The Mistake.

(KAIRA'S POV)

Slade put me down immediately and draped his jacket over my shoulder. I stood like a doll, unmoving, waiting as the approaching footsteps presented its owners.

"Oh my goodness, what happened, baby?" Mum ran towards me. "We were on our way to get you both and then we heard you scream."

"I'm fine, Mum," I whispered wishing I could disappear into thin air.

Just the welcome home party I asked for.

How wonderful it feels to be the center of attention—drenched, shivering beneath Slade’s oversized jacket, my hair plastered to my face and my lips still burning from his kiss.

The kiss…

"What happened?" Mum repeated. She had gotten to me now, hands all over my face and body with worry.

"I slipped into the lake but Slade got me out quickly." My voice sounded like deceit itself. Calm and soft when inside I was burning, confused and definitely thinking of that kiss.

"Oh baby, you’re terrified of water." Mum wrapped Slade's jacket tighter around me.

"You shouldn't have let her take the stone steps on her own." Mum and I turned to Tom who was scolding Slade.

"No, it's not his fault. I was just… walking around on my own. Exploring." I sounded convincing enough because Tom's expression softened. I noticed Slade raise an eyebrow for a second.

"I'm really sorry, Kaira." Tom said, crossing over to me.

"It's okay." I said, hugging myself tighter.

"I'll just take her to her room." Mum whispered to Tom, who nodded back quickly.

My room? I thought to myself.

As Mum led me away, I cast a glance at Slade. He was staring right at me, no smile, no frown, no twitch.

"Are you alright?" Mum pulled my attention to her.

I nodded before whispering a "Yes." A nervous smile broke on her face and then she held my hand tightly in hers.

"You know, Tom showed me our wing moments ago. It was beautiful. I'm taking you there. To your room." She was gushing out the words but they came slower in my head. Unrealistic.

"Our wing?" I questioned.

Mum bit her lip as she nodded, clearly uncomfortable. Then she sighed in frustration and hooked my arm in hers, leaning into me some more.

"I told him we didn't need all that but he wouldn't listen. He wants us to be comfortable. There’s even a library… because of how much you like reading." She explained to me.

"Oh." I simply said but mum went on talking anyway.

The garden lake house soon disappeared behind us and we were headed back into the house, this time following a narrow hallway that burst into a the stairs.

Everything was neat, expensive, perfect, protected at every corner. I glanced at Mum, she was still talking to me and I was nodding and smiling as she spoke. I wondered for a moment if she felt comfortable because she worked here, but as she blabbed on endlessly, I knew she was nervous.

When we got to a door on the second floor, Mum tugged me gently.

"Your room is here ." She whispered.

Stepping in stole all the breath from me. I had never stood in a space that felt more like a palace than a place to sleep. So large, spacious, so pretty.

A perfect, serene pink color filled the room and contrasted lightly with the large crystal chandelier that hung above a larger queen-sized bed.

My fingers itched to touch the silk drapes and the velvet chaise lounge tucked beneath the window but I remained glued to the ground, feeling like I didn't belong here.

There was a large window that overlooked the front of the house, the part with the large water fountain.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Mum's smile faltered as her eyes searched my face. “If it’s too much, we can change it.”

“No, its fine, Mum.”

Her phone beeped and interrupted our moment. She looked down at the screen and then up at me wearing a shy smile. I knew who it was immediately.

“Tom wants to know if you're alright.” She read out, tapping excitedly at her phone.

I couldn’t hold back a smile as I watched her act like a school girl.

“He needs my help.” She muttered. “I need to go now. Will it be cool if you get changed on your own and then come downstairs for dinner? Tom will definitely send someone to bring you down.”

“Yes, Mum.” I said with a genuine smile. “You can go on.”

"I'll see you soon, baby." She leaned over and dropped a kiss on my cheek.

The moment the door closed behind her, my mind went right to Slade. My hands instinctively went around his jacket and I bent slightly to inhale the scent.

An instant flash of recognition struck my nerves and when a knock came at the door, I jumped with a gasp.

I stared at the door, chest rising and falling. The knock came again and I went to open it.

Slade Horton stood in front of me, his shirt still damp from the lake, dark fabric clinging to his shoulders.

"Hi." I began after finding my voice. "Thanks for—"

"Forget everything that happened at the lake house." The words left his lips, smoothly, intentionally, making me freeze up immediately.

"That kiss was a mistake. I was—It meant nothing." His stern eyes mercilessly dug into mine, then flickered to my lips. His jaw tightened. “And why the hell did you defend me to my dad?”

“Nothing.”

“Good. Because nothing has changed.”

My fingers gripped the doorframe so hard but I felt nothing. I wanted to slam the door in his face but I could only wish.

He took one closer step and I inhaled shakily.

"I still hate your guts." He said in a whisper and then stepped back.

“Y-y-your jacket?” I managed weakly.

“Keep it.”

With that, he turned around and walked away, briskly. I stood there, lips trembling for almost a minute before I hurried back into the room and closed the door.

I won't survive it.

I won't survive living in this house with Slade Horton.