♡ Mia's pov ♡ The school somehow looks intimidating today. But it was probably because of the nerves building inside me again. Fingers wrapping around my hand and a firm squeeze made me snap out of my thoughts. "I'm going to be by your side Mia, always. You got this." Kade reassured me. I smiled. He was right. I got this. Their stares won't matter. I nearly jump out of my skin when a knock comes on the window. I jolt, turning to face whoever thought it was funny to slam their knuckles on the glass. I place my hand on my chest when I saw it was Colby. I rolled down the window. "Jesus Colby, you nearly gave me a heart attack." "Sorry?" He winces, stepping back so I could open the door and not knock him over. Though I was really tempted to, for scaring me. When I got out, I'm pulled into a comforting hug by him. "You're so strong Mia for coming today." He whispered, holding me tighter and was probably on the verge of squeezing me to death. I patted his back when I felt my lungs cry for help." Okay Colb you can let go now." I coughed. "Oh right. " He says sheepishly and pulls away from me. "It's just that I miss your ass." I lifted an eyebrow. "You face timed me yesterday for five hours." He scoffs. "It's not the same when you're in the flesh." I rolled my eyes yet smiled. Colby turns to face the school, his eyes narrowing. "You ready to face the stares?" I bit my bottom lip and looked at the school. I felt Kade's presence behind me, before he stands beside me and grabs my hand in his. There were lingering students around, some beside the stairs leading to the school's front door, some on the front lawn sitting on the grass while some stood beside their cars, talking to their friends. They had noticed me. All of them.It would be hard to not, not when everyone knew my car by now. "Do I even have a choice?" I asked, replying to Colby's question with one of my own. If I had the option to leave and never look back at the school again, I wouldn't. "You do actually. But knowing you, you'd force yourself to face them head on. Something I admire." Colby said. "It's not like they'd have the nerve to say anything to you, not while I'm here and still breathing. " Kade mumbled, squeezing my hand. I breathed out a sigh. It would be best to get this over with. Their stares won't affect me. "Okay. Let's get this over with." I said and tugged Kade's hand along with me. Colby says. "Atta girl." And keeps up with our pace and makes sure to be beside me. I ignore the stares of those still roaming around and ignored their hush voices as they whispered amongst themselves. Kade's grip grows more firm as it was him now pulling me along as my footsteps grow slowly by the sight of the huge door getting closer. Behind that door will have more students. More judgemental stares, more whispers. "Their words mean nothing Mia," Kade whispered, squeezing my hand. I nodded and held my breath when Colby opens the door. My feet felt stiff and unable to move again. "It will be okay Mia. I'm here, I'll always be here." And that reassurance had me sucking in air to calm myself before taking that step inside the school. And it's exactly like in one of those teen movies where everyone stops what they were initially doing and snaps their heads to the front door as if the queen of England had just arrived. And then, the whispers started and their attention remained. Kade pulls me closer to him, so close that his warmth sipped through my bones and calmed me down. I had nothing to fear. Kade was here and also Colby. That was all I needed. Their support and no one else's. We walked towards my locker. The stares and hushed voices got easier with every step until my head was lifted high and my gaze unwavering. When we got to my locker, Colby questioned. "Spanish as the first period?"I nodded, putting in some of the books inside my locker. Kade stood beside me like a bodyguard and I smiled. He was being way overprotective but I can't help but fall for him even more. The bell chimes loudly. "Then I'll see you for second period?" Colby asked but it was more so as a statement than a question honestly. I grinned. "Yeah." He walks off to his class and I turn to Kade in confusion when he hadn't done the same. Everyone was scuttling to get to class yet he stood beside me as if he hadn't heard the bell. "Don't you have class?" I asked, putting in the last book and closing my locker. I didn't care that I would be a little late for my Spanish class. Kade grinned and slung his arm over my shoulder before pulling me closer. "I'm going to drop my girlfriend to class first." __ My bag had barely kissed the wooden desk when a voice whispered. I lift my eyes and they connected with brown. And belonged to a girl named Tara who always sat the seat before mine. She smiles softly, her gaze deepening in sympathy. "I'm sorry about what happened that day Mia. You didn't deserve that. Especially coming from someone who really doesn't have room to talk about others." I smiled, uncomfortably. I didn't really want to talk about what happened in that cafeteria. I didn't even want to remember it. But that would be impossible to not. "It's fine. " I said. Her gaze suddenly drops and they saddened. "I'm also sorry about....." She looks at my stomach under the desk and I squirm in unease. She must've sensed my unease because she winces and worded out an apology before turning around and facing the front. "I'm sorry too. Brianna was definitely wrong. And such a bitch for causing you to lose your baby." Another girl whispered beside me leaning forward. I don't answer because well suddenly I was panicking inwardly. I didn't like the sudden attention and apologies they were spewing onto me. I just wanted peace, was that so much to ask for?I closed my eyes tightly, gripping my bag as I try to calm my nerves. It will be okay. I reassure myself. I repeated those words until I was positive they were the truth. Until I began to believe them. Sighing, I peeled my eyes open and was so very thankful that the teacher started the lesson. ____ * 12:11 p.m * Colby slammed the tray on the table, making some of his mash potatoes nearly spill. I didn't want to be here. In the cafeteria where it happened. But I would not get over what happened if I didn't. I had to face my fears and that was one of them. Kade gently placed his tray down and sat on the chair beside mine. I gasp when he suddenly pushes one of his arms under my knees and the other behind my back before pulling me onto his lap. "Kade," I whined shyly, looking around the cafeteria discreetly. I knew they were looking at us with hawk eyes I could feel it. Instead of answering me, Kade holds my hips to keep me on him and the other hand he takes a fry off his tray and guides it to my mouth. I blushed furiously. "Everyone is staring," I whispered, squirming on his lap and pushing closer to his chest so I can hide myself away from the stares. It didn't quite work........ "I don't care." He grumbles, probing my lips with the fry until I had no choice but to open it so he can feed me. I chewed the fry and fight off the stares as I focus on Kade and no one else. "Girl, I had the weirdest dream last night. You know Jason and Freddy?" Colby asked as he plopped down on the chair opposite ours. I nod. "Serial killers right?" Colby nodded. "Well.....I was making love to those mother fuckers. Girl, I think the dream is trying to tell me something. I think I'm into criminals...."He drawled as he picked up his fork and shrugged. "The dream was hot, not going to lie." I cringed. "You're crazy." Colby shrugged again and pushed the mashed potatoes into his mouth. Suddenly someone plops on the chair beside his, a tray quickly landing on the table surface. We all stare at Brian in shock. "What the hell are you doing here?" Kade sneered, while Colby being Colby scooted his chair away from Brian as if he had a bomb. Brian looks at Kade then me and sighed. "Look man, we're friends. Well, at least I consider you my friend. Yes, I'm pissed you hadn't told me about her," He nudged his chin my way and then continued. " Knowing that I liked her. If I had known I would've backed off." He then shakes his head. "I'm not here to apologize for my sister's actions because she's grown enough to do it herself. She went overboard- "Overboard is an understatement." Colby snorted. Brian sighs and looks over at me. "But I do want to apologize for not stopping her sooner. Brianna must've known about you and Kade which is why she provoked you. Brianna was always one to get furious about things she wanted and couldn't get. In that case she wanted Kade. Not being able to get him pushed her to do something uncalled for. " Breathing out heavily he looks at Kade and me and smiled. "You two make the perfect couple and I'm sorry you had to go through all of that for the past week." Then he scratched the back of his head and looks at me sheepishly. "By the way Mia, I'm sorry for flirting with you when you had a boyfriend. But in my defense, you two should've really come out sooner. Would've saved me the embarrassment." He grinned. I stared at Brian, his words held no dishonesty. I smiled. It wasn't his fault anyway. But then his smile wavered when he looked at someone behind me. I whipped around and suddenly all I can feel is rage when my eyes land on her. I hadn't seen her until now. Her gaze was down and her arms were crossed under her breasts. She shifted on her feet nervously and then lifted her gaze to connect with mine. "Mia-"Don't say my name." I cut her off with a sneer. The entire cafeteria silenced. I may not blame her for me falling onto that table but I did blame her for trying to disgrace me in front of everyone. She takes a step back and then her eyes misted. "I'm so sorry. So sorry. I didn't mean it. I didn't mean for it to happen. Any of it. " Her misty gaze swept over to Kade and her bottom lip wobbled. "I wanted him and I was jealous that he always seemed to look at you. Give you the attention I always wanted even though you weren't even trying. I was jealous of you Mi- She stops and gulps. "I knew you two were together. It was obvious with the looks you passed between the two of you." "Am I the only one who was blind by all those looks?" Brian mumbled. "Pretty much," Colby responded. "But don't worry your IQ just isn't as high as mine." "And I got so jealous at the thought of you carrying his baby that I wanted to hurt you. Not physically but it turned out that way, unfortunately. Honestly, I don't know what I was trying to accomplish when I knew nothing would make Kade stop loving you the way he does." She sucks in air shakily. "For the last couple of days after what happened, I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat as guilt and self-hate ate me alive. I wanted to check on you after you were discharged but I couldn't bring myself to. You don't know how much I hate myself for causing what happened to you, Mia." Tears trailed down her cheeks and she lifted her fingers up to her cheeks to wipe them away. "I won't blame you if you won't forgive me, Mia. Because I don't deserve it. I just want you to know that if I could bring back time I would. Just so you wouldn't have had to go through what you did. " I looked at Brianna, I could tell that she meant every word she said. And somehow, that made the rage I felt for her swivel down. She was guilty and clearly eating herself up about what happened. "You know Brianna." I started, making a move to get off Kade's lap. But he doesn't want to let me go. I squeezed his hand to tell him I'd be okay. When he finally lets me go, I rise to my feet and walked over to Brianna. She looks at me in fear yet doesn't back away. I could tell she was waiting for me to do her something. My gaze swept over to the table and took the bowl of beans on some girl's tray. She doesn't protest. Brianna holds her breath when I'm beside her."I've always wanted to do this." I lifted the small bowl of beans on top of her head and let it spill on her hair and clothes. She gasped, closing her eyes but doesn't move away. "I deserved that." She whispered. Opening her eyes she muttered. "Perhaps even more." I nodded and walked over to another table and took someone's mashed potatoes. " You're right." I dug my hand in and then flung the mashed potatoes to her face. She clenched her eyes shut and wipes her hand down her face to remove the mashed potatoes. When her eyes open, I grin at her. " I forgive you." She looks relieved and smiles happily. But when she's about to speak, someone yells. "Food fight!" Suddenly different kinds of foods are flinging everywhere. I gasp when mashed potatoes are suddenly on my hair. I looked at Kade to see that he was the culprit. He grins, holding up Colby's bowl that once had the mashed potatoes. I narrowed my eyes, smiling as I took someone's potatoes and run towards him. He stands up, laughing as I flung the potatoes on his cheeks. It's chaotic around us with food flying everywhere. My hair is sticking to my face and my clothes are clinging to my body. I giggled as Kade nearly trips on the mash potatoes under his shoe. He narrows his eyes and pulls me into his arms. With one of his arms around my waist locking me there, the other takes off some of the potatoes on his face and wipes it down the right side of my face. I squirm, closing my eyes, and giggled. When I peeled my eyes open, our eyes connected. So blue. So beautiful. And the world around us doesn't seem to matter. It was just him and me. Together. And however long forever can be for us. Kade brushes some of my sticky hair off my cheek and stared at me deeply. "I'm going to marry you someday Mia."