Page 8 of Teaching Cayden

Chapter 4

Cayden

Our spring kickoff party is tonight, and you’d think that I would be excited but right now all I feel is nervous. I get my differential equations test back today, and it’s going to either make me celebrate or want to get shit faced. The problem here is I can’t. I’m the DD tonight so I’ll have to celebrate after the party.

As I walked to class this morning, my stomach rolled. I couldn’t eat because I was worried I’d lose it. When I stopped in front of Emery Hall, I swallowed as I stared at the steps. I normally didn’t get this way, and I couldn’t explain it. I slowly trudged toward my classroom, and then slipped into an empty seat. I was early, and there were only a handful of students there. I tapped my pen on my desk as I waited for everyone to file in. Addison came in last and weaved through the desks to get to the front of the room.

“Dr. Haywood had something come up and can’t make it today so I’m going to be leading the class. I have your tests, and I must say they were better than I expected.” She smiled as she set her things down. It was then that I really looked at her. She was in jeans again, but they had a rip in the knee. An oversized hoodie dwarfed her body, and a pair of red Chucks covered her feet. She looked like me, not a professor.

“Nice outfit,” one of the guys in the back commented just as I was thinking it.

“Thanks.” She smiled but I could tell it was forced. “I wasn’t planning on teaching today. I have my own classes to attend.”

“I like it,” I chimed in. “Makes you relatable.”

She smiled at me as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. I fidgeted more as she began to pass out the tests. I heard several gasps and a few groans as she moved up and down the aisles, and then she stopped in front of me. “Nice job, Freshman.” She plopped the test down in front of me, and a big red B was written at the top.

My eyes must have been huge as they darted between the paper and her face. I had just hoped to pass, and now I was starting the semester with a B. Addison moved to the whiteboard and began going over the day’s lesson, but I wasn’t really paying attention. Now that the weight of the test was off my shoulders, I was thinking about the party. I wasn’t really the partying type, but I was still a college guy. I liked to have fun like the rest of them.

Addison

“Are you kidding me right now?” I stared at the text my brother had just sent me. He had to be wasted. I’d told him I’d come, but now I was picking up my best friend Tristan apparently. I knew he had a thing for her, but she’s never returned it. Within seconds I sure as shit get a text from her asking for a ride. What the hell is this? I was planning to Uber tonight so I wouldn’t need to drive home, but I guess that’s out of the question now. This night was supposed to be fun. A chance to cut loose and act like a college kid. I wasn’t going to get many more of those. I was graduating in a few months, and then I’d be in the real world with a real job.

A real job. That made me think of Cayden and what he might be doing tonight. I don’t know why I cared, but the way he stuck up for me in class today might be part of it. I glanced in the mirror one more time before shoving my keys and ID into my back pocket and rushing out the door. Tristan only lived five minutes away but picking her up wasn’t planned.

“You seem stressed.” She pushed on my shoulder as we climbed out of my car and headed toward the house that was hosting the party.

“Not stressed. Just tired, and when did you decide that my brother was worth talking to?” I glanced at her just in time to see her shrug.

“He’s got a nice body, and he’s a good kisser.” She laughed as I stumbled.

“You two already hooked up, didn’t you?” I stopped moving and grabbed her elbow to halt her.

“Maybe.” She grinned at me before pulling out of my grasp. “So what if we did?”

“You wanna catch what he’s passing around, be my guest.” I rolled my eyes. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt. He doesn’t stick to one woman, if you know what I mean.”

“We’re not serious.” She jogged up the steps, and before I could say anything she opened the door and we were bombarded by a crowd of guys holding red Solo cups. “I’m staying here tonight.” She waved as she pushed her way inside, leaving me there. I see what this was. I was just a ride. I shook my head. Whatever. I had a mission tonight, and it was to not care, so I needed a beer to get me on my way.

“You made it!” Will, my brother, shouted as he pushed his way toward me.

“I made it.” I smiled when he stopped in front of me. “Where do I get one of those?” I eyed the red cup in his hand.

“There’s a keg on the back deck, or if you’re looking for something stronger you can mix something in the kitchen.”

“Thanks.” I bypassed him and beelined it to the door that led to the back deck.

“No hug?” He chuckled at my back.

“I was just a ride, remember? Go find Tris. I’m sure she’ll give you a hug.” I glanced over my shoulder to see his pout morph into a shit eating grin. I knew then that I probably wouldn’t see him for the rest of the night. He’d take her to his room, and that would be the last of them.

Cayden

It’s been one hell of a night. It’s only eleven, and I’ve already taken seventeen people back to their dorms or apartments. When I pulled up to the house, this time I had to park on the street. The front yard is littered with people, and when I jogged up the front steps I had to force my way inside. Music pounded against walls as Drake’s voice put dancing couples into some sort of hypnotic state. I rolled my eyes. I’d probably be doing the same thing if there was a girl with me, and I had a few beers.

“Heeeeeyyy!” Noah came up to me and slung his arm around me. “Whaaaat’s up?” He grinned drunkenly as he laughed at something.

“You having fun?” I chuckled as I attempted to step back from him. Noah had a knack for barfing when he was drunk, and I happened to like the shoes I was wearing.

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