Whatever This Is—It’s Not Happening

Kayla refused to let this be a thing.

Whatever was going on between her and Caston? It was not real. It was just a stupid, annoying coincidence that they kept ending up in these situations.

And that was it.

She had to shut it down.

---

"You're avoiding him."

Marina's voice was way too smug.

Kayla rolled her eyes. "I am not."

Rose crossed her arms. "You literally changed your route to class so you wouldn't run into him."

"I just like taking the scenic route."

Laura sighed. "Through the janitor's closet?"

"Okay, that was an accident."

Marina smirked. "Mhm. Sure."

Kayla clenched her jaw. "Look, this isn't some big deal. Caston and I hate each other. That hasn't changed."

"Uh-huh." Rose arched a brow. "So if he hasn't gotten under your skin, why are you so freaked out?"

"I am not freaked out."

"Kayla."

She groaned, rubbing her temples. "I just don't want to deal with his stupid, possessive, broody nonsense anymore, okay? He's acting like he—like we—" She cut herself off, scowling. "I don't even know what he thinks this is, but whatever it is? It's not happening."

The girls exchanged looks.

Laura spoke up. "Are you sure? Because… if this were anyone else, you'd be laughing it off. But this—" she gestured vaguely, "—this is different. And I think you know that."

Kayla's stomach twisted.

No. No, she wasn't going there.

She refused to go there.

Caston was nothing but a thorn in her side. Always had been. Always would be.

She just had to make him see that.

---

Shut It Down.

She found him after school, leaning against his locker like he had all the time in the world.

The second he saw her, he smirked. "Miss me?"

Kayla ignored the stupid flutter in her chest. "No."

Caston's smirk deepened. "Liar."

She clenched her jaw. "This—whatever the hell this is—ends now."

He raised a brow. "Oh? And what exactly is 'this'?"

Kayla hated that she hesitated. "You… acting like you care what I do."

His expression darkened. "Acting?"

"You don't care," she said firmly. "You're just—" She huffed. "You like messing with me. That's all this is. And I'm done playing along."

For a second, he didn't say anything. Just studied her with those sharp, unreadable eyes.

Then—

"You really believe that?"

"Yes," she snapped.

And she almost believed it, too.

Caston's jaw ticked. "Fine."

He pushed off the lockers, stepping closer, his voice dropping to something dangerously soft.

"You want me to back off?" He tilted his head. "Say it like you mean it."

Kayla did not flinch. "Back. Off."

His eyes burned into hers, searching for something.

Whatever he saw made his lips twitch into something too knowing.

"Alright, Kayla," he murmured. "Whatever you say."

Then he walked away.

Leaving Kayla standing there, stomach twisted, heart racing—and the horrible, horrible feeling that maybe, just maybe…

She'd made a mistake.