The Heartbreaker Knows How to Love (#3)

3. the heartbreaker and the broomstick

I have saved up about $3,000. In order to get $10,000 within two weeks I would have to...my mind goes completely blank.

There's no freaking way I can get that much money within two weeks. That Caspian dude must be out of his mind to think that I can get that much in two weeks. I bet even he himself can't get that much in just a week.

Angry, I stuff my mouth with a forkful of spaghetti and start chewing aggressively at the thought of Caspian and money.

Must be nice to be born with everything: money and good looks.

Out of the blue, I feel an impact on my head and seconds later, my hair is drenched in what seems like milk.

My jaw drop and I'm frozen in my spot from shock. Who the hell threw milk at me?

Pissed off, I look around the cafeteria to catch the culprit. Behind me in a few tables away is none other than Kaden and his group of friends, Greg, Simon, and Alec, giggling away like idiots with their phones out my way.

"Oh man, this is hilarious," Greg mutter to his friends loud enough for me to hear.

"I'm definitely posting this on Twitter," Simon says while laughing.

I swallow the pain in my throat to prevent myself from breaking down in the middle of the cafeteria. Not here, Casey.

My eyes wander through each person in the group until Kaden's gray eyes meets mine. I glare at him and watch as he grin at me. He break away from my glare to laugh along with his friends.

My hands roll into a tight fist and I try to keep calm as I grab my tray from the table, throw it in the trash, and walk out of the cafeteria while Kaden and his friends are still laughing away.

I walk to the bathroom to clean the milk out of my hair.

-

"I'm leaving now so don't forget to wait for Travis to come before you leave," Joe reminds me.

"Okay," I reply with a smile and watch as he turn around and walk out of the locker room.

I've been working at this boxing gym for a year now under the table. Thank god I was close to Ashley back at my old high school and she got me this job. Her dad, Jacob, owns this gym so I was able to work here. I'm basically just a cleaner but I'm still thankful for a job and earning money. Do you know how hard it is to get a job?

I grab my bag from the locker and put it over my shoulder. I close the locker and walk out of the room, remembering to turn off the light.

I make my way to the front exit but stop halfway when I hear a faint noise coming from behind the boxing ring.

The gym is close so there shouldn't be anyone in here unless it's Travis the night security guard.

"Travis?" I asks into the dim empty room. I wait for a few minutes for a response but nothing.

Scared, I grab the broomstick leaning on the corner of the wall and turn around towards the boxing ring. The light is dim so I can't really see. Don't die, Casey.

My heart starts to race with each step I take towards where I heard the noise. I slowly walk around the boxing ring and pause when I see a a guy with a white loose tank top and black gym shorts down on the floor with his head down on his knees and back against the wall. I immediately notice his bloody knuckles wrap around his head.

He seems hurt.

I slowly walk closer towards him. I need to check if he's alive. He doesn't seem to be breathing.

Once I'm close enough, I hold out the broomstick and aim for his shoulders to poke but he suddenly raise his head up from his knees. I jump back in surprise and utter a yelp.

I look at him again, clearly this time. "Kaden?" His name leaves my mouth in confusion. I've never seem him in here before or even knew he boxes.

He ignores my confused stare and get up from the floor. "What are you doing?" He stare at me then to the broomstick in my hand.

I bring the broomstick closer to me and chuckle nervously. "I...didn't know if you were alive or dead."

He scoffs, "If only I was one of those things." My eyebrows furrow in confusion at his answer.

"What do you mean?" I asks then notice blood dripping down his hand and quickly tell him, "You're bleeding." I take a few steps closer to him in concern.

He looks at his hand and notices the blood. He takes a few steps back from me. "I'm fine," he answer in a cold tone and walk past me.

"Why are you here?" I hear him ask from behind me.

I turn to him. "I- I work here," I stutter. He gives me a confused stare.

Feeling uneasy with his stare and the silence, I tell him, "The gym is close. You can't be here."

The corner of his lip quirk with amusement. "You should go talk to your boss," he said before walking away into the guy's locker room.

At the same time, I hear the front door opening. I walk towards it to see Travis coming in.

"Hey, do you know Kaden?" I ask him.

"Pierce? Yeah. He's Jacob's favorite customer," he tells me. "Why?"

"Oh, he's in the locker room," I answer.

Travis nods his head and explain, "Yeah. Jacob let's him stay after closing times." I nod my head in understanding.

"I'm going now. Bye," I tell him before walking to the door.

"Bye," I hear him say before I open the door and walk out.