"Hold this," Kai instructed as he handed me the drinks. I opted for waiting in the car after he took my order and replied to a text from mom after she asked me about today's quiz.

When he returned, he had his hands full with two bags and two cups filled with drinks. "Did you rob the entire cafe?" I asked, my mouth hanging open in shock.

Kai got into his car and closed the door after him, then taking his drink from my hand. "If I did, I'd ask you to assist and at least be my getaway driver."

He opened the bag and motioned for me to take whatever was inside. I took a peek and saw it was glazed doughnuts.

"Don't be shy. We need to fatten you up a little bit because you look like your parents don't feed you," Kai said.

"It's my height," I explained. "I can eat whatever I want but I'll always look like an awkward skinny giant."

I still took one of the doughnuts and thanked him.

Kai took a sip of his drink, followed by a bite out of his doughnut, chewed, swallowed and sighed. "Ah, this is the meaning of life, Astrid."

"What is?" I asked in confusion as to how we even got to this point.

"Eating good, drinking good and being surrounded by people you don't want to kill all the time."

He gave me a purposeful look as if this was supposed to be a jab at the people I'm surrounded with. Not that I could blame him.

"Alright, come out and say it," I encouraged him. "Whatever you're hinting at."

"Your friends suck," he replied.

"Not all the time," I said.

"Most of the time," he corrected.

"What else?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You just keep letting them win. They do something to hurt you and you just brush it off. You never say anything back unless your buttons are being pushed."

"I don't like conflicts," I replied.

"Or maybe you were conditioned into thinking that because you were always silenced by those who tried to insert their authority by being loud," Kai pointed out.

I laughed. "You are really invested in my life, aren't you?"

Kai shrugged and took another doughnut. "I'm intrigued and a little bit disturbed. Why don't you ever fight back?"

"What's the point?" I asked. "None of this will matter in a few years. I'll go to college far away and probably never see them unless for those uncomfortable family reunions. I would rather focus my energy on things that really matter."

"I think you're just afraid to stand up and draw attention to yourself," he responded and stuffed his mouth with half of the doughnut he had left. I hadn't even finished the first one yet.

"Not everyone wants to be in the limelight," I stated. "We don't all want to be football superstars or popular cheerleaders. Some of us just want to exist and do our own thing, you know?"

"I know," he said quietly and nodded as if he understood. "So, how's that book you're reading? Did you finish it yet?"

We were still parked in the parking lot, just casually carrying on with our conversation. I nodded. "It was good."

"Didn't take you for a smut kind of girl," Kai said before reaching for his drink.

I froze. How did he know what kind of scenes were in that book?

He swallowed the drink and laughed at my expression. "Relax, I have a cousin and she made me read the series because she really loves fae. I was surprised to see you read it though."

"Why did you act like you didn't know it?" I asked, now panicking a little bit. Oh god.

"I asked you if it's any good but I never said that I didn't know it. You just assumed."

I rolled my eyes at him, playing it cool when in truth, I couldn't stop my heart from racing. Kai Asher read the same book as I did. I didn't even know he liked books.

After I finished eating my doughnut, Kai handed me another one, which also happened to be the last one left. I couldn't believe how much this guy ate. Almost as much as my brother but damn did Kai stay fit.

A text from my mom told me that she came home to make lasagna and bring groceries but she had to work overtime so she was going back. She also instructed me to do as I was told and bring the lasagna she made to Kai's family.

"So," I said as I swallowed the tiny piece of doughnut. "Do you like lasagna?"

"Are you asking me out? Oh my, I'm blushing," he teased and fanned himself.

"Don't flatter yourself," I said with more confidence than I felt. "My mom made it as a housewarming gift for your family but she has to work so I'm supposed to give it to you."

"That's how it starts, you know?" Kai said. "First it's lasagna, next week you'll ask me to marry you."

"Do you want it or not?" I asked, trying not to overthink things but the picture was burned in my brain and I couldn't stop myself from feeling the heat in my head.

"To marry you? There's no reason to rush, babe. I think we're rather young, don't you?" He said and this time, he deserved a punch on the arm. It didn't stop Kai from bursting out with laughter as I got annoyed with him all over again.

This playful teasing hadn't been something I was familiar with. Connor used to tease me but his teasing was always mean and fused with insults. I didn't know how I felt around Kai's cheerful and somewhat harmless nature.

Once his laughter died down, he started the car and pulled out of the parking lot.

"I'm just messing with you. You make it so easy," Kai shook his head but he was still smiling. I looked away, not knowing what to say. I didn't like it when people laughed at me but Kai wasn't doing it to hurt me or to mock me. I didn't know how I knew that but he wasn't mean about it.

"It looks like it's about to rain," I commented as the sky grew darker. The wind picked up and blue skies got covered with grey clouds.

"We'll get you home, don't worry," Kai assured me. "What are your plans for today anyway?"

"Don't," I told him.

"What?" He raised an eyebrow.

"You're being blatantly obvious that you're stalking me. It's not cool," I said, trying not to crack a smile.

"I'm not stalking you. What are you-"

He finally got it.

I grinned. "I'm just messing with you," I repeated. "You make it so easy."

After that, Kai kept smiling the entire way home.

***I gave Kai his lasagna and then said my goodbyes because he had somewhere to be.Connor was at Matt's house so I was alone, trying to get on with my homework and the assignments I got. The essay I was supposed to write about Kai intimidated me so I didn't even dare think about it. I didn't want to call him. That would mean he had my number. But also, I didn't have the guts to pick up the phone and call him. My anxiety would literally make my heart stop because I'd scare myself to death.

The entire day passed by fast. When I went to sleep, I noticed Kai still wasn't home. The light in his bedroom was off, but also his entire house looked deserted and dark. I wonder where he went.

Shrugging off my worries because it was none of my business but also because he had occupied my thoughts for too much of my day, I went to bed and tried to forget everything that happened today.

***

On Friday, I was having lunch in the cafeteria with my brother and his friends who once again forced themselves on me and my friends. Connor ended up writing his own essay that day while mine was still unwritten. I didn't know what to write about the boy next door.

Kai ignored me practically all day – not that I was complaining. He insisted on giving me a ride to school this morning and I said no because the entire school was already talking about me. He wouldn't give up so we got into an argument and it ended with him not speaking to me. Not like I had any idea what made him speak to me in the first place.

I didn't have money for a new car and my parents didn't want to contribute anything. They said I should get a job but at the same time they always give Connor money for gas. So unfair.

I was a little cold today since I forgot to take my jacket with me. By the time we had lunch, I barely felt any of my fingers.

Today's lunch options were very plain and just downright gross but the cafeteria was lively. All around school were posters and banners for the game.

Everybody was excited about it. Football was the biggest, most important thing in this school but because I was useless at sports, I stayed in my own lane and kept my head down.

When Di and Addie finished eating, the three of us stood up to leave. When we got to the cafeteria door, we passed Kai who was talking to a pretty redhead.

I averted my gaze and kept walking.