"How can this be possible?"
"Keep reading the acceptance letter. Maybe it will explain."
"'Your educational expenses have been paid for by Mrs. Harper on the...'. My mum paid for my university tuition. On the date she died."
"Wow. This is amazing, Kyle. You're coming to Lingard! You can become an engineer or architect or mechanic or whatever you want now!"
"This is insane."
"It's-"
"I knew it. And this is proof."
"What?"
"It wasn't an accident. Universities don't just let anyone in. Lingard... she was head of Lingard for years. I told you it started with an L."
"Kyle, you're going to get the job you've always wanted and you're legitimately set for the future-"
"This was her goodbye." I step forward and hug him but he retreats backwards. "I've gotta figure this out. You should go to dinner without me."
"No, I can stay-"
"It's fine Kristen, really. I want to read over this." He drops the envelope on the floor accidentally and another note slips out. "This is handwritten." He stares at the note in shock.
"Alright. I'll give you some space. But are you still coming ice-skating tomorrow?"
"Yeah, yeah."
"Ok. Call me if you need anything. Anything, Kyle. I'll make sure Toby isn't home too late."
"I don't need a babysitter. I'll be fine. I'm a grown man."
"Alright, alright." I sigh, "Bye." I walk out of the house.
Toby drives past and sees me. "Hey Bunny."
"Toby, hi! Umm, sorry to ask, but-"
"Hop in."
"Thanks." I get in the car.
"Take note of the pun." I laugh lightly. "I thought you were going with Kyle."
"He's busy."
"Oh well, his loss."
***
The ice-skating rink is freezing. Even with my knit sweater and denim jacket. Sierra really is queen of the ice. Dylan isn't too bad himself. Everyone else is skating averagely. Toby, Belinda and I are skating in a line around the rink and laughing at how Josh keeps slipping and Sierra keeps lifting him up.
Emma and Kyle are chatting on the side of the rink with Randy. Randy has made me paranoid. Every time I see them together I feel like they're having a secret affair. Toby skates off to talk to Dylan and Don so I voice my thoughts to Belinda. "Do you think Kyle and Emma are...?"
"Of course not! But I can understand if you feel... threatened."
I know, I can't believe it either. Belinda and I are on a friend basis. Strange, insane and completely unexpected... but we're alright together. She's actually pretty cool.
"The three of them are always hanging out. I notice it too." Belinda says.
"I think Randy doesn't like me."
"No! He does. He just particularly likes Emma and Kyle together. When Emma is with Kyle, she doesn't look so depressed. Randy has realised that. He'll do anything so that Emma is happy."
"Even if it's at my expense."
"Sorry, but it's true.
We all catch up at the coffee shop inside the ice-skating building. We order some hot chocolates and sit together. We take up three tables. Toby has already had two hot chocolates. Dylan is having his third cinnamon roll. There is surprisingly a lot of food here.
I look around our tables and recognize all the couples. Dylan's phone starts ringing on the table and he tells everyone to be quiet because Bridgette has called. We all chat with her briefly. "How have you been?"
"Amazing! Paris is so beautiful!"
"Have you been to the Eiffel tower?!"
"Twice!"
Dylan's eyes go watery but he doesn't cry. Toby pats him on the back comfortingly. Kyle comes and sits next to me. "I read the letter. It's a goodbye note. It's official." I slip my hand into his and squeeze it tightly.
At the end of the day, all of us start heading home. Toby drives, Kyle sits in the passenger seat while Don and Harmony and I sit together at the back. "Have you picked out your outfit for the mascaraed ball?"
"Yeah. My mum is letting me wear something of hers. It's really pretty." I answer.
"I'm renting something from a vintage costume shop. Where did you buy your mask?" Harmony asks me.
"My Gran is letting me borrow hers from her birthday when she was twenty. I really hope it doesn't fall apart." I'm so excited for the mascaraed ball. Sierra invited us all to one next Thursday and everyone is excited. I like dressing up. It's fun.
We drop off Don and Harmony at Harmony's house then we head to Toby and Kyle's house. We stop at a gas station and Toby gets out while Kyle and I sit in silence. I know it's not the best time, but I need to talk to him. "Are we official?"
"What?"
"We've been 'together' for months. But are we official?"
"Do we really need to label us?"
"Yes!"
"Why?"
"Because I'm sick of hesitating every time someone asks me if I'm single."
"You hesitate?" I don't answer. "You're with me. That's it."
"No, it isn't. Don't you understand?"
"I'm not seeing anyone else, you're not seeing anyone else. That's all there is to it."
Toby opens the door and sits inside. There's an uncomfortable silence. "Can you drop me home please?" I ask him. Toby nods and doesn't answer, obviously sensing the tension.
As requested, Toby drops me home instead of his house.
***
I didn't sleep well last night. All I want to do is sleep, relax and rest. Not today obviously.
Toby calls me and tells me that Sonya is having everyone over for lunch and asked if I could come. I ask why Kyle couldn't ask me. "He said you are mad at him."
"Ugh. Well, I have nothing better to do. Can you pick me up?"
"Of course, Bunny. How else can I make punny jokes?"
"Don't even."
Toby is here within an hour. I expect Kyle to be in the car, but Toby informs me that Kyle went earlier on his bike. I place my phone beside me in the cup holder to put on my seat belt. Toby always keeps his change in the cup holding thing. He probably has about fifty dollars in coins.
When we get there, Kyle and Emma are chatting on the couch with Randy. Belinda is helping Sonya in the kitchen. I greet everyone, except Kyle, Randy and Emma, and then help Belinda cut up some cucumber in the kitchen.
"You seem angry." She notices.
"I am. Kyle has pissed me off."
"Why?"
"He says we are together. But he also says we aren't, like, official."
"I don't understand."
"Neither do I!"
"Just talk to him. A lack of communication is the worst thing."
"You know what annoys me the most? He said that he isn't seeing anyone else. But he spends so much time with Emma that he had me fooled."
"Talk to him."
Belinda walks over to Randy and Emma and distracts them. I call Kyle over. "Kyle."
"Kid." Once he's close enough, I start whispering so no one else hears.
"How is Emma?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, you seem very fond of her."
"She's going through a lot. I'm just trying to help her out." He whispers.
"She occupies a lot of your time."
"Are you jealous?" He teases.
"Don't-"
Toby walks into the kitchen carrying a box full of lettuce. He sees the two of us and instead of reacting normally, he looks like he doesn't know who we are. He sways and then drops to the floor.
_____________________________________________________________________
Just so you know, we are getting closer and closer to all the sad and bad and good and insane parts.
Just so you know.
Hope you liked that chapter! Please vote if you did and comment any suggestions!
xxx
Aurora