Insider (28 page)

“Oh God,” Caeden croaked. “
Youtube
?”

They finished mimicking and Shane said, “Yeah, it’s on
youtube
. It’s got like a million hits or something.”

“A million?” Caeden squeaked.

“I’m
tellin
’ ya, your brother should be a fucking comedian,” Tyler said.

“Or euthanized,” Caeden muttered under his breath.

I smacked his leg.
“Be nice. You know you love him and wouldn’t change a thing about him.”

Caeden grinned. “I know.”

Just then the sound of the band reached us as they rounded the corner.

It amazed me how they managed to march in such perfectly straight lines, while carrying such heavy instruments. Even with my shifter abilities I would’ve tripped over my own feet and brought the whole thing down.

The band passed and soon a line of cars was going by. The people in the cars waved to the people in the crowd. They all seemed pretty ordinary to me, no celebrities yet.

More cars and more school bands came by. I yawned.

Caeden bumped my knee. “Having fun?”

“Loads,” I smiled brightly.

Caeden laughed. “You are such a little liar.” Straightening his baseball cap, he said, “I’m sorry, I know this isn’t really your thing.”

I shrugged. “It’s nice though, you know, to do something like this.
A small town thing.
But-”

“Not that exciting,” he added, just as some horses drawing a carriage walked by.

I smiled in response. Sometimes, I think, Caeden knew me better than I knew myself. It was nice to have a boyfriend that was so in tune to me.

Eventually the parade came to a close. I didn’t recognize the celebrity, someone older, but I was thankful that it wasn’t some ‘hot chick’. My teammates, however, all groaned.

“Dude, that was a waste of fucking time,” Evan said to Kyle.

Kyle shook his head. “I think it was still fun. Best thing that happens here all year.”

Evan shook his head and looked over at me. “Sophie, you down to play some soccer?”

“Sure,” I said, “
we
don’t have any plans.”

“Awesome,” Evan grinned. “I have soccer balls in my car.”

Four weeks until graduation.

Thirty days.

Wow.

I wiggled in my auditorium seat. The principal was holding an assembly to speak with us about graduation and announce the valedictorian.

I knew what he was saying was important but I couldn’t focus.

Caeden put his hand over mine so I’d stop tapping the wooden armrest.

After going over expected behavior and dress for graduation the principal finally got down to business.

He smiled and spoke into the microphone, “I know you’re all wondering who your valedictorian is going to be. Let me tell you now, it was a close race. This is a very smart and talented graduating class and in my eyes, you’re all winners. But the person with the highest GPA, and therefore giving the speech, is…” he paused for dramatic affect. I held my breath and silently prayed.
Sophie Beaumont, Sophie Beaumont, Sophie Beaumont.
“Caeden Williams.”

“What
!?
” I screamed and every student and teacher in the auditorium turned to look at me. My cheeks flooded with color. I hadn’t meant to say that out loud.

Bentley snickered and Chris laughed.
Logan’s lips quirked at the corner.

Caeden grinned at me and winked. “I told you that you didn’t need to worry about my grades.”

I bit my lip.

“You?” I squeaked. By now the principal was trying to clear the auditorium but I was rooted to my seat.

“Me,” Caeden’s grin grew bigger. “I’m that awesome. Boom.”

I shook my head. “But you
never
do any homework.”

Caeden threw his head back and laughed. “We’ve been over this before. I do my homework while you
’re
sleep. Besides
,
I
just
like to watch you sleep. You talk.”

“Do not.”

“Oh yeah,” he smirked and leaned towards me, whispering in my ear, “you say my name over and over again. Some times you even say that you love me. You smile too.”

My blush from earlier flamed once again.

“It’s cute,” he kissed my cheek.

I shook my head and switched back to the earlier topic. “I just can’t believe that you’re valedictorian.”

“You best believe it, babe,” he stood and picked up his backpack, slinging it over his shoulder. “And I’m going to write the most epic graduation speech ever. It will be remembered for generations to come.”

*
* *

The day before graduation we were given a whole block to sign yearbooks in the cafeteria.

Caeden and I were
coming
up from the math hall and as we were crossing in front of a section of tables a girl let out a squeal. I turned to look, thinking something bad had happened, but instead she was halfway on the table, feet dangling, and staring at Caeden.

“Who’s that sexy beast?” she cried.

Caeden laughed.
His blue eyes shining with humor.

Shane came up behind us and clapped Caeden on the back. “Looks to me like you have a secret admirer.” He shrugged. “Or I guess in this case, not so secret.”

“Nah,” Caeden shook his head. “That’s just Shelby. She’s crazy.”

Shane nodded to a table. “She-wolf, come over here so you can sign the teams yearbooks. You too Caeden.”

We followed him and a stack of yearbooks immediately bombarded me.

“Whoa, guys, slow it down,” I took a pen that Riley offered me.

I handed him my yearbook. “Just pass it to the next person when
you’re
done,” I motioned
to the eagerly waiting guys. The other guys had finally accepted me once they realized they needed me and I was just all around full of awesomeness. I still hung out more with Tyler, Riley, Cam, Kyle, Evan, Shane, and Brody. I had a feeling I’d be
friends
with those seven guys for years to come
.

For the seven, as I liked to call them, I signed:

Lots of Love,
S
ophie

And for the others I signed with a heart and then my name.

Every time I finished a yearbook I handed it to Caeden for him to sign it. He wrote:

Hugs, Caeden

After signing the stack of my teammates yearbooks, Caeden and I headed to our usual table to eat lunch and exchanged yearbooks with our pack members.

I had packed my lunch, so I pulled out a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, while Caeden bought pizza.

“Give me your yearbook,” Bryce said, and snatched it from the table in front of me.

I looked over at Charlotte. “I’m afraid,” I said as Bryce scribbled furiously.

“You should be,” she handed me her yearbook, “sign mine and see what he wrote.”

I opened the front cover and quickly found, scribbled in orange highlighter,
Charlotte, I wish I were your underwear. Why? So, I’d never have to leave your cute bum.
Love, Bryce.

I snorted. “Wow, Bryce.”

“It’s better than H.A.G.S.” He shrugged.

I quickly signed Charlotte’s yearbook and then Chris’, Bentley’s, and Logan’s. Bryce passed my yearbook to Charlotte and she passed it to the others. I was a little scared to know what Bryce had written, especially when he kept smirking at me.

Caeden was happily chomping on his pizza and signing the pack’s yearbooks. A couple of girls, one of
which
was the crazy eyed, hyper spastic, Shelby, approached Caeden to sign their yearbooks. “Sure,” he shrugged, shoving a chunk of pizza crust in his mouth. They squealed and
fangirled
like their favorite singer or actor was signing an autograph for them.

I shook my head and took my yearbook back from Logan. I hesitantly opened it. Chris, Charlotte, Bentley, and Logan all signed their names with a quick message but Bryce? Oh, Bryce.

Sweet Sophie,

I like you. A lot.
But you and me?
It’s just never going to work. You deserve someone better than me. I hope you understand and we can still be friends.

P.S. I have a thing for strawberries now. Not cookies.

-Bryce

I looked up at Bryce and he laughed. He flicked a piece of Charlotte’s hair and said, “I just
luuuuurve
strawberries.”

* * *

Caeden scribbled furiously on a piece of paper. I was afraid if he stabbed it any harder it would break in half. He’d gotten his haircut so he didn’t have to flick any strands out of his eye every few seconds.

Graduation was tomorrow morning and his speech just
had
to be perfect.

I laid on the bed, stroking Archie’s soft head, and trying to keep my mouth shut so I didn’t end up getting yelled at.

After a few more minutes of silence I couldn’t take it any longer. “I thought you had to turn your speech into Mr. Hines yesterday for approval?” I propped my head up on my hand.

“I did,” he bit his tongue.

“So shouldn’t you, I don’t know, leave it alone?”

He tossed the pencil at the wall and shoved the chair back from my desk. “It has to be perfect, Sophie.”

I looked at the clock. “It’s almost midnight Caeden and graduation is at nine in the morning. You need to sleep.”

“I just don’t want to sound like an idiot up there.”

I climbed off the bed and went over to him, rubbing his shoulders. “You’re obviously not an idiot or you wouldn’t be valedictorian.” My hair fell forward, tickling his face.

“Will you listen to it? Please? One more time?” he asked, giving me those puppy dog eyes that I just couldn’t say no to.

“Sure,” I fell back on the bed and threw my arm over my eyes. “Go for it.”

I think he made it through the first paragraph before I fell asleep.

“Sophie! Sophie!” Caeden ran around Gram’s house, his black gown fanning around him. “Have you seen my speech?”

“Check your pocket,” I pointed to his khaki pants.

He shoved his hand in and pulled out a clump of papers.

“Told ya,” I looked in the hall mirror to straighten my cap.

“What about my tie?”

I grabbed it off the side table and held it aloft. “Right here, remember, you asked if I could put it on you.”

“Oh… right,” he blushed.

“Come here,” I quirked a finger at him. He obliged. I slung the tie over his neck and made quick work of tying the knot.

“How’d you do that,” he picked up the silky piece of fabric and stared at it in wonder.

I shrugged. “My dad taught me.”

I turned back to the mirror and inspected my hair and makeup. I wasn’t normally con
cerned
with such trivial things but graduation called for it. I made sure each chocolate curl was in its place, and that my makeup hadn’t melted off.
I even inspected my red graduation gown for wrinkles.

“You look perfect Soph,” Caeden kissed the top of my head.

I sighed.

“Soph,” he said again, noting my sigh, “I’m really sorry your parents couldn’t come.”

I turned and let him put his arms around me. “I guess I just always pictured them cheering me on when this day finally came. It’s weird that they’re not here. Plus, I miss them.”

Caeden kissed my forehead. “I know Sophie. If I could teleport them here, I would.”

“It’s fine,” I smiled. “Gram is here.”

“Darn right!” she called, coming out of her bedroom.

For the first time in all my life, Gram was wearing a skirt.

Oh God, and a pink cardigan.

“Don’t you two dare say a thing,” she pointed a finger at us
,
straightening her skirt with the other hand. “Just bite your tongues.”

“You look great, Lucinda.”