Not You

Chapter Thirteen

Kady came back from that Saturday hangout with a heavy heart, her conflicting feelings clouding almost every interaction she'd had with Lucas and James. What made it harder, at least in her opinion, was how thoroughly she'd enjoyed the parts of the day where she'd forgotten about what was going on- when she was able to joke around with the boys as though it was just a few weeks prior. Part of her couldn't believe how one small interaction between Lucas and Ashley managed to crumble everything she'd slowly been working towards, and the rest of her told her that this was expected, why be confused?

Kady dragged herself to her bedroom, closing her door and then curtains with a sigh before collapsing onto her bed in a heap of thoughts she'd rather drown out- at least until she'd gotten a decent amount of sleep, though prior experience dealing with this whole 'Lucas' topic made her think maybe good sleep would be impossible now.

Kady closed her eyes and exhaled, willing herself into a fitful sleep filled with every possible scenario Kady could only pray would never happen- but every part of her was once again starting to believe would.

~~~~~~

Thursday, and Kady was not feeling any better. Maybe it was due to Ashley sending her goons after her, or Ashley herself getting a lot more involved in Kady's life all of a sudden, or maybe it could be how she felt herself drifting further away from Lucas and James every day since the past Friday's incident. She could tell they'd noticed but they'd yet to comment on it- unfortunately, Symphony did not share the same reservations as them.

"Kady." Kady tensed when she heard Symphony's voice as soon as she'd stepped into the classroom. She hadn't been avoiding her per se- they did have almost every class together after all- but there was a reason she was late. Kady shook her head at herself and sat down next to Symphony with a forced smile.

"Hey, Symmy." Kady set her Psychology folder on her desk and opened it, starting the incredibly fun task of taking notes from the board.

"Are you okay? You're late." Symphony leaned close and lowered her head. "Has something happened?" Other than Ashley sending her friends after me? Kady rolled her eyes. Or slamming me into lockers herself.

"Nothing more than usual." Kady shrugged as she continued writing notes. "Ashley's unbearable, but when has she not been?"

"You've been avoiding Lucas and James," Symphony said it so casually Kady could almost have believed it didn't bother her if she didn't know her friend so well. Kady finally stopped writing and met Symphony's eyes.

"I haven't been avoiding them." She mumbled, her shoulders dropping. Symphony raised an eyebrow.

"So you purposely avoiding your own locker isn't you avoiding them? You were literally carrying a bag yesterday."

"I just... I don't know, Symphony." Kady groaned, looking away from her friend and to her folder once more. "I just have this feeling I can't shake that something's wrong."

"I don't understand what happened though. You were actually starting to open up to them, and now you've shut yourself off." Symphony paused and looked Kady over. "It's not because of Ashley, is it? Because I'll-" Kady raised a hand to stop her.

"It's not Ashley, it's everything." Kady sighed. "Look... Lucas can't be all that great if he's willingly friends with a girl like her; it doesn't take a genius to see what she's actually like, and he's very obviously okay with it." Symphony shook her head.

"I don't think that's the case. I'm sure she's good at having people only see certain sides of her- I don't believe Lucas would have been in a relationship with her, or even be friends with her now if he knew what she was like."