Outsider Series: Outsider Part 2

I blushed and looked down at my plate. "That would be nice," I said.

He grinned. "School starts in two days. Why don't I take you over there tomorrow and we'll get your schedule and then I can show you around so you're not completely lost on your first day."

"That would be great," I sighed. "You'd think as many times as I've moved I'd be used to being the new kid but it never ceases to stop bothering me."

"You wouldn't be halfway human if it didn't bother you. But don't worry I've got your back. Plus, almost everyone is nice."

"Almost?" I asked.

He chuckled. "I'm not going to lie. There are some people there that get under my skin."

It was so easy to talk to Caeden and I found myself leaning closer to him as if pulled by some kind of magnetic energy. He seemed to be doing the same. Just then the front door opened and startled we jumped apart.

"Lucinda?" Caeden asked standing. He stood in front of me and his stance suggested he was ready for an attack.

"It's only me," she called and then came around the corner into the small yellow kitchen. "Something smells divine," she said.

Caeden sat back down and leaned the rickety wooden chair back on two legs. I didn't know how the old chair didn't snap. "Sophie is an amazing cook." He rubbed his stomach. "She might be even better than you."

"Take that back Caeden Williams," she said a smacked the back of his head lightly.

He laughed and deposited the chair back down on four legs. I was amazed at their light banter. I had never met Caeden on any of my previous visits with Gram but the two acted like old buddies.

"I put a plate for you in the microwave," I told Gram and she proceeded to warm it up.

Suddenly the room felt heavy with tension and the only noise was the low roar of the microwave.

"I better get going," said Caeden. "Bryce and I have to do something. He's probably standing on top of his head."

"Be careful," said Gram, "and don't worry about work tomorrow. We open later on Monday's anyway so Sophie will cover it."

Caeden nodded his head. His face looked dark with worry about something. I wondered what was going on. It looked like something was pa.s.sing between Gram and Caeden.

He started to leave. "I guess I'll see you when I see you," I called.

"Yeah," he said not turning around.

Puzzled I turned to look at Gram. "What's going on?" I asked her.

She sat down in the seat that Caeden had vacated and then proceeded to take a couple bites of food.

I repeated the question.

"Nothing," she said. "I don't know what you're talking about," Gram added.

"Oh, I don't know maybe the voodoo mind magic going on five minutes ago?" I said.

Gram laughed. "Sophie, you're just like your father. He always did have an overactive imagination."

I sighed and went to the sink to clean my plate.

It was still early but I turned to Gram and said, "I'm going to bed."

"Don't forget to call your parents," she chimed as I left the room.

"Kay," I called over my shoulder.

I brushed my teeth, washed my face, and got in my pajamas before calling my parents. Neither answered so I just left a message and then climbed under the covers and was out like a light.

Gram was gone when I woke up which I thought was strange because I hadn't overslept. I made myself breakfast and then showered and got dressed. I put my cap and Lucinda's s.h.i.+rt by the door so I wouldn't leave either here by mistake. I noticed before she left Gram had attached her house key to my key ring. I smiled to myself. If she hadn't done that there would have been no doubt that I would have locked myself out. I might have even done it on purpose just for the chance to see Caeden.

Sometime later a knock sounded on the door scaring me to death. I put a hand to my racing heart. I had never been so jumpy before. This place must be messing with my head.

I slowly opened the door so that, if necessary, I could slam it shut quickly.

But to my relief Caeden stood outside. He looked flawless in a pale blue t-s.h.i.+rt, which brought out the cobalt of his eyes, and his motorcycle jacket.

"Hey," he said. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"I wasn't scared," I defended. He gave me a look that told me he didn't believe me.

"I told you that I would show you around the school, today," he said and grinned at me.

"Oh right," I said awkwardly and just stood there.

"Are you coming?" he asked after a moment.

"Yeah," I said shaking my head and grabbed my stuff. I didn't know how long it would take at the school and Gram would have my head if I opened the store one second late.

I shut the door and saw that Caeden was holding out a helmet to me. I scrunched up my nose. "No thanks," I said. "I don't wish to be road kill."

He chuckled. "Don't you trust me? I would never hurt you. Come on it'll be fun," he said and tried to get me to take the helmet.

I clicked the b.u.t.ton to unlock my car and it beeped cheerily. "We can go in my car," I said and motioned to it like I was Vana White on Wheel of Fortune.

"Fine," he grumbled and put the helmet back.

I climbed behind the wheel and he got in a moment later. The radio blared on and I immediately turned it off.

Caeden studied the car and rubbed the leather seats. "This is your car? Your parents must love you," he said with a laugh.

"Something like that. It's more of a bribe for being a good sport about all the moves through the years," I said. "But they do love me," I added backing out of the driveway and trying to avoid his monster of a cycle. "And hey, that bike doesn't look cheap," I demanded.

He rubbed his hands uncomfortably on his jeans. "It was my dad's," he said and then cleared his throat. "Before he died. It was going to be my graduation present but my mom gave it to me early."

"Oh," I said stunned. "I'm so sorry," I b.u.mbled.

"Accidents happen," he said.

I didn't know what to say, I had never known someone with a dead parent before, so I didn't say anything at all. I pulled into the school parking lot, I had been here plenty of times with Gram to see plays, and followed Caeden inside. He held the front doors open for me and then turned to the right and went pa.s.sed the attendance and office, before stopping in front of the guidance office. Once again he held the door open for me.

The lady sitting behind the desk looked up, her reading gla.s.ses perched haphazardly on the end of her nose, and smiled at me. "Sorry, sweetie no schedule changes until the second week of school."

I smiled back. "I'm not here for a schedule change. I just moved here and I haven't received my schedule yet so I was hoping you would help me," I said.

"Oh, certainly," she said. "What's your name?"

"Sophie Beaumont," I said.

She searched her computer and then said, "Ah, here you are." She hummed to herself. "It says you live with your grandma."

"Yes," I said. "Lucinda Beaumont. My dad's in the military and so we moved around a lot. They decided it would be better if I spent my senior year in one place."

"Oh," she said. "Lucinda? That sounds familiar," she said and tapped her chin.

"Lucinda's Cupcakes, maybe?" I suggested with a shrug of my shoulders.

"That's it!" she said clapping her hands. "Those are the best cupcakes! Here you are," she said handing my schedule and then a map of the school.

"Thanks," I said and turned around and walked into something hard. I put my hands out in front of me and felt hard muscle. My cheeks flamed and I pulled my hands away like I had been burned.

"Sorry," I muttered to Caeden. I had forgotten he was behind me. He had that same enamored look on his face which made me blush more. I went around him and that seemed to snap him out of his weird trance.

He shook his head and followed me out.

"Let me see your schedule," he said and I handed it to him. He clucked his tongue and smiled. "You got Harding for Math good luck with that," he said. "She's the worst."

I groaned. "I already suck at math. I need a good teacher."

"Don't get me wrong. She's a good teacher as long as you don't get on her bad side. She absolutely hates my brother Bryce," he said as we continued to walk straight down the hall. He laughed. "She threw a ruler at him once."

I laughed too.

"Okay," he said as the hall ended and the only way was to go left. "This is the math wing. So, you're going to come down here first. It's this cla.s.sroom right here," he said indicating the second on right. A plump woman with graying hair sat behind a desk. Seeing us she looked up. Then she noticed Caeden and glared.

"Is that brother of yours still here?" she growled.

Caeden turned to me and rolled his eyes. I stifled a laugh. "Yes, Mrs. Harding. He's a grade behind me. You still have to see his face every day for the next two years."

"Every day my foot," she groaned.

Caeden shook his head and shot her a charming smile. "Anyway, this Sophie. She's new. You'll be seeing her in your first cla.s.s."

She turned her beady eyes on me and stabbed the air with a pencil she had been holding. "You're not going to give me any trouble now are you young lady?"

"No ma'am," I said.

Her eyes narrowed to the point that I didn't know how she could see out of them. "I can smell trouble a mile away and you are trouble."

I gulped. I didn't know what to say but I finally found my voice. "I won't cause any trouble," I breathed.

"Hmm," she said.

We started out of her room and then Caeden leaned his head back in. "Oh, Bryce's head is fine by the way. Thanks for asking."

I saw her scrunch up her face and stand up.

Suddenly Caeden's warm hand was on mine. "Run!" he said.

We sprinted down the hallway and he pulled me into an alcove out of her line of sight.

I could see Mrs. Harding out of the corner of my eye. She was standing in the middle of the hallway with her hands on her hips seething. She mumbled something about annoying teenagers and walked away.

Caeden's hand still held mine. I didn't want to let go. I liked the way it felt there. Like it belonged. Once he was sure she was out of ear shot he burst into laughter.

I smacked his arm. "You're horrible! She could have eaten me!"

He started laughing harder. "I couldn't resist."

I let go of his hand reluctantly and said, "Can we finish the tour now?"

"Sure, sure," he said and another giggle escaped.

We started walking again and I asked, "How come you said that she would see him every day? Don't we have block scheduling?"

Caeden rubbed the scruff on his face. His blue eyes were glittering with laughter. "Yeah, we have block scheduling but Bryce is like a math whiz and Mrs. Harding is the only teacher that teaches the everyday advanced cla.s.ses. So, she gets to see his wonderful face every day for the next two years just like she has for the last two years. Even one of his electives is Math. I actually think he might be in your cla.s.s."

I laughed. "Math? An elective?"

"What can I say?" he said throwing his hands in the air. "The kid's a freak. But he's my baby brother."

I shook my head. Caeden finished showing me around and told me that he'd meet me in the parking lot on the first day. This reminded him that I needed to buy a parking spot first. I bought the spot right next to his.

I drove back to Gram's to drop him off and then headed to the store. I had some time before the store opened so I started baking fresh cupcakes. The spicy and sweet scents permeated the air. Guiltily, I s.n.a.t.c.hed a cupcake and moaned in ecstasy. Gram's recipes made the best cupcakes.

Before I knew it the day was over... and the next. The first day of school was staring me in the face and I was so not ready.

three.

I groaned into my pillow as the alarm went off. Finally I couldn't take the incessant buzzing anymore and turned it off.

A light knock on my door, a shed of light, and then Gram's head finally emerged. "Rise and s.h.i.+ne!" she chanted. "First day of school!"

I groaned and covered my eyes with arm. "At least it's the last first day of school," I mumbled.

"That's the spirit!" she said. "Now get that toosh out of bed and get ready. I've already started breakfast," she said trying to entice me with her cooking.

"It's dark out," I grumbled. "That means it's time to sleep, not eat."