Undeniable Temptations

Part 4

I stood along the edge of my window frame staring down at the shadows of people walking up and down the driveway. For the past few days there has been people constantly moving in and out of the neighborhood. Unloading large boxes and heavy furniture into the house across the street. Mrs. Mason would walk over next door offering some snacks to all the workers for helping the new family move in. Staring out the window long enough I couldn't figure out who they were. Every minute there was a new group of people moving in and helping out. As I was about to turn away from the window a loud honk caught my attention. Looking back out I notice a tall blonde woman walking out from her black Range Rover. Her body was slim in a white tank top and yoga pants. A smile was plastered on her face as a sign of relief. That must be the mom, I thought to myself, but there was no sign of her son. Maybe he hated the idea of moving and stayed where they came from.
After two hours of being neighborhood watch I headed down the stairs throwing the strap of my backpack over my shoulder. Snatching the keys from the kitchen counter checking if Alden was still home. He wasn't home after I called his name a few times. I slide on my chucks and headed out the door. Instantly I squint my eyes at the brightness of the sun beaming on me. Closing the door and rushing to the car to cool off. Fumbling with the AC I placed my car in reverse then drove down the long street. The car was blasting with my music from one of my playlists I complied.
Driving down the avenue I headed towards Broadway as people load the street. Even though my music was blasted loud enough for me to hear I could still hear all the chaos that came with New York. I've been living here for almost half of my life, yet I'm still not used to the whole New York atmosphere. Swiveling around people I managed to get to my favorite cafe in the city, Café Monica. It was a quiet café away from the craziest and loudest parts of New York. I would be able to plug in my earphones, write for hours in my journal and  drink my favorite latte without any distractions.
    Standing in line behind people my eyes glance over the menu. I didn't have to look at the menu to know what I want since I'm here most day. I knew the menu on the back of my hand when people ask me what's the best thing to eat or drink from here. Rummaging through my backpack to grab my wallet, loud scream filled my ears. My body gets shoved back into the person behind me. People started to scowl at the person causing the commotion. My skin stinging from the scratches of their rough hands.
"Watch where you're going!" I scoffed at him.
"Sorry, peaches." He smiles pathetically at me before walking away.
Rolling my eyes at him I managed to get to the front of the line ordering my drink then headed out to the top of the café. Taking my usual seat in the corner away from everyone so I could focus on my journal. Scribbling random thoughts in my head. It was my way of escaping from the real world around me. My journal was a place where I could be myself with no one around me to judge. A place where there isn't a reputation labeling you or someone abusing you emotionally for being yourself.
   A barista from the counter walks up to me placing my latte on the table in front of me along with my coffee cake. She smiles at me as I smiled back at her thanking her. I placed my journal back in my backpack then switched over to my phone. Taking careful sips from my hot mug I scrolled through my Twitter and Instagram. A few tables away from me I notice someone staring at me while I was sipping on my drink. I would take a few sneaking glances at him. He would turn away from looking at me to looking to the side of the building's detailed painting.
   Shaking off the thought of him looking at me I focused my attention on my phone. I could still feel his intense stare on me. Something inside me made my stomach tighten causing a weird sensation to run through my veins. The screeching sound of the chair moving from back to front made me cringe. He coughs trying to capture my attention. Setting my phone down I met his emerald green eyes suddenly turn lighter shade of green. He runs his hand through his short brunette hair pushing it back. I cleared my throat analyzing his features for a minute. He must be doing the same because we are both silent looking at each other in amazement.
   His lips quirk up into a mischievous smirk and his eyes smoldering before he finally decided to speak, "Have I seen you before?"
"You've been staring at me for 15 minutes and that's the best you've come up with?" I questioned him.
"How do I introduce or approach a pretty girl like you? I think it's kinda impossible to come up with something clever." He smirks again.
"Well how about you don't approach the girl at all?" I suggested, offering a sympathetic smile.
"But what if you're really fascinated by the girl?" His voice suddenly soft.
"But what if the girl thinks the guy is a total jerk? Do you think the guy still has a chance with her?"
   With that said I placed my phone back into the front right pocket of my shorts standing up from my seat. He stood up looking at me hard as I threw the strap of my backpack over my shoulder again walking away from him to the restroom. Soft noises were heard through out the area of people gossiping to each other. I pushed past the door feeling my body slammed against the wall. My hands firmly pinned to the sides of my hips as my eyes meet a pair of green eyes. It was the guy from earlier. He quickly releases me once our eyes meet.
"Was that really necessary?" I scoffed, trying to get the feeling of my wrist back.
"Well you weren't paying attention so I needed to get your attention somehow." He mumbles, mischief in his voice.
"By pushing me against the wall? A simple hello would've suffice." Rolling my eyes at him before walking away.
"I don't like doing things simple especially when it comes to something I'm interested in."
"Are you saying you're interested in me?" I asked, my voice soft as I bit my bottom lip.
"Maybe." He places a hand on my hip as I placed a my hand on his shoulder.
"Then how about you let me go and we can go somewhere private to talk." I smirked against his ear.
"I'd really like that." He smiled against my neck.
I gripped his hands against my waist. Tracing my fingertips above his hands. His smile meeting mine. Something shifts in my eyes as I gaze into his, kicking his body off me. My hand meeting his cheek harshly. He takes a step back in shocked over my action. His eyes trailing from his feet to my brown eyes as he furrow his eyebrows in confusion and anger for misleading him
"Do you really believe that I'm easy to get!? If you thought that then you're not only a jerk, but a stupid one." I scoffed before walking away from him. He stood in place watching me walk. Silence only filling the hallways between us.
Reaching for my keys I headed back down Broadway. The chaos noise of New York vibrating in my ears again. Suddenly a rush of adrenaline overcoming as I drove trying to realize everything that just happened in the past 5 minutes. Did I actually just turn down a guy and managed to get away? Where did all the confidence come from? My mind began to race over the thought of him and his rude attitude. Who did he think he was to come up to me like that? I'd hate to be his girlfriend. My thoughts broke out from cars honking around me.
~
     Changing into a pair of shorts and tank top I grabbed my laptop sitting at the counter while Alden was cooking dinner. Maine enters the kitchen after grabbing her phone from Alden's room. She hovers near me glancing at the screen in front of me. A weird tension overcame me as I noticed her reading the words. Slowly turning my screen away from her I noticed her body shifts closer to me. Taking a deep breath I turned towards her.
"May I help you with something, Maine?" Clenching my fist on the table, directing my eyes towards the screen.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to be nosy or anything. I was just being curious." She said innocently.
"Well can you not read what's on the laptop screen?" Trying to be as polite as I can be. My teeth gritting and my voice trying not to snap.
"KATE!" Alden hissed at my words.
"What?" I growled looking at him.
"Your attitude and language need to drop before that MacBook disappears for a few days." He shoots me warning glance before focusing on his food.
"Kate, I didn't mean to be in your business." Her voice was sincere and apologetic.
"It's okay. I shouldn't have acted like annoying brat. It's just a lot has been going on through my mind lately." Trying to shake off the weird feelings I've had. I didn't know what I was feeling at this point of time. I just felt numb to the world.
"Kate, if you don't mind me asking, what are you writing about?"
"My family." I spat looking at her with a blank expression. "You know the people who fail to be there for me. The ones always leaving me."
"KATE!" Alden hissed hearing my words again. "Watch what you're saying! You don't speak that way to my girlfriend!"
"Well she was being nosy! I don't need her invading my personal space too. You know what personal space is, right Alden? Or did she already take over that too?" Pounding my fist into the table more as my voice continued to grew more sarcastic and angry.
"Kate Marie Mendoza, I don't know where you  got this attitude of yours, but it won't slide in this house. You better reevaluate your attitude before reentering this house! Now go up to your room!" Alden sternly stood behind Maine placing his hands on her shoulder. However Maine never glance in my direction once. She was just lost for words. Stomping my way up half way up the stairs I could hear Maine mumbling something as Alden grows frustrated.
"I don't know what has gotten into that girl! She doesn't have the right to talk to you that way!" Alden groans in frustration.
"Alden, it's fine. She's just in one of her moods. Let it slide and don't make it a big deal. I think you need to give her some space. She's had a rough few days from Nathan to her panic memory attack. Let her be moody for now and just be there for her." Maine's voice was always soft and innocent when she spoke, yet calm enough to relax you. "I love your sister very much, Alden. I don't want anything bad to happen to her, so please be a little more understanding to her. She's still trying to figure out everything about herself."
     Quietly tip toeing to my room I close the door behind me. Luckily I had an inaudible lock when I wanted to sneak back into my room. Pacing back and forth around my room my breathing became heavy. Many thoughts flooding to my mind after hearing Maine talk about me for a little bit. Even though I was becoming a bitch towards her, she still defended me in front of Alden. How could I be so stupid? I thought to myself.
The door slowly jingles open making me come to a halt at the door. Maine quietly steps into the room fumbling with her hands innocently.
"Kate, can we talk? I know I said we should give you space, but I think a quick talk is necessary." Leaning her body against the door. She didn't want to step any further into my room until I gave her permission. I nodded at her as she took a seat on the corner of my bed.
"What did you want to talk about?" Sitting at my desk across from her. I couldn't look at her due to all the embarrassment.
"You. I just want to know if you're okay."
"Why does everyone keep asking that!" I groaned. Throwing my arms in the air for emphasis.
"Kate, don't take it as a nagging way. We just care about you. We know you've been through a lot." She places a hand on my arm, but I shrugged it off.
"Well it seems like you always ask the same stupid questions! Always checking if I'm fine that day or checking if I'm in one of my moods. Why can't you guys ask me other things besides how I feel. Just a simple how are you doing with your writing or what movie did you watch would've been a nice change!" I argued as I shot up out of my seat.
"Kate.." She mumbles softly.
"If you're just going to defend yourself for coming up here to check up on me, just don't. I am not in the mood with all this are you feeling okay? bullshit because I'm pretty sure Alden will just come up here and talk to me again." Crossing my arms against my chest.
"Okay, fine. I won't talk about your feelings, instead I'll ask you this; how was your time at the café?" She said more calmly breathing through her words.
I smirked up at her seeing her mood shift. She was being curious as her nose scrunched a little. "It was alright, except for the part where a guy tried to flirt with me."
"A guy flirted with you?" A smile forms against her lips. Maine was always up for boy gossip with me. She never stopped talking about her celebrity crush which drove Alden a little jealous most days. Sometimes we would talk for hours about a boy we loved or a couple we thought was couple goals.
"He failed miserably when he flirted." I chuckled looking at her.
"What happened! I need to know!" She insisted getting excited.
Maine sat up against my bed as I talked about the whole café incident. How he was terrible flirted and how he was aggressive, but not aggressive like Nathan. Maine's smile began to grow even more which left me curious to what she was thinking. After I told her I was flirting back a little, but kicked him off she was proud of me. She genuinely looked very happy to hear how my day was. It wasn't for sympathy or for Alden's sake. She was doing this because she wanted to know how my life is going. We kept giggling together switching topics from my day at the café to gossip on one of her favorite guy celebrities to talking about my brother, Alden.
I glanced up at her in amazement. She could talk endlessly about Alden. Maine's brown eyes began to glow as she continued to talk on and on about him like it was her high school crush. Her hands would flop onto her face in embarrassment when she thought about something. It was probably an intimate thing that they only know about. Her body was more relaxed sinking into my bed. My brother was lucky to have such an amazing relationship with Maine. I know one day they'll get married. Maine has been through it all with Alden and she never left him once. Sometimes I envied her for having such a strong loving relationship. It's what I've been striving for, but I'm struggling along the way to find that person. She rubs her hands against my arm as she continued to talk as my eyes grew heavier to keep open.
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