6 Years ago.
I was in year eight now.
I should be happy, exhilarated even, but I wasn’t.
It had been an entire year since I’d heard from Kaden, he never kept in touch, at least not with me. Caleb spoke with him regularly and that pissed me off, why wouldn’t he speak to me, what did I do wrong to deserve his silence.
I hated that I missed him, I was angry at myself for missing him, but I did, I couldn’t change the way I felt, he had been a part of my everyday life for as long as I could remember, we had done so much, and after all the history we had shared, it was like I never existed.
You know what, I didn’t care no more, I shouldn’t bring myself to care anymore. I was moving forward. I was growing up. I didn’t need him, at least that was what I tried to tell myself, but shit, it still hurt so much.
It was our first week back at school, and getting in to the swing of things, kinder sucked, I was struggling, all I wanted to do was go back to bed, I knew it sounded lazy, but give me some credit, we had been out of school for six weeks.
I sounded dramatic, but could you blame me, and guess who I had to deal with again. Oh, that was right, nonother than mean girl Georgia and her evil sidekicks, I didn’t even care what their names were, they didn’t deserve names.
They were the popular girls. Fake blonde hair, stick on eyelashes and fake nails, their whole persona screamed fake, Georgia seemed to think I was jealous of her, she was truly insane thinking up absurd assumptions. Elaine couldn’t stand her either, she was always geared up for a fight whenever Georgia was around, it was hilarious really.
There was a time when it was just the two of us, joined together at the hip, now we had a friend who had come to mean a lot to both of us. Liv, we met in science and she was just the sweetest, quietest girl I had ever met, she was one of us.
“Sup bitch,” Elaine nudged my shoulder as she sat beside me.
“Do you really have to talk like that?” I raised my brows.
“Err duh.”
“Your ridiculous,” I laughed.
“You love it,” she winked.
“Hey guys,” Liv said, sitting opposite me. “How’s the first day been so far?”
“Shite,” I grumbled.
“Yep,” Elaine nodded.
“Oh, because I’m having a blast,” she smiled “I love school”
“You know,” I pointed out. “Your sarcasm is shite,” the three of us burst out laughing.
I was walking home from school with Elaine and Liv, my three brothers trailed behind us, laughing obnoxiously.
“You still having tea round mine tonight?” I looked to Elaine and Liv.
“You sure it’s okay with your mum Eva?” Liv asked.
“Yeah of course.”
“You know me I’d never miss out on Melody’s cooking,” Elaine beamed
I chuckled, “You love all food, no matter who cooks it.”
“Yeah,” she shrugged, “that’s true”
“Fatty,” I mumbled under my breath.
“What was that?” Elaine demanded.
“Oh, nothing,” I stifled a laugh.
“Liar,” She declared. “You just called me fat didn’t you?”
“I would never,” I shook my head.
“If I’m fat, your obese.”
“Oo,” I glared, “bit below the belt don’t you think?”
“Nope,” she scoffed. “You deserved it.”
I burst out laughing, she slapped my arm “I was only joking, but come on, you can eat.”
“Yeah,” she blew out a breath, “I know.”
“Hey, it’s cool so can I” I admitted, shrugging.
“Me too,” Liv agreed. “Especially chocolate,” Elaine and I chuckled.
Mum called us from the bottom step, telling us tea was ready.
We bundled into the kitchen and sat around the table. For tea was mum’s homemade lasagne, I took a bite and moaned my appreciation.
“How was school then girls?” Mum asked between a bite of food.
“Yeah, it was okay,” I sighed.
“Sounds like it,” Mum chuckled.
“She misses Kaden,” Elaine added unnecessarily. I glared daggers at the side of her face. I did not miss him why were you lying to yourself Eva.
“Aw honey,” Mum smiled at me. “He’ll come back,” Caleb snorted out a laugh.
“What’s so funny huh Caleb?” I glared.
“You have a crush on my best-friend little sister.”
“I do not,” I almost shouted. “So shut up.”
“Oo someone’s getting defensive,” he smirked.
“No, I’m not.”
“You kinder are sis,” Josh said.
“Did I ask for you input shit head?”
“Eva,” mum warned. “Language.”
“What,” I threw my hands up. “They swear all the time.”
“I don’t care what they do Eva, you’re a young lady, you shouldn’t talk like that.”
“Whatever,” I rolled my eyes.
After finishing tea, the girls and I watched some TV in the living room, before they went home.
“Oh my god I almost forgot to tell you.” Elaine grabbed the remote, pausing the telly and turned in her seat facing Liv and me.
“What did you almost forget to tell us?” Liv asked.
“Your brother,” Elaine told me. “Callum is apparently going out with Georgia.”
“You’re kidding me,” I grumbled. “that idiot”
“I know right?” Elaine shook her head. “I mean what is he doing, she’s horrible and mean to you.”
“I know, why would he go out with her, knowing the way she treats me?”
“Don’t go accusing him of anything,” Liv added, “because you know what our school is like, people lie and spread rumours for no reason. It might not be true, so you don’t want to fall out with your brother for no reason.”
I nodded, because she was right. I would have to talk to him later.
Mum peaked her head around the door telling me someone was on the phone and had asked to speak with me, I frowned to myself, who could it be at this time. Climbing from my bed I grabbed the phone from mum, telling her thanks.
Bringing the phone to my ear I muttered “hello,” I patiently waited for whoever it was to reply and when I heard his voice, my skin broke out into a sweat, my hands shook, and my belly was filled with butterflies.
“Eva,” Kaden husked. “You there?”
I cleared my throat, “Yeah I’m here, what do you want?”
“Well hello to you to,” he chuckled. “How are you?”
“How am I? Oh great, could’ve asked me this month’s ago if you rang then but instead you ring now. Why is that? Only now am I good enough?”
“Woah calm down pretty girl,” I heard him smile into the receiver. “I’ve been crazy busy, I’ve had to help my Uncle out with a few things.”
“But you rang Caleb,” I stated.
“The conversations never lasted long, look,” he sighed, I could imagine him running a hand through his already messed hair. “I’m sorry ok, I’m sorry that I haven’t spoken to you sooner, but I’m speaking to you now, tell me Eva. How are you? Do you miss me?”
I shook my head “Fine,” I huffed “I forgive you, I’m good thank-you. How are you Kaden? How’s New York treating you?” damn I was a push over, I should’ve made him grovel.
“I’m fine and New York is, New York. You didn’t answer my question Eva.”
“Oh, didn’t I?” I worried my lower lip. I knew what he said, I was too nervous and embarrassed to answer, because of course I missed him, I missed him so god damn much, it hurt.
“You know what I asked Eva,” he said. “But I’ll ask again, do you miss me?”
“Nah, not really.”
“Liar,” he chuckled. “You do miss me, if it’s any consolation I miss you too.”
“You do?” my voice raised I slapped my forehead, way to go, act smoothly why didn’t yah Eva.
“I do,” his husked. “Very much.”
“I miss you to Kaden.”
We spoke for a little while, catching up on each-other’s lives. It was nice, I finally got to talk to him, tell him how much I had missed him, tell him I wished he were here. He didn’t say much about New York; just told me it was different. He had promised to ring me more often and I had to admit, I was bursting with excitement at the thought.
I got into bed that night and all I could think about was him. His laugh, his smile, his, well everything, was it possible for a thirteen-year-old to know the feeling of love? I wasn’t so sure, is that what I felt? Love? I didn’t think I could call it that, maybe a crush, at least I hoped it was just a crush, otherwise I was in a world of crap.