[ nine ]

ADDISON

“It’s okay. I only reacted the way I did last night because I wasn’t in my right state of mind. I was sick and thus my body reacted as such. I still don’t like Chris Kingston in any way.” I nodded to myself. Yes, that was it.

“Hello Cupid,” Chris greeted at my locker with a wink. Yesterday’s events instantly surfaced in my head but I shook my head and pushed them back. Chanting whatever I’d been saying to myself again, I acted like my normal self. I turned to him with a slightly annoyed expression, “Hello Kingston.”

He quirked an eyebrow, “Back to your usual self I see.” I shrugged in response and he walked around me. Now standing behind me with one hand on my locker door, he closed it shut. I jumped slightly and my back hit his chest. I could feel his chest rising up and down as his hot breath fanned my neck. My heartbeat quickened.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have nursed you back to health.” He whispered into my ear. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I turned around. He trapped me as my back was pressed against the cool surface of the lockers. A slow smirk formed on his lips.

“What do you want Chris?” I mumbled, avoiding eye contact. For some reason, it felt embarrassing to look at him. His fingers held my chin and he forced me to lock gazes with him. Remembering my words earlier, I stared back at him as unbothered as I possibly could.

A quiet moment passed between us. “Hmm, nothing.”

Chris let go of my chin and pulled away. Even with his usual smirk, his face revealed nothing. “You should thank my amazing skills for you to be back to normal.”

I scoffed before responding sarcastically, “Yeah, thanks.”

“Omg, Chris baby! I haven’t seen you in so long!” Enter Macy Kowell, the Queen Bee of Kingston High. She wrapped her manicured fingers around Chris’ arm with a flirtatious smile. Chris turned to her with his signature playboy smirk, “Hey there, Mace.” He kissed the crown of her head.

Macy’s eyes trailed to me and a look of disgust flashed in her eyes before she turned back to Chris, “Come on, let’s go.” She dragged him away but it didn’t seem like he was reluctant. The two of them didn’t spare me another glance as they walked off and my shoulders relaxed.

“What was all that?” A voice called out to me. I snapped my head to the left only to see Ella’s and Collin’s head popping out behind a locker. They looked at me expectantly.

"Hey guys,” I said with a half-smile as they walked out.

Ella lifted a perfectly shaped eyebrow, “‘Hey guys’? Where were you yesterday and what the hell did we miss between you and Chris?”

“I was sick yesterday.”

“And?” Collin prompted. Ella pursed her lips at me and folded her arms against her chest.

“Chris took care of me?” I answered more like a question instead of a statement. Ella opened her mouth, “That’s it? That can’t be it for Kingston to corner you at your locker like that,” she said, pointing to my locker.

“You guys saw that?”

Ella and Collin shared a look before saying in unison, “Of course we did.” Before Ella added, “Why do you think we were hiding behind a locker?” I frowned at them and Collin patted my cheek which caused me to giggle, I couldn’t be mad at them even if I tried, “Fine, Chris stayed for dinner and my parents like him now. In my fever state, I wasn’t aware of my actions and that’s it.”

Ella wanted to ask more but the bell rang. Shooting them both a smile, I patted their arms. “Well, got to get to class!” Ella was not having it as she shot me a ‘this isn’t over’ look while Collin gave me the overprotective big brother look. But I didn’t care as I escaped to class.

My peace was short lived as lunch came around.

“Spill,” Ella demanded the very moment I set my tray down at our lunch table. I sighed and took a seat. Picking up my sandwich I spoke, “Chris took care of me yesterday when I was sick. He technically babysat my sister and I. My parents came home and invited him to stay for dinner. They took a liking to him and made me walk him to his car. In my fever state, he kissed my cheek and I, reinforce that I was in a fever stupor, so I panicked and ran back to my house.”

Ella looked unsatisfied but she accepted it and took a bite of her sandwich. Collin wasn’t interested at this point as he scarfed down his pizza slice. I raised the sandwich in my hand to my mouth but before I could even take a bite or even a nibble, someone snatched it away.

“Hey!” I snapped my head only to see Chris take a bite out of my sandwich. My eyes narrowed to slits at him but he was unbothered as he unscrewed my bottled water to take a swig. That earned him a slap on his arm from me.

Ella muttered under her breath but loud enough for us to hear, “Speak of the devil.” Collin snorted as Chris sat next to me, an arm over my shoulder. “Thanks Addie.”

Feelings of annoyance washed over me, oh yeah. Events of yesterday and embarrassment were all gone. I scowled and snatched my sandwich back before shrugging his arm off, “Don’t you have somewhere else to be at, Kingston? Like I don’t know, maybe Macy Kowell’s side?” I said with an innocent smile.

A smug smile played on his lips, “Is someone jealous right now?” This time, not only I but Ella as well rolled her eyes at his remark while Collin shot Chris a humorless look. However, being thick-skinned, Chris disregarded our reactions as I took a bite of my sandwich.

“Adds, you know you just indirectly kissed Chris, right?” Ella wrinkled her nose. I stared at the bitten sandwich and shrugged, “Food is food even if Chris Kingston is involved. It’d be a waste of money to just throw it away.”

Chris chuckled, “You know Milaya, if you wanted to get a kiss from me, you could’ve asked. Or you could treat it as a favour since I owe you one.”

I choked. Collin passed me his unopened bottle and I gulped the water down before turning to Chris who had an entertained smirk plastered on his irritating face. My normal expression morphed into one of repulsion, “You wish, Kingston. You think I want to kiss you?” I snickered.

He got up from his seat, his ever-present smirk still on his face!

Throwing me a wink, “You never know, Price.” He left.