Kadens Pov:
I have made it clear for years I don’t do relationships.
fast forward two years later and I’m currently with the most beautiful girl to exist.
people are still giving me odd looks, girls are still pouting every time they see me hold her hand or even kiss her in the halls.
not to be cocky or anything but I’ve had girls begging me to be more than a hook up for years. But they weren’t her.
I’ve loved her for as long as I could remember but at first it started as hate. I hated how annoying she was. I hated how she lived in a fantasy of romance books. I hated how she would giggle to my sister about boys in school.
I hated that it wasn’t me she didn’t dream of.
in reality I loved her. I loved her long blonde hair and ocean blue eyes. I loved how she put so much effort in herself to be the best she could.
I love that even when she was broken, she put herself back together.
hearing the girls whisper about how weird it is that I choose her out of all the girls pisses me off.
watching the guys who didn’t notice her before she was mine drool over her shakes me to my core.
I don’t get why everyone is making it such a big deal like I wasn’t capable of being with someone.
”dude Kaden when did you become the relationship type” one of my teammates snickers.
i shoot him a glare causing him to immediately stop laughing.
“yeah man Ember begged you to make it official for years, she’s gotta be crying herself to sleep tonight” another teammate of mine says.
I wish they’d shut the fuck up.
“we never thought you’d lock in with a girl after everything with Jade” my teammate says causing me to spin into a rage hearing her name.
“do y’all not have anything else better to do than question my life?” I finally blow up yelling at them.
I grab my helmet and walk out to field. If I don’t get the fuck away from them I might beat the shit out of all of them.
I run a few plays with offense, we’ve been doing extra plays since the season starts next week.
football has always been my escape. Since the moment I picked up a football it became my whole life.
dad always told me I’d make it far and I took it seriously.
we’re a big family of sports. I started football young, Kambrie did volleyball until high school she decided to focus on softball. My little brother Karson is on the baseball team in high school and plans to come to Florida state with us. Then there’s the twins who are six, Kaylen who is in dance and Kasen who is in soccer.
my mom is a former volleyball player and dad did football, baseball and wrestling. So I guess you could say the athletic gene runs in the family.
practice ran short today so I decide to hit the gym to get in a workout.
Normally Lucas and I would go together but I haven’t heard from him since we picked him and kam up from the bar.
as I walk out to the car I hear a familiar voice yelling my name.
“Kaden, Kaden!” Ember shouts walking towards me with her pompoms in her hand.
great. Just great. She’s the last person I wanna deal with.
she manages to catch up with me before I make it to my car unfortunately
“what could you possibly want Ember, didn’t I tell you not to talk to me” i sneer as I throw my helmet and shoulder pads into my trunk.
“why, why her and not me I begged you for years Kaden!” She pouts with her arms crossed.
she’s got to be joking. she’s pouting like a child because she’s not my girlfriend?
“ember you talk to anything and everything that looks at you, you have no self respect, not to mention when I left the party early you had a whole make out session with Zac, you throw yourself at every guy on the football team” I yell at her waving my hands in the air.
honestly, I don’t ever really speak to women this way but she is getting on my last nerves and the team already had me pretty heated.
“Yeah Kaden as if you weren’t hooking up with a ton of girls and letting every bitch who drooled over you in your pants, but you choose this lame ass girl over me!” She yells back at me as her face turns a bright pink color and her eyes are wide.
“ember get over yourself and move on, I regret having anything to do with you” I reply calmly getting in my car and pulling off out of the parking lot.
she’s actually very wrong, I hooked up with three girls before she even existed in my life. Gracie, Alexis and Olivia. That was it. When I met Ember she wasn’t how she is now.
she had a lot of self respect actually, she had pride. She was the cheer captain and she had a great bubbly personality. When I started hooking up with her, it was just her.
everyone knew that, any party I went to she was with me, after every football game we met up. She even hung out with my friend group a few times, Lucas never liked her.
as time went on she changed. I don’t know what really happened but she became ugly, not physically, physically she’s still pretty but her personality turned ugly.
after that started happening I didn’t really care for her but hearing the way she spoke to Saige sent me over the edge.
after that I knew I was done with her.
I drive up to my friends house who invited me over after practice. I get out the car and walk inside his house. His parents know me and told me I’m welcome whenever. They also insisted I stopped knocking.
I walk to the back porch where I knew I’d find Jace and Brooke.
“what’s up man you finally made it” jace greets me with a handshake
“hey Kaden how are you?” Brooke says with a smile.
”hey guys, I’m good” I greet them and acknowledge Brooke’s question.
most of my friends have girlfriends but I’m only close with a few and that would be Brooke and Claire.
I’ve always secretly envied their relationships. They’re so perfect for each other and compliment each other very well.
“sooo I heard that there’s some breaking news that our friend here loves a girl” Brooke says wiggling her eyebrows.
just when I thought the torment was over it’s back.
“yeah I guess I could say they’re true” I shrug not knowing what to really say
“when do we get to meet her, josh and Claire already told us they met her and she seems like she’ll fit in” jace questions
“umm soon? Next time I come over I’ll bring her if she’s up to it” I tell them hoping this will be the end of this conversation.
Thankfully it was
jace and I talk about the football season starting soon and Brooke goes on about some assignment her English professor gave her
a few hours later my phone starts to ring and I look at the screen and it’s Saige.
i step to the side and answer it so I can have some privacy without getting a million questions about her again.
“hey what’s up?” I say answering the call
”umm hey when do you think you’ll be home, I was thinking about cooking but didn’t know how late you’d be out” she asks skeptically
“I can leave now if you want, is everything okay?” I ask a bit concerned by how she sounds
“yea- no not really but don’t rush home I know you’re hanging with some friends, I’ll be okay” she responds and it almost sounds like she’s crying.
“I’ll be right there” I tell her because there’s no way I’m not going home after hearing her like that.
I say my goodbyes to Jace and Brooke and I instantly rush home as fast as i can
I run into the house searching for her, I make it to her room and I can hear sniffles coming from her bathroom.
i try to open the door but it’s locked. What the hell is going on.
“saige can you open the door” I whisper from the outside the door.
she opens the door and her face is puffy and red. I wrap her in my arms hugging her tight and placing a kiss on her head.
“what’s wrong Bella” I ask quietly
“i.. i don’t know Kaden.. it’s just I miss kam and I miss my mom” she starts crying into my chest
I knew she was taking it hard that Kam was mad but I didn’t know it was this bad. As far as her mom goes she was the only parent she really had so I get it. She’s homesick and all she has as of right now is me. It probably doesn’t help I’ve been bringing her around my friends and even hanging out with them when she’s not with me as she sits here with nobody. Kam was her only friend down here honestly.
“hey.. it’s gonna be okay kam will come around and if you want we can visit back home next weekend” I say tilting her head up and wiping her tears away.
“I’m sure our parents will be surprised to find our we’re together, I mean imagine the look on their faces when we show up together” I say trying to lighten the mood which somewhat worked because a small laugh escaped from her.
“yeah that would be nice” she smiles
after she washes her face we go back downstairs to the kitchen. She had mentioned she wanted to cook but I know she burns almost everything.
her and kam would try to cook back home and they always failed.
“so what are we burning tonight” i joke
she gives me a death stare as she throws a bag of noodles at me
”spaghetti” she says rolling her eyes
oh no. not spaghetti. I can’t let her ruin my favorite food.
as she prepares the food and starts to cook i tower over her making sure nothing possibly goes wrong because I can’t let her fuck up spaghetti.
surprisingly enough we end up having a not burned dinner but I assure you it’s because I watched every move.
“well look at that you didn’t burn the spaghetti” I laugh as we eat together
she throws a noodle at me. yes, a noodle is now sticking to my shirt.
“Kaden! Shut up!” She scolds me
i pick the spaghetti noodle off my shirt and throw it away.
thats when we hear the door open. I look into the living room and am surprised to see Kambrie.
“well well if it isn’t my raging party sister” I taunt earning a eye roll and a middle finger from her. I hear a fork rattle against a plate and see that it’s Saige. Her face is pale. This is awkward I’ve never seen them so distant.
“Saige” Kambrie calls out walking into the kitchen
saige stand up from the table still pale as a ghost when my sister runs up to her hugging her.
“I’m so sorry I was mad at you” she cries
great more crying.
I decide to give them some space so I go to the living room and turn on my game but I can still hear their conversation
“im really happy for the two of you, and I support y’all fully” my sister explains still crying to her best friend.
“I’ve missed you so much” saige is now crying and they’re hugging again
god. Girls are so emotional.
after they finish sobbing and acting like it’s been years since they’ve talked or seen each other they join me in the living room.
“are the two of you finally done sulking” I ask still focusing on the game
they both laugh at my comment, which I was serious about
Kambrie walks over to my PlayStation and pressed the off button, it’s like her favorite thing to do I swear.
“are you fucking serious kam” I shout throwing the controller down on the coffee table in front of me
she laughs at my fit of rage. It wasn’t funny I tell you.
“so what made you decide to come back” i question noticing her bags are sitting at the door
“umm Lucas and I got into a bit of an argument” she says fiddling her finger
how did I know.
well I guess it worked out in favor, no more crying girlfriend.
now we just have to break the news to our family which saige mentions to kam
”we’re going to visit our parents next weekend do you wanna come” Saige says inviting my sister.
“I wish I could but softball try out are next weekend” she replies with a sigh
kam always gets nervous when it comes to tryouts but she’s a phenomenal player.
“you’ll do great” I say to her assuring her that she’s gonna make the team. It really took everything inside me to make a nice comment after she shut down my PlayStation. Bitch.
“well tell our sister and brothers I miss them and give dad and mom a hug for me” she says before going upstairs
saige follows her up after giving me a kiss on my cheek so I assume they’re back to doing whatever it is girls do.
-the weekend-
after a delayed flight and a miserable trip back home we finally made it.
we decided to book a hotel room since our parents don’t know we’re together and we have gotten used to sleeping together.
its currently 12:30 am so we decide to get some rest before we have to break the news to them later which they don’t even know we’re here.
“Kaden wake up” Saige pokes at my chest as she kisses my head
i respond with a groan not feeling like I’ve got enough sleep.
when I open my eyes she’s already dressed and ready so I drag myself out of bed throwing on some clothes.
we call an Uber and decide to go to her moms house first.
she knocks on the door and a few minutes later her mom, Trish, short for Trisha is standing in the door in shock.
“Saige! Kaden?” She says obviously confused by what she’s seeing as she embraces her daughter in a hug.
“come in!” She insists
we walk in sitting on the couch, her house is smaller than my parents but it has a cozy feel.
“soo what brings the two of you home” Trish questions
“well.. mom, firstly I missed you so much and um.. we’re together” saige goes on to tell her gesturing her finger between the two of us
“oh well honey I’ve missed you too but I definitely wasn’t expecting that” she laughs
”Kaden is Jess aware of this?” She asks crinkling her eyebrows
“no, not yet, my house is our next stop but I thought it would be best to let saige see you first” I smile
I’ve always liked Trish. She has a pure and sweet soul. I grew up close with Saiges brother, Sawyer so I spent countless nights here.
it never clicked to me why their dad left such a great woman honestly.
“well thank you for bringing her home, how long are y’all here”
“we’re here for the weekend mom!” Saige replies excitedly
it’s not long honestly, but I think she’s just happy to be home.
we have breakfast with Trish before she tells us she has to get to work she’ll be pulling a double.
trish is a nurse at the local hospital and has been keeping herself super busy after her husband left them. She had to work extra hard to support her three kids. I give her major credit for doing it alone.
we say our goodbyes and we both give her a hug. before making it over to my house which is across the street two houses down.
I don’t knock on the door, I mean it’s my parents house I lived her all my life why should I?
I hear conversation coming from the dining room, im assuming the family must be having breakfast.
“kaylen stop playing with your food!” I hear my mom scold my little sister
yep, definitely breakfast time in the Miller house.
we walk towards the dining room and when they notice us confusion and excitement lights their faces.
“Kade! Kade! Kades home mama” kaylen shouts running towards me
i pick her up and spin her around
I’ve always had a soft spot for kids.
next is my mom who embraces me in a unnecessary tight hug.
“what are you doing here! Why didn’t you tell me you were coming!” She pesters
then she notices saige was next to me and gives her a huge hug, like i thought she was gonna suffocate her.
“oh my sweet girl I’ve missed you so much” she tells saige
“I’ve missed you too Jess” Saige exclaims
my mom always loved saige, she was like another daughter to her so this is about to get a little weird
”sit! Join us for breakfast!” My mom exclaims
we already ate at Trisha’s house so we pass on the breakfast
“so what brings the two of you, where’s kam?”
“umm actually mom, kam couldn’t come because she has tryouts this weekend and… saige and I are um.. together?” I say hoping her reaction is good
her face lights up and this can mean one of two things, she’s happy or she’s about to cuss me out.
“I’ve been waiting for this day forever! I remember the crush you had on her when you were younger!” She teases.
The twins have now found their way into Saiges lap.
i give my mom a sarcastic smile not happy about the crush comment she made. Saige isn’t gonna let that go.
“I’m happy for both of you, but how’s kam taking it” she looks at saige a bit worried
“well at first she was a little mad but everything is actually going very well now” Saige nods
“oh her and Lucas are a thing now” I laugh telling on her to my mom
“Well we knew that was coming after spring break” my mom says in a obvious tone
after we catch up with my mom i leave her and saige to talk about the start of college while I go find Karson.
although he’s sixteen and I’m nineteen we’ve always been close.
I open his door and he’s playing video games. As always, I guess he gets it from the best, me of course.
i tap on the shoulder and before he realizes it’s me he shouts “what do you want Kasen I’m playing the ga..” he cuts himself off when he notices it’s me.
“oh shit I didn’t know you were back in town bro” he says as he gets up
I laugh at how he just cussed last time I seen him he was going through puberty and the voice cracks were insane.
“Yea just for the weekend saige and I are here to break the news to everyone that we’re together” I explain to him
he’s not shocked. Karson had already knew this was coming years ago.
“about damn time dude, congrats is kam home as well?” He questions
kam and kar have always been pretty close as well being that they’re both the middle child.
“no she had tryouts this weekend” i tell him and he seems a bit disappointed
he goes on to tell me about baseball and his new girlfriend. I feel like I’m looking at my younger self. It’s kinda creeping me out.
I decide to let him get back to his gaming so I go back downstairs where saige and mom are.
dad must be at work because he’s not watching the news like he normally does. Hopefully I’ll see him sometime during the weekend.
“Kaden” my mom calls out
i walk back into the dining room and my mom informs me that she’s going to hold a dinner here tomorrow night with the family, trish and sawyer to celebrate us being home and the news we’ve shared.
this could go very bad or very good. sawyer has no idea and I haven’t really talked to him since I left for college.
after visiting both of our families we are beyond tired.
it’s been a long trip here and day.
we finally make it back to the hotel room and take a quick shower. When I finish showering saige is already cuddled up in the blankets with greys anatomy on. I crawl into the bed pulling her to my chest and kissing her.
“so today went okay, but I’m a bit worried about that dinner tomorrow with sawyer” she says bitting the inside of her lip.
“yeah me too but I think it’ll all go fine” I assure her not wanting her to worry all night.
as we watch the annoying show she’s probably watching for the tenth time we both fall asleep. Saige always falls asleep first. I kiss her forehead and shut my eyes slowly drifting off.
i just hope tomorrow goes well for her sake.
