Kacey's Dream

What's a dream?

Marriage. Family. Kids. White picket fence. Warm home. Isn't that what everyone dreams of having one day? All people want is love. And family. And a home. That's all Kacey Andrews wanted too. Well, maybe not the white picket fence. And the warm home was optional too. It could be an apartment or a shack, she wasn't particularly picky. But a husband who loved her and two or three kids? Yes. Perhaps even a cat or a dog. She'd be content. It's what she wanted and she's never told a soul. Not even her best friend Maddie. She couldn't tell Maddie. It was too embarrassing to tell. She should be content and happy now. Maybe a little moody and sarcastic because what teenager wasn't? That's right, she's sixteen and wanting a family. However and whenever, she didn't care but it's what she wanted. Her parents were loving and affectionate to her yes, but when they were home. And that was rare. Her mother was a flight attendant and only home for one or two days at a time. Her father was a guitarist of a country-bluegrass band and they traveled for months at a time on tour. So Kacey practically lived with her best friend Maddie and her family. They'd been friends since kindergarten and Kacey even called Maddie's parents aunt and uncle. She was also close to Maddie's older brother Wade and younger brother Chance. Speaking of brothers, Wade was heading towards her now. She pushed her auburn hair from her eyes and sighed. Lost in land of daydreaming, she had forgotten she was at lunch and the bell would be ringing any minute. Wade nodded at a classmate as he continued making his way towards her. His brownish blonde hair rustled as always but making him look even more handsome in this sunny weather. Kacey sighed again. Handsome? Where did that come from? A little stunned she shook it off and gathered her lunch box container and water bottle.

"Where's Maddie?" Wade asked when he reached her table. Kacey squinted at him and wondered that herself. Although she had a pretty good idea where Maddie could be, she couldn't bring herself to tell Wade. It was too embarrassing and something she wasn't thrilled with her best friend doing. Especially at school. Kacey shook her head again and zipped her lunch bag up.

"I don't know, Wade, I haven't seen her since Math," she answered. Hating herself for lying but biting her cheek from spilling the truth.

"Alright," he said, crossing his arms. Kacey kept her gaze down but when she realized he was still standing there and watching her, she looked up him. His brown eyes were watching her intently. Did he see through her? Kacey started to say something in defense but he spoke first.

"The bell's ringing soon, let's go."

Oh. He was waiting on her? Walking with her back to class? Kacey was a little stunned but nodded her head and started walking back to the school building. There were just a few students still scattered around the outdoor lunch area and some were watching her and Wade walking together. Kacey kept her head down and followed Wade who was now ahead of her walking. He didn't speak again and she didn't either as they parted ways inside the building. His classes were upstairs while hers was downstairs, since he was a year ahead of her and Maddie. Kacey stopped and turned around, watching him go. It was little unusual for him to seek her out at school. Since they were in different grades, their paths rarely crossed except for gym. But even then they didn't talk to each other except a greeting. Kacey shook her head and walked to her locker, putting her lunch bag up and gathering her books for history, which was next. Even though Wade was older than her and she practically grew up with him, they weren't very close. Sure, he was handsome, any idiot could see that. He was also very smart so Kacey knew he was way out of her league. She was smart too but had struggled for years to reach that level. Wade could read up to three books a night and even get his homework done. Maybe that wasn't spectacular but Kacey thought so. He also had the highest mark of anyone in school, not that school bragged about that but he'd won numerous contests and awards as well. Kacey was sure he'd be a doctor or a judge, maybe even cure cancer! She sighed as she walked to the class to get ready, she could read a chapter or two before class starts to get her mind off the impossible dream and impossible guy. Wade Hampton was super smart but he was also clueless to every girl in school wanting to be his girlfriend. Maybe he wasn't totally clueless but a little bit. He had a high IQ but his EQ was laughable. Kacey slid in her seat and pulled her book out of the stack she had and settled in her seat. Suddenly her lie floated in her head and she sighed again. She knew exactly where Maddie was. She was in the gym closet having sex with Mark Lowers. It'd been going on for three months now and so far only Kacey knew about it. Heat flooded to her cheeks as she thought about how on earth she could tell Wade that his baby sister was having sex when Wade had probably never even entertained the thought. He had never even been on a date much less sleeping with someone. Kacey knew he didn't date because he had no intention of marriage or girlfriends. She'd overheard his conversation with his parents one night about it when she was staying with them and his words had stunned her.

"I'm not interested in marriage at all."