Fire and Ice

Chapter 4

Kaden

I was in a foul mood, and Mike knew it.

"Come on, man you're so tense my body hurts just looking at you." Mike muttered as he followed me down the hall to the doors leading to the parking lot.

"Then don't look." I snapped.

Mike wasn't phased. "Was it this morning? With Brandon? Is that what has your neck twisted?"

That was part of it. But the main reason for my mood was my poor excuse of a father.

"Brandon is nothing but a fly. He doesn't bother me. Yesterday was just... rough."

Mike glanced down at my bandaged hands. "Do I dare ask?"

I never wanted him finding about the mess my life actually was. "No. It's fine, Mike. Don't worry about me."

"Sorry, dude. I do worry. But I won't push it."

I nodded gratefully. He was too good to be true sometimes. He was the only one I trusted. It was sometimes painful to keep my life from him.

"I'll see you later."

"Okay, and find your good mood again, would you?" Mike called as he walked away.

"Kaden!"

I kept walking, not really registering the voice calling my name. Who would talk to me?

"Kaden!"

I turned in confusion only for someone much shorter than me to body slam me. It barely knocked me off balance and I instinctively reached out to steady this short person.

The girl bounced back. "Oh, that was not my most graceful moment, sorry, I forgot I have brakes."

"Alyssa?" The question emerged before I could stop it.

She smiled up at me. "That's my name. Hey, I just wanted to thank you again, seriously. Brandon is a complete turd face and I would kick his butt. But I'm too small for that."

"What do you want?" I asked impatiently. I'd already heard too much from her. And I needed to get home in time.

"I just told you." Her green eyes turned firey.

"Well, you thanked me. Move on."

She crossed her arms. "Excuse me, Mr. Tough Boy, I was trying to be nice. You don't need to throw sand in my face."

I blinked in surprise. Normally people were scared off by now. "You're welcome. Happy? I have places to be." I turned away.

"Wait!" Alyssa jumped in front of me and I stopped. "Okay, I do want something. That sounded bad, let me rephrase-"

"Just spit it out." I cut her off.

She glared at me. "Brandon didn't dare fight you, and he always fights anyone who gets in his way. You're... intimidating and scary, so you need to teach me your ways. Just so I can get Brandon off my butt."

I raised my eyebrows, feeling a small spark of amusement. "Intimidating and scary?"

Alyssa's cheeks turned a shade darker. "Uh, you, you know what I mean. Anyway, what I'm trying to ask... will you teach me how to fight?"

My body tensed at that last word. Did she find out something?

"No."

"What? Come on, Kaden, please? You look tough, so I'm assuming you know how to at least throw a punch."

I almost melted with relief. Her assumption scared the life out of me. But I didn't allow her to see anything beyond cold.

"No. I'm busy, and I don't have time for any whiny girls."

Alyssa's mouth dropped. "Whiny?!" She balled her hand into a fist. "I'll beat that insult out of you."

I looked at her fist. "Go ahead and swing. You'll break your thumb."

She looked at her fist. "What? I don't get it. Come on, just teach me please! I want to be able to stand up to people like Brandon. Not just with pranks."

I studied her for a moment, almost considering. But I couldn't. "No." I turned away.

Alyssa growled in frustration but didn't stop me from leaving this time.

I glanced at her over my shoulder. It looked like she was plotting world domination. It wouldn't surprise me if she was.

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Another short one. Hope it's fun to read so far, I love Alyssa's character. Let me know what you think (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)
Thanks for reading.