A Summer To Remember

Chapter Five

"When's your birthday?" Kayden asks. I smile slightly and take the remote from his hand.
"In three days." I say proudly. "Everyone will be here. My mom, my little brother, my-" I stop and look at him.
"What?" He asks. I shake my head and smile slightly. He gives my hand a kiss, then goes into the kitchen.

Don't come. I text Jason.
Y not :( ?? He asks.
Call me. Is all I say.

"Why not?" He asks when I answer.
"We need to take a break," I say once I'm on the front porch.
"Why?" He asks.
"I just need a break is all.." I drift off when Kayden walks out onto the porch with two mugs.
"Who is he?" He asks, his voice rough.
"I gotta go," I say and hang up. I plop onto the porch swing next to Kayden and sigh.
"Here," he says and gives me the mug.
"Coffee?" I ask with a smile. He nods.
"Try it," he tells me. "Its got Vanilla Milk in it."
I take a sip of the coffee and fall in love. "This is amazing." I say with a smile. He sets his cup down and stretches.
"Ill be back later," he says, standing up.
"Where are you going?" I ask.
"The mall," he replys and jogs down the steps.
"Can I come?" I ask.
"Not this time," he says with a smile. "Come here." I get up and walk to the edge of the porch. He gets on the last step and kisses my forehead.
With that he leaves, I smile and stretch my arms, then look next door and see Leslie smiling as well. I walk across my yard and onto her porch and sit next to her.
"So you two a thing yet?" She asks I shake my head and smile, then take a drink of the amazing coffee.
"No," I say. "But I did sorta break up with my New York boyfriend."
"Oh?" She looks at me.
"Oh yeah," I nod. "Said I needed a break."
"Ah.. hey, gimme a hit off if that." She says with a gangster tone. I hand her my mug, she takes a drink.
"Damn that's good." She says. "Boy-Toy make it?"
"Yes," I say and nod. I watch as Dad checks the mail, then waves.
"Don't stay too long, honey! I'm making breakfast!" He yells. I give him a thumbs up, and stand up.
"Guess I should go," I say slyly. "See you later?"
"Definitely!" She says with a smile. "Tell Boy-Toy to make more of this!" I smile at her, then run inside.

"What did you get?" I ask as Kayden walks into the kitchen.
"Non of your business," he teases.
"I want to know!" I complain.
"And if I don't tell you?" He asks, leaning close to my face.
"Well.." I start with a smile. My hand finds his and I pull him closer. "Ill make you."
"Oh yeah?" He says with a smirk. I raise my eyebrows and return the smirk.
"Get a room!" Dad yells. Kayden pulls back, as if he didn't realize they were there. He goes into his room, and returns without his jacket or the bags. I walk into the living room as he and dad talk.

Did u rilly dump Jason!? Teddy texts me.
Yea... y?? I text back. My phone vibrates.
He said he's still coming 2 ur party Friday. She texts back. Ttyl, bout to get on the plane!
I sigh and close my eyes.
Jason don't.
Please don't ruin this for me.

"Why are you pacing?" Kayden asks. I didn't realize my bedroom door was open. He walks in, and leans against the wall.
"No reason," I lie.
"You're lying." He says.
"No I'm not," liar, liar.
"You seem stressed, what's up?" He asks. He pushes off the wall and walks to me. He hands snake around my waist and pulls me to him. I close my eyes and lean against him.
"Tomorrow is a really freaky day.." I start. "And I'm nervous."
"You'll be eighteen," he says. I sit on my bed and mess with a camera. "I remember I was excited when I turned eighteen."
"But now you're nineteen," I say. "So you can't 'share the joys'."
"But," he says softly. "I can make it the best birthday you've ever had."
"Think you can top when I turned six?" I ask. "Disney World and sleeping in the castle."
"I can do way better," he promises. "Don't stress out too much, okay?" I nod as he walks to the door. "Tomorrow will be fine." He leaves. And I wish he would run back and hold me, but only my tears do.

"Anna?" Kayden calls out as he opens my door. I look up from my book and push up my glasses. "You look cute like that."
"Liar, what do you want?" I ask. He closes the door behind him and sits on the bed across me. I reach for my phone to turn off the music, but he holds his hand over mine.
"Don't," he says. "I like this song." He studys me for the longest time.
"You're as beautiful as you were yesterday." He sings along to it. The song changes to The Art of Anesthesia. He finally let's my hand go, I slowly close my book and slide off my glasses.
"Whats going on in that brain?" He asks. I look down and shake my head. "Liar."
He lifts my chin and moves his hand over to my shoulder, then down my arm and to my hand.
"Don't lie to me," he says softly. "Tell me what's wrong."
"Nothing's wrong," I try to convince him. "I'm just nervous.."
"Why?" He asks, taking my other hand as well.
"Its been a while seeing everyone.. what if they don't like me anymore?" I ask.
What?
I had to lie to him somehow!
"They'll love you," he tells me.
"Promise?" I hold up my pinkie finger.
"Promise." He says and hooks his pinkie with mine. I smile at him, he plays with his snake bites and winks at me.
"Can I ask you something?" He asks me after a long period of silence.
"What is it?" I ask. He cups my cheek and leans in slowly. My heart leaps from my chest as he closes his eyes and parts his lips.
"Knock knock!" A voice sings through my door, it opens, and a very colorful Teddy sticks her head in.
"Am I interrupting something?"
He pulls back before his lips touch mine and smiles.
"Kinda," I say. "But come here!" She runs to me and gives me one of her good old fashion Teddy Hug's.
"Who's this and why are we not introduced?" She asks, eyeing Kayden. He holds his hand out.
"Kayden," he says.
"Teddy," she says, and shakes his hand. Jealousy shoots through me. She always flirts with everyone.
"So Teddy, who else is here?" I ask, sitting closer to Kayden as she sits down. His hand finds mine and laces our fingers together.
"Your mom, Jackie, Jason, me, and then Hayley." I tense when she says his name.
"Come meet everyone," I tell Kayden.
"They're going to love you," Teddy says as we walk down the hall.
"Not sure if Hayley will like the fact that you're dressed as a Punk." I say. "But it's okay."
I let his hand go as we walk down the stairs. I see Jason first. He's sitting on the couch. His blonde hair is cut short, and his face is showing. His green eyes look at me, and he looks away. Jackie sees me and runs at me, his brown locks are messy. I bend down and pick him up into a hug.
"Sissy!" He yells. "I missed you!"
"You made it," I say softly. "I knew you would."
"Who's that?" He asks, pointing at Kayden.
"This is Kayden," I say.
"How do you do?" Kayden asks, giving a sweet smile.
"My names Jackie!" Jackie yells. He always yells when he's excited. "We're friends now!" I set Jackie down, he gives Kayden a high five and runs off.
"Hey, girly," Hayley says.
"Hey girl." I say back. We laugh and hug. Hayley is the type of girl you'd mistake for a popular girl. She's got long black hair and flawless features, from her hazel eyes to her perfect skin.
"I'm Hayley," she says.
"Kayden." He says, not looking at her. I follow his gaze, and it's to Jason. I walk over to mom, but Jason grabs my wrist.
"Lets talk," he says. I silently follow him outside.
"What do you want?" I ask. "I asked you not to come here!"
"But I love you!" He yells. "Come back with me!"
"No!" I yell.
"Is it that Emo freak?" Jason asks, and it hurts. I know what words and labels do to someone.
"Leave!" I yell. "Now!" He grabs me by my arms and pins me to the wall.
"Don't you get it?" He asks through clenched teeth. "You're coming with me like it or not."
"Screw you," I say, my voice is shaking. He smiles.
"That can be arranged.." he whispers. Kayden knocks him off of me and tackles him to the ground, off the porch. Kayden's fist meets Jason's face multiple times, until their both bleeding.
"Dad!" I scream. "Dad!" I go to pry him off of Jason, but Leslie grabs me.
"Don't," she whispers. "You'll make it worse." I nod slightly and watch as Dad grabs Kayden and Leslie's dad grabs Jason. Jason looks unconscious, Kayden looks like he wants to kill Jason.
"Don't you ever fucking say that to her again!" Kayden yells, trying to break free.
"Why?" Jason asks, a smile playing on his face. "She's just another bitch!" He breaks free of Leslie's dad and knocks Kayden onto the ground. Kayden kicks him in the stomach, Jason punches him in the mouth. Suddenly Jason falls over onto the grass, knocked out. We all look at Leslie, who hit him in the head with her baseball bat.

"You didn't have to do that," I say as I clean the bloodstain from his shirt. He looks at me and smiles.
"Yes I did," he says. I leave the shirt in the sink to soak. He pulls me over to him, and I let him. "He was going to hurt you."
"No he wasn't," I say, rolling my eyes.
"He did," Kayden says. "Look." He shows me my wrists, where they're already bruised. I clean up his busted lip, and then put a butterfly fly bandage on his forehead.
"You've got to stop getting hurt." I tease. "You just healed from your last brawl and now you're hurt from Jason."
"I fight for those I deeply care about." He simply says. I feel tears swell in my eyes, and he pulls me into a hug.