❝I feel a little rush, I think I've got a little crush on you❞

- Yuna, Usher, Crush.

"I don't get it," I was upset as I pushed my math text away, "Why can't I just be good at my subjects?"

"Rae—"

"No, I feel like I was way better with numbers when I was younger," I sighed as I pushed myself back on my bed. "I put you through a lot."

It was Tuesday night and Kaleb was over at my house. He had literally just spent over an hour going over our math homework with me.

"No, you don't," he said as he laid on the bed, resting the side of his face on his palm. "I mean, if you think so, then know it's not a problem for me, Rae, I've told you before."

I nodded slightly, then he said, "So, tell me, how did work go today?"

To be honest, the job was boring. I know I'd only worked for a short while, but the feeling of boredom and loneliness that washed over me while I stood behind the counter was insane. Once in a while, a few interesting things happened, but... it was just that. Once in a while.

I wasn't so used to it, spending after school days at a job and feeling bored. Usually, I would spend them with Kaleb, doing one thing or the other. I wanted that back and I could almost feel myself concluding that I would only be working at Layers for a week.

"I do miss having you around after school," Kaleb said. "How about the girl we met the first time we went there?"

"Sky?" I shrugged. "She's usually a really busy person at the bakery. I think she's worked there the longest and so, she oversees everything going on in the bakery."

"Oh, that makes sense, and that reminds me, Carter was talking about you today during practice."

"First off, why do you players call yourselves by your last names, and second, what did he say?"

He shrugged, "It's just something we do. And I can't really remember much."

"How can you not remember?" I chuckled.

"Because he was talking about you when he had the chance to and I can't remember what he said at different point in times but hey... I do remember him saying you had a great ass and I also remember telling him to shut the fuck up."

"But I have a great ass if I do say so myself," I chuckled and Kaleb rolled his eyes, "Rae, that's not the point. The point is, he shouldn't be talking about your ass about at all," he licked his lower lip, "Look if—"

And then, I totally zoned out. It was sweet when Kaleb got protective. I knew he was only looking out for me, but sometimes it was unnecessary. It was a different case if I liked Logan and Kaleb didn't like him, but it wasn't so.

See?

Unnecessary.

He had nothing to worry about.

"Do you understand?" I heard Kaleb ask.

I had no idea what the fluff he just said, but I nodded, "Yeah, of course."

"Good," he smiled, looking proud and contented.

Doofus. If only he knew.

"On the other hand," he raised a hand to the side of his face, "I have a pimple."

"Where?" I asked, my eyebrows furrowed and he brought his face closer so I could see, "Here."

"Oh wow," I said distractedly as I reached out to immediately pop it.

"Oh my... Rae!" He yelled, his hand on his face as he winced in pain.

"You're welcome," I grinned, wiping my finger on his sweatshirt.

"You asked to only take a look, but no, you squeezed the living daylight out of it!"

"Hey, Kaleb, relax. I couldn't resist. Besides, you should be happy, I got rid of it for you," I patted his shoulder.

"Yeah, of course—" he started to say dryly when there was a quick knock on the door and Tanner popped his head into the room, "Everything okay in here?"

"Ask the tiger beside me you're keeping," Kaleb looked at me, mumbling.

"Don't mind Kaleb. He's much of a drama queen," I waved a hand in the air. "Is dinner ready yet?"

"Yep," Tanner nodded. "Kaleb, are you staying for dinner? Please tell me you are. I need a guy around."

"Sure, but only because of you good ol' Tan man," Kaleb smiled.

"Tan man?" I laughed. "What's that? Makes him appear like a guy who tans people at the beach."

"Now, that I think of it, I wonder what my name really means," Tanner said.

"I think names are funny. Like, Kaleb. Why is it spelt with a K anyway, normally, it's C," I looked at Kaleb.

"Uh, excuse you, you have to admit that Kaleb with a K is really cool," he said proudly.

"Not really—"

"Exactly," he winked. "It's sexy."

"No," I said pointedly and Tanner watched us, chuckling as he asked, "What does Kaleb even mean?"

"Dog," I answered.

"No, it's faithful. Shut the hell up, Rae," Kaleb placed a hand over my mouth and I bit it, "Oh God, I wonder where that hand has been."

"You really want to know?" He smirked and Tanner laughed, "If it's what I'm thinking then man, I hope you used some lube—"

"Oh my, shut it already!" I groaned, raising my hands to my ears as my brother and best friend laughed their butts off.

"But, really, Tanner," I spoke up when their laughter had subsided. "Kaleb can't deny it. We looked up the meaning of his name one time and that's what it means."

"A dog?"

"Yeah, like, dog which means faithful. Because dogs are faithful to their masters. Get it?" Kaleb explained.

"Yeah... yeah, I do," Tanner nodded.

"Great, so can we go have dinner now?" Kaleb threw his hands up in the air as we got off the bed.

"What's it?" I looked at Tanner as I slipped my flip flops on.

"Chicken parmesan and spag—"

"Spaghetti!" Kaleb and I said in unison, looking at each other before racing out if the door.

"Rae, let's go," Kaleb pulled me away from my locker after school the next day.

"Whoa, whoa, relax. School only just ended and don't you have basketball practice?"

"I do, but I really leave have to shit and I still have to take you to work. I'll come up with something to tell coach, so come on," he took my bag from next and started walking ahead of me. I chuckled to myself.

That dump had to be serious.

Thankfully, Sydney wasn't anywhere to be found so there would be no fuss. I tried to catch up with Kaleb as he walked when I heard someone call, "Renée."

I looked back to see Logan, walking to meet up with me.

"Logan, hey," I breathed, smiling.

"What's up? Are you rushing somewhere?"

"Yeah, kinda. Kaleb's kinda ill and needs to go home and he's my ride," I told him. "Plus please tell your coach that? He won't make it for practice today."

"Sure, I got him," I nodded. "Although I was gonna ask if you might want to go out with me Saturday night?"

I didn't see that coming.

I wasn't working on Saturday. This guy likes me and was literally asking me on a date. It was different if the feeling was mutual, but it wasn't and that made it hard now, especially when I really did like Logan as a friend.

No.

"Yeah," I nodded, swallowing. "Yeah, sure."

What?

"Great," he flashed a toothy smile at me. "We'll talk before then?"

"Of course," I nodded again.

"Perfect. Uh, I'll let you go now," he jammed his hand in his pocket. "And tell Kaden to feel better before tomorrow," he chuckled and I laughed lightly before making my way to the parking lot where Kaleb sat in the car.

"Where the hell did you go? Did you stall on purpose or you actually stopped by somewhere?"

"Easy now, at least I gave you time to fart," I chuckled, causing Kaleb to laugh, "You have issues."

"Logan asked me on a date," I told him as he pulled out of the parking lot.

"What?" He smiled, "What did you say? No, right?"

"No, and why are you smiling?" I looked at my best friend.

"Because I'd thought you'd say no," his smile had disappeared now.

"I wanted to, but a yes came out," I mumbled, moving in the seat.

"Do you like Carter, Rae?"

"No, I don't. You know that. You know I don't like anyone."

"I was just asking," he said lowly.

"Do you have a problem with Logan, Kaleb? Not because he likes your best friend and you're being protective but like, generally?"

"No, I don't," he shook his head as he made a turn.

"The yes just slipped out. I guess I just didn't want to hurt his feelings. He's my friend."

"What's going to hurt him is when you two go on that date and you lead him on only for you to tell him you don't like him that way."

I bit my lip, looking down.

"But hey, who says you can't fake a sickness by Friday so he gets a hint that you probably won't be able to make it on Saturday," Kaleb grinned, looking at me and I laughed.

I had no idea what I'd do without this idiot.

Minutes later, he pulled up to my workplace and I grabbed my backpack, opening the door.

"Have an interesting time at work," he teased and I rolled my eyes at him as I got down. "If you need me, remember I'm only a text away. And hey, I hope your bathroom's clean."

"Yeah, of course it—" I stopped and Kaleb started the car. "I swear to God, Kaleb Kaden if you mess my toilet up—"

"Love you!" He drove off.

The jerk drove off. I let out a breath and pushed my hair away from my face as I pushed the door of my workplace open and walked into it. The usual smell of freshly baked pastry hit my nose and caused my stomach to churn.

"Hey, Renée!" Marnie called out to me and I grinned, waving to her as I made my way to the dressing room to put on my T-shirt before coming back out to where I stood behind the counter.

I breathed tiredly as my eyes roamed the bakery almost an hour later. No one was coming in. Marnie and Zuri were in the cooling room and Nolan stood far along the counter, attending to a customer. I thought jobs at a bakery were meant to be more lively. I was going to head to the cooling room to text Kaleb, hoping to God he didn't actually go to my house only to take a dump in my bathroom.

The door of the bakery opened and a guy walked in. Tall and dressed in a dark blue and white plaid shirt over a plain white tee on black skinny jeans and a pair of Nike's. He had a backpack which he set down on a seat before looking around, running a hand through his thick, dark brown hair, his wrist wears evident.

I didn't know what was happening and why I couldn't stop staring and then, his black eyes landed on me.

And then I felt it.

I felt my heart speed up and it felt like my body temperature was getting hot. My body stopped feeling like it was mine and the feeling of fluttering butterflies in my stomach almost made me nauseous, and worse, my heart threatened to beat right out of my chest.