Summers & Starbucks - Chapter 8: Chapter 8
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Kaiden
I am so grateful to see my mother's car home when I pull up in my driveway. At least she can give him proper treatment.
I pick him up again. He curls into me and it makes my heart flutter erratically. He's totally out of it.
My blood boils at the thought of the woman's complete neglect of him. What a shit mother to have.
"Mom! Are you home?!" I yell and she walks out of the study upstairs, looking a little annoyed.
Her eyes widen when she sees Nathan and she rushes downstairs as I put him on the big couch in our living room.
"Kaiden, what did you do?! Please don't tell me you hit him while driving!"
"What?! No, he's just very sick and passed out," I tell her, offended at her accusation. She nods, looking relieved.
I take his slippers off and rub his feet. Nora, the other maid, fetches a cold compress. I place it on his head. Mom gets her stethoscope and blood pressure machine. She takes his temperature too.
"His vitals are alright, he should probably come around soon. Keep putting the compress on him and give him these medicines and something to eat when he wakes, okay? Nora, make some hot chicken soup. I have to head to the hospital again. I was just about to leave, good you came in when you did," Mom says, ruffling my hair.
"I've never seen him before, have I?" she asks, putting on her white coat. She suits the profession perfectly, looking gentle and angelic.
"He's a new kid in my class. His name's Nathan."
She kisses the top of my head and leaves, telling me she'll be back late.
"I'll miss you!" I call and she laughs. I hear the click of the door.
I pick Nathan up again, walking to the guest bedroom on the ground floor. He stirs in my arms, slowly opening his eyes and they widen when he sees me.
"What the fuck, put me down!" he whispers, voice nearly gone from the sore throat.
"Sure," I say and put him down on the bed. He looks around, eyes wide.
"You - you fucking brought me to your house?!" he snaps weakly.
"You need to rest. Lie down, I have to put this cold compress on you," I say and push him back. He pushes my hand away, frowning.
I put the cloth on his head anyway and he grudgingly falls back, sighing.
"WHY did you bring me all the way here?"
"You collapsed on me. Also, I wasn't going anywhere near that awful screaming woman, certainly not alone."
Shailene walks in, carrying a steaming bowl of soup. Nathan's eyes widen and he sits up, glaring daggers at me.
"Vat happened? You should rest," she says. "Eat this while it's hot, yeah?"
He nods, taking the tray from her, looking embarrassed.
"Yes, thank you!" he mumbles and she leaves.
"Eat!" I point to the soup.
"Don't boss me!"
"Then listen to me!"
"Fine!"
He takes a spoonful, nearly moaning at the hot goodness. I smile, flopping on the bed beside him and turn on the T.V.
"You like Marvel?" I ask, since Thor is playing.
"Love it," he says quietly, still digging into the soup. He finishes every last drop, the colour returning to his cheeks a little.
"Mom said you should take those medicines. She left you a whole strip so you can take those home," I tell him.
"Your mother was here?! What an awful first impression!" he grumbles. His voice is raspy and low and it honestly suits him better than his usual one.
"Yeah, she's a doctor. That's why I got you home, she could fix you right up." I smile at him.
"Oh."
I nod.
"Thank you, Kaiden," he says softly.
"Don't mention it. You can stay as long as you want. Go on, take a nap. I'm right here if you need anything!"
He takes the pills and gets under the blankets, not protesting much. In less than five minutes, he's fast asleep. I watch his peaceful face, his curly hair sticking up, mouth open.
Poor thing, must be so worn out.
"Ugh, Kaiden, stop being creepy, you're not Edward Cullen!" I mumble, before going back to Thor.
A loud buzzing awakens me. The room is dark. I silence my phone sleepily, rubbing my eye.
Much to my surprise, my arms are around Nathan and his face is buried in my chest. He still feels warm to the touch, his eyebrows creased. I rub circles on his forehead, trying to soothe him.
Seeing him like this makes me even angrier at his mother. He's so out of it.
My phone buzzes again and I pick it up.
"Where the fuck are you?! I called you ten times! Anyway, when are you picking me up?"
"I was asleep, Raven. Are you guys ready? Fuck, I'm not even dressed yet!" I whisper, not wanting to wake Nathan.
"Why are you whispering? Never mind, you come on your own then. I'll ask Dan to pick me instead. Don't be late!" she says and hangs up.
I gently pry Nathan's hands from around me and he groans in his sleep. I place the blanket on him and stretch.
How the fuck did I manage to fall asleep in the school blazer?
I walk upstairs to my room and fetch a spare towel and toothbrush, along with some pajamas. I go back and place it on the bed beside Nathan. I'm glad he's resting.
Coming back to my bathroom, I have a quick hot shower, letting it soothe my tired muscles. I could use another two hours of sleep. Sighing, I get out of the shower and dry myself.
I slip on my Turkish bathrobe and put my damp hair into a towel hat. Then, I do my skin care routine. There's a knock on my bathroom door just as I finish. I step out.
Nathan is sitting on my bed, looking around at my room. Benji is lying next to him, furry legs in the air. He pets him, smiling.
"Hey, you're up! Are you feeling okay?" I smile, watching Benji cuddle to him immediately. Brat cat.
"Hi," he says, his voice sounding much better. He eyes me up and down, probably judging my baby pink robe. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"Are you coming to the Fall Carnival tonight? Do you feel like it?" I ask, entering my walk in wardrobe.
"Um, no, I've already been here too long. My mom won't like it. I don't even have any decent clothes," he says.
He would never turn down a carnival. His mother must really control him.
"You could wear my clothes, but you're right, you should go home and rest."
"Your house is huge!" Nathan says. "I can't believe this room belongs to you by yourself!"
I throw on black ripped denims and a oversized red shirt and walk out, towelling my hair.
"It's a little too big honestly. It gets lonely at night. If mom is out on conferences and dad isn't home, it feels like I can hear my thoughts echo off the walls. There's a lot of privacy though!" I chuckle. "I could be having loud, rough sex and nobody would even hear me!"
Nathan coughs, turning slightly red.
"Is your fever down now?"
I place a hand on his forehead. He closes his eyes and leans into my touch, enjoying the cool feeling probably.
"You smell so good!" he moans softly. He pulls back hastily, realising what he said.
"I'm - I'm sorry, that's just..." he fumbles.
I laugh, the butterflies returning. It's nice to know he also has some thoughts about me.
"It's the shower gel. Anyway, I left you some clothes downstairs, didn't you change? They were from my previous days so they should fit you considering you're more built than me. Do you want to stay the night? For dinner? You should catch more sleep."
I brush my hair, looking in the full length mirror of my wardrobe. They're still wet from the shower so I put on some hair serum so that they don't frizz.
"Why are you being so nice to me?!" He asks, shutting up my rambling. "What do you want?"
I turn around, suprised at his sudden loudness.
"What?!"
"Tell me what you want and I'll give it to you. Just stop playing pretend!"
"Pretend?!"
"Why are you taking care of me? You claim you felt bad that I'm sick, when it wasn't even your fault that I chose to go to work in the rain! You claim it made you feel horrid? Why? We're barely friends, so why all this treatment and acting like you care?!"
Is he mental? I think the fever got to his brain.
"You're a little cracked in the head or something? This isn't pretend, it's me being decent to you because you're sick and you need rest and you fucking fainted because of that hag who was telling you to cook for her instead of the other way around!"
A realisation makes me feel sick.
"Nathan, did she work you all day? Even when you had a 102° fever?" I ask, stomach in knots.
His silence gives him away.
"Why are you living with her?" I whisper, my heart breaking at the thought.
"It's none of your business, Kaiden. I came to tell you thanks and that I'm leaving. Goodnight," he says and storms out of my room. I follow him in silence as he walks towards the main door.
"Stop following me!" He snaps.
"How the fuck else are you supposed to get home?" I ask, reaching the end of my patience.
"I'll call a cab!"
"And pay with what?" I snap coldly.
"I can pay when I reach home, don't bother yourself!"
"Like hell I'm letting you do that!"
"You can't stop me!" He says, walking faster.
"Stop behaving like a child Nathan!"
"Oh? Else? Else what will you do?!"
I walk to him, glaring at him. He's so stubborn, it gets on my nerves.
"What - ?"
I grab hold of his shirt and yank him back. He stumbles and before he steadies himself, I grab him and pick him up, bridal style.
"What the FUCK? Put me down, I'm not your doll!" He yells, wriggling. I let go of him and he straightens, huffing.
"Fine, fine! You win!"
Sighing, I open the doors to my garage. He whoops at the cars, eyes big and round, annoyance forgotten.
"You have a GLS?!" He gasps, running to it, his hands running on the bonnet. "And fuck, is that a Cadillac?"
"All dad's. He loves cars even though he's barely even here to drive them," I shrug, unlocking my Tesla.
I pull out of the parking and he gets into the seat. He looks around at our estate and then turns to me as we leave the gates.
"Just how rich are you?!" he asks, mouth agape.
"My parents are rich," I say shortly. His mood swings are going to give me whiplash.
"Aw come on, I'm sorry!"
He pokes me repeatedly until I look at him.
"Whatever Nathan, you're right. It's not my business to help you. Maybe next time I won't. But you should know you can come to my place whenever you feel like it, okay? All my friends are welcome any time."
He nods, smiling a little. I smile back, my annoyance melting away. His smile is too cute.
"Thanks for everything, Kaiden." He says when I pull up to his house.
"Goodnight Nathan, please make sure you rest okay? You still have a fever!"
"Yeah, will do, mother hen!" he winks, walking inside.
I wait till he shuts the door and drive away, heading to the Carnival, hoping he will be alright.
I am so grateful to see my mother's car home when I pull up in my driveway. At least she can give him proper treatment.
I pick him up again. He curls into me and it makes my heart flutter erratically. He's totally out of it.
My blood boils at the thought of the woman's complete neglect of him. What a shit mother to have.
"Mom! Are you home?!" I yell and she walks out of the study upstairs, looking a little annoyed.
Her eyes widen when she sees Nathan and she rushes downstairs as I put him on the big couch in our living room.
"Kaiden, what did you do?! Please don't tell me you hit him while driving!"
"What?! No, he's just very sick and passed out," I tell her, offended at her accusation. She nods, looking relieved.
I take his slippers off and rub his feet. Nora, the other maid, fetches a cold compress. I place it on his head. Mom gets her stethoscope and blood pressure machine. She takes his temperature too.
"His vitals are alright, he should probably come around soon. Keep putting the compress on him and give him these medicines and something to eat when he wakes, okay? Nora, make some hot chicken soup. I have to head to the hospital again. I was just about to leave, good you came in when you did," Mom says, ruffling my hair.
"I've never seen him before, have I?" she asks, putting on her white coat. She suits the profession perfectly, looking gentle and angelic.
"He's a new kid in my class. His name's Nathan."
She kisses the top of my head and leaves, telling me she'll be back late.
"I'll miss you!" I call and she laughs. I hear the click of the door.
I pick Nathan up again, walking to the guest bedroom on the ground floor. He stirs in my arms, slowly opening his eyes and they widen when he sees me.
"What the fuck, put me down!" he whispers, voice nearly gone from the sore throat.
"Sure," I say and put him down on the bed. He looks around, eyes wide.
"You - you fucking brought me to your house?!" he snaps weakly.
"You need to rest. Lie down, I have to put this cold compress on you," I say and push him back. He pushes my hand away, frowning.
I put the cloth on his head anyway and he grudgingly falls back, sighing.
"WHY did you bring me all the way here?"
"You collapsed on me. Also, I wasn't going anywhere near that awful screaming woman, certainly not alone."
Shailene walks in, carrying a steaming bowl of soup. Nathan's eyes widen and he sits up, glaring daggers at me.
"Vat happened? You should rest," she says. "Eat this while it's hot, yeah?"
He nods, taking the tray from her, looking embarrassed.
"Yes, thank you!" he mumbles and she leaves.
"Eat!" I point to the soup.
"Don't boss me!"
"Then listen to me!"
"Fine!"
He takes a spoonful, nearly moaning at the hot goodness. I smile, flopping on the bed beside him and turn on the T.V.
"You like Marvel?" I ask, since Thor is playing.
"Love it," he says quietly, still digging into the soup. He finishes every last drop, the colour returning to his cheeks a little.
"Mom said you should take those medicines. She left you a whole strip so you can take those home," I tell him.
"Your mother was here?! What an awful first impression!" he grumbles. His voice is raspy and low and it honestly suits him better than his usual one.
"Yeah, she's a doctor. That's why I got you home, she could fix you right up." I smile at him.
"Oh."
I nod.
"Thank you, Kaiden," he says softly.
"Don't mention it. You can stay as long as you want. Go on, take a nap. I'm right here if you need anything!"
He takes the pills and gets under the blankets, not protesting much. In less than five minutes, he's fast asleep. I watch his peaceful face, his curly hair sticking up, mouth open.
Poor thing, must be so worn out.
"Ugh, Kaiden, stop being creepy, you're not Edward Cullen!" I mumble, before going back to Thor.
A loud buzzing awakens me. The room is dark. I silence my phone sleepily, rubbing my eye.
Much to my surprise, my arms are around Nathan and his face is buried in my chest. He still feels warm to the touch, his eyebrows creased. I rub circles on his forehead, trying to soothe him.
Seeing him like this makes me even angrier at his mother. He's so out of it.
My phone buzzes again and I pick it up.
"Where the fuck are you?! I called you ten times! Anyway, when are you picking me up?"
"I was asleep, Raven. Are you guys ready? Fuck, I'm not even dressed yet!" I whisper, not wanting to wake Nathan.
"Why are you whispering? Never mind, you come on your own then. I'll ask Dan to pick me instead. Don't be late!" she says and hangs up.
I gently pry Nathan's hands from around me and he groans in his sleep. I place the blanket on him and stretch.
How the fuck did I manage to fall asleep in the school blazer?
I walk upstairs to my room and fetch a spare towel and toothbrush, along with some pajamas. I go back and place it on the bed beside Nathan. I'm glad he's resting.
Coming back to my bathroom, I have a quick hot shower, letting it soothe my tired muscles. I could use another two hours of sleep. Sighing, I get out of the shower and dry myself.
I slip on my Turkish bathrobe and put my damp hair into a towel hat. Then, I do my skin care routine. There's a knock on my bathroom door just as I finish. I step out.
Nathan is sitting on my bed, looking around at my room. Benji is lying next to him, furry legs in the air. He pets him, smiling.
"Hey, you're up! Are you feeling okay?" I smile, watching Benji cuddle to him immediately. Brat cat.
"Hi," he says, his voice sounding much better. He eyes me up and down, probably judging my baby pink robe. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"Are you coming to the Fall Carnival tonight? Do you feel like it?" I ask, entering my walk in wardrobe.
"Um, no, I've already been here too long. My mom won't like it. I don't even have any decent clothes," he says.
He would never turn down a carnival. His mother must really control him.
"You could wear my clothes, but you're right, you should go home and rest."
"Your house is huge!" Nathan says. "I can't believe this room belongs to you by yourself!"
I throw on black ripped denims and a oversized red shirt and walk out, towelling my hair.
"It's a little too big honestly. It gets lonely at night. If mom is out on conferences and dad isn't home, it feels like I can hear my thoughts echo off the walls. There's a lot of privacy though!" I chuckle. "I could be having loud, rough sex and nobody would even hear me!"
Nathan coughs, turning slightly red.
"Is your fever down now?"
I place a hand on his forehead. He closes his eyes and leans into my touch, enjoying the cool feeling probably.
"You smell so good!" he moans softly. He pulls back hastily, realising what he said.
"I'm - I'm sorry, that's just..." he fumbles.
I laugh, the butterflies returning. It's nice to know he also has some thoughts about me.
"It's the shower gel. Anyway, I left you some clothes downstairs, didn't you change? They were from my previous days so they should fit you considering you're more built than me. Do you want to stay the night? For dinner? You should catch more sleep."
I brush my hair, looking in the full length mirror of my wardrobe. They're still wet from the shower so I put on some hair serum so that they don't frizz.
"Why are you being so nice to me?!" He asks, shutting up my rambling. "What do you want?"
I turn around, suprised at his sudden loudness.
"What?!"
"Tell me what you want and I'll give it to you. Just stop playing pretend!"
"Pretend?!"
"Why are you taking care of me? You claim you felt bad that I'm sick, when it wasn't even your fault that I chose to go to work in the rain! You claim it made you feel horrid? Why? We're barely friends, so why all this treatment and acting like you care?!"
Is he mental? I think the fever got to his brain.
"You're a little cracked in the head or something? This isn't pretend, it's me being decent to you because you're sick and you need rest and you fucking fainted because of that hag who was telling you to cook for her instead of the other way around!"
A realisation makes me feel sick.
"Nathan, did she work you all day? Even when you had a 102° fever?" I ask, stomach in knots.
His silence gives him away.
"Why are you living with her?" I whisper, my heart breaking at the thought.
"It's none of your business, Kaiden. I came to tell you thanks and that I'm leaving. Goodnight," he says and storms out of my room. I follow him in silence as he walks towards the main door.
"Stop following me!" He snaps.
"How the fuck else are you supposed to get home?" I ask, reaching the end of my patience.
"I'll call a cab!"
"And pay with what?" I snap coldly.
"I can pay when I reach home, don't bother yourself!"
"Like hell I'm letting you do that!"
"You can't stop me!" He says, walking faster.
"Stop behaving like a child Nathan!"
"Oh? Else? Else what will you do?!"
I walk to him, glaring at him. He's so stubborn, it gets on my nerves.
"What - ?"
I grab hold of his shirt and yank him back. He stumbles and before he steadies himself, I grab him and pick him up, bridal style.
"What the FUCK? Put me down, I'm not your doll!" He yells, wriggling. I let go of him and he straightens, huffing.
"Fine, fine! You win!"
Sighing, I open the doors to my garage. He whoops at the cars, eyes big and round, annoyance forgotten.
"You have a GLS?!" He gasps, running to it, his hands running on the bonnet. "And fuck, is that a Cadillac?"
"All dad's. He loves cars even though he's barely even here to drive them," I shrug, unlocking my Tesla.
I pull out of the parking and he gets into the seat. He looks around at our estate and then turns to me as we leave the gates.
"Just how rich are you?!" he asks, mouth agape.
"My parents are rich," I say shortly. His mood swings are going to give me whiplash.
"Aw come on, I'm sorry!"
He pokes me repeatedly until I look at him.
"Whatever Nathan, you're right. It's not my business to help you. Maybe next time I won't. But you should know you can come to my place whenever you feel like it, okay? All my friends are welcome any time."
He nods, smiling a little. I smile back, my annoyance melting away. His smile is too cute.
"Thanks for everything, Kaiden." He says when I pull up to his house.
"Goodnight Nathan, please make sure you rest okay? You still have a fever!"
"Yeah, will do, mother hen!" he winks, walking inside.
I wait till he shuts the door and drive away, heading to the Carnival, hoping he will be alright.
End of Summers & Starbucks Chapter 8. Continue reading Chapter 9 or return to Summers & Starbucks book page.