Kaden/Aera

...Kaden...

I lean back on my bike, parked just outside the dorms, a cigarette dangling between my fingers—barely lit, barely needed. The flame dies out in the wind, but I don’t bother relighting it.

My mind’s not on nicotine. It’s on her.

Aera.

That name’s been looping in my head like a song I don’t want to admit I’ve been humming. Soft-spoken, sharp-eyed, curious as hell—and apparently immune to my charm.

Annoying.

I glance up at the dorm building. Somewhere in one of those glowing windows, she’s probably pretending I don’t exist. Cute. Meanwhile, here I am, losing IQ points thinking about the way she looked at me in class like I was a pop quiz she wasn’t sure she wanted to solve.

No one looks at me like that.

Not like she did.

I pull out my phone, stare at her number—the one I "borrowed" from the professor’s attendance sheet. (Look, I never said I played fair.)

I type. Delete. Type again.

Then I hit send.

> [Kaden]: Careful, sunflower.

You keep looking at me like that in class, and I’m gonna start thinking you want extra credit.

Then I add another—because I can’t help myself.

> [Kaden]: Hey, sweetheart. Hope your notes didn’t catch fire sitting next to me today.

Cocky? Maybe. Deserved? Definitely.

Girls like her? They don’t fall easy. But they always look back.

And she did.

Every. Damn. Time.

...Aera...

How the hell did he even get my number?

I stare at the screen for a full ten seconds. Maybe longer. Debating every life choice I’ve made up to this point. Then I groan into my pillow.

Of course this smug menace texts like this.

Still… I type back.

> [Aera]: Should I be worried? Do you usually roast girls’ notes for fun, or am I just special?

Three dots.

He’s typing.

God help me.

...Kaden...

She replies fast.

Feisty.

I grin, thumbs already dancing across the screen.

> [Kaden]: Only when they sit dangerously close. You were about three seconds from spontaneous combustion.

> [Kaden]: Also… check the corner of your last notebook page. You missed a gift.

Let’s see if she finds it.

...Aera...

I flip through my notebook like a crazy person, heart pounding.

And there it is.

Bottom corner. Right after my scribbled equations:

"For emergencies. Or curiosity."

With his number underneath.

My stomach flips. I hate that it flips. I'm not that girl.

Except... maybe I am right now.

> [Aera]: Found it. I’ll call if I’m bored. Or maybe if my desk catches fire again.

> [Kaden]: Or when you miss me. Whichever comes first.

God, he’s impossible.

> [Aera]: What makes you think I’ll miss you?

> [Kaden]: Because you keep replying, sunflower.

Okay. Rude. Also... accurate.

Kaden

She’s quick. Funny. Way too sharp for someone who looks that soft.

I like her. Way too much.

> [Kaden]: You always this curious about dangerous boys?

> [Aera]: Only when they sit next to me and breathe like they’re practicing arson.

I actually laugh.

Loud enough to make two passing students look at me weird.

> [Kaden]: You’re the one who lit the match, sunflower. Don’t act innocent now.

...Aera...

I stare at the screen. A tiny, stupid smile curling on my lips.

This is bad. This is so bad.

But I text back anyway.

> [Aera]: Careful, Kaden. I bite back.

Three dots.

Then—

> [Kaden]: Good. I like a challenge.

And just like that…

I know I’m in trouble. The fun kind.

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