand in her small one.
"You should rest, Nathan. You took a bad hit. I think you should skip the party," she says.
I feel odd. Isn't this fussing a bit over the top?
"What? I am fine!"
"Are you mad? We're all skipping the party. Let's just get booze and spend the night at Kaiden's!" Ryan says.
"Bullshit. Come on, don't fawn over me like I'm three!" I laugh. "Also, congratulations on the win guys!"
They look at me like they only just realised we won. They probably did.
"Holy shit we won, right?" Ryan laughs incredulously. "We almost forgot. Hell yes we're partying!"
I laugh.
The nurse comes in, saying she wants to do a final checkup and tend to my battered elbows. Everyone leaves to get ready for the party.
She's halfway through when Kaiden saunters in. He sits in the chair, waiting for the nurse to get done. He looks everywhere but at me. But I can't take my eyes off him.
The woman leaves us be, closing the door to the room.
"I'm sorry Kaiden!"
We both speak at the same time.
"You first!" I mumble.
I can't believe he is talking to me.
"I'm glad you're okay," he says, fidgeting with his cuffs.
He looks positively edible right now, in a black hoodie. I can smell his cologne from where he's standing and it takes everything in me to not go and kiss him again.
"You gave me a nasty scare! I thought you hit your head! Couldn't you have paid more attention to your defense Nathan?!" He snaps.
Honestly, him getting mad at me is any day better than him blatantly ignoring me.
"Anyway, uh, there's a sleepover at my place tonight after the party. And we're going to the homecoming dance tomorrow, directly from mine. So get your outfit at my place. That's all I wanted to say," he says before storming out.
Okay.
I groan, falling back on the small bed.
What was I thinking, kissing him? He's straighter than a poker and now I have ruined things. He has every right to be mad at me but it feels awful. I lost the only friend I have managed to make here.
I don't even have anyone else to talk to about this, except Seth but then it would mean taking names. I don't think Kaiden wants anything like this to go about. Hell, even I don't want anything to go out either.
Maybe I could get him alone at the party tonight and then apologize.
The nurse says I can leave. Hurriedly, I pack my things and leave the infirmary. Everyone's left so I catch a bus.
Kaiden was supposed to take me to his house but he just left. He's never done that before. He must be beyond pissed.
The one thing I swore to myself I wouldn't do!