« Caden's POV »

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When Skylar opened the door, I was a little bit surprised to see the look of pure horror on her face. Which just confused me. Her eyes looked at me in panic. And disbelief. The same brown eyes which I had missed so much.

Before I could've said something to clear up my confusion, she literally pounced on me. And I'm not even exaggerating.

"Oh my God!" The words blurted out of her mouth in a rush. As if she was so much relieved.

Out of instinct, I wrapped an arm around her waist, stumbling back a little.

"I was not expecting such kind of...reaction." I was more than confused. Apparently, something was wrong. Her heartbeat told so.

"No, no, no!" She pulled away just as hastily, looking at me with her panicked eyes. "There...there was someone on the door! Banging and ringing the doorbell."

I felt a frown forming on my forehead as I registered her words. "I rang the doorbell."

She shook her head again. "Before you!" She looked behind me. "A guy with a black hood on. He was here, at the door."

I tried ignoring the sudden wave of anger inside me.

This really was getting out of hand.

"You didn't see anybody?" Her eyes darted to the left, as if expecting somebody to come out any second.

"No." I replied. "I just saw this on the grass." I showed her the small white envelope in my other hand. When I had walked inside the wooden fence surrounding her house, that white envelope had been there on the grass. It should've been in the mail box. But it hadn't been.

"It must be for your parents." I added when she made no move to reply. Instead, all she did was stare at the white envelope with wide eyes.

"I'm not opening that." She whispered.

I followed her gaze, looking down at it.

"What's so scary about opening an envelope?" I asked.

"You don't understand."

"I will, once you explain."

She went quiet for a while. And that just increased the urge inside me to pull her close and just kiss her.

God, it had been so long since I kissed her.

"All right. Come inside first."

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"You've been getting letters." I concluded once she was done explaining all of it.

"Not letters." She corrected. "It was just one letter. But that might be another one." I followed her gaze towards the white envelope on the table in front of us.

Dragging a hand through my hair, I let out a frustrated sigh.

I should've seen this coming.

"You believe me, don't you?" She asked from beside me.

I did. Very clearly since I knew the reasons behind it.

"Why wouldn't I?"

Instead of replying, she just leaned back against the couch. Probably wondering how the hell did she end up between this. Again.

I had tried everything to keep her out of it. But I had failed. What would've happened if I hadn't come here before?

That guy on her front door might've broken in.

I slipped my arm around her waist and pulled her against myself, trying to comfort myself more than her.

"I even called the police that day." She mumbled against my chest. "They all thought I had gone crazy. Nobody believed me. Except Chicken."

From the corner of my eyes, I saw her cat roaming in circles around a red cushion on the floor.

"Your cat is crazy." I told her, nuzzling my head in the crook of her neck. She relaxed against me.

"How did you know I was back?" She asked. "Did mom tell you?"

I absentmindedly rubbed the tip of my nose against the soft skin of her neck, making her shiver lightly at the impact. I really did not know how to answer that question.

"No." I murmured.

Maybe I should tell her.

"How did you know then?" She asked.

Inhaling a deep breath, I pulled away and looked at her. "Kyle told me."

This must've been the thousandth time her eyes widened.

"Kyle?" The way she said his name clearly told me how she knew him. He must've already introduced himself.

Going to Pennsylvania to meet his sister.

What the fuck was he even doing around Skylar? I stifled the sudden urge to groan in response.

"You know him?" She asked, her eyes still wide. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Was it necessary?" I leaned my head back against the couch, looking up at the ceiling.

"How do you know him?" She asked, almost jumping up and down in anticipation.

I blinked, still looking up at the ceiling, trying to come up with an answer. "He's in the gang...for the moment." I said.

"Your gang?" She gasped out loud.

I looked at her with a frown. "Just stay away from him, okay? I'll make sure to tell him that too."

"But...why is he in your gang?" She asked, her eyes clearly begging me for answers. Which I wanted to give. But I really didn't trust the consequences.

"I need him for some stuff."

"Such as?"

"He was in the East gang before. So...he is useful for our gang." I tried explaining this to her.

A small frown formed on her forehead. "This is about Blake's disappearance?" She asked.

Not exactly.

"Yes." I nodded in response.

She still didn't seem satisfied. "What if this is him, Caden? What if Blake is doing this?"

At that moment, I wish I could've told her how that wasn't true. But I didn't know how. This was so much complicated.

"You don't have to worry about that." I said, instead.

"But what if-"

"Sky, I said don't worry about it." I repeated, cutting her off. A look of annoyance passed over her eyes.

"Oh come on! Who do you think I am?" She raised her hands in clear irritation. Despite the situation, a small smile tugged across my lips.

This girl was so darn crazy.

And I love her so much.

"My girlfriend?" I suggested.

"Caden–"

"Sky–"

"No, shut up!" She shoved me away. I was quick to snake an arm around her waist and pull her with me, landing on the floor. With her on top of me.

Which really wasn't a problem.

"This is officially the end point of my irritation." She scowled at me. I just smirked in response. Which had always worked with increasing her anger.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" She asked with a glare.

"Your boyfriend?" I asked before placing a small kiss on her cheek. Not surprisingly, I could actually feel her anger draining away.

Why did I love making her angry?

"Why can't you just give me a straight answer?" She asked.

"I'm saving that for later." Which was kind of the truth.

She frowned before looking away.

I placed my hands on either side of her face, making her look back at me. "There's nothing wrong, okay? Everything's perfectly fine."

"What if you're lying?" She asked in almost a whisper.

I didn't answer her. Mainly because I'd actually be lying if I answered that question.

I just pulled her towards me. And kissed her.

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Xoxo,

Crystal 🌿