Page 16 of His Ruin
Three Years Later
“Happybirthday,PrincessMelody,”Ivan, Kaden’s close friend, says as I corner my brother in the high school’s crowded hallway.
Ivan is an inch taller than Kaden, with a lithe build as if he’s still growing into himself. His skin is fair to a light-olive shade, and paired with his dark blonde wavy hair, he’s the heartthrob of Holy Hearts Academy. Most of my friends swoon over him, gushing about his easy smile and natural charm like it’s kryptonite to teen girls.
But I know him better than any of my googly-eyed friends do. There’s a darkness to Ivan, like he’s seen far more than he should at the ripe age of eighteen. Kaden has warned me against asking questions, no matter how much it burns me to know more about his friend.
Kaden slams his locker, giving Ivan a glare from hell. “What the fuck did I tell you about calling her princess?”
My brother has filled out over the last couple of years. He started using the gym in our home as his own personal stomping grounds, lifting weights and running on the treadmill until his heart almost bursts. He says it feels nice to keep himself busy, and I’ve sat in on a few of his workouts. While he lifts the heavy barbell loaded down with over one-fifty, I lean against the machine, offering no real help as I yap his ear off about ballet practice or any tests I have coming up. It’s one thing about our ritual that’s never changed.
His features are now sharply edged and no longer hold the boyish charm they once did. He has a hint of stubble growing in that he has to shave regularly, and he no longer smells like sandalwood and musk. He now smells like leather with a hint of something smoky.
That could be attributed to the cigarettes he inhales anytime he thinks no one is watching. But I smell it on him every time I get close. Mom and Dad are onto him, too, considering the last family dinner we had, where Dad grilled Kaden about his habits before we set foot in the lavish restaurant.
“Did I strike a chord there?” Ivan muses with a smirk.
Kaden’s glare makes his hollow eyes darken. “Quit.” He warns.
My eyes ping pong between them with uncertainty. “Umm, are you okay?”
My brother shakes his head before tossing his backpack higher on his shoulder. “Never better.”
I take his arm, linking elbows with him. “I didn’t get to tell you about my news!”
Saint, my brother’s other friend, slides out of the room designated for detention. His pale blue eyes snag on us as a mischievous smile tugs at his lips. He’s shorter than Kaden, and his head has been buzzed short since we started high school. He’s a major wild card, and everyone steers clear of him out of fear that they may set him off.
But he doesn’t scare me. Neither of my brother’s friends do.
“Hey,” Saint nods before tucking his hands into his pockets and pinning Kaden and Ivan with a smirk. “Ready to go?”
I stop, tugging at Kaden’s arm. “Go where?”
My brother’s jaw ticks as he deadpans at his friend. “You couldn’t wait for us to be alone, could you?”
Saint shakes his head, his chuckle condescending. “Nah, happy birthday, by the way.”
“Thanks…” I trail before tugging Kaden to the side. “Where are you going? We have Geography next.”
He sighs, looking away from me. “You weren’t supposed to hear that.”
“Answer me,” I demand lightly, jostling him.
His jaw works. “I’m not going to Geography.”
I blanch. “You’re skipping?Again? Come on, Kaden—”
He pulls his arm away from me, stepping back. “It’s for an hour, Sunny. Relax.”
I put my hands on my hips, ready to scold my brother to the high heavens. “And what’s so important you have to skip class, hmm?”
“Don’t worry about that.”
I fold my arms over my chest, tilting my head. “You’re going to smoke under the bleachers again, aren’t you?”
He points at me. “You aren’t supposed to know about that.”
I roll my eyes. “Everyone knows, Kaden. You haven’t been very subtle about your reputation.”
