Pride, Ego, Audacity

8. Morale

Kalen

"You knew!" I accused Kaden when I got home and saw him sprawled out on the couch watching tv.

"Knew what?" He asked, eyes still trained on the tv. So Devin hadn't told him that I had found out yet.

"About Devin liking me." Kaden turned slowly to look at me, the remote dropping from his hands.

"Shit. How'd you find out?"

"He slipped up and you know I'm good at reading people."

"Ugh, I warned him getting close to you wouldn't be a good idea if he didn't want to get found out."

"How long?"

"How long has he liked you?" Kaden asked to confirm the question. I nodded. "I think that's a question you should be asking him, not me."

"He practically sprinted away from me when I confronted him. I doubt we'll be having a conversation any time soon." I muttered.

"He just needs time to process the fact that one of his biggest secrets has just been exposed to the one person he most didn't want to find out. He'll come around soon. Trust me, I'm his best friend, I know what he's like." Kaden reassured. "Will you be okay at home alone? I think I'll stay over at Devin's tonight. I don't think he should be all by himself today."

"What about his parents?"

"Business trip. They're rarely home. That's why we go out so much. He hates being at home by himself."

"Oh, yeah, you can go. I'll be fine."

Kaden gave me a reassuring pat on the back before leaving to walk over to Devin's house. However, he came back only 30 minutes later.

"What, why are you back?"

"You and Brooklyn broke up?" He exclaimed.

"Yeah." I frowned. I had been so caught up with the Devin issue that I had completely forgotten about Brooklyn.

"And you didn't tell me?" Kaden's voice increased slightly in volume with his surprise.

"I forgot."

"You forgot?" He was almost yelling by this point.

"How did you find out anyway?"

"Devin told me. He said you probably need me more right now which is why I'm back." Kaden explained. "Although, considering the fact that you forgot you had just broken up with your girlfriend, I'm going to assume that means you're perfectly fine."

"Is he okay?" I recalled the horrified expression I had seen on his face before he ran away and for some unexplainable reason, it made my heart ache.

"He's kind of just sitting on the couch staring at nothing. I think he's been like that since he got home."

"You should go be with him. I'm fine." I suggested.

"I literally just went there and came back." Kaden grumbled. "But I agree so I'm off again."

I waved at him from the dining table where I was sat eating dinner.

Devin wasn't at school the next day and I didn't see him over the weekend, although he and Kaden still went on their weekly 'bros day out'.

It wasn't until Monday morning when I saw Devin again. He was standing with his group of friends and when Kaden walked over to join them, I saw his eyes briefly flicker over to me before quickly focusing back on to greeting Kaden. During our extended investigation class, we worked on the assignment in silence. Needless to say, I was desperate to escape the class so I practically bolted once Mr Jones dismissed us.