Around eleven I left Mason’s room, positive he was fast asleep. I didn’t want to leave, having to forcibly drag myself from the room¸ but I trusted Caden less. The guy just didn’t seem good. It didn’t help that he was the ‘babysitter’ a.k.a. spawn of Satan my mother sent upon me for my stubbornness or whatever the reason.

                Caden being downstairs alone in my house just didn’t seem to click with me. As I quietly walked down the stairs so not to wake Mason, I heard the sound of the TV. It was low, quiet enough to keep the 3-year-old asleep.

                I entered the room, standing in the doorway, arms crossed. Caden looked up from the TV, giving me a slight nod that he registered my presence before turning his attention because to the box of light in front of him.

                I rolled my eyes, walking in front of him. Caden tilted his head left and right, trying to see past me.

                “Joanna, move please” Caden said, watching the TV between my legs.

                “You’re a fantastic babysitter” I snarled sarcastically

                He rolled his eyes “And what makes you say that?”

                “Not once did you check on Mason. A normal babysitter would’ve stayed with the boy all night long” that was a lie. A normal babysitter would do exactly what he was doing. Plus a girl to hook up with.

                I guess that wasn’t an option since I was here to rat him out.

                “One, I did check on him. Two, I saw you were in with him so I figured he was in good hands. Three, I still continued to check on him” Caden said, reaching out and forcibly moving me out of the way. I stumbled to the left, anger bubbling up inside me.

                “Not once did you, you dirty little liar” I hissed.

                “Pumpkin, sit down.”

                “Pumpkin? Excuse me?” I crossed my arms, cocking my hip.

                He looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “Are you giving me attitude? I am in charge after all. Sit down before I make you sit in the corner”

                I rolled my eyes “I’m not listening to you”           

                “Do you really want to sit in the corner?” He grinned devilishly

                I mocked him the way he spoke “Do you really want to sit in the corner?”

                “Alright, corner it is” Caden stood up, walking past me. I snorted moving away and sitting on the couch. He left the room for a moment while I stole back the remote changing the channel. A few minutes later, Caden returned. With a chair. He set it facing the corner and walked over to me.

                “Alright do you want to do this the easy way or the hard way?” He asked

                “You’re not really g—” I started

                “Hard way it is!” Caden reached down, grabbing my wrist and pulling me up. I stumbled up, nearly crashing into him. He laughed “Careful there, pumpkin. Don’t trip or anything”

                I glared at him as he pulled me over to the chair. He pushed me down into the sitting position, his hands pressing against my shoulders.

                “You can let go now” I growled through clenched teeth.

                “Just making sure you got the message not to get up” His voice was dangerously close to my ear. I could feel his lips tickling his. Caden backed away, heading back over to the couch.

                I waited all about five seconds before standing up and walking away. I wasn’t going to play his stupid game anymore. He could pretend to be in charge, but it was obvious that I was the boss around her. My turf, my rules.

                “Where do you think you’re going?” Caden asked, getting up.

                “To get something to eat” I made sure not to speak to loudly as I was close to the stairs. Caden clicked his tongue, his fingers wrapping around my wrist, pulling me back. I fell against his back, neither of us moving away as he bent his head and whispered in my ear.

                “I do believe you’re still being punished” His voice tickled. I leaned my head back, eyes closing slightly as his seductive voice spoke in my ear.

                Then my mind kicked in. This was not some random guy you flirted with at school, Joey. This was your newly found enemy. Get the fuck away from him.

                And that’s exactly what I did.

                I backed away, disgust on my face at him. I turned facing him, knowing full well he intended everything he did. After all, he was a hormonal high school boy and I was a hormonal high school girl. He had to have known what would happen if he tried something even that small.

                Of course, thankfully, I have a brain that knows when I need to stop and act like the mature girl I was deep down inside.

                Caden smiled at me, a knowing one. Hinting that he knew that I reacted to him in an inappropriate way.

                I shook my head, glaring at him. “Don’t get used to it”

                He shrugged “Since you’re getting food, want to make me a sandwich?”

                I rolled my eyes “Typical guy. Always wanting a sandwich”

                “So I take it as a yes?”

                “Take it as a ‘hell no’” I smiled and walked into the kitchen.

                “Awh, please Joanna?” He begged

                “Now it’s a definitely hell no” I smiled sweetly, pausing at the doorway “And just so you know, its Joey”

                I remained in the kitchen away from Caden the remainder of the night until my mother returned.

                ~*~

                “What did you two think of Caden,” My mother asked us the next morning. I was hunched over a bowl of cereal, barely focusing on the world. She was particularly happy, which was strange. She should’ve been hung-over. Whoever she was with was definitely a good influence on her.

                I glared up at her, giving her a silent answer to her question.

                “He was cool!” Mason said, throwing up his arms. “He said my bed was cool!”

                “Did he now?” Mom asked, a smile on her lips. She wiped off food from his mouth, a strange thing for her to do. Mason squirmed away as the towel brushed his lips. “Do you want him to come back?”

                I knew she was talking directly to Mason, but I answered nonetheless “No! Mother, please. Don’t bring him back! I’ll do anything!”

                “I’m sorry, darling, but I really do feel more comfortable having two eyes to watch over Mason”

                “Why do you hate me?” I cried, banging my head against the table.

                “I don’t hate you, you know that” She said, flicking my head “Now stop acting immature and get dressed”

                I rolled my eyes, cussing under my breath

                “Watch your language!” She snapped

                Guess it wasn’t just under my breath.

                “I’m going out tonight so Caden will be back. But I promise I’ll be here Sunday night, ok?” She said, taking my bowl to the sink for me.

                “Fine. But this better be the last time he’s here”

                “Oh hush, Joanna”

                “Its Joey, Mom, for the last time”

                “I named you Joanna when you were born. Joanna you are to me”