Addicted to Green

CHAPTER 11

CADEN

I stand up, slinging my bag over my shoulder, and head straight for the doors. My heart pounds in my chest; I can feel my hands starting to shake, and I sense everyone's eyes on me. It doesn't help that I'm in a crowded room right now. I head to the front doors of this big school I don't want to be in and go straight for a walk to the beach area where Navina and I went five days ago.

Navina.

Gosh, she was an unexpected connection I had when I first came here. The whole plan was to stay invisible. And now, I'm lip-locking with her. I'm supposed to be invisible. Stay invisible.

But I'm not gonna lie to you... we have a connection. One I haven't ever had before. One that doesn't make me want to kill her for even touching me. She can touch me, and I don't feel the hatred, the hands, the whispers, the voices... just her. I just feel her warmth. Her memory. Her. Just her.

I can't think straight when I'm with her.

I walk down the street of my house, not seeing the SUV. I sigh contentedly. But I remember that he will obviously be back either way. He made that much clear. I walk straight past Navina's house to see her mom's car in the driveway and another car.

Hmm. I wonder whose car that is.

As I walk, I get my backpack and take out the pill bottle. I pop a few, trying to erase the image from my messed-up memory. I finally make it to the lake and sit on the dock, remembering this was where Navina and I were.

Gosh, her fluffy layered blonde hair, those big green eyes so innocent and sweet. Her thick lips are juicy and plump, just waiting to be kissed. Her cute button nose and freckles grazing the top of her nose and some on her soft baby cheeks.

I sit down and try not to think about her, about everything and everyone. Nothing. Empty. Numb. Numb. Numb. A recurring thought in my brain.

I groan as my phone rings. Now what? I pull it out, seeing Jesper's name flash on the screen along with his face. His black afro, his dark glistening skin, his bright smile. "What a jackass," I mutter as I answer the phone, annoyed.

"Top of the afternoon to you, asshole," Jesper's deep voice speaks in a sarcastic tone.

"What?" I reply, not amused. I love Jesper, I really do. He's the only one who stuck around, but of course, me being me, I can't show that.

"I was just wondering how it's going in your new crack of a town. I can't believe your stepdad made you move to a small town in Virginia from a big city like Boston." I can almost see his disapproving shake of the head and the furrow in his brows when he's unimpressed.

"Yeah," I respond. I sit back up from the wood, and my rib feels like it's been torn out for a moment. "It's fine."

"Yeah, sure, asshole. How's Navina?"

I frown. "How the hell do you know about her?"

"Bro, your dad is friends with mine. Of course I know..." A long pause before he speaks again. "And I hacked into his system." I frown.

"He has a damn spy watching me?" I am now mad.

"No... I mean, maybe. I just saw a notebook page and a few pictures."

"What the hell? Send them to me right now." I say, the hatred growing. What the hell is River planning on doing? Moving us around the country again for the thousandth time because of his enemies and just to hurt me.

Now that I think about it... he never really told me why we were leaving. And again, I couldn't ask. But River's not the type to run away from something, especially not someone. Shrugging off the thought, my phone buzzes.