Summers & Starbucks - Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Kaiden
Nathan's popularity grows tremendously in the next few days. His natural charm makes it easy for him to make friends. The girls won't leave him alone though and it is annoying as hell.
I am not the only one who thinks that, because Ryan, Dan, and Raven are all pissed.
For different reasons obviously.
"What's so special about him?" Ryan asks, watching as Nathan chats with Sasha.
He seems to really like Sasha, the main reason for my annoyance. Her female instincts are in overdrive too, playing with her hair, looking up at him coyly. Nobody would be surprised if they made the announcement in a week.
"He's hot, in case you didn't notice," Raven sighs dreamily. "And he's also really nice! He's friendly, sweet, and doesn't hesitate to help anyone. Even the freshmen are in love with him!"
Daniel rolls his eyes, uprooting grass from the tiles of the amphitheater angrily. Ever since Alex told him off, he's been quiet.
"I know! He's a magnificent soccer player as well," Ryan agrees, albeit grudgingly. "It's like the ball has a magnet towards his legs! The team loves him, Max is probably ready to pop the question. That is why I don't know why he bothers me so much!"
It's envy, Ryan.
"Coach Radnor didn't even think before he said yes to him! The old man probably thought it was his last chance of winning against Westbrook," Ryan continues. Even our Coaches have an ongoing rivalry.
It's a rare free period and a perfect fall day so we decided to hang out at the amphitheater. Bella and Alex went to the school council meetings, hence the downtime.
"Maybe we should include him in our group," Raven suggests, looking up from her phone.
"So that you could simp over him from a lesser distance?" Ryan laughs, white teeth gleaming against his dark skin.
"Partially yes. It would also make a nice change, it's always only us hanging out together!"
"There's a reason for that. It's called a friend group!" Daniel says, clearly not liking the idea one bit.
"Maybe it would bring Sasha closer to a certain someone," Raven continues, smiling smugly.
Daniel narrows his eyes.
"Never mind Nathan, I'm looking forward to the Homecoming game! There's a party afterward at Calum's place, regardless of winning or losing. The football team is invited too I think," Ryan says quickly before a fight breaks out between the two of them.
"Have you decided who to ask for dance?" I ask, catching on. Ryan shoots me a grateful look.
"I lost my one chance so now I'm probably going stag," Dan shrugs.
"What is the probability Nathan accepts if I ask him?" Raven says. "Before he asks Sasha of course."
Daniel perks up.
"Wait, then that means I can ask Sasha! Raven, please please please ask him!"
He practically falls on his knees, making his best puppy dog eyes. Raven nods, grinning.
"And you, Kaiden? You are probably not interested in anyone, after the Hayley fiasco hm?" She asks softly.
I nod.
"Maybe you should date around," Ryan says. "It would take your mind off what happened."
"Date around? I barely have time, with college applications and doing client work. Also, I heard SATs are hard, I have to study!"
"Drowning yourself in work to escape feelings? Classic Kaiden," Daniel smirks.
"Guys, did you see the link I sent?" I ask, swiftly changing the topic. I really don't want to mull over the pathetic ending of junior year.
"Oh yes! I loved the logo for the marketing firm! It's so clean! Tell me you were paid for that?!" Raven asks.
"Yeah I got paid. It was a fun job, although I'm currently more interested in the men's jacket line I'm designing."
"I liked them. Especially the one with the Koi fish on it, it looks amazing. If you were to sell your design, I would buy that one!" Dan says.
I smile.
"Maybe you should find a tailor who's willing to put your designs into fruition. Or at least sell your designs to one of those websites that print them on hoodies," Raven suggests.
"Man, I still gotta go through it, I'm sorry! Looks like it's really taking off though, why don't you start an Etsy shop?" Ryan says.
"Who's starting an Etsy?" Sasha asks, walking to us.
Nathan nods once at me. He looks especially good today, wearing a grey beanie that matches our uniform.
His arm is casually resting on Sasha's shoulders.
Raven eyes that arm, as if contemplating whether or not she should rip it off. I'm kinda thinking along the same lines.
"Me. I was talking about my online portfolio," I mutter.
"Oh is it? What kind?" Sasha asks, looking genuinely interested.
"Currently it's everything design, Kaiden's hoping to get into graphic or fashion design. He's working really hard for that! He's even got a few clients!" Raven says, making me blush.
I am stupidly uncomfortable when people praise me. How does one react? I would much rather stick my face in the ground, ostrich style.
"That is amazing, Kai! Why don't you send me the link too and I could send it to my cousin? He's at Parsons in NYC, he would happily help you curate it better!"
"Holy crap, you would do that?! For me?!" I gasp, not believing her. Parsons is like, my dream come true.
"Why not? God knows Riven is just partying away his free time!" Sasha laughs.
I give her the tightest hug I've ever given anyone.
"Thank you!" I beam.
Sasha is my new favorite person in the whole world right now. Nathan smiles at us and they walk off. I am not even annoyed at them anymore.
Daniel and Raven however have different feelings.
"UGH, when hot people are nice, it makes it harder to hate them just for being hot."
"Raven, I have a question," I mutter, stopping my English Lit homework. She looks up, a pencil between her lips. She takes it out and flicks it on her bed.
Her house is empty so she invited me for tea and homework. I accepted as I had nothing to do after school.
"What?"
"Do I really avoid facing my feelings?"
She sits up, eyes wide. I'm not usually one for an emotional heart-to-heart chat so I'm sure she's curious.
"Well, you do have an avoidant personality," she says, putting on her therapist voice. "You avoided us all summer. I don't believe you one bit when you said they didn't allow phones."
I fall back on the bed, sighing.
"It's true. After what happened to me, I didn't want to be in touch with anyone. I barely got through the fucking finals," I mutter, shuddering at the memory.
Raven gets up from her study table and sits beside me, looking concerned.
"I understand. I don't relate to what you went through because I'll never completely get it, but I know what you must have felt. It's a wonder you didn't straight up murder that bitch!"
I nod.
After Hayley, I don't want to let myself get close to anyone. That girl took my worst insecurities and threw them at me by cheating on me, just because I was fat and naive.
Our relationship started out with her being vulnerable and me comforting her. Then she told me she likes me.
Like a fool, I fell for it.
I was elated because I didn't think anyone would like me romantically, because I was chubby. In high school, looks matter a lot. I didn't want to graduate without even one relationship, not when most of my friends were at least fucking around or had someone interested in them.
So I agreed to Hayley immediately.
I didn't know she was taking pictures of me during whatever little intimate moments we had.
It was a dare given to her, by Adrian.
The pictures were leaked to the whole of junior and sophomore year. I went from being the invisible kid to a laughing stock, just for being fat. I always thought only girls suffered this kind of treatment until a girl did that to me.
Trust me, it's really fucking humiliating.
"You know, a part of the reason I went camping is to isolate myself from everything. I didn't want to be around anyone who reminded me of school. I needed a clean break."
"I don't blame you for that Kai. I just wish you would have talked to us. We're your friends!"
"I know Raven but there was nothing you could have done, except pity me and be a constant reminder of that incident. I almost wanted to change schools altogether."
Raven puts her arms around me and I lean into the hug. I needed it.
"I'm happy you did what you had to, Kaiden. I just wish I could have been there for you!"
"I know Raven. Actually, if I hadn't met Nathan, I would probably still be moping around."
"Ooh, finally I get some context about your relationship!" She sits upright, brown eyes gleaming.
"Nathan was a breath of fresh air after everything. He was loud and happy-go-lucky. It helped that he was the youngest camp instructor," I smile.
"Wait, so he wasn't a camper?!"
"Nah. We were kind of forced to shared a tent. The other thirty members were evenly matched, I was the odd one out. I was cold as hell to everyone in the first week, refusing to participate in anything. I just wanted to stay alone and wallow in my misery."
"I can imagine," Raven laughs.
"I was so unathletic and felt so fucking fat all the time." I sigh.
"There was a constant fear that I was being ridiculed by the campers. But Nathan didn't care I was fat. He always made sure I was never left out, in any activity. He made me feel like I mattered. Maybe it was a part of his job, maybe he did it out of pity, I still don't know. I just know he pulled me out of a very dark place mentally and I'm thankful he did."
Raven nods and hugs me again.
"I've known you guys for four years, you've always been accepting of me no matter how I looked or how weird I was and I love you for that."
She pecks the side of my head, comforting me.
"He was a rare stranger who treated me right. I managed to actually enjoy the one and a half month I was there and you know how much I loathe being in the outdoors."
"I'm glad you met him. Did you tell him then?"
I shake my head.
"He doesn't know. I wanted to forget so I never told him anything. We bonded over a shared interest in anime and video games. I sort of owe my transformation to him."
"Oh, so he gets the credit for this new and improved Kaiden? Who would've thought!" Raven hoots in surprise.
"Well, partially yes. But I had enough of other people treating me like shit just because of my body. So even during the last month of vacations after camp, I continued the rigorous physical activities."
Raven nods, squeezing my hand in hers.
"I got a personal trainer, got myself a diet and trained twice a day. I didn't do it for Nathan. I didn't think I'd even see him again. It's just that he made me want to do better - for myself. He didn't pity me so I stopped pitying myself too. My self esteem was depending on the way I looked and it had completely shattered. Nathan helped me pick up the shreds."
"I'm sorry, Kai!" She hugs me again.
"It's okay, I don't blame you. You didn't know because I didn't tell you. Don't beat yourself up!"
I let go of the hug first, getting up to keep the tea tray away. It feels liberating to tell her.
"I knew you guys seemed pretty close! Then, why do you think Nathan didn't tell you he was coming to our school?"
"I don't know, he must have his reasons right?"
I hope they're valid ones and not something stupid like he freaking forgot. I would beat him up.
"As nice as he is, there are rumors going on about him."
"What kind?" I ask, turning in surprise. This is the first I've heard of them.
"That he was nearly sent to jail and whatnot. Even though he is popular, nobody seems to know anything about him! That's got to be a talent!"
Jail?! That's a whole different ballgame.
"Maybe we shouldn't make assumptions, Raven."
I leave her house, wondering about him again. The more I think, the more I wonder if that the Nathan I knew at camp is just a facade.