Waiting

Waiting Ch. 5

Chapter Five

Kristi and I had the same lunch, thank God, and sat together at our normal table. The one in the back. "I'm thinking about dying my hair," She told me, as she pulled her bread apart.

"What color?" I asked.

"Maybe red," She mused, "But I'm not sure yet."

"No, that wouldn't go with your eyes," I told her, poking at my sandwich.

"Maybe," She whispered, "Okay, is that even a real sandwich? The meat doesn't look real."

"I'm not even sure if the meat is meat," I grumbled.

"Me to," She replied, and then giggled.

"Hey T," Someone called, and when I looked up, Russell took a seat right next to me.

"May we help you?" Kristi growled.

"Just came to sit by my favorite girl," He answered, putting his arm around me, and holding me tightly.

Kristi narrowed her eyes, and grinded her teeth when Russell leaned over, and took a bite of my sandwich. I let him go, because I wasn't in the mood to argue with him. Suddenly Russell fell out of the seat, and onto the floor.

"I believe I'll sit next to my girl," Nikolas told Russell and then took a seat down next to me. "Sorry Babe," He whispered, kissing me on the cheek.

Russell brushed myself off, and took a seat next to Kristi. For some reason, a few other guys to sit next to us too. The 'popular' table of girls started laughing, like it was some kind of joke. Kristi and I ignored them though, and continued to eat our lunches.

"So T," Russell said finally.

"Taylor," I corrected.

"Taylor," He said, "Why do you go out with this lug head?"

I looked up at Nikolas, and smiled. "I don't know."

"Well you're not stupid are you?" Russell challenged. Nikolas' eyebrow pulled together, and he kicked Russell under the table. "OW man," Russell growled.

"Don't listen to him," Nikolas whispered in my ear.

I gave him a small smile.

"But what would you think of our old buddy Nikolas here, made some kind of bet," Russell started again.

This time Nikolas kicked Russell so hard under the table, the table shook. "Bet? What bet?" I asked.

Nikolas sighed, "Pool. I'm sorry Taylor, I know you don't like me betting in pool, but I just had too."

I sighed too, "It's alright. I guess you can't stop some things."

Nikolas shrugged, and some of the guys started to hold back their laughter. I ignored them though, because they guys would laugh at anything. Kristi didn't ignore them though; she narrowed her eyes at them, and poked her meal with her fork hard.

"Taylor, what happened to your nose?" Russell growled.

The arm around me grew stiff, and when I looked up at Nikolas, it looked like he was frozen. "My brother hit me in the face," I whispered.

"Before or after he died?" Russell asked.

Okay, that one hit home.

I shrugged Nikolas' arm off my shoulder, got out from the table, and walked away. I walked outside to where some other tables were, and I stood against the wall, in the shadows.

I tolerated Russell, but when he said rude things like that, I just had to walk away. I didn't feel like talking to anyone, but of course Kristi came out to see if I was alright. We just stood there together, looking at people eating their lunches. Kristi stuffed her hands in her pockets, and pulled out dark sunglasses. She wore them over her eyes, and then put her hands back into her pockets. Her lips were put in a pout, and she just stood there with me in the silence, knowing I didn't want to talk about it.

The way Kristi was standing though, on both feet, shifting her weight from one foot to the other, told me that she needed to tell me something. "Go ahead Kristi," I finally whispered, "Tell me what's on your mind."

"A bet?" She asked suddenly, "I want to know what that bet was."

"It was from pool," I sighed.

"No, no, no," She told me, "It's defiantly not that."

"Well then what could it be?" I asked.

"I don't know," She whispered, "But I'm going to find out."

That was all she had to say. I knew that once Kristi had her mind set, that was it. There was no turning back now. When Kristi wanted something, she fought for it till she had it, and when she had it she would rub it in everyone's faces. Except for mine of course, because she was like a sister to me, and she would never do anything like that to me.

"Don't listen to the things Russell says," She whispered, "He's so stupid he should be back in kindergarten." I couldn't help but laugh, because when Kristi was angry, she was mean. Meaner then you've ever seen anyone before. This wasn't the worst thing she had said, and sure Russell deserved it, but there were times when we got into fights and she would say some really mean things.

"I know," I finally responded.

"You want to go back and eat?" She asked.

"I'm not really hungry, but I'll come back with you if you want?" I sighed, rubbing my forehead with my hand.

"Alright," She replied, "But if he says one more mean thing to you I'll slap him, I swear."

When we went back, Russell wasn't there. Nikolas said they kicked him out, but I wasn't sure if that was totally true. Russell could beat up Nikolas any day. Russell was stronger, and was on the wrestling team. It scared me at just the thought of Nikolas being hurt by him, but Russell knew his place in line, and Nikolas had many people on his side. If Russell wanted to mess with Nikolas, he would be messing with all of the many friends who would stand up for him.

"Sorry about that," Nikolas whispered, "That was uncalled for." Then he leaned closer towards my ear, and whispered, "Thanks for not telling him, I feel horrible enough, and Russell would never have let that go."

I shrugged it off, and started eating my salad. The rest of lunch was pretty quiet, but Kristi had a point, what bet? It was nagging at my brain through the rest of lunch. Questions swirled through my head, like, why would Nikolas kick Russell so hard over pool? When did Nikolas play pool? Why had they both made a big deal about this? It was ridiculous.

"Did you hear me?" Nikolas asked.

"I'm sorry what?" I whispered, I looked up at him, because he was now standing up, holding his trash.

"Would you like me to get your trash?" He repeated.

"Sure thanks," I said, pushing my tray full of food towards him. He eyed me for a moment, and then walked away.

"I know what you're thinking," Kristi whispered. I looked at her, and noticed the rest of the guys left. Kristi leaned across the table, her bangs falling in her face.

"No you don't," I accused.

Her eyes narrowed, and she couldn't help but smirk. "Tayl, I've known you forever," She exaggerated, "I know when you're thinking hard about something. You're thinking the same things I am, but I don't chew on my thumb nail like it's a snack."

I could feel the blood rush to my cheeks as I looked down at my thumb. "Sorry," I muttered, and then got up from my seat.

"Fine, we won't talk about it," She mused, in a sing song voice, "But when I figure it out, you'll come crawling back to me. I'll be waiting too, with a big bowl of 'I told you so!'" She smiled at me, and skipped a little.

"Please don't skip," I sighed, but couldn't help but laugh. I turned around, and started walking backwards. "Tell me if I'm going to run into anyone," I said.

It wasn't that difficult to walk backwards now, because not everyone was done lunch, and most were in class. Of course I should have known not to trust Kristi at the moment, or even try walking backwards.

Maybe it was fate though, because Kristi is still convinced it was. She looked at me, and gave me a smile, right before I ran into him. Right before I ran into Mason.