Picture of Chance Kenning ^^^^

Chapter Twelve Nothing But Trouble

When I first met Jayce Ryder, I was five. I was so scared. I didn't want to be separated from my parents, from my mom. She wasn't much help either, because she didn't want to let me go. Dad tried to convince her I would be fine but I wouldn't let go of my mom. I clinged to her, tightly. Mom made me miss the first week of school because she said I wasn't ready but really she wasn't ready.

"Honey, you have to let her go." Dad told her, softly.

"I know." Mom sobbed. "But she's my baby girl. She doesn't know what to do without me. The teachers wouldn't know what do if she cries, or if she get scared. They don't know how she likes her food or her favorite song or anything."

"They do." Dad touched Mom's shoulder. "I promise they do."

It was Levi who finally convinced Mom I would be fine and he was the reason I wasn't as scared to go to kindergarten.

"Momma, Cole will okay." He said. "Me and Hunter were."

She nodded her head. "Yeah you were. You're my brave little boy."

Levi stood in front of me and hugged me. "Cole, it's not a scary place. It's really fun. You'll like it."

He continued to tell me encouraging words and I finally put on a brave face and told Mom she could go. She gave me one last hug before she left with Dad and Levi.

I walked inside Mrs. Alkins's class and there were a lot of kids. They were playing, drawing, having fun. I felt better knowing I would be having tons of fun. Mrs. Alkins got on her knees so she was eye level with me. She smiled at me.

"Hi, Colby. I'm so glad you're in my class. We're going to have an exciting, fun year."

She stood up and held out her hand. I reached out and grabbed it.

She led me to a group of girls, playing with dolls. Having two older brothers, I rarely played with dolls. I watched them play football and video games. Every now and then they would play broad games with me.

"Girls, this is Colby and I want you to make be her friend. Can you do that?"

They nodded their heads. "Yes Mrs. Alkins."

Mrs. Alkins smiled before walking away.

"Boys!" She yelled. "Put that down!"

I sat down beside one of the girl and she handed me a doll. She had dark long hair and brown eyes.

"My name is Arianna and we're gonna be best friends."

I smiled because I made a new friend and fear disappeared. We played until it was time to work.

I sat beside Arianna at our pink table as we worked away. Pretty soon, Mrs. Alkin announced it was recess time and everyone got super excited.

I followed them outside to the playground and they all ran.

"Do you wanna go down the slide?" Arianna asked me.

I nodded. "Yeah."

We ran to the slide and Arianna went first. She slid down the red slide and I followed her. I watched the kids either playing in the sand, playing tag, or swinging on the swings. Mrs. Alkins was right. It was gonna be a fun year.

I climbed back up the stairs to go down the slide again when I saw a boy from the corner of my eyes.

He had dark hair and blue eyes. He saw me and smiled.

"Colby are you coming?" Arianna asked. She saw who I was looking at and she stood behind me. "Isn't he cute?"

I made a disgusting face because boys had cooties. Hunter told me himself and I believed him because he was in the sixth grade.

"Ew."

"Ew?" She repeated.

I nodded. "Boys have cooties."

"No they don't. My older sister said they didn't. She has a boyfriend and they kiss and stuff." She explained.

She stared at the unnamed boy with a dreamy expression. "I can't wait for him to be my boyfriend."

I made a gagging noise. "You like him?" I said in horror.

She giggled. "Well yeah. Everyone likes him. But he doesn't talk to any girls."

"Why not?"

"Cause he thinks we have cooties too. I don't." She said.

The boy jumped off the playground and I ran over to where he jumped. I looked down to make sure he was okay.

"Are you okay?" I asked. I didn't know why because Arianna said he didn't talk to girls. But he did.

He looked up and smiled. "Yeah. I am. That was nothing. I jumped from higher."

My eyes widen. "Really?"

He nodded. "Yeah.... What's your name?"

"It's Colby but I go by Cole. What's your name?"

"It's Jayceon but I go by Jayce." He copied me.

I looked behind me and Arianna had her arms folded across her chest and she was frowning.

"What?" Jayce asked.

I shook my head. "Nothing. Arianna said you didn't talk to girls but you talked to me."

He laughed. "I talk to girls. I just don't talk to her."

I frowned in confusion. "Why not?"

"Because she wants to be my girlfriend. And I don't want a girlfriend."

"Oh..."

"Jump." He said out of no where.

"What?"

"Jump." He repeated.

I shook my head. "No way."

He smirked "Are you scared?"

"N-no."

"Then jump. I dare you to."

I looked down and it didn't seem like a far distance. If Jayce could do it then I could do it. I looked at Jayce and he was waiting for me to jump.

"Okay." I said.

Before I could change my mind, I jumped but instead of landing gracefully like Jayce had, I landed on my arm in the wrong angle.

Pain shot through me and I screamed out in agony. Tears streamed down my face and Jayce appeared in front of me. Worry, scared and apologetic mixed into his blue eyes.

"Mrs. Alkins!" He yelled.

The next thing I know, Mrs. Alkins is kneeling beside.

"What happened?"

She didn't wait to get an explaination before she called an ambulance and my mom. A few minutes passed before I could hear the sirens and then I was pulled inside the ambulance heading to the hospital.

I didn't remember what happened next. I remember waking up and my right arm was in a pink cast. Mom moved from the chair beside me and ran her hand down my hair. She was crying.

"My baby girl..." She weeped. "Are you okay?"

I nodded. I didn't feel any pain. I was fine. There was a knock on the door and then a head appeared.

"Mrs. Jaxon you have a visitor." The lady informed us.

Mom nodded. "Let them in."

A second later a woman the same age as my mom walked in with the boy who put me here in the first place. I should be mad at him but I wasn't. It wasn't entirely his fault.

Jayce had flowers and a teddy bear in his hands.

"Well..go on." The woman said, nudging Jayce forward.

He swallowed before walking toward my bed. He held out the flowers and bear to me. "Here you go....I'm sorry."

I took the gifts. My mom moved out the way and stood beside the other woman. They talked to each other as Jayce gave me another apologetic look.

"Do you wanna sign it?" I asked, moving my right arm, slightly.

He nodded. "Yeah."

I picked up one of my markers and handed it to him. He wrote on it and when he was done, I read what he written.

Get well soon. Jayce

I smiled at him and he gave me a weak one back. I knew he would give me trouble but I still became his friend, his best friend. From that moment on, I should've knew trouble was only the beginning.

"What are you thinking about?" Cassidy's voice brought me out my thoughts.

I blinked and I was no longer in the hospital but in Mr. Chandler's classroom. I looked at Cassidy and she was waiting for my answer.

"I was thinking about the day I met Jayce."

She arched an eyebrow. "Why?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. I just did."

She gave me a knowing smile. "Still thinking about that day you saw him naked?"

I rolled my eyes as I groaned. "Please don't bring that day up again." I begged.

"Girls." Mr. Chandler said, turning away from the broad. "Is there something you would like to tell the class?"

I shook my head as Cassidy muttered a "No."

Mr. Chandler stared at us for a few seconds before going back to teaching the class. I took notes and Cassidy kept mumbling under her breathe.

I was glad when class finally ended. I picked everything up before leaving the class.

"Here's come Mr. Troublemaker." Cassidy informed me.

I turned my head to the left and Chance Kenning was walking toward us. The last time I talked to him was when they won their first football game three weeks ago. We kinda got interrupted because Jayce decided to make his grand entrance.

"Hey, Cole. Can I talk to you for minute?" He asked, smiling.

I nodded. "Sure." I looked at Cassidy. "Give me three minutes."

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever." She walked away and leaned against the building as she pulled out her phone.

"I'll take she doesn't like me very much." Chance assumed. "Thinking about it, none of your friends like me."

"Yeah they really don't. But if it makes you feel any better it's not you. They're like to every guy who tries to talk to me."

"Why?"

"I guess it's because I'm the 'baby' in the group and they feel like they need to look out for me."

He nodded.

"What did you need to talk about?" I asked.

"Oh yeah...um.." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I was just wondering if you were busy this Friday?"

I thought about it. "No. I don't think so. Why?"

He glanced up. "Do you wanna go on a date with me?"

A lot of things passed through my mind the second he asked me out. Did he really just ask me out? Chance Kenning just asked me out. What the hell? Why was he asking me?

"S-sure." I stuttered.

He grinned. "I'll text you, alright?"

"Alright." I agreed in dreamy voice. I sounded like Arianna.

He gave another smile before he walked away. It didn't even occur to me how he got my number and frankly I didn't care. I had a date with Chance Kenning.

"Why are you smiling like a Cheshire cat?" Cassidy asked when I walked over to her.

I shook my head. "No reason."

"Mhmm sure....What is it."

Cassidy was gonna hate me but I really didn't care. I was happy. I had to tell her.

"Chance asked me out."

She frowned. "What?"

"Chance asked me out." I repeated.

"No I heard you the first time but...what? He hasn't talk to you in three weeks and when he does he asks you out. That doesn't make any sense."

I shrugged. "Oh well. You're the one who told me I needed to start dating again."

She nodded. "I did but not him. This is almost as bad as Jayce dating Arianna."

I frowned. "Chance isn't like Arianna. I'm pretty sure you would rather deal with Chance than Arianna."

When she didn't respond back, I had my answer. I walked to our dorm and she followed me.

"When is this so called date?"

"Friday."

"Are you sure you wanna do this?" She asked.

"Yeah I'm sure. There's nothing wrong with him."

She didn't say anything and we walked in silence. We reached the room and I put my stuff down on my bed.

"You know" Cassidy broke the silence. "Levi is gonna be furious when he finds out."

I didn't understand Levi. Yeah when I dated Tyler he was overprotective but with Chance, he hated him. He didn't want me around Chance for a second but he tolerated Tyler. Levi didn't really know Tyler as well as he did Chance. I think it had something to do with Levi seeing Chance as the enemy.

Chance and Levi grew up with each other but once they hit high school, they had a fall out. A real bad one. They competed against another one. I think Levi thought Chance would use me to hurt him and I didn't think he would. Or I hope he didn't.

"There's nothing he can do about it." I told her.

***

Eventually, everyone found out I had a date with Chance. Somewhere along the way, rumors started again. Words got mixed up and I was back to being the whore on campus.

Levi was angry with me at first but that was all because of the rumors. When he heard my side of the story, he calmed down. He wasn't thrilled that I had a date with Chance but he wasn't too mad at me.

He just told me "be careful" before he let the subject dropped between us. Of course Mom and Dad heard about it and they really didn't have much to say about Chance. They didn't know very well. Although, Dad did knew Chance's dad.

Dad was the CEO of Jaxon's Co. He did business with the Kennings. Dad said he seemed like a very nice gentleman and that was enough for Mom to be satisfied.

I know what you're thinking, if I was so rich why did I work? Why didn't I have my own car? Or why didn't I pay off Jayce's truck?

All these questions, led back to my dear mother. She didn't want Dad to give us an easy life. She wanted us to work hard ourselves. Which I understood, perfectly.

Dad would help me with my situation, but Mom wouldn't allow him to. She said I had learn from mistake or I would never learn. She said when I was ready she would give me my car. I didn't know how longer she wanted me to wait. Levi got his first car in high school and she expected me to use to the run down truck. Absolutely not. I wasn't asking for a expensive new car but one that wouldn't break down on me. Was that too much to ask for? Apparently so.

My phone rang and I dropped my pen I was using to work on my homework. I glanced at my phone and rolled my eyes.

I knew he was gonna call me sooner or later. I was surprised he waited this long before calling.

I answered it. "What?" I asked, annoyed.

"Are you seriously going out with Chance?"

I wasn't going out with Chance. We had a date nothing too serious. I really hated how everyone disapproved of me having a date with Chance. He wasn't a bad guy. So what I said next was totally valid in my mind.

"Yes, I am. Why does it matter to you?"

"He's trouble." He told me. "He's gonna hurt you."

You already have. I thought. "I appreciate the concern but I'm fine."

"Cole-" He began.

"No" I stopped him. "You don't get to tell me who I can or who I can't see. I don't tell you who you can date."

He went quiet.

"If that's all you wanted then-"

"No. Wait." He interrupted me. "I need to tell you something."

"Okay.... What?"

I didn't know why but I imagine him proclaiming his love for me. I could see it. I could him see him confessing his true feelings about me but of course in reality that didn't happen.

"As your best friend.." I rolled my eyes. He still believed we were best friends. "I think it's only fair that I had a little chat with Chance before your date."

My jaw dropped. Was he serious right now? "No. Not happening."

"Why. What's the problem, we did back in high school?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah but-"

"Nothing." He cut me off. "I'm gonna talk to him."

"What makes you think he would want to talk to you?"

I didn't have to see him to know he wore his signature smirk.

"Oh trust me, he will."

I got suspicion. Levi wasn't this bad. He didn't want to have a "chat" with Chance and he was my brother. Jayce was up to something but I knew he wasn't gonna talk to me.

"If you say so."

"He will." Jayce said. "Goodnight, Mickey."

Before I could respond back, he hung up on me. I stared at me phone. What the hell?

Jayce and Chance weren't the best of friends. In fact, they shouldn't be in the same room as each other. That would lead to nothing but trouble. It seemed like they had this unspoken agreement. They had this secret I was dying to know about.

My trail of thoughts faded when the door opened and Cassidy walked in with her shoes in one hand and her other on the doorknob.

She had this I can't believe what just happened smile on. She walked in fully, and shut the door. I looked her up and down, trying to figure out what put her in a happy mood.

Messy hair. Swollen lips. Wrinkled clothes. Wobbly legs. Hickey.

I didn't need to list anymore to know what put her up in cloud nine.

"It was amazing." She said, flopping down on her bed. "I have to tell you what he did, Cole."

I heard enough of her sex life to last a lifetime. "No. I'll pass."

"Please." She begged.

I shook my head. "I don't wanna know where or how you did it."

She sighed. "Fine."

She didn't try to bring the subject back up and I think it was because she was stuck in her wild fantasy reliving the "amazing" moment.

***

I sat on the floor, right in front of my floor length mirror. I finished my eyeshadow and moved on to the eyeliner. I could see Cassidy watching through the mirror.

"What?"

She shook her head. "Nothing."

"Why are you staring at me?"

"Because you're so hot and I wish I could be you." She teased.

I rolled my eyes as I closed the eyeliner and picked up the masarca. I applied two coats on both eyes before I was done with my make up.

I stood up and opened the closet to get my outfit.

Chance texted two hours ago and told me dress casually. He said he was just taking me to a movie and out to dinner.

I grabbed my favorite dark skinny jeans and maroon sweater. I put it on before I pulled my brown boots over my feet. I wrapped a white thick scarf around my neck to complete my outfit.

I looked at Cassidy. "What do you think?"

Cassidy loved fashion and she plans to be a fashion designer.

She looked me up and down. "Make sure Chance walks in front of you and you'll be good."

I had to admit, these jeans made my butt look hella good.

I nodded. "Noted."

There was knock on the door and I grabbed my phone and purse. I slung the purse over my head.

"That's Chance." I told Cassidy.

"Oh My Gosh, Cole! How'd you know that?" She faked.

I rolled my eyes. I opened to door and instead of meeting green eyes, I met with blue ones.

I scoffed. "What are you doing here?"

"I had to make sure you're not wearing anything provocative."

"Well as you can see, I'm not. So you can go." I pushed him.

I was about to shut the door when Cassidy opened her mouth.

"Tell her to turn around!"

I glared at her and she gave me a sweet innocent smile.

Jayce stepped inside and crossed his arms. "Well..."

I put my hands on my hips. "I'm not turning around."

He arched an eyebrow. "Why not?"

"Because there's nothing wrong with my outfit."

"Then turn around." Jayce said.

Sighing in defeat, I did a fast spin. "There you happy. Nothing's wrong with it."

His blue eyes stared into mine. "You're wrong. Everything's with it."

"Right!" Cassidy exclaimed. "It makes her butt pop out."

"Weren't you just saying it looks good a few seconds ago."

She nodded. "I did but I also said to have Chance walk in front you."

"I don't care. I'm wearing this."

Jayce was about to protest but another knock on the door interrupted him. We all turned our heads and the person I was waiting for stood there, looking confused.

"Chance!" I said.

"Um, hey." He looked at me then Jayce then back at me. "What's going on?"

"Nothing. I'm ready to go."

"Alright. Let's go."

He led me to his white lamborghini and I cocked an eyebrow.

"Trying to impress me?"

He blushed. "Yeah something like that."

I smiled. "Considered me impressed." I got into the car and he followed behind.

He pulled out the parking lot, smoothly. It was silent expect from the music playing softly.

"So..I'm assuming Jayce talked to you." I said.

He glanced at me. "Yeah he did."

"What did he tell you?"

"Nothing you need to worry about."

"Tell me what he said."

"It really was nothing. He just said to treat you right or else. Pretty much what an older brother would say." He paused. "I thought you said you guys weren't friends." He added.

"We aren't but Jayce...I don't know what's going through his head."

He muttered something and it sounded like. "I do."

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing." He said quickly. "We're here."

I looked out the window and we were at Las Brisas.

"This is an expensive restaurant." I stated still looking out the window.

"I'm Chance Kenning. I can handle it."

He had a point. I opened the door and stepped out. He walked to my side and put his hand on my lower back, guilding me inside.

"Evening, Mr. Kenning." The waiter named Trent, greeted us. "Would you like your usual table?"

Chance nodded. "Yeah."

"Right this way."

We followed Trent and he led us to a table beside a window. The restaurant was decorated beautifully. The lights were dimmed creating a romantic atmosphere and music could be heard playing lightly in the background.

"I take it, you come here alot." I said.

He shook his head. "Not as often as you think."

"How many girls did you bring here?"

"One."

I smiled. "So I'm the first girl, huh?"

"Um...not exactly. You're actually the second one."

I blushed, embarrassed. "Oh."

"Don't feel bad. The first woman, I brought here was my mom."

That made me feel a little better. "Oh okay."

Trent came back to take our order and we talked about random things. He told me about his mother and it made me sad. She was fighting cancer.

I touched his hand. "Hey. You don't have to talk about it. It's okay."

He nodded. "I know."

Our food came and eventually Chance went back to his happy mood and we laughed alot. He paid then we headed to the movies.

"Thanks for tonight." I told him when he walked to my dorm. "I had fun."

He grinned. "I'm glad to hear that. Do you maybe want to do that again?"

"Definitely." I smiled.

"Alright." He backed away. "I'll see ya later."

They said he was nothing but trouble and I said there's another side to him no one knew about.

I had this goofy smile on my face when I opened the door but it quickly dropped when I saw who was on my bed.

"What the hell are you still doing here?"