All the hours

Chapter 3

Kaden
She's changed. I figured it out the second I saw her. She isn't the same Rayne I left behind. From head to toe, she isn't the same Rayne Blackford she was when I left. She takes my breath away, anyway. I don't even realise I'm staring until Avery snaps her fingers in my face to bring me back to reality.
Leaving her car in the driveway, she hops out and heads straight for the five of us, in her short jean cutoffs and blue crochet crop top. Her mother levels her with a glare before she can pass through the doors, but she waves a hand and runs for Avery. They both let out an ear splitting squeal which I'm sure can be heard in any corner of the house and cling onto each other, not a single care in the world. They let go for a second, only to get ahold again, squeezing each other like there's no tomorrow.
Once they've finally let each other go for good, Rayne takes a step back and looks at all the other people around her. She looks at me. And then she does the unexpected. Taking long strides towards me, Rayne comes over and wraps her arms around my neck.
I'm at a loss for words instantly, but hug her around the waist, savouring every inch of her. I close my eyes and bury myself into her hair, just like before, the nostalgia hitting me like a wave. Then, ever so silently, she whispers in my ear, "It's so good to have you back." As if nothing happened, she slips away, not letting me speak, and goes over to Malcolm. The moment fades into thin air.
I'm left baffled as Ezra slings an arm over Malcolm's shoulder, like he's known him since day one, and introduces him to Rayne. "This is Malcolm. Kaden's friend. He's going to be staying with us the whole summer."
Rayne crosses her arms over her chest, and looks Malcolm up and down, while I can see him visibly straighten up. I try to suppress my laughter as she examines my best friend, and out of nowhere, smiles and holds her hand out. "Hi. I'm Rayne, it's nice to meet you." Malcolm let's out a breath, and I cough to cover up my outburst. He takes Rayne's hand and shakes it. "Hey, I've heard a lot about you." That god damn shit just can't keep his mouth closed, can he?
As if on cue, Rayne let's go of his hand and looks towards me and Avery, with a smirk on her face. "Oh really, have you? By who, may I ask."
Malcolm actually has the guts to open up his mouth, but I shut him up before he can speak. "Oh, by-"
"Okay, I'm reallyyy tired. Famished, actually. I think I better rest a little bit before dinner." Ivy speaks up that instant and rushes to have to staff guide me to my room. Like I don't know this place like the back of my hand. Rayne stares at me with a smart smile on her face, and I know she's thinking about what I said to him.
"I'll see you guys in a while then." Before I can turn around, she grabs my hand and pulls me back to ask me one last question. "Alpine's cove after dinner?" With that one question, I know she's going to drive me mad.