Who I Was Before Asher Caine.

Chapter Four.

"Why did you tell me it wasn't a good idea to hang out with them if you're literally their friend. It's kind of hypocritical if you ask me." I slump down in the passenger seat, staring out the window.

Ian takes a deep sigh, but other than that, he remains quiet. By looking at his facial expressions, you can see he is trying to find the correct words to say. I don't tell him about my encounter with Caine, It would only make his story more reliable when he tells everyone that he got in my pants. Ian remains quiet until we make it to my house, but then he turns the car off to avoid my parents' suspecting anything.

"I told you it was a bad idea because of the type of people they are; they aren't good," he finally mumbles, resting his brow against the steering wheel.

"That's kind of weird, you say they aren't good people, but here you are! Seeing as they have their own little nickname for you, I would say you guys are best friends."

"I didn't want you to know that side of me, Kataline! You are genuinely the sweetest, most beautiful girl I have ever met. You have goals for yourself. A guy like Caine is going to destroy that!" He shouts.

He still refuses to look me in the eyes, and how did Caine even get brought up? As far as I know, he has no clue that the boy seen my Mickey Mouse underwear, or even that I was in his room! I take a deep breath and begin to speak, but it's like he already knows the words that are going to come out.

"It's what he does, Kat. It's like a little game to him. He will take the best girls and make them the worst. He will make you fall in love with him, then completely destroy you." He pauses for a minute to analyze my face. "What do you think happened to Cameron?"

"You don't even know me, Ian! I am eighteen years old, and I think I am capable of protecting myself. Don't ever speak to me like I'm your child, again." This is the last thing I say before slamming the car door and running inside. 

I can't help but be angry with Ian, I don't even like boys that are even similar to Caine's type. I don't understand how any girl would.

I'm sure my parents heard the car door slam, and it's pretty late, so I sneak past their room, however, they are sleeping, so I guess I was worried about the smell for no reason. I go to my room to change into more comfortable clothes, tossing the old ones into a corner of the floor. I lay in bed for about an hour, staring at the ceiling. All I can think about is his green eyes staring at me, noticing me. 

"Are you going to sleep all day, Kat?"My mother laughs as she kisses my head.

I open my eyes to see my room lit up by sunlight, I must have fallen asleep without even realizing it. My mom's hair is curled, and she's dressed super classy.

"Me and your father have to go out of town for the weekend, but we will be back Sunday morning. We left you some money, and your brother is going to stay with Aunt Katie! We figured we could give you a break!" She laughs and gets up to leave, but stops in her tracks "Oh, and your friend.. Nova? She's  downstairs waiting for you!"

I completely forgot to tell Nova that I was leaving last night, and she's probably heard about me and Caine from Cameron. I get up and fix my hair before heading downstairs. I find Nova and Anastasia sitting at my kitchen table, laughing about something that happened last night.

"Good morning, Goody!" Nova smiles while bringing me in for a hug.

"Where'd ya go last night? You missed all the fun! Isaac found some girl passed out in a bathtub!" Anastasia laughs and shows me a picture. 

It was the same girl that had entered the bathroom while I was having my anxiety session. I laugh it off and wait for them to bring up what happened. They don't press the issue about where I went or bring up anything else from last night.

"So, we were going to go for coffee at the downtown coffee shop, then maybe go to the mall, you down?" Nova tugs on my arm.

I feel like I owe it to them to go, so I tell them to let me shower and get ready. They make themselves comfortable in my bedroom while they wait. 

When I'm ready, we leave without hesitation and spend the entire car ride talking about random things, and when I say random, I mean it. Our conversation ranges from eras to places we want to visit to celebrity crushes. The outside of the coffee shop is painted black with little plants cluttering the outside, and the inside is full of kids studying and Fleetwood Mac playing over a Bluetooth speaker. I think I just discovered my new favorite place. 

We order our coffees and find a seat, and after a few minutes of sitting and talking, someone walks in. The same boy that had me cornered in his bedroom. He has his headphones in, and he is wearing black sweatpants and a white Nike hoodie. He looks less intimidating while dressed down, still definitely intimidating, but you wouldn't be able to tell. Caine was definitely a walking mystery. 

His eyes look our way and meet mine, holding a stare with me for what feels like years. He breaks the stare when the girl at the register asks his order, so I casually focus my attention back on Nova and Anastasia. 

"Good morning, ladies." He plops in the seat across from me.

"Morning Caine, how's your hangover?" Nova teases.

"Girl, you know I don't get hangovers! That's only for bitches." He stares at me, taking a sip of his coffee. 

The girls laugh, but mine and his eyes are locked, as if we were about to battle till death. 

Before anything else is said, his phone begins ringing. I can't help but to look and it's Cameron. 

"Addicted." He makes emotionless eye contact with me, before answering and walking out. 

"Alright Goody, we thought we were just tripping, but we see the way you're looking at him, and he's cute, so we don't blame you!" Anastasia laughs before sipping her coffee dramatically.

"Oh uh, yeah no thanks." I laugh nervously.

Shortly after, we leave the coffee shop and head to the mall, and while we are there, I decide to tell them everything that happened between me and him and what DID NOT happen. Nova looks as if it were the most shocking thing in the world. Seeing as they are super understanding and listen to the story with their jaws practically on the floor, I don't think Cameron said a word about any of it.

"And she just... didn't say anything? She has threatened any girl that comes his way!"

"Not that it stopped any of the girls!" Nova laughs, mocking Caine's long list of hookups.

They both agree to wait and see what Cameron says before telling her that she assumed I had slept with the guy she's been in love with for years.

On the way home, I get a text.

"Ian: Hey."

Me: Hey ian..

Ian: I'm sorry about last night, I wasn't trying to speak to you like that.

Me: I shouldn't have yelled back. Just please don't try to protect me from something harmless.

Ian: But it's not harmless, Kat. Promise me you wont change,"

me: I won't.

Once I get home, I spend the rest of the night watching horror movies and studying for my classes. I'm already caught up on the classwork that I missed, so my parents won't even know I wasn't there! 

My phone begins ringing, and it's a number that's not saved in my phone, so I decline the call, thinking it's a spam call, but the caller just calls right back.

"This is Kataline, who is this?" I groan, pausing my movie.

"What's up, Goody! Heard what happened Last night. I got your number from horse." Cameron's voice sounds tense yet cheerful.

"Cameron, we didn't do anything, I swear!" I begin to panic and pace around my living room.

"Oh girl, please, I'm blonde but not stupid. I know what and who he does and it wasn't you."

I sigh in relief.

"You're too boring for him. He likes a girl that's exciting and actually knows how and when to have fun." she says, pausing. "I just want you to be aware of the girl code and stop pursuing a guy that wouldn't even think twice." 

She blows a kiss through the phone and hangs up on me.