Shae

Chapter 8

Toad left me a nasty message on Thursday, asking me how much I hated him to avoid him so passionately to skip school. I listened to it and stared at my phone. This has got to be a nightmare of some sort, I thought. Toad doesn't treat me like this. But no, he spat my name at me like it was a vile curse word, though he never swore. At least as far as I knew and he spends... spent.... most of his time with me.

I was feeling better now, but my mom wanted to keep me home or another day or two to make sure I wasn't still contagious or, heaven forbid, in case the fever and nausea returned. Everyone probably judged me right now, being gone the first week of school.. By the time my mom was willing to let me go back to normal life, it would be the weekend and I wouldn't even be able to go back to school and hope I made some friends to replace Toad. Nothing could replace Toad.. I'd known him forever! He was with me through the thick and thin, and now I had gone and totally dropped him off a cliff. Metaphorically speaking, I mean.

Now I was having to clarify everything to myself. What a weirdo. By the weekend, I had finally forgotten about Toad's message, and I told my mom in was going for a smoothie. I got there and Kade was listening calmly to a Toad who looked like he was ready to punch something. I ducked behind one of the fast food shacks and watched.

Toad was making angry hand gestures and throwing his arms above his head in exasperation. He eventually spun on his heel and walked away. Kade turned around, arms crossed and looking amused. He spotted me pretty quickly. He raised his eyebrows and beckoned like a mother about to punish a naughty child. I walked slowly out to him, unsure of what was going to happen. He cocked his head to the side and looked at me a long while, all condescending-like before he spoke.

"You wanna know what that was about?" I nodded slowly. "That, precious, was all about you!" I winced and shrank away from him. "Yeah. I think you probably knew that. I am so proud of you. I thought I was the only one who could drive people away so effectively, but you. You just blew me and my years of experience out of the water." My eyes began to sting and I blinked hard. I swallowed and tried to stand up straighter.

"I am well aware that I have lost Toad. And Beau is gone. I am guessing that you are upset with me too?" Kade just looked at me with a bored expression. "Ok so yes." I continued to babble on about how I didn't know why Toad was so upset I mean it's not like I actually meant for it to go anywhere I was just being stupid and experimental..

"You kissed him!" Kade surprised me with this outburst. He must've seen this and he yelled again. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about or that you don't know I was watching or that you didn't do it because I was watching. Do you even know how much a kiss means to a guy!?" My eyes were wide and shocked now. He shook his head. "You just don't get it. Guys... We function a lot differently than girls. Our attention is peaked by physicality and touch." He reached out and touched my shoulder, getting closer. "When a girl smiles... And when she gives a guy a kiss...." He was really close now, looking sad and slightly nervous. I looked up into his eyes and he dropped his hand to mine, picking it up and fiddling with it. Chills ran up my arm and traveled down my spine to my toes. My heart leapt into my throat.

He stepped closer still, so I could feel his breath move my hair ever so slightly. He looked down, his long lashes brushing his cheeks, and I braced myself. But he just sighed and dropped my hand, stepping away. He rubbed his hand on the back of his neck and I couldn't help but stare at his muscles push against his shirt.

He muttered an apology and turned to leave. I emitted a little moan and reached for his arm. As soon as I touched it he turned toward me and stepped so our toes were touching and his face was inches away from mine. He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and pulled me to him at the same time. His lips were on mine quickly and I could feel the hunger in his kiss. He seemed like he had been waiting for this for a long time and was finally releasing all his pent up desire. That sounded conceited of me but I almost felt the same. He wrapped his arms tighter and pulled me against him harder. My hands moved up his biceps and around the back of his neck. He broke the kiss to breathe and I gasped before kissing him again. I felt weak at the knees and I wanted to sit down, but that would bring a halt to this perfect moment. I just hoped I didn't fall down.

A choked sob sounded from behind us and we released each other quickly. Beau was standing behind the run down picnic table I was sitting at when I'd dumped smoothie on Kade. Her eyes were wide as she gave me one of the iciest stares I had ever come across.