Outsider (Outsider Series) (4 page)

“Something
like
that. It’s more of a bribe for being a good sport about all the moves through the years,” I said.  “But they do love me,” I added backing out of the driveway and trying to avoid his monster of a cycle. “And hey, that bike doesn’t look cheap,” I demanded.

He
rubbed his hands uncomfortably on his jeans. “It was my dad’s,” he said and then cleared his throat. “Before he died.
It was going to be my graduation present but my mom gave it to me early.
”

“Oh,” I said stunned. “I’m so sorry,” I bumbled.

“Accidents happen,” he said.

I didn’t know what to say, I had never known someone with a dead parent before, so I didn’t say anything at all.
I pulled into the school parking
lot,
I had been here plenty of times with Gram to see plays, and followed Caeden inside. He held the front doors open for me and then turned to the right and went passed the attendance and office, before stopping in front of the guidance office. Once again he held the door open for me.

The lady sitting behind the desk looked up, her reading glasses perched haphazardly on the end of her nose, and smiled at me. “Sorry, sweetie no schedule changes until the second week of school.”

I smiled back. “I’m not here for a schedule change. I just moved here and I haven’t received my schedule yet so I was hoping you would help me,” I said.

“Oh, certainly,” she said. “What’s your name?”

“Sophie Beaumont,” I said.

She searched her computer and then said, “Ah, h
ere you are.” She hummed to her
self. “It says you live with your grandma.”

“Yes,” I said. “Lucinda Beaumont. My dad’s in the military and so we moved around a lot. They decided it would be better if I spent my senior year in one place.”

“Oh,” she said. “Lucinda? That sounds familiar,” she said and tapped her chin.

“Lucinda’s Cupcakes, maybe?” I suggested with a shrug of my shoulders.

“That’s it!” she said clapping her hands. “
Those are the best cupcakes!
Here you are,” she said handing my schedule and then a map of the school.

“Thanks,” I said and turned around and walked into something hard. I put my hands out in front of me and felt hard muscle. My cheeks flamed and I pulled my hands away like I had been burned.

“Sorry,” I muttered to Caeden. I had forgotten he was behind me. He had that same enamored look on his face which made me blush more. I went around him
and that seemed to snap him out of his weird trance.

He shook his head and followed me out.

“Let me see your schedule,” he said and I handed it to him.
He clucked his tongue and smiled. “You got Harding for Math good luck with
that
,” he said. “She’s the worst.”

I groaned. “I already suck at math. I need a good teacher.”

“Don’t get me wrong. She’s a good teacher as long as you don’t get on her bad side. She absolutely
hates
my brother Bryce,” he said as we continued to walk straight down the hall. He laughed. “She threw a ruler at him once.”

I laughed too.

“Okay,” he said as the hall ended and the only way was to go left. “This is the math wing. So, you’re going to come down here first. It’s this classroom right here,” he said indicating the second on right. A plump woman with graying hair sat behind a desk. Seeing us she looked up. Then she noticed Caeden and glared.

“Is that brother of yours still here?” she growled.

Caeden turned to me and rolled his eyes. I stifled a laugh. “Yes, Mrs. Harding. He’s a grade behind me. You still have to see his face every day for the next two years.”

“Every day my foot,” she groaned.

Caeden shook his head and shot her a charming smile. “Anyway, this Sophie. She’s new. You’ll be seeing her in your first class.”

She turned her beady eyes on me and stabbed the air with a pencil she had been holding. “You’re not going to give me any trouble now are you young lady?”

“No
ma’am
,” I said.

Her eyes narrowed to the point that I didn’t know how she could see out of them. “
I can smell trouble a mile away and
you
are trouble.”

I gulped. I didn’t know what to say but I finally found my voice. “I won’t cause any trouble,” I breathed.

“Hmm,” she said.

We started out of her room and then Caeden leaned his head back in. “Oh, Bryce’s head is fine by the way. Thanks for asking.”

I saw her scrunch up her face and stand up.

Suddenly Caeden’s warm hand was on mine. “Run!” he said.

We sprinted down the hallway and he pulled me into an alcove out of her line of sight.

I could see Mrs. Harding out of the corner of my eye. She was standing in the middle of the hallway with her hands on her hips seething. She mumbled something
about annoying teenagers
and walked away.

Caeden’s hand still held mine. I didn’t want to let go. I liked the way it felt there. Like it belonged. Once he was sure she was out of ear shot he burst into laughter.

I smacked his arm.
“You’re horrible! She could have eaten me!”

He started laughing harder. “I couldn’t resist.”

I let go of his hand
reluctantly
and said, “Can we finish the tour now?”

“Sure, sure,” he said and another giggle escaped.

We started walking again and I asked, “How come you said that she would see him every day? Don’t we have block scheduling?”

Caeden rubbed the scruff on his face. His blue eyes were glittering with laughter. “Yeah, we have block scheduling but Bryce is like a math whiz and Mrs. Harding is the only teacher that teaches the everyday advanced classes. So, she gets to see his wonderful face every day for the next two years just like she has for the last two years. Even one of his electives is Math. I actually think he might be in your class.”

I laughed. “Math? An elective?”

“What can I say?” he said throwing his hands in the air. “The kid’s a freak. But he’s my baby brother.”

I shook my head. Caeden finished showing me around and told me that he’d meet me in the parking lot on the first day. This reminded him that I needed to buy a parking spot first. I bought the spot right next to his.

I drove back to Gram’s to drop him off and then headed to the store. I had some time before the store opened so I started baking fresh cupcakes. The spicy and sweet scents permeated the air. Guiltily, I snatched a cupcake and moaned in ecstasy. Gram’s recipes made the best cupcakes.

Before I knew it the day was over… and the next. The first day of school was staring me in the face and I was so not ready.

three
.

I groaned into my pillow as the alarm went off. Finally I couldn’t take the incessant buzzing anymore and turned it off.

A light knock on my door, a shed of light, and then Gram’s head finally emerged. “Rise and shine!” she chanted. “First day of school!”

I groaned and covered my eyes with arm. “At least it’s the last first day of school,” I mumbled.

“That’s the spirit!” she said. “Now get that toosh out of bed and get ready. I’ve already started breakfast,” she said trying to entice me with her cooking.

“It’s dark out,” I grumbled. “That means it’s time to sleep, not eat.”

She put her hands on her hips.
“Get. Out. Of. Bed.” She said in her serious voice. You didn’t mess with Gram’s serious voice.

“Fine,” I grumbled. “I’ll get up and I’ll go to school and I promise to hate every minute of it.”

She tapped her foot. “Sometimes I swear you’re your father except with lady parts. You act
exactly
like him!”

“No, I don’t,” I grumbled.

She threw her hands in the air. “Oh, please. You have the same eyebrows and you even swallow the same.”

“My eyebrows are fine,” I said but self-consciously tried to smooth them down.

“If you’re a man,” she said. “Come on,” she said pulling me towards the bathroom. “Take your shower and when you’re done breakfast will be ready.”

Her joking banter was beginning to rub off on me. “So, now you’re telling me I stink?”

“No,” she said and looked at her watch. “I’m telling you that you’re wasting time.”

I shook my head and closed the bathroom door.

I dressed quickly and dried my hair. I dabbed on a little mascara. Like Gram had promised a feast befitting a king was waiting for me. Homemade pancakes were stacked on a plate.

“Gram, you’re too good,” I said digging in.

She smiled at me across her own plate. “I am quite amazing,” she said.
“I’ll need you to work after school. Just come straight to the store,” she said. “Caeden will be there too. He usually comes in a little late
but you’ll need his help. We’re usually really busy once school starts
.”

“Okay,” I said yawning.
“And just so you know, the store is
always
, busy. I hardly get a break.”

She chuckled. “You’ll see.”

I finished my breakfast, grabbed my backpack, and headed out the door. It should be illegal to have to go to school this earlier, I thought to myself.
I was shocked at the long line of cars at the stoplight and resolved to not waste so much time in the mornings.

When I finally made it through the light a man directed me to my left and into the student parking lot. I remembered my parking spot number and repeated it in my head like a mantra. But it was pointless. Caeden waved to me from where he was standing next to what looked like a younger version of him. I assumed it was his little brother.

I parked next to him and found myself smiling.

“Hey,” he said as I jumped out of the car.

“Hi,” I smiled.

We must have just standing there staring at each other
like goofs
because all of a sudden the other boy whistled and waved his hands in the air. “Hello? Earth to Caeden and new girl.”

We both shook our heads and I blushed. His cheeks were flaming too.

Caeden tossed his thumb over his shoulder and then stuck his hands in his pockets. “This is my annoying brother, Bryce,” he said.

Bryce smiled. His brown hair was shaggy
,
and like his brothe
r,
his eyes were a bright blue. His face was more round compared to Caeden’s chiseled features. With his floppy hair and easy smile he reminded me of a lap dog.

Bryce extended his hand to me, “Bryce,” he said. “The unfortunate younger brother of this one.”

I smiled. “Sophie,” I said.

Bryce stepped back and lovingly rubbed an old green
Jeep
. “And this is the love of my life, Stella.”

Caeden punched his brother. “Dude, you are so weird,” he said.

Bryce laughed and danced away. Walking backwards, towards the school, he said, “I never claimed to be normal Caeden. You know that.”

Caeden narrowed his eyes and
I
would swear for a moment they flashed gold. A small growl escaped his throat.

Bryce turned completely around and sauntered away.

Caeden shook his head. “Ignore him. I do.”

I smiled at him. “Gra
nted, I’ve never had siblings b
ut I was always under the impression that it was your job to annoy each other.”

He laughed and we started walking. “That’s very true,” he said.

Just then a car came screeching through the parking lot. Tires squealing, music blaring, the reckless driver swung into the parking space. The car was a shiny new Audi S5 coupe.

Caeden glared at the tented windows and visibly bristled. A tall, muscular, blond guy got out of the car, with a smirk on his face like he owned the place.

Caeden
growled and took my hand pulling me in the other direction towards the gym entrance.

A deep male voice said, “Caeden my friend.”

I watched Caeden’s face
tense
. His teeth were clenched and his jaw was twitching. He moved me behind him and tuned around.

The blond guy stood with his arms crossed over his chest grinning. “Travis,” Caeden rasped. “What do you want?”

The boy, who like Caeden, really looked more like a man, tried to peer around Caeden to look at me. Caeden’s grip
tightened on my hand to the point that it was painful.

Travis’ dark eyes peered into Caeden’s. “I just wanted to meet your friend.” He put his hands up like he was surrendering. “Don’t get your panties in a bunch.”

Caeden growled and Travis smiled. “That’s right, breathe,
control
your temper Caeden. We wouldn’t want to have you exploding out of your clothes in the school parking lot, now would we,” said Travis tilting his head.