HIDDEN (Hidden Trilogy Book 1) (4 page)

“Don’t worry about it.”  I smiled.  “Besides, I was.” 

“I know.”  She chuckled. 

“I was just curious.  I really didn’t mean to watch them that long.”  She nodded before changing the subject. 

“I saw you arguing with Cade this morning.”  She said, leadingly.  I didn’t take the bait.  “I can’t believe you stood up to him.”  That got my attention. 

“What do you mean?”

“Most of us back down.  He can have a really…intimidating…personality.”  I looked at her in question before she quickly continued.  “I don’t mean he’s abusive.  Quite the opposite.  He’s a natural born protector and looks out for those close to him.  But his personality makes him appear, well for a lack of better term, alpha wolf.”

“Alpha wolf?”  I asked.  “So like he’s top dog and everyone else does what he says?”

“Essentially, well about the top dog thing, anyway.”  She nodded, happy I understood her.  “Not everyone sees it that way, obviously,” she nodded in my direction, “but he’d never put anyone in harm’s way.  He doesn’t tell people what to do unless it’s for their safety or those around them.  Like I said, he’s a born protector.” 

“I don’t like people asking questions about me.”  I muttered almost to myself but Bree somehow heard me. 

“Is that what he was doing this morning?”  She asked as we walked back out to the gym.

“Yes.”

“He can’t protect you if he doesn’t know you.”

“Why does he think he has to protect me?”  I asked as we waited by the gym door.  The class was just about over.  A masculine voice from behind us caught my attention and I turned to face Hunter.

“It is just the way he is.”  He regarded me closely.  “Cassie adopted you as one of us, so he sees it as his responsibility to see to your protection.” 

“You guys throw that word around a lot.”  I replied with a frown.  Cade was still nowhere in sight. 

“What?  Protection?”  Bree asked. 

“Yeah.  It’s weird.”  I shook my head before continuing.  “I’m not in danger from anything here.”

“Oh, I see what you mean.”  Bree nodded.  “Protection to us means safety, yes, but also that we are healthy, cared for, and emotionally stable.” 

“He thinks he has to see to all of those?” I asked with raised eyebrows. 

“Well, he makes sure we have the people around us that can provide those things.”

“So when he asked questions about my parents…”  I asked leadingly. 

“Is that what he did to piss you off this morning?”  Hunter asked with a rare grin.  “Have to admit you facing off with Cade in the hallway will be forever immortalized in my brain.”  Apparently standing up to Cade was the only thing that could make Hunter smile. 

“Yes,” Bree said, answering my question while ignoring Hunter’s comment.  “He will ask questions to make sure you are protected.”

“What if I don’t want people asking questions?” 
Especially Cade.
 

“Then you better be prepared for a long battle.”  Hunter mumbled as he turned toward the boys’ locker room.  I watched Cade stride up to our group, his eyes took us in at a glance. 

“Everything all right?”  He asked as he looked around the group before his eyes settled on me.  His brown, very alluring eyes. 
Why did he have to be so cute?
  Bree was the first to speak up. 

“Yeah, Cade, everything’s fine.”  Bree assured him. 

“Lunch is next.”  He stated, still looking at me.  “You’ll sit with us.”  My jaw dropped.

“Excuse me?”  I asked, shocked at his nerve. 

“Oh, what he means is Cassie will be there and she’ll want to catch up.  She’ll be disappointed if you don’t sit with us.”  Bree assured me.  I was less than convinced.  Bree was trying a little too hard at smoothing things over. 

“Fine.”  I replied grudgingly.  It wasn’t like I had anyone else to sit with and I did enjoy most of their company.  Our class was excused and we followed the masses to the cafeteria.  Brody and Cassie joined us in the hall and chatted with Bree as we stood in line for our food.  Somehow Hunter had rounded our group and was in front, followed by Bree, Brody and Cassie.  I stood right behind Cassie and couldn’t help but feel Cade’s brooding form behind me.  I picked up a tray and proceeded to add a salad, apple, and drink to my tray. 

“That’s all you’re eating?”  Cade rumbled from behind me.  I ignored his comment and paid for my lunch.  I heard Cade grunt in frustration.  I followed Cassie to the round tables and saw that the only empty seats left were side by side, one for me and one for Cade. 
Great, that meant I was sitting by Mr. Grumpy Pants.
  I rolled my eyes and sat down on the right.  Cade took the one to my left. 

“So, Kendra, what do you think of our school?  You like it?”  Cassie asked as she bit into her pizza.

“Yeah, its fine.”  I shrugged, extremely aware of Cade as he sat next to me and watched my every move. 

“Well the best part about being a senior is last period study hall.”  Brody grinned.  “One less class to fall asleep in.”

“Aw, I would think you’d want one more class to sleep in.”  Cassie teased.  “You know, catch up on your beauty sleep and all.”

“Hey, I’m beautiful enough.”  He grinned before turning to me.  “Don’t you think, Kendra?”

“I…ah…”  I stuttered, caught off guard.

“Leave her alone.”  Cade demanded.  Brody abruptly stopped smiling and returned his attention to his food.  I looked around the table and noticed no one would meet my eyes, or Cade’s.  I rounded on Cade.

“What the hell is your problem?”  I scowled in his direction, which didn’t seem to faze him as he shrugged in response. 

“He shouldn’t ask questions like that to you.”

“He was just joking around.  I was just caught off guard.”

“He was trying to weasel compliments out of you.”

“Well,” I glanced back at Brody who watched us from under his eyelashes.  “I think you’re very pretty, Brody.”  Hunter choked on his drink and almost spewed it across the table.  I watched a small smile play across Brody’s lips before he responded.

“Pretty, huh?”  He chuckled and everyone else joined in, except Cade.  He just glared at no one in particular. 

“So, Kendra,” Cassie drawled.  I turned to see her surveying the room.  “I see you’ve managed to catch a few eyes around here.”  I felt Cade stiffen beside me.

“What do you mean?”  Who was she talking about?

“Look around.”  She replied cryptically.  I did as she asked, and noticed quite a few gazes our way.  Mostly male. 
Oh shit.
  Attention of any kind was not something a new student wanted, or needed.  I’d learned to keep a low profile.  Apparently being with Cassie’s group put me under the spotlight. 

“When’s the last time you had a new student?”  I asked, trying to keep the panic at bay.

“Probably back in sixth grade.”  Brody shrugged. 

“So they are just curious, right?”

“Uh, have you looked at yourself today?”  Cassie said.  “I’m sure there is more than one boy out there wondering if you have a boyfriend back home.”

“Do you?”  Bree asked.

“Do I what?”  I asked absently, unnerved by the number of eyes watching me.  I was used to fading into the background.  Being undetected.  Did my association with Cassie’s group gain that much attention?  Or was it my confrontation with Cade this morning?

“A boyfriend.  Back home.”  Bree stated.  I looked back at her as I realized what she was asking.

“Oh, no.  No boyfriends.”

“Oh good, then that leaves you open for prospects.”  Cassie rubbed her hands together.  “Let’s see who we can find.”  She gazed around the room.

“Oh, really, I don’t want a boy-“  I tried to say.  Cassie cut me off. 

“Drew is nice.  He’s the boy two tables over with shaggy blonde hair and blue eyes.”  I couldn’t stop myself from looking in his direction.  He was cute, I’ll admit, but there was something…off…that had me returning my gaze to the table. 

“No.  Absolutely not.”  Cade ground out.

“Why not?”  Cassie countered, eyes narrowing in Cade’s direction.

“He’s a jerk.  He doesn’t let on to everyone, but he has no respect what-so-ever for women.”

“Oh.”  Cassie almost looked crestfallen.  “I didn’t realize.”  She started looking around again.

“There’s Tyler.”  Bree piped up.  Brody and Hunter joined in the scowling match with Cade. 

“Ooo…that’s a good one!”  Cassie high fived Bree then turned to me.  “He’s four tables the other way.  Black hair, big build, red t-shirt.”  Helplessly, I found my eyes traveling in Tyler’s direction.  He was laughing with his friends about something said at his table and then caught my gaze for a second.  I didn’t get any bad vibes from him, at least.  A brief smile touched his lips before he turned back to his friends.

“What’s wrong with one of us?”  Brody asked, nonchalantly.  I swung my gaze around.

“Huh?”  Cassie asked distractedly, still eyeing the crowded lunch room. 

“Why can’t Kendra date one of us?”  He motioned to him, Hunter and Cade at the table.  My eyes widened.  Was he seriously asking that question while I sat right there? 

“Oh, please.”  Cassie scoffed, returning her attention to our table.  “She’d never put up with your bull.  Right, Kendra?”  Before I could respond, Bree piped up.

“You guys are way to domineering.  You’d butt heads all the time.”

“So she’d rather have a guy she can lead around by his-“ Hunter started. 

“I’d rather not have anyone at all, thanks.”  I interrupted as I stood up to dispose my tray.  I heard arguing at the table behind me but figured I was better off not being in that conversation.  I made my way to the trash can, took care of my tray, and was just turning around when I ran into someone’s side.

“Whoa! You okay?”  A masculine voice asked as I bounced off a solid frame.  I regained my balance and looked up to find Tyler standing in front of me.

“Fine.  Sorry for running into you.”  I smiled apologetically.  He was even cuter up close.  His black hair was cropped short and his build rivaled Cade’s. 
Wait, why was I comparing him to Cade?
 

“No problems.”  He took care of his tray then faced me.  “You’re Kendra, right?”

“News travels fast.”

“Yeah, well, we don’t have many new students here.”

“So, I’ve heard.”

“I’m Tyler.”  He stuck out his hand and I shook it. 

“Nice to meet you.”

“Like wise.”  He smiled.  A loud clattering made me glance over my shoulder to see Cade.  He had just disposed of his trash and now scowled at us.  I rolled my eyes at him and turned back to Tyler who regarded Cade over my shoulder.  He squeezed my hand one last time before letting go.  “Maybe we will have some classes together this afternoon.”

“Are you a senior?”  I asked.

“Yeah.”

“Then we’ll have study hall together.”   Making friends was never my forte but Tyler seemed like a nice guy.  Wouldn’t hurt to have one more in my corner, right? 

“Cool.  Maybe we could talk sometime then.”

“Sure, I’d like that.”  I felt Cade come up beside me and watched out of the corner of my eye as he folded his arms across his chest.

“See you later.”  Tyler nodded nervously, clearly intimidated by Cade.  He really didn’t have anything to worry about since they were about the same size but that didn’t seem to matter.  He turned and walked back in the direction of his table. 

“I thought you said you didn’t want a boyfriend.”  Cade stated beside me.  I glanced at him but saw that he was still watching Tyler.

“I don’t.”

“Then what are you doing encouraging Tyler?”

“I wasn’t encouraging anything.”  I denied.  He scoffed.

“You don’t promise a guy you’re looking forward to talking to him and believe he’s not going to assume you like him.”

“I never said I didn’t like him.”  I watched as his eyes snapped to my face.

“What?”

“He seems nice.  I’m allowed to like a guy and not date him.”

“He’ll want more than friendship.”

“Well, I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.”  I shrugged.  “What do you care anyways?  Don’t you have someone else to watch over?  A girlfriend, maybe?”  I cringed internally.  That question sounded way too interested even to me. 

“I don’t date.” 

“Uh huh.”  I paused before adding out of curiosity, “Why not?”

“What aren’t you telling me about your parents?”  He countered.  I turned away without responding and made my way back to our table.  Neither of us brought the subject up again and soon we had to leave for our next class.  Turned out the class after lunch, science, was with Hunter and Bree, and the next, history, was with Cade again.  Finally study hall was up.  Of course since the previous class was with Cade, he escorted me,
without permission
, to the cafeteria. 

Since this was our first day we didn’t have any homework.  I followed Cade’s not so subtle directions to the table we ate at for lunch.  This time I took a seat between Cassie and Bree.  I tuned out the conversation for a while as I watched the senior student population in study hall.