I quickly turned and headed to my bus stop, only just managing to make it on time.
I sat in the back and put my head in my hands with a sigh.
Things just got fucking difficult.
“What the fuck?” I snapped as I walked into my bedroom when I got home, finding it basically empty.
The only thing left was my fucking bed and an empty set of drawers.
I stormed through the house, frustration sinking in when I noticed Max wasn’t home, but I found a note in the kitchen, stating that everything had been moved to Josie’s and to make sure I’d join them by dinnertime.
I scrunched it up in my hand and tossed it in the trash with more force than necessary, detouring back to my room and snatching my cigarettes from the hidden panel in my bedroom wardrobe, before stomping outside to light one.
I sat on the porch with my back pressed firmly against the wall and closed my eyes, not opening them again until a car rumbled into the driveway.
Caden climbed out from behind the wheel, making me snort.
For fuck’s sake, really?
My eyes closed again in hope that he went away, but I heard him slide down the wall beside me, lighting his own cigarette before he finally spoke.
“Figured you might want a lift?”
I didn’t look at him as I took a long drag, exhaling as I spoke.
“You figured wrong. I’m not fucking going anywhere.”
“You might want to once it gets dark and cold. He shut the power off apparently,” he said lazily, blowing smoke into the air.
“Of course he did,” I muttered, opening my eyes to flick the butt of my cigarette onto the lawn.
“How do you know Lukas?” He asked bluntly, and I instantly tensed.
I wasn’t about to tell him my deepest, darkest secrets.
“We used to be friends.”
“Friends?”
I was quiet for a moment before a small sigh left me, deciding to give him just enough to get him to back off and stop digging.
“He was my best friend from the first day of preschool until the end of middle school. Shit happened and I’ll never forgive him, okay? Drop it, because I won’t talk about it anymore with you.”
He nodded, not seeming convinced by my answer as he glanced around the sad excuse I’d called home for most of my life.
“Mom wanted to set your room up, but I figured you probably don’t like people touching your shit, so I told her to let you do it. After dinner they’ll probably fuck off for the night, so you’ll basically have the house to yourself. I’ve got somewhere to be later, so I’ll be home late. C’mon, let’s go and I’ll show you how everything in the movie room and stuff works. Got a Sony in there too, if you like gaming.”
I kept quiet for a second before glancing up at him, his green eyes staring back at me intensely.
“Why are you being nice? Yesterday you said…”
“We aren’t buddies or anything, but you despise your dad even though he’s all you really have, and you don’t take anyone’s shit. So, I figured we can at least not kill each other, okay? Get in the car,” he mumbled, but he didn’t sound bothered.
I stood, locking the house up before walking over to his car with him, hiding my excitement as I slid into the passenger seat and felt the soft leather under me.
I was right about nearly having a fucking orgasm as the engine rumbled to life.
We didn’t speak the whole drive to his place, and once we got there, we wandered into the kitchen together, making Max frown with disapproval.
“Where have you two been?”
I snatched a banana from the fruit bowl on the bench and shrugged.
“School.”
“School’s been out for over two hours.”
“After school, I went home.”
“This is your home now, Aurora,” he said patiently, but I knew on the inside he wanted to fucking strangle me.
I popped a shoulder up in a half shrug.
“Nah, this is Josie and Caden’s home. You and me? We’re like tourists. Once the money runs out, we’ll fucking go.”
I peeled the banana, ignoring how his eyes narrowed to slits.
“Would you stop that? Believe it or not, I believe you’ll be happy here if you just tried.”
I glanced at Caden with a smirk. “I mean, at least I have some super good company while we’re here playing house. Did you know Caden’s best buddies with Lukas James?”
My father stiffened, making Caden glance between us as he tried to figure us out, but Max forced a smile.
“Well isn’t that nice for you, honey? Does Lukas come around here often?”
“Oh yeah, all the time. We all share classes and stuff too. Maybe I’ll hang out with him after school tomorrow? I’m not sure yet. Oh, Caden? Can you show me the movie room now?”
Caden gave me a curt nod, seeming unsure with what was going on.
“Yeah, sure thing.”
His eyes watched me closely as I took a big mouthful of my banana, chewing it slowly and swallowing, before turning to my father who looked pretty pissed at me.
“You don’t mind if we hang out for a while, do you?”
“Aurora…”
I faked a giggle and forced myself to press my body against Caden’s, resting a hand on his solid chest and smiling sweetly up at him.
“C’mon, Caden. Since we toured my home, I say we tour yours. You know, every room.”
He raised an eyebrow but smirked, deciding to play along with my little game, moving slowly so he didn’t startle me as he reached out and tucked loose strands of black hair behind my ear with fake affection, a soft tone in his voice.
“As if I could say no to you?”
Max watched us for a moment before storming from the room, a smirk of satisfaction stretching across my face.
I removed myself from Caden who was looking pretty fucking amused himself.
“Your dad’s gonna think we’re fucking now.”
“Good,” I shrugged, heading down the hallway with him trailing behind me.
Once in the movie room, he plonked down on one of the couches, watching as I sat beside him before he spoke up.
“You know you’ll just piss him off, right? I mean, I personally love pissing people off but why do you want to?”
I met his gaze, giving him a bored shrug, drawing my knees up to rest my chin on them.
“He doesn’t give a fuck how I feel when he fucks with my life, so I’ll at least try to have fun in upsetting him back. Besides, maybe if I push him far enough, your mom will see the man he really is.”
“Which is what, Rory?” He asked, his voice sounding tight and irritated, my eyes darting away from his as my arms tightened around my legs.
Fuck.
“Nothing.”
“How often does he hurt you?” He asked gently after a moment, my jaw clenching in response.
I ignored him, staring at the huge TV screen on the wall, my body tensing up when he shuffled closer and reached out to tuck my hair behind my ear like he had earlier.
I hated the fluttery feeling in my stomach from his touch.
“Well, if he knows what’s good for him, he won’t lay a fucking hand on you when I’m around.”
I flicked my gaze to his, my voice sounding breathy as I forced out, “Why’s that?”