Take Me Away | ✓

» 32

K A D E N

The house was dead quiet when I came back from my run. Which was expected. There was no one left to wait up for me this time.

My hair was plastered to the back of my neck as was the rest of my clothes to my body. Only my footfalls were heard as I went up the stairs and into the shower, stripping myself of the sweat and forbidden thoughts, watching as it all went down the drain.

Through it all, I heard a muffled banging sound coming from downstairs. Turning the shower head off, it became much louder. My relaxed muscles stiffened once again as I fixed a towel around my waist and got out of the bathroom.

Water dripped from my hair and down the staircase. The trail followed all the way to the front door as I came closer with my hand clasped into a fist.

The banging happened again. But this time a voice followed. "Kaden whatever Mordecai you better open this door right now or I'll--"

"Elsa?" I opened the door, dropping my fist in confusion.

She stared at me for a while then shook her head. "Why aren't you ready?"

"What?"

"We're going out. You need it." I just stared at her. "Well don't just stand there. As fine as you look like this, you'll freeze outside. Go put some clothes on."

She practically shoved me in the direction of the stairs as she invited herself inside. I had no choice but to comply. And that's how ten minutes later I found myself in the seat of Elsa's car wondering how I ended up there.

"You suck at skipping school you know? Just cooped inside all day like a chicken."

"I never said I was free range."

She laughed. "See. That's the person I want to see tonight."

"Where are we going anyway?"

"To watch Incredibles 2."

"That superhero movie?"

"Yep. Don't tell me you haven't seen the first one." She joked but when I shook my head, her smile vanished to be replaced with horror. "Oh Lord. No wonder you had no friends. . . or a childhood."

I decided not to take her comment to heart.

She pulled over to the curb at that moment and dug out her phone, tapping away at the screen before handing it to me. "Don't talk to me until you watch all of it."

I didn't watch all of it. That's because when we arrived at the movies, I saw we had company. Chloe and Jay were there. And Noah. I didn't wait to see who emerged from the lava wall because I was too busy watching Noah walk towards me.

"Movie starts in 15. Anyone want anything?" Chloe offered.

"What was the name of those green things?" Jay asked.

"There're loads of green things. You need to be more specific." Elsa said.

"You know. It's the one. . ." Their conversation got quieter the further they went, leaving just Noah and I. I dug my hands deeper in my pockets and hunched over.

From my posture, it was clear that I didn't want to engage in any conversation but Noah took that as more of an invitation.

"How've you been?"

"Better."

"I heard you were sick."

I sighed. "You don't have to do this."

"I just. . . I just want to say I'm sorry."

I gave a short nod to show I understood.

"Is there anything I can do. . . I don't know, anything?"