𝐾 𝐴 𝐿 𝐸 𝑁

Chapter |3| Kalen who?

T E S S A ' S P. O. V

I'm over him. It's what I tell myself every fucking day.

Then I go to Kiara's house. I practically sprint up to her room, and lock myself in it until it's time to go home. Of course, there are times I need the bathroom, or my mouth has become so dry and scratchy that I'm forced to go back down to the kitchen.

That's when I see him.

It could be in passing, when he barely looks me in the eye. Other times he flashes me a small smile whilst holding the door open.

He's polite and respectful and everything your best friend's brother should be.

But he doesn't know how much my heart still aches from his cruel words. He doesn't know my diary is filled with angry pen scratches over Mrs Kalen Romano, that I scrawled down when I was 14.

I've seen him kiss other girls. I've seen him heartbroken. I've even seen him cry. Once.

He didn't want me to see it, but I did. His girlfriend cheated him on with three guys on the same basketball team as him. I know he loved her, because he looked at her the same I used to look at him.

I asked him if he was alright. He didn't reply so I sat down besides him. When he didn't move away, I set my hand on his and gasped as this electrifying spark jolted through my body.

I know he felt it too, but then he ran away like I had just told him I had an infectious disease that was airborne.

Anyways, Kalen Romano was the past. And I only looked to the future

I was ready party, dressed in a tight prada dress that Kiara had bought me for my birthday. A bottle of vodka was stuffed at the bottom of my bag, and I was towering in my five inch heels.

Kiara would label me a confident bitch, the biggest compliment she pays right now.

However the moment I walk into the mansion, my happiness fades at the violent screams coming from upstairs. I drop my bag on the couch and sprint upstairs, a difficult feat in my shoes.

I find Kiara's parents and siblings outside her room. Panic and concern washed over their faces. "What's going on?"

"I don't know." Gabi cries. Her husband wraps his arm around his wife to comfort her. "She just came home, angry at first and then suddenly she started breaking down. She won't let any of us in."

I think I could guess why. Kiara had been seeing this guy, one of her bodyguards, and she was completely in love with him. It was strange seeing your badass friend melt at the sight of a man.

Tristan was kind with her, and he loved her as much as anyone could love another person. Hurting Kiara would break him...and her.

"Kiara?" I knock on the door, causing the screams and cries to fade. Her sobs turn to quiet hiccups as the door unlocks.

"Only Tessa." She murmurs through the wood.

"Kiara..." Her father starts.

"No. Only Tessa. Please, just her." Kiara sounded broken and she was strongest person I knew.

Everyone stepped back and slowly began to leave. Except Kalen. He lingered for a moment as Kiara was opening the door. His eyes met mine for the briefest moment and his lips lifted up.

"Take care of her." It was so gentle, and soft. Two words I would never attribute to him now.

I watch him leave, sighing at the sight of him. Fuck. No, Tessa. Kalen Romano means nothing to you. He's just another guy, taking up space on the planet. You don't need him.