Family secrets

Chapter 2: No shoes, no socks.

Do you know of those days where you feel awful yet are not able to stop smiling? This was one of those days. I was exhausted, I had spent the entire night, finishing way more than I had expected to of the homework I was assigned by Kaiden. I feel asleep at my desk and woke the next day with a pain in my neck and lastly, Clear had bought me new sneakers and would not allow me to leave if I had not worn them. Of course, they were not allowed at the school the uniform called for dress shoes, but ever since I've been told not to drive and resorted to taking public transport or to walk to the educational center, I had taken to using sneakers for the travel and changing them for the appropriate footwear at the gate.

My usual pair were quite worn out, with the numerous travels they have added me in, but breaking in new ones is not something I was prepared for today. Still, I wore them, I had asked a lot of her and could not refuse such a request when I was aware it had been an attempt to help.

With all this, I still found it difficult to suppress the smile that forced its way onto my lips.

The reason for this was very simple, Kaiden gave me a lot to do, usually, that meant I would not be summoned by him until the deadline and he is not one to change his habits.

That thought alone was enough to make what would normally be a painfully lonely day into an extensively joyful one. If I had any complaints, it would be that it when by to fast.

Before I was aware of it, the bell was ringing and I was at the center of a large crowed pears, moving towards the exit.

I was silently making my way down the sidewalk, enjoying the weather. Normally, the fact that I had forgotten my headphones would have annoyed me, but it seemed as though nothing could ruin this day for me.

" HEY!" other than that.

Slowly I turned, hoping with every bean my body that it was but my imagination, an illusion constructed by my overworked brain.

There, driving up to the curb was a pitch black sports car. Cold blue glairs at me from the driver's side window and I the joy I once felt, was chased away. I did not linger, quickly looking to my feet.

For a moment I heard nothing, the silence intensifying the glare that spoke volumes.

" get in " he ordered, and for the first time since the beginning, I hesitated.

I must have heard wrong, There was no possible way Kaiden would invite me into his vehicle!

I stood still waiting for my brain to deduce whether what my ears heard was correct.

"Did you not hear me?! I said get in!" he repeated and I no longer had any doubt, I was losing my hearing. "NOW!" he yelled, causing me to flinch.

kaiden was a lot of things, but I had never known him for one to raise his voice any louder than to speak over others, and even when he had done that, he kept his elegance and grace, never opening his mouth wide enough for it to be seen as 'ugly'. So why was he doing it now?! Had I done something wrong? Or perhaps he too had had a less than good day but unlike myself, he had not had a beacon of hope that to lead him through, so he came to extinguish my own. I got in the passenger seat and attached the belt as I tried not to look in his direction.

We drove silently in the opposite direction of my house, he is undoubtedly angry with me but I could not figure out why. Had I done something to displease him?

Perhaps I am misunderstanding, he might not be angry and just decided that I had not been caused enough hardship by his hands.

"Take off your shoes" he commanded and once again I was stunned, he did not repeat it and the rage hidden behind the dark sunglasses he had taken to wearing as we drove, warned me not to make him have to. I looked at my new sneakers, silently wondering why he wanted me to remove them? Could this all be because they were new? Did he envy me? No, that could not be, he could afford a pair that greatly surpasses theses, so what could it be?