Grave lessons

Kayla wasn't overthinking it.

That was the first thing she told Marina and Rose when she sat them down in the library during their free period.

"You so are," Marina said immediately, leaning back in her chair with a knowing look.

"I'm not," Kayla huffed, crossing her arms. "It's just—Caston's being weird. And annoying. And jealous—except he swears he isn't, but he totally is."

Rose raised an eyebrow. "Jealous?"

Marina grinned. "Oh, this I gotta hear."

Kayla sighed, regretting bringing it up already. But now they were both staring at her expectantly, so she relented.

"Yesterday, I was talking to Liam, and Caston basically scared him off. Didn't even say anything. Just stood there like a psycho, glaring at him until he left."

Marina's grin widened. "That's hot."

Kayla shot her a look. "It's not."

"It is," Marina insisted.

Rose, ever the logical one, rested her chin on her hand. "So what did you say to Caston after?"

Kayla exhaled. "I called him out for being jealous."

"And?"

"...He denied it."

Marina and Rose exchanged a look.

"Oh my God," Marina breathed. "He likes you."

"No, he doesn't," Kayla said automatically.

Marina smirked. "Sure. That's why he's suddenly protective and getting into a testosterone war with Liam Carter over you."

Rose nodded in agreement. "You have noticed how he only started acting like this after you almost got hurt, right?"

Kayla blinked.

She hadn't thought of that.

Not really.

But she wasn't about to admit they had a point.

"Look, I don't care what his deal is," Kayla said, standing up. "I'm not gonna sit around and let him act like I need him hovering over me. If he's gonna be annoying, I'll be annoying back."

Marina leaned forward. "Meaning?"

Kayla smirked. "Meaning I'm gonna go hang out with Liam again."

---

Wrong Move, Right Reaction

Lunch period.

Kayla made sure to sit with Liam this time, laughing at his jokes, playfully nudging his arm—all of it.

And she felt Caston watching.

It was exactly what she wanted.

He's not the boss of me.

Still, when she caught his gaze from across the cafeteria, something dark flashed in his blue eyes.

And suddenly, Kayla wasn't so sure if she was the one in control anymore.