Hunted
2

I headed down the hall and into my bedroom, making my bed and throwing on jeans and a peach tank top. I added a navy jacket because it was April, so I knew I'd get chilly. I completed my outfit with kitten-heeled navy booties.

Sitting down at my vanity, I braided my hair down my back and applied light makeup. When I finished, I placed yesterday's homework from my desk to my backpack and zipped it shut.

I glanced at my phone and checked the time: 7:20. I had ten minutes.

I opened my door to find Fleur lying in front of it, "protecting" me. I chuckled and shook my head, stepping over her. She sprang up and trotted after me, her nose was practically touching the back of my knee.

I paused in front of my brothers' bedroom door, knowing only Ryken was in there. Calvin had spent the night at his girlfriend's and I knew it was only a matter of time before he officially moved in there.

We were all fine with that of course; I mean he's twenty-two, he needs to get out there on his own now. Plus, when he moved out, Ryken got the room to himself.

I tapped my fingers to the wood, "You up?" I called.

"Almost ready!" He replied.

I nodded, "Good." He was the one who liked to sleep in as long as possible. Some mornings he didn't wake up to his alarm and I'd have to wake him up myself.

My parents were veterinarians, and both had early starts at the local clinic every morning, which left me to do the morning rounds. Not that I minded, and if Calvin was home and up, he would sometimes help me.

I entered the kitchen and finished my chores with feeding Fleur. She happily gobbled up the dog food, making me laugh a little.

Knowing I didn't have a ton of time, I decided on smoothies for breakfast. I grabbed a bunch of random fruit that included apples, oranges, strawberries, pineapple chunks, and a banana. I threw it all in the blender and then poured a little bit of milk over top. I closed the lid and started it up. Thirty seconds later and I was pouring it into two lidded cups.

I heard a horn from the driveway and jumped, looking at the clock. He was three minutes early.

Fleur lifted her head and barked twice. "Shhh!" I scolded. She just swished her tail on the hardwood floor.

"Ryken!" I called.

"I've got two minutes!" He shouted back.

I rolled my eyes. "Hurry! There's a smoothie on the counter for you!" I kissed Fleur's head, grabbed my cup and my bag, and headed out the front door.

I heard the horn blare again and I looked up, waving. I jogged the last few feet to the truck and climbed in the passenger side. I shut the door and turned to my ride-giver, only to be met with a kiss.

I smiled. "Hey, Kaden."

"Hey, beautiful." I blushed and he gave me another kiss.

Kaden pulled back and reached to the back seat, coming back with a bouquet of flowers. "Happy birthday!"

I widened my eyes, taking the flowers. I looked up, calculating what day it was. I gasped as realization hit me. It was Wednesday, April 16th. And it was, in fact, my birthday.

Kaden chuckled. "What, did you forget?"

"Um, maybe?"

He laughed again, leaning in to kiss my cheek. "That's adorable." I rolled my eyes, but smiled.

The back door opened and Ryken climbed in. "Happy birthday, Lexi!" He said immediately.

"Thanks, bud."

"I have a present for you. But you're not getting it until after school." Ryken told me.

I sighed dramatically. "Then why'd you tell me?  Now I'll be thinking about it all day!"

He chuckled, "sorry."

Kaden put the truck in reverse and pulled out of the driveway. As we started driving down the dirt road, I turned the radio on and the volume up, smiling as "Sucker" by The Jonas Brothers started playing.

I grabbed my smoothie with my right hand while Kaden grabbed my left hand in his, intertwining our fingers. I spotted Ryken rolling his eyes out of the corner of mine.

I smirked and squeezed Kaden's hand; soon enough, my brother will understand. I mean, I thought this kind of stuff was gross and annoying until Kaden and I started dating a year and a half ago.

Fifteen minutes later, we pulled into a parking spot at the high school. Thank goodness Ryken was a freshman this year. Last year, we had to go down to the middle school building and drop him off first. And because we lived on the rescue ranch, school was already a little far.

Kaden cut the engine and we all climbed out, heading for the building. Ryken split off from us almost instantly, but Kaden and I walked hand-in-hand most of the way. When the hallway split, one way leading to his class and the other way to mine, Kaden kissed me on the forehead. "Bye Lex." He said as we walked off.

I headed to class alone, as I was kind of running late and the halls were practically empty. I got to my English class just as the second bell rang. I walked in and slid into my seat next to my best friend, Kaitlyn.

"Happy Birthday!" Kaitlyn squealed a little loudly, giving me a hug.

"Shh!" I glanced at the teacher, who was writing something on the board. "But thanks!"

"Of course!" She exclaimed, dropping her voice. "Are you doing anything fun tonight?"

I shrugged. "Kaden will probably take me out, and I promised Aysha I'd ride her today."

Kate rolled her eyes. "Aysha is a horse. She probably doesn't even know what you're saying."

I shrugged again, "still. And Ryken said he has a present for me, but I'm not getting it until later. I have no idea what it could be."

"Fun! Text me what it is when you get it, okay?" Kate said and I nodded.

"Kaitlyn, Alexis. Have something to share with the class?" Mrs. Thomas said, her eyebrow raised.

We both shook our heads. "No, Ma'am."

She nodded and turned back to the lesson. Kate and I pulled out our notebooks.

A few moments later I heard the sound of someone walking through the classroom doorway. I looked up to see the High School's most reserved student: Austin Ashford. Honestly, he was kind of weird.

He locked eyes with me and I froze, finding myself unable to look away from the dark pools that seemed to sparkle a little as he looked at me. His mouth turned up in the slightest of smirks and my breath caught in my throat.
Stop it! I scolded myself. You have Kaden! And Austin isn't even that cute.

I snapped out of my head and found myself able to blink and break my gaze from his face. I stared at my notebook in front of me.

"You're late." Mrs. Thomas chided.

"Sorry," Austin muttered half-heartedly as he walked towards his seat in the back. I risked glancing up again to find him blatantly glaring at me.

What the hell did I do?