I slammed the door loudly, letting everyone in the house know I was finally emerging out of my room. The clock read seven in the evening, meaning Caden was either here or going to be here soon.

I could still hear Mom fussing about in the kitchen, Mason’s voice ringing about with hers. I made my way downstairs, stomping my foot with each step. I was in a bad mood. I wasn’t going to try and hide it.

I sat down on the couch, flipping the TV on. I crossed my arms, getting in a comfortable position. Of course, that was a little hard to do while still maintaining my anger-pose.

Just as I settled into the mind-numbing process of watching a show, the doorbell rang. I groaned loudly, hoping he heard from outside. Mom hurried over, slipping on heels as she answered the door.

She ushered Caden into our house, fixing her hair in the mirror by the door.

“Hello Caden!” She said, applying eyeliner. “Mason’s in the kitchen and I’m sure you can see where Joanna is.”

He glanced over at me, giving me a small wave. I took in a deep breath, trying to ignore him.

“She’s not in the best mood today, not that she ever is.” Mom said loud enough for me to hear.

I was tempted to give her the bird, but I knew I would get in trouble. I settled for a roll of the eyes and a pound on the wall.

“I can see.” Caden chuckled, eyes never leaving me.

“Alright well I’m running late so I’m going to hurry out.” Mom said, running back into the kitchen. Caden followed her there while I listened from my original spot. “Joanna can make dinner for you guys or there’s money on the counter for pizza. I’ll be back a little bit later, but you can leave earlier if you need to”

“I’ll stay if you want me to” He offered politely as Mom rushed back into my sight. She turned around, giving him a look of great thanks.

“You’re the best, Caden!” She said, giving me a kiss on the cheek. “Joanna, please be good.”

“I am good!” I growled “He isn’t”

She rolled her eyes, grabbing her purse as she headed to the door. With a final wave, she left, locking the door behind her.

Mason walked over to Caden, giving him a hug around the leg. Caden grinned, picking him up.

“Hey little man!” He laughed, resting my brother on his hip.

“Hey big man!” Mason grinned.

Caden set him back down, sitting on the ground, his back against the couch. He set an arm on the cushion I was laying on, fingers only a few inches from my arm. I rudely moved away from him.

“How are you, Pumpkin?” He smirked up at me.

I narrowed my eyes at him, refusing to answer.

“She’s mad” Mason said for me.

Caden laughed, “I wonder why?”

“Cause she’s always mad” Mason said smiling innocently up at me. Caden smirked, ruffling his hair.

“You got that right, little man”

I stood up, purposely making sure I didn’t have to touch Caden. He noticed when I stumbled slightly, watching me. I shot him a look, making my way to the kitchen.

I grabbed a phone, deciding for everyone that pizza was going to be dinner. I dialed the local pizza place, making an order for two large pizzas.

After tucking the money in my pocket, I reluctantly went back to the living room where the other two were.

Caden looked up, watching me as I walked back to my spot on the couch. I noticed that he had spread his arms out on the cushion so that I would have to climb over them. I crossed my arms, standing in front of him

“May I help you?” He asked politely

I shot him a look before moving to the opposite end of the couch, sitting on the ground like he was. I crossed my arms, making sure he knew I was mad at him for that.

Immature? Yes

Effective? Maybe.

Caden laughed, going back to playing with Mason.

Thirty minutes later the delievery man came to the door. Caden frowned in confusion, not sure of why the doorbell was ringing.

I pushed past him to answer the door.

I recognized the boy from our school. I smiled politely, not remembering his name.

“18 dollars and 26 cents please” the boy said as I took the pizzas from him. I dug out a twenty from my pocket, handing it to him. Caden walked up behind me, taking the pizzas from me.

“Matt!” Caden grinned, setting the pizzas down to give him a hug

“Hey dude!” The pizza boy grinned, glancing down at me “Who’s she?”

Caden slung his arm around my shoulders “This is the little slut that everyone’s talking about at school. I babysit her”

I pulled away from him “He babysits my brother not me”

Caden rolled his eyes at the pizza boy “She’s just upset that I’m in charge of her”

The pizza boy laughed, leaning against my door frame “So you’re the one who dissed Caden in the hallway today?”

“I don’t know why everyone’s making such a big deal out of this!” I groaned, stomping my foot.

“Because its hilarious” the pizza boy said “I’m Matt, by the way”

I simply looked at his out-stretched hand, refusing to shake it “Joey”

“Alright, well I gotta get going. Nice meeting you, Joey” He grinned at me “Good luck with this dick”

“You’re just jealous you don’t have my dick” Caden laughed, giving Matt a shove.

“He’s full of it.” Matt winked at me. I laughed, liking this guy already.

“Beat it, Smith” Caden joked, starting to close the door.

“See you in school Joey” With that Matt turned around, walking back to his car. Caden closed the door the rest of the way, picking the pizzas up.

“Thanks for telling me you got pizza” Caden muttered, taking them to the kitchen. He pulled out three plates and began to cut Mason’s pizza up for him.

I grabbed my own slice out of the box, taking a bite. “You should’ve known what I was doing”

“I don’t have super hearing”

“Too bad for you”

“Look, I know you don’t like it but I’m in charge and I need to know these things.”

“I don’t care” I said, taking another bite. I grabbed Mason’s plate from Caden, walking back to the living room with it. I set it down by Mason, giving him his fork.

Caden followed, sitting next to me.

“Who was that?” Mason asked.

“My friend” Caden said.

“Oh!”

I rolled my eyes “Eat your pizza, Mase”

He poked his fork into the piece, plopping it into his mouth. The three of us ate in silence. I tried to ignore Caden, who kept looking at me as I ate.

But after a while I was unable to ignore it.

“What!” I snapped after the fifth time.

He shrugged, taking a bite out of his crust

“Why do you keep looking at me?”

“What else is there to look at?”

“Everything else!”

He smirked, shrugging again. Mason yawned, only halfway finished with his dinner.

“You tired, little man?” Caden asked.

Mason nodded, rubbing his eyes.

“Eat two more pieces and then you’re down” I instructed, finishing my slice. Mason plopped the two smallest pieces in his mouth, chewing quickly.

Caden laughed at him while I stood up. I grabbed Mason’s hand as we walked up the stairs getting him ready for bed.

Caden watched the entire time.

~*~

Finally, Mason fell asleep. It took him longer than normal, probably because he still wasn’t used to Caden being here. I crept out of his room silently, making my way downstairs. Caden sat on the couch, taking up most of the space.

I managed to squeeze myself away from him, pressed up against the armrest.

“He asleep, pumpkin?”

I nodded, making a face at the ‘pumpkin’ part.

“Why’d you spazz in school today?” Caden asked after a few minutes.

I sighed angrily, letting him know I didn’t want to talk about this “Because you piss me off”

“Was it really worth the dramatic spazz though?”

“Yes. Yes it was”

“You know you’re going to get hell from every senior, right?”

“Thanks captain obvious” I growled, standing up and walking into the kitchen for a glass of water.

Caden followed me, leaning against the counter. I downed my glass, glaring at him.

“Why are you so annoying?”

“I’m not annoying. You only think I am”

“Nah, I’m pretty sure you are annoying period”

“You only wish I was” he smirked, following me as I walked into the hallway.

“Why do you keep following me?!” I snapped, turning around to face him.

He smirked, shrugging. “Because maybe I find your reactions hilarious”

“Yeah well, do you mind? I don’t need you up my ass every five seconds. Back the fuck off”

He flicked my nose “Watch your language missy”

I struggled to keep my voice quiet, noticing how close to the stairs we were. “My brother can’t hear me. I don’t care any more”

“You don’t know that he can’t”

“Yes I fucking do”

He flicked my nose again. “No you don’t”

“Could you stop?” I growled.

He smirked, shaking his head no.

Out of instinct, I moved my hand to slap him. Caden grabbed my wrist right before it collided with his cheek, slamming it against the wall.

I glared at him, bringing up my other hand. He grabbed it at the wrist, slamming it on the wall too. Caden smirked at me, keeping my hands high above my head. It didn’t help that I was already a few inches shorter than him to begin with.

“Let. Go.” I hissed at him, not breaking the staring.

“No” He growled, the one word possessing such authority in it. I wasn’t about to give up so easily.

“Caden, let go of me now” I demanded. That earned a smirk across his face. One which I would gladly smack off if he didn’t have my hands prisoner.

“I think I’m pretty comfortable right here”

“You will let go, or I promise I will hurt you” I said, getting all in his face.

Caden smirked, leaning his head down to whisper in my ear “I’d love to see you try”

He nipped at my ear lobe, pulling away slowly. The tip of his nose dragged along my jaw bone. I closed my eyes, trying not to get caught up with him.

“You’re about to experience it” I threatened. He smirked, his face buried in my neck. I felt something hard scrape against my skin. I let out a slight gasp at the touch, realizing his was nibbling on my neck.

“Caden…” I trailed off, trying to get him to stop. The way it came out didn’t sound like that though.

Caden looked at me, a smirk across his lips. The tips of our noses were touching each other. I could feel his breath on my lips.

I moved my head forward just an inch so that our lips pressed together. Caden pushed me back against the wall, trapping me with his lips. He nipped at me, wanting entrance. I smirked into the kiss, not giving in.

Caden’s hands moved from my wrists to my waist, holding me to him. My hands fell slowly down to his shoulders, resting there.

Suddenly, a noise sounded. I pulled away, glancing around for the source.

Mason stood there, crying his little eyes out. I pulled away from Caden, bending down to pick Mason up.

“Mase, Mase, are you alright?” I asked, rubbing his back. Caden stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to do.

He shook his head

“What’s wrong?” I asked

“I-I don’t w-want you to g-g-get eaten!” Mason cried.

“Shh… Shh it was just a dream sweetie” I said, bouncing him slightly.

“N-no! C-Caden w-was eating y-your f-face” He sobbed into my shoulder.

I choked on my own spit “W-what did you say Mason?”

“He w-was eating y-your face!”

I bit my lip “No, no, no! Mason he wasn’t eating me!”

“Yes he w-was!” Mason cried.

“No! He was uh.. getting a bug off my lips”

“No! I s-saw him try t-to eat you!” Mason cried.

Gently, I began to carry him back up the stairs to his room “Mason I promise Caden didn’t try to eat me. Do you want me to stay with you for the rest of the night?”

Mason nodded, rubbing his eyes as the crying slowed down. Boy this poor kid was tired.

I tucked him back into bed, walking over to the door where Caden stood. Without a word, I closed it on his face.