CHAPTER TWO:
CIGERETTES

     THE MOTORCYCLE MADE CADEN REALLY NERVOUS. Though she was not in high school anymore, she didn't want to disappoint her foster family. Despite her knowing of her troublesome foster father, she didn't want to become homeless. She didn't want to cause trouble within her new family. And, this attractive male she had her arms wrapped around, was a stranger. A hot stranger.

The air whipped around her as she clutched tightly to the mans torso, in love with how she felt his taunt skin beneath. She bet that he had a six pack under the thin shirt and practically drooled at the idea. Caden cursed herself for thinking such dirty thoughts. But this man in front of her was sexy as hell, she couldn't help it.

"Turn left," Caden yelled out and FP complied, as she navigated their way towards her home. As they entered her neighbourhood she loosened her grip.

His engined shut off as they rested on the street outside of her home and Caden struggled to push her body off the bike. She finally did by propelling herself off with his lean shoulders, cursing herself over the awkward silence that grew between them.

"Thanks," Caden told him awkwardly, passing the helmet she had on back to him.

"No problem, doll." Forsythe replied with a smirk as he looked the brunette girl up and down. Caden felt uncomfortable underneath his heavy stare and crossed her arms across her chest before clearing her throat. The older man revved his engine and before he left he turned to her with the same smirk plastered on his face. "Can I get your number?"

"Sure," the young woman breathed out, her heart still beating hard beneath her chest. She reached forward and grabbed his phone from his hand, inputing her number. She passed it back, her fingers skimming his as he took the device back.

He revved the engine to his bike, smirking at the young woman who stared at him in awe.

"Hope to see you at Pop's again, doll face."

• • •

CADEN WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT FP Jones never came back to Pop's like he promised. It had been over a month and she hadn't seen the older man. Maybe it was a sign–her friend Alison told her– that Caden shouldn't involve herself because of him being a Serpent.

However, during that month, Caden uncovered the truth about her foster dad. He was in the Southside Serpents and was still an informant in prison. That's when the lines between right and wrong fell apart. She knew growing up and going to school at Southside High was one thing but she ventured more into the higher class homes, noticing that they were better off than her.

"Hello, doll."

Caden almost dropped the coffee pot she was holding at the deep, sexy voice that occurred behind her. She nervously spun around, careful not to spill the hot liquid on herself, to see FP Jones in all of his glory, leaning over the counter. The older man smirked at her, but the brunette woman let out a disgruntled sound, turning back around to fill up a cup of coffee. She didn't even need to pour a cup but she needed to busy herself so she didn't have to turn around and look at him.

"Are you mad at me?" Forsythe asked with a laugh of disbelief. He shook his head as he chuckled, stroking his scruff as he leaned over the counter. "Was it because I haven't been 'round?"

Caden rolled her eyes in annoyance at the mirth in his voice but still blushed nonetheless. She turned to look at him with narrowed eyes, trying to calculate a perfect response.

"Who else is there to entertain me around here?" She sassily asked, hoping it was the right thing to say. She didn't know whether or not to flirt with the Southside Serpent.

"No one," FP Jones replied with a cheeky smile. "Didn't know you missed me that much."

"I wouldn't say that," Caden rushed out, stepping forward to pass the man the cup of coffee she had conveniently poured. She knew that her boss, Pop, would be wondering why she wasn't doing her job. Now, she was able to converse with a 'customer'.

"Want a smoke break?" FP asked her, motioning to the pack of cigarettes that he pulled from the pocket of his leather jacket. The awkward tension between the two dissipated as she wordlessly nodded.

Forsythe smirked, pushing off of the counter and walked outside the back. Caden rushed to turn to Pop Tate and ask for her break. She could take a break, all of her customers had paid and left. With Pop's permission, Caden took her apron off and walked outside to join the mysterious man who took an interest in her.

As the brunette woman approached Forsythe, he held his hand out, cigarette at the end in offering. Caden wasn't that big with smoking cigarettes, sticking to weed, but took the death stick in her nimble fingers.

She took a shaky inhale of the cigarette, her eyes closed in relaxation, before exhaling the smoke. Caden cracked her eyes open to see FP watching her as he leaned against the alley wall. She sent him a small smile, stepping closer to pass it back and leaned against the wall with her.

"I was out of town for a bit." FP told her honestly. Caden was surprised when he told her the truth, it wasn't like he owed her anything.

"Vacation."

"Where did you go?" She asked lightly, wondering why his voice got gruff at the term vacation.

"New York. Had to get away from family drama." FP replies instantly, passing the cigarette back to her. There wasn't much to the stub but Caden got a hit before throwing it to ground, crushing it with her combat boot. "Have you been to New York?"

"Nah," Caden told him with a shrug, "always been in a foster home so being a part of a family is new. So vacations haven't been a thing."

FP nodded in understanding and Caden held her breath as he turned his body towards hers.

He was so close.

Caden held her breath as he looked at her with a piercing gaze— it was as if he was trying to learn all of her secrets.

She wanted to say something, anything. Anything to make it less awkward.

The tension between them rose again and Caden felt her heart pound as he pushed himself off the wall.

His body towered over her smaller one, making the young woman crane her neck to look up at him. Her eyes focused on the scruffy beard and how his light brown eyes held some unknown emotion.

And then, Forsythe Jones kissed Caden DeSantos.

• • •

GUESS WHO'S BACK, BACK AGAIN.
Question, are the flashbacks too confusing?