CADEN

"I'm getting out, you should too," I say as soon as I step out of my tidy bedroom. At least she has some uses.

Although not much when my gaze lands on a black Ford truck leaving the building through the window. That must be Mad and her male friend. Why are they leaving? It's been a while since they exited through the front door. I hope that guy isn't messing with me. He'll regret making an enemy out of my other side, I assure you.

Irritated, I head for the entrance while the girl behind me struggles to gather her small purse and high heels from around the house. She trails behind me and asks, "Are we going to the battle of the bands?"

Why is she so loud? "Yup," I reluctantly reply.

"We're going to have fun."

If I had one wish right now, it would be to get her to stop talking. "Yup," I answer again, not very willingly. I quickly hail a cab when I spot one.

"I thought we were riding in your car." She pouts. She should know by now, as a general rule, 'not a chance.'

"I am, you are not."

"But we're going to the same event, why travel separately?"

Does she have to be so persistent? "I'm leaving, babe. Just get into the cab." I briefly kiss her lips and practically push her into the vehicle, putting on the smile that I'm sure has a melting effect on her. It works wonders on girls, admittedly.

Feeling a sense of relief wash over me, I close the backseat door and let out a sigh.

Great, today I can peacefully stalk Mad.

With excitement, I take out my phone, type out the detailed plan quickly, and press the send button to Cecilia's iMessage. I then stroll over to my car and pull open the driver's door.

As usual, I can't wait to see the pain in Mad's eyes when everything she thought she had planned crumbles and falls, just like when her imaginary male friend shattered her delusional romance. She'll realize I'm always lurking, never sleeping.

The thing is, I don't know if Mad will ever deserve happiness after taking mine away.

The only way to avenge what she stole from me is to have her completely under my control, manipulating her every emotion like the vulnerable little girl she is.

With a free hand, I crank up the volume of the electronic music connected to my car to the maximum and head toward the mediocre food festival I wouldn't bother attending if it weren't for the possibility of Mad choosing a great location. The only promising aspect of the event is the abundance of girls. By the time Mad returns home, crying over some redhead named Camila, I'll have had a satisfying evening.

Just as I'm lost in thoughts about Mad, my iPhone's distinctive ringtone fills the car, and I quickly slide the accept button to silence the harsh buzzing.

"Hey, man?" the voice on the other end says. I don't need to play a guessing game to know it's Keith, the guy I've hired to gather more information about my naive and incredibly beautiful classmate, Daisy Esteban.

"What's the news?"

"I think I've found some interesting info you might want to see. You should come over quickly," he urges.

"I don't have time, just tell me." I eagerly demand.

This is the moment I've been waiting for, the exact instant when I find out whether that pretty girl is just a normal, attractive person or someone hiding behind a beautiful face.

"Daisy is eighteen years old. Her last name is Esteban. She's been raised by her mother. They've been out of the country for eight years since her father got into trouble with some young girl on a New York street..."

Having gathered enough information to prove everything, I hang up before he can finish. Shifting my focus between the road and my phone screen, I scroll through my contacts for Malik's phone number.

Without hesitation, I press the call button and wait for him to pick up.

"Caden?" He sounds puzzled. Yes, I know we're not exactly close, and I don't call him often.

"Where are you?"

"Battle of the bands is happening. I'm on campus," he replies over the loud background chorus.

"Alone?"

I probe, trying to find any hint about Daisy's whereabouts. I need to confront her.

"I've got my boys here. The fun's here, man." He sounds like he's already high, the idiot.

"Is Kaiser with you?"

"Nah, but he's on his way with his girl and Daisy." Malik chuckles. "Are you coming?"

"No." I mask the irritation in my tone and end the call. But of course, I'll be there.

I engage the brake of my car and turn the wheel, taking the first available turn, and head toward the campus where the event is taking place, where the source of my pain is headed.

Watching Mad fall apart will be satisfying, but right now, a burning emotion consumes me. The family who put me in this situation is happily thriving in the same school, while I'm stuck with an annoying stepsister who seems to think with her backside instead of her brain. Why would she even consider being in a relationship? I'll come back to that later, but right now, vengeance is all I seek.

I reach the venue in less time than expected. Ignoring the attention I usually attract, I push my way through the crowded area, searching every corner and crevice, looking for the girl with the long caramel brown hair and pretty eyes.

Desperation sets in as I shove past people and scan each woman with brown hair, but she's nowhere to be found. I can't locate Daisy Esteban in the lively, bustling atmosphere-the girl whose father took a significant piece of me away.

I linger around the arena, staying in a quiet corner, avoiding everyone until I spot the familiar blonde girl, Riley Hunter. Kaiser's girlfriend and Daisy's best friend.

A surge of excitement mixed with intense anger courses through me, accompanied by an eagerness that fills every fiber of my being.

She's here.