HIDDEN (Hidden Trilogy Book 1) (5 page)

You had your typical clicks at the surrounding tables, but I had a hard time figuring out where Cassie and Cade’s group fit in.  They were all good looking, which you would think would have automatically placed them in the “in” group.  But I could see the rambunctious “in” crowd on the other side of the room. 

Then there were the football types, like Tyler, that were huddled at another table.  But Hunter, Brody, and Cade didn’t seem to be on good terms with them, although they had the build for sports.  The shy, quiet ones were in the far corner looking at something in a book but I never saw any of them with Bree all day.  I was puzzled how this group functioned with so many different personalities. 

“Earth to Kendra.”  A hand waved in front of my face and I noticed that Cassie was smiling as she brought her hand back to her side. 

“What?” I asked as I looked around the table.  All of them had questioning looks on their faces. 

“You were a long way off.  Thinking about Tyler?”  Cassie teased.  Cade scowled at her. 

“No.  I was trying to figure out the clique system here.”

“Oh.  Well.”  Cassie bit her lip and looked for help from someone else.

“We’ve always been our own group.”  Bree explained.  “We grew up near each other and have always been there for each other.” 

“So, why did you adopt me?”  I asked curiously.

“Adopt you?”  Cassie laughed.  “There’s something different about you and I knew you’d fit in just fine with us.  First day jitters are bad, but a new school makes it worse.  This was better than most days, right?”

“Absolutely.”  I answered honestly. 

“Good.”  Bree nodded at my answer.  “I’m glad we could make your transition a little easier.”  Easy conversation flowed around the table and I found myself smiling a few times.  They really were interesting to watch.  Brody was the joker of the group, always cracking a joke or teasing someone.  Bree was quiet but had a quick wit.  She surprised me sometimes with a bold statement before she retreated back into her shy demeanor. 

Hunter was the silent, brooding type.  His lips would twitch in humor or amusement would dance behind his eyes a few times but his face remained a stone wall for the most part.  Cassie was full of life.  She’d laugh, tease, and defend absolutely anything.  She could be on your side one minute, then arguing against you the next.  How she was related to Cade I didn’t understand.  He watched, observed, occasionally added a comment in, but mostly was silent.  I would have given anything to know what was going on inside his head. 

Finally school ended and I said goodbye to everyone before I headed into the hall.  I made a last stop at my locker before I followed the masses outside.  I headed down the sidewalk that ran parallel to the parking lot and just about made it to the end when a hand clasped around my upper arm and stopped me in my tracks.

“Where are you going?”  Cade demanded.  I looked up and found him glaring down at me.

“Home.”  I replied slowly, like it was obvious.

“I’m driving.”

“Good for you.”  I stated.  He rolled his eyes. 

“I’m driving YOU home.”

“I can walk.”  I replied.

“I’m glad to hear it.”  He pulled me back a few steps until we stopped in front of his car.  He opened the door and gestured inside.  “Now get in.”

“Does this whole caveman routine usually work for you?”  I asked as I crossed my arms and glared at him from the other side of the door.  Cade raised one of his hands and rubbed the back of his neck in frustration before he sighed in patience. 

“Kendra, I would like to give you a ride home.  Please allow me to take you.”  He finally stated as he dropped his arm to his side.  He looked at me steadily as he waited for my answer.  I was shocked.  That had to be the nicest thing I’ve heard come out of his mouth all day.  While it wasn’t exactly a question, it did have a “please” in there.  I decided since he was being nice, so could I.

“Why thank you Cade, I would love a ride home.”  I smiled sweetly which made him grin in return and shake his head.  I caught my breath.  The guy really was too attractive for his own good.  His laughter cut off at my quick intake of breath and an intense look came into his eyes.  I quickly looked away and slid into his sleek, sexy car as he shut my door behind me.  He was around the car and folding himself in before I was completely settled.  Once again he took my bag and set it behind us with his own.  As he opened his mouth, I held up my hand to stop him.

“I know.  Seat belt.”  He grinned in return.  He pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward my house. 

“Are you going to do this every day?”  I asked as the scenery passed by.

“This being?” 

“Drive me to school.  Steve talked about getting me a car so I won’t need you to drive me forever.”  He didn’t answer and I was about to ask again when he spoke up. 

“Steve’s not your father.”

“No.  I thought we covered that.”

“He’s not your stepdad either.”  I didn’t answer which was answer in and of itself. 

“Are you related to either of them?”  He asked quietly.

“Have you been brooding about this all day?”  I evaded as I lifted my necklace from beneath my shirt and ran the pendant along the chain.  I saw him look at me sideways from his seat. 

I’m not…brooding.”  I could hear the annoyance in his voice but refused to look in his direction.  “Just curious.”

“Nosy.”  I muttered. 

“Concerned.”  He countered.  I sighed.  He wasn’t going to relent, just as Hunter said. 

“Steve and Nicole are my foster parents.”  I replied looking out the window.  There was silence in the car before he spoke up. 

“For how long?”

“How long have I lived with them or how long have I been in the system?”  I asked humorlessly.  Before he had a chance to answer, I added, “Three years with them.  Since I was two in the system.  I don’t know who, or where, my parents are.”  We pulled into my driveway and he put the car in park. 

“What’s on your necklace?”  The sudden change of subject startled me and I looked down.  I was still playing with my necklace around my neck. 

“It’s a depiction of a wolf.”  I said as I tucked it back under my shirt. 

“Really?”  I heard the surprise in his voice before he added, “You must wear it a lot.”  I turned to him confused as to how he would know that.  “You play with it when you’re upset or thinking too hard.”

“Oh.”  I responded.

“Where did you get it?”  He asked.

“Someone in my past.”  Silence reigned for a brief moment before Cade asked his next question quietly. 

“Why didn’t you want to tell me about your parents?”

“Because people look at me differently after they know.”  I retorted as my emotions flew to the surface.  “They think, ‘Poor Kendra who lost her parents.  No wonder she’s messed up.’”

“I don’t think you’re messed up.” 

“But you pity me because I don’t have parents.”

“I don’t pity you.”  He grabbed my hand closest to him and squeezed it with his.  I looked up to see the sincerity in his eyes.  “I think it’s sad that they didn’t get the chance to see you turn into the beautiful woman you are today.”  My heart stopped. 
Did Cade just say I was beautiful?
 

“How would you know?  You’ve only known me for two days.”

“I have great instincts.” 

I scoffed and looked away. 

“Even if you don’t have your birth parents,” he continued, “You do have two adults that seem to care about you a great deal.”

“It’s better than all the other places I’ve been.”  I muttered and Cade tightened his hand around mine, which pulled my gaze to his. 

“What happen at the other places?”  He demanded gruffly, eyes narrowed.  Before I could come up with a response, I saw the curtains move in the house, which signaled that Nicole was watching.  I pulled my hand away from him. 

“I should go.”  I grabbed the handle and pushed the door open, stepping out of the car. 

“Wait,” I heard his door open and close and watched as he came around to my side with my backpack in his hand. 
Oh yeah.
  He handed it over before looking back at the house.  “Is Steve or Nicole here?” 

“Why?” I asked with a raised brow.

“I have something to ask one of them.”

“What?”  I asked curiously. 

“Are they home?”

“Nicole is.”

“Good.”  He turned and ushered me up the driveway and to the sidewalk with a hand at my back.  I tried to ignore the heat from his hand but it was virtually impossible.  We reached the front door and Nicole opened it.

“Well, nice to see you again, Cade.”  She smiled at him before turning to me.  “How was your first day, Kendra?”

“It was fine.”  I looked back to Cade and said, “He wants to ask you something.”

“Okay.  Come on in.”  She backed up so both of us could enter the house and then shut the door behind us.  I made my way to the living room and turned as both Nicole and Cade followed me in. 

“Can I get you anything Cade?”  Nicole asked.

“No, I won’t be staying that long, but thank you.”

“Sure.  What was it you wanted to ask me?”

“I wanted you to know that I will be picking Kendra up for school and bringing her home.  Your house is on the way by so it’s no trouble.”

“What?”  I breathed, shocked.  I wanted to point out that his statement wasn’t exactly a question either.  Cade narrowed his eyes at me in warning before he returned his gaze to Nicole. 

“Oh, well,” Nicole bit her lip and took in my outraged expression before responding.  “Steve and I planned on buying a car soon, but it might not be for a couple weeks.  If you wouldn’t mind carpooling until then, that would make us feel better rather than having her walk.”

“Nicole!”  I rounded on her.  “I don’t need Cade to pick me up or take me home.  This is ridiculous.”  I swung back around to Cade.  “You didn’t even ask me before you brought this up.”

“Because I knew you’d say no.”  He replied evenly, and then looked to Nicole.  “I’ll be back tomorrow morning.”

“Ok.  Thanks for offering.”  Nicole replied hesitantly as I fumed beside her.  Cade made his way to the door but I remained where I stood.  He glanced back at me and nodded in parting but didn’t say anything.  Nicole closed the door after him.  “Well, that was interesting.”

“Why did you say yes?”  I asked her with my hands on my hips. 

“He was offering, he seems nice, and obviously is concerned about you.  Why not?” 

“It is my decision.”

“As it is mine.  I could call the bus and have it pick you up.  Which would you rather have, awesome car owner and good looking Cade, or stinky loud bus?” 

“Well, when you put that way…” I mumbled as my anger dissipated.  She chuckled as she led the way into the kitchen. 

“How does he afford that car and truck, anyways?”  She pondered. 

I shrugged. “I don’t know.  Steve said the McCoys own a lot around here.  Maybe it’s family money.”

“Yeah maybe.”  She busied herself around the kitchen while I sat at the counter.  Nicole was particular on where things went in the kitchen.  Both Steve and I knew the best idea was to let her organize it how she wanted, even if it took longer than if we would have helped. 

“Did you meet some more kids?”

“Yeah a few.  Mostly Cade and Cassie’s friends that live near them.”

“Oh, any of them cute?”  She said with a grin.  I rolled my eyes.

“They are all cute.”

“Ah hah!”  She pounced and turned with a triumphant grin on her face.  “I knew it!  You like him.”

“Who?”  I hedged. 

“Cade of course.”

“Cade?  You do realize we are talking about the same overbearing caveman that just left, right?”

“Oh, he’s a little over protective, which is so cute in such a young man.  I don’t know how his sister will ever find a date with him around.”

“What makes you think she isn’t dating anyone?”

“Ask her.  I bet she’s not.” 

“Just because of her brother?”

“Especially because of her brother.”

“Well, Brody and Hunter are pretty good looking too.”  I admitted. 

“Friends of Cade’s?”

“Yep.”

“Did you meet anyone that wasn’t in their social group?”

“One other boy named Tyler.  Didn’t catch his last name though.” 

“You’ll have to ask and I’ll do some parent recon for you when I start up this next week.”

“Parent recon?”  I questioned.  Did I want to know? 

“Yeah, see what parents are saying about this Tyler.  If he’s a good boy, nice.  Suitable for my girl.”  She winked at me. 

“Well, before you get your hopes up let me just say that I’m not going to date anyone.”

“Never know, things might change.”

“I doubt it.”  I scowled.  She smiled in response.  “Well, as much fun as this conversation is, I’m going up to my room.”