Crossing Paths

Chapter 21

Aliyah

Despite the fact that it seemed to follow me everywhere, the rest of the day went by without anymore drama. I tried to find Park and figure out a way to make things up to her, but she seemed determined to avoid me. Before I knew it, I was out of school and driving back home with Kayden in my passenger seat. He didn't seem too interested in making conversation as he stared silently out the window, only giving me a glimpse of the back of his head. Even though it was a short drive from school to my house, I was about to turn the radio on to end the prolonged silence when Kayden finally swiveled his head around to look at me with a small smirk.

"So, were you serious about that ice cream?"

"Yep. As serious as I was about the therapy session."

In a half of a second, the playful smirk dipped down into a frown. "I have an actual therapist to do that with. I don't need an amateur wannabe."

I ignored the insult and raised my eyebrows in surprise. "You go to see a therapist?"

Kayden snorted loudly. "I wouldn't say I go. More like I'm forced against my will. Its court ordered. I'm the state's responsibility and it's very flawed legal system decided that I could use some therapy. Idiots."

"And do you actually talk to your therapist?"

The only response he gave me was a mischievous smirk that spoke plenty for itself. I shook my head at him before focusing back on the road.

"They must really hate you there." It was hard not to feel sympathetic for whoever had to sit in a chair and spend hours trying to break through the barriers he put up around himself.

Kayden gave a nonchalant shrug. "I don't know about that. Therapists love a challenge. I mean, Ty is definitely her favorite, but I think I'm way more fun."

I thought about telling him exactly how much I disagreed with that statement when we turned the corner onto my street. The second I got a glance at my driveway, my heart dropped. I almost didn't believe what I saw at first. I didn't believe my luck could be that bad, but it was definitely my parents car that was pulling in just ahead of us.

Kayden glanced at the look on my face in confusion before he followed my gaze to see what I was staring at. "I thought you said nobody was going to be home."

"They.. they aren't supposed to be."

They said they would be gone when I got back from school. And Jeremiah got a ride with Kai to go do God knows what. I thought it would be okay to bring Kayden over, but the only thing I had done was screw myself over.

"Oh this is bad. My parents are going to kill me." The words were under my breath and not meant for Kayden's ears, but he heard them anyway.

"What are you talking about? What did you do?"

"Um.." I hesitated, not sure whether or not the truth would offend Kayden. "I probably should have told you this, but my parents didn't exactly approve of me doing this project with you. In fact, they very clearly told me to stay away from you."

"What? Why?"

"Because they're under the impression that you're unstable and not a good person to be around."

Kayden took a little bit to register my answer. I thought he might get mad, but instead he gave a resigned shrug of his shoulders. "Well they're not wrong."

"Yes, they are!" I protested hotly. "You'd never do anything to hurt me and you're perfectly safe to be around. They're just being overprotective. Jeremiah kind of went off the rails because of Kai's influence and I'm pretty sure they're scared the same thing will happen to me."