Beyond the Pack’s Law: My stepsister or nobody else

Hayley’s POV

I wanted to slap them across the head, why in the world did they have to call him that to his face.

He looked at them confused and then laughed.

“I see I’m already popular.” He said looking at Mina and Mona’s stunned faces.

“Sorry, they’re just being goofy.” I apologized on their behalf and discreetly pinched their elbows.

“Ouch, sorry we just don’t know your name and that seemed like the closest description.” Mona said, being the know it all that she was.

“His name is Kayden.” I blurted out without thinking and they turned to me with a suspicious look, they’d have my head later for lying to them.

“Nice to meet you, Kayden,” Mina said and shook his hand. “I’m Mina, and this is Mona.”

Kayden shook their hands, ‘Thank-you, nice to meet you both.’

Kayden looked back at me, his eyes swept over my outfit and I suddenly felt a whole lot more self-conscious. I moved the coat I had on my hand to cover my legs and I think he noticed because he looked me in the eyes and chuckled.

“Are you cold?”

“Huh?” I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me up, this was the last time I’d ever let my mum pick my outfit.

“Anyways, it’s nice to see you again, my friends and I are going to stop by the club a few blocks away. Good night ladies.” He bowed his head slightly towards Mina and Mona but flashed me a smile.

Damn, he was good looking.

He was walking back to his circle of friends when Mina and Mona quickly looked at each other then at me and screamed.

“Stop.”

I nearly jumped in fright and I could see the shock on Kayden’s face as well.

He looked at them confused.

“We’re actually going to the club as well, mind if we tag along?.” Mina asked

I pulled them back and was about to talk when Kayden nodded.

“Yeah, sure that would be awesome.”

And my heart dropped, I could just smell the trouble brewing.

His smile was even brighter under the fluorescent lighting of the mall, as we exited the mall, and for a second I forgot all about our first awkward exchange as well as Mina’s inquisition and interrogations from her lady-lackeys. It was that easy, with his infectious laugh as you bing to smile again despite the anxiety beginning to boil aflame.

‘Kayden, what brings you to the mall tonight? ”

‘I was on my way to meet up with some friends,” he replied, glancing back at the pack of revelers that had ejected us. With that being said it seems like they are more into talking about sports than even watching the movie we came here to watch.

Mina and Mona looked at each other with a twinkle of mischief in both their eyes. Even Mina had tried to include me – brought me unwillingly into the conversation by way of an elbow to my side.

“Yeah, we are going to get ice cream,” Mona chimed in sounding an octave higher than she typically does. We also welcome you to Join us.

I shot them both a look that was like, really guys? Yet Kayden, if anything, was surprised and perhaps intrigued by their proposition.

“Sounds like a plan,” he agreed with an ever-present grin. After that unfortunate soda incident, I could use some cooling down.

And suddenly the trio became a foursome. While we were walking toward the ice cream booth, Mina and Mona decided to take their justice into hand by questioning Kayden. I kept my distance a bit, relieved and nervous at the same time. This was not how I had expected the evening to play out, but it provided a nice change from my earlier ruminations on Alessa and Aiden.

“So Kayden,” she turned to me, her voice casual but her gaze keen and potentially unreadable, “do you go to a school around here or…?.

“Nah, I go to Riverside High,” came the reply as he served himself a rather large portion of mint chocolate chip ice cream. “I’m a senior.”

“Really?” Mina’s eyes widened. ‘Was that not Aiden’s previous school, Hayley?’

His name made me rigid. It is, I replied as nonchalantly as possible. “Small world, huh?”

Kayden furrowed an eyebrow at me. “You know Aiden?”

Um, we have some friends in common,” I began. I didn’t want to get involved in the tangled web of people’s relationships around Aiden.

It’s a good school here at Riverside. “Do you guys go there too?”

“Hell no, we go to Moonlight College,” Mona answered with a bright light in her face. It’s not that big but it has its own charms

Just like that, there were four of us. I had a giddy feeling the first time we walked toward one of those ice cream stands. That was not my ideal way for the evening to go, but who knows it could possibly have been a fresh start.

Over the course of a few more conversations, I felt myself relaxing a little. Kayden had a way of making one feel comfortable, and even though I preferred them at arm’s length for the usual chaos that came with Mina & Mona would come out to play – when he was around, everything seemed like it just fit.

We all felt like we had known him for more than just one hour by the time that we finished our ice cream.

Well, what do you usually like to do for fun? Walking back through the mall, I spoke to Kayden.

“I’m a photographer,” pulling open his phone to show me some of the work he has done . I want to capture stories, moments.

I was genuinely impressed. They were gorgeous photos, each seeming to capture a piece of the subject’s soul. Amazing, I thought as I scrolled through the photos then said aloud. “You’ve got real talent.”

“Thank you,” he said, the color in his cheeks lightening. It needs to be done…it’s just a hobby, but I might take it up more seriously later.

Mona and Mina fell behind allowing us much room to work in. They both giggled and whispered behind us, but I was at the other end of my rope this time. I was having a great time with the little boy that Kayden is and it felt like things were just starting over from scratch in my life.

Kayden was kind enough to walk us back through the screams and smoke, out of the gate where our rides were waiting.This text is © NôvelDrama/.Org.

“Good to meet you,” he said, eyes not yet lifting from mine. Hey, do you think we could be together some other time?

‘That would be very nice of you,” I responded, feeling quite surprised by how genuine my tone was.

He handed me his phone. “Here, put your number in. I’ll text you.”

I followed him to the car park, feeling apprehensive and excited. As I returned him his phone, I noticed from the corner of my eyes, a smug look on Mina and Mona’s faces.

Kayden winked and gave me a final smile, whispering “Catch you later, Hayley,” before he sauntered off.

Mina and Mona launched at me, as we looked at him walking away. Mina squealed, “He’s so into you!”

“Mina added, “And he’s a good one to catch.” “Good job, Hayley.”