by Casey Peeler
Chapter 15
Barrick
She smiled. She freaking smiled at me and it wasn’t a fake one either. That’s got to be a step in the right direction, but then again I might need to be extra cautious when I crank my truck Monday. I turn back to the group and tell my sister it’s time to go. She tells me to hold on, and I tell her I’ll meet her at the truck. I don’t know why she wants to hang out with Maddie anyway. She’s been a bitch since I can remember.
Sitting in my truck, I can’t quit thinking about Cadence. The way she didn’t care what others thought, the attitude she put on display, and the way she shot Aaron down without a thought. There’s a reason she’s this way, and I plan on figuring it out one way or the other.
Twenty minutes later my sister gets in the truck and just looks at me for a minute. “What was your deal back there?”
“Nothin’. I just don’t get why you insist on hanging out with Maddie. She’s such a bitch.”
“I know Barrick, but she’s one of those people who makes your life hard if you aren’t on her side.”
“So you mean to tell me you’d rather be one of those mean girls than be who you are?”
“No. I just don’t know where I fit in.”
“Just be you. I like you just like you are.”
She rolls her eyes. What is it with girls and rolling their eyes? “You have to like me. You’re my brother, you smart ass.”
Our ride home doesn’t take long, and I stop my sister before we go in the house. “Look, Cadence is different, and I really think you need to give her a shot Monday.”
“I will. You know I’m not like Maddie, and I believe everyone deserves a fair shot. Thanks for waiting on me tonight.”
“Did you really think that I was gonna leave my little sister?”
“Oh my gosh, we’re the same freakin’ age right now Barrick,” she says with an eye roll.
That night I lie in bed and replay the events of the night, and when I can’t sleep I decide to do a little digging. I open my social media and search for Cadence Lewis. I look at her pictures and her friends. It’s obvious that Cadence comes from a world that I know nothing about. She has pictures of her dancing, her friends, and her family. I notice that she is always perfectly dressed and she’s continued to do that here as well. Scrolling back through the pictures I notice a nice-looking gentleman always in a suit or dress shirt. His hair is combed back and he’s in several pictures with Cadence and her mom. They look so happy, but all of a sudden he’s missing. I can’t help but wonder if that has something to do with Cadence’s current attitude.
Cadence
I’m pissed on the entire ride home. I’ve texted Lauren the entire way and I feel my blood pressure rising. Who the hell does that Maddie girl think she is? I know this little spat is just the beginning. I better get my game face on for Monday.
I try my best to go to sleep, but it’s impossible. I toss my covers off, put on some dance clothes and grab my ear buds and iPod. I flip on the porch light and strap my iPod to my arm and get lost in the music. When my limbs are numb and I can’t keep my eyes open, I walk to my room, where I fall onto the bed with the music still playing.
