Hunted
3

For the rest of the day, I couldn't shake Austin's gaze from my mind. Or the way he seemed to half smile only because I was looking at him. And then he'd turn back to his reserved, stony-like appearance and glare at me.

"You okay?" Kaden asked, snapping me back to the present. "You haven't touched your food."

I nodded and gave him a half hearted smile, picking up the sloppy joe and taking a bite. He nodded, still unsure of what to do.

Kate was sitting across from me and tilted her head quizzically, seeing right through my act. "It's your birthday! You should be happy today!"

"She's right, you know," Kaden said. "You don't have to tell me what's wrong, but could you push it aside for the day?"

I shrugged, taking another bite of my meal.

Kate leaned forward, putting her elbow on the table and resting her chin in her hand. "She's been like this ever since. . ." I glared at her, but she wasn't even paying attention to me anymore.

"Oh my gosh!" She suddenly sprang up, placing both hands, palm down, on the table. "Oh my gosh!" She exclaimed again before abandoning us and her food and taking off, disappearing around the cafeteria door.

I looked at Kaden and he shrugged. "Got me."

I finished what I was hungry for and stood up, getting ready to take the rest of it to the trash.

"Nuh uh." Kaden said as he stood up as well. "It's your birthday, I will take care of that."

I shrugged and handed it to him. "You take care of it every day; my birthday has nothing to do with it!"

He smirked, "I know."

I gave him a kiss on his cheek before running off, determined to go find Kaitlyn.

I was running through the halls, barely paying attention as I thought of where Kate would've gone in such a rush, when I ran into what felt like an electrical fence. Except it didn't hurt, it felt. . . Good?

"I'm so sorry!" I expressed from my spot in the ground. I looked up to find that I'd actually bumped into Austin. And Kate was right behind him.

"Here, let me help you up." He said, his deep voice sent a shiver down my spine. He extended his hand and I happily grabbed it, only to immediately drop it when the pleasurable electricity hit me again.

I stared at our hands in shock. I looked up to see Austin smiling and Kate holding in a giggle. "What?" I demanded as I helped myself up.

"Nothing!" She sang as she dashed away down the corridor.

I started to go after her, but a hand clasped around my arm, stopping me and shooting tingles all the way up to my shoulder. "Hey!"

Austin shook his head at me. "Don't bother, you'll never catch her."

I sighed. "Yeah, I know."

He scuffed his shoe on the floor, staring down and suddenly becoming shy. "Um, Kaitlyn told me it was your birthday today. So, um, happy birthday. Sorry I didn't, um, get you anything, but maybe I could take you out for dinner?"

I gave him a tight smile. "Thank you, but I actually have plans tonight with my boyfriend."

Austin snapped his head up, his shyness gone. "Boyfriend?" His eyes narrowed. "What do you mean 'boyfriend'?"

I stepped back, suddenly nervous, and crossed my arms. "Kaden, my boyfriend, is taking me out tonight."

He growled — Wait, growled? He seemed to be having an internal battle with himself. After a few moments, he stomped off in the direction I came from, muttering a goodbye under his breath.

My eyes widened as I watched him go. I was incredibly confused as to what just happened. He was so shy until I mentioned Kaden. And then he got all. . . Jealous? Yeah, jealous.

But the most bewildering part of it all, was that I missed his touch already. I wanted him to come back, just so I could feel those strange sparks of electricity again.

* * *

"Oh, hey Mom." I said as I walked into the kitchen later that day, not expecting her to be home. "You're home early."

She looked over her shoulder and smiled brightly at me. "What, you thought I'd be gone all day on your birthday?"

I shrugged, "You didn't have to get off work just because it's my birthday."

"Fine then," she retorted, "I'll just leave you here alone and go back to work!"

"No!" I laughed. "That's not what I meant!"

She laughed too and walked over to give me a hug. "I know."

I pulled back and glanced around, surprised to find no one else around. "Hey, where's Dad and Ryken?"

"Your father took Ryken to go get your present; it's just us here."

I bounced on my toes like a child. "Wanna go riding?"

Mom grinned. "Always! Let me go change."

We rushed down the hallway, racing and lightly shoving each other into the wall. A few picture frames rattled, but we didn't care.

We reached the doorway to my bedroom and she laughed, pushing me inside. "Go change!"

I giggled, closing the door on her before rushing to my closet and pulling out a plain cotton t-shirt. I shrugged off my jacket and tank top, slipping the t-shirt on.

I then took off my navy blue booties and replaced them with my riding boots. I left my hair in it's loose braid and swung my door open. Glancing down the hallway, I saw my mom's door still closed.

"I'll beat you to the barn!" I laughed as I took off, turning sharply around the corner.

Bam! I ran into someone for the second time that day.

I started to crumple to the floor, but strong arms kept me up. I groaned, "Not again!"

A deep voice chuckled, "better watch where you're going, sis!"

I blinked up at him. "Calvin! You're home!" Did I mention his girlfriend's house was over an hour away?

"I wouldn't miss my sister's seventeenth birthday!"

I laughed. "Thanks! But, honestly, we're not doing anything special. Mom and I were just about to go riding."

"Well, I'll leave you to it, then!"

Suddenly, Mom's shoulder bumped into mine as she rushed past. "Now look who's winning! Oh, hey Calvin."

"Hey!" I yelled, running after her.

She still managed to beat me to the barn and by the time I got there, she was hooking Raven to the cross ties. I gently shoved her shoulder as I walked by to Aysha's stall, leaving her chuckling.

I slipped the halter over my horse's head and lead her out of the stall and across the aisle, tying her lead rope to a post. Surprisingly, she wasn't that dirty so I finished brushing her out just as mom grabbed a saddle. I did the same and it wasn't until I was cinching the girth when Mom spoke.

"So are you having a good birthday?"

I paused, holding the leather between my fingers and smiling at the ceiling. "Yes I am."

"Did Kaden get you anything?"

I continued tightening the girth. "Flowers this morning. And he's taking me out tonight. I don't really need anything else from him though."

"That's sweet of him! What about Kate? Is she coming by later?"

I shrugged and finally finished with Aysha's saddle. "Probably not. She knows I'm going riding and that Kaden is taking me out."

"Hmm. I haven't seen much of her lately I fee l like. You guys okay?"

"Mom, we're fine, I promise! We're just busy."

"Okay, I'm just checking." I look over to see her sliding the bridle over Raven's massive head. "Hey what about that friend she brought over once? You know that blind girl?"

"Indigo? I only met her that once when she came to pet the horses. She doesn't go to school and Kate doesn't talk about her much. Why are you so interested in my friends all the sudden?" I urged Aysha's mouth open to slide the bit in before tying the bridle strap under her chin.

She sighed in a lighthearted tone. "I'm just making sure your happy, that's all."

I smiled at her. "Well I am happy. Besides if my friends ever bail, I'll always have Aysha." I pay my horse's neck and kiss her cheek. "Ready?"

"All set!"

We lead the horses out of the barn before mounting them. I motion to the woods and we take off at a trot towards the trees for a well needed trail ride.