When Austin asked if he wanted to hang out, I didn’t realize he meant it right away. We’re currently at McDonalds to get some take out, I’ve got to admit Austin is cute, but I just don’t feel the zing – that feeling is just so dead. I see him get out of the little food branch and is now walking back to the car.
“Large fries and a medium frappe as you wished” He flashed me a smile and started the car.
“Thanks” I mumble and started eating.
“So where to next?” he asks.
“Uhm, skate park maybe?” He nods and drives off.
***
“So what brought you to Shadow Ridge?” he asks.
“Uhm that’s a really long story…”
“Hey, I’m willing to listen.”
“You sure?” he rolls his eyes at me, and then nods.
I told him everything. I’m not sure how he’s feeling at the moment because he was silent, but at the same time I don’t feel like a changed his opinion towards me. He nodded every once or twice, and he did get surprised when I told him about Jacob Armstrong. I finished, but looked away.
“What’s wrong?”
“You just heard my life story and probably think I’m some sort of demented potato, that’s what’s wrong!”
“Katherine, as hostile as you were, I know that changed. I mean you wouldn’t be friends with Carly and the others if you were still the old you.” He gives me a warm smile.
“I know but –“
“No, the past is way, way, back there. This is a whole new chapter if not maybe even a new book that you will be writing. Be happy.”
“Dude, that was deep.”
He leans in. Oh no. And there it is. The kiss: the magical moment. He has soft lips though. I didn’t kiss back, it just feels wrong. I pulled away and held his shoulders.
“Austin, I’m sorry, but I just don’t feel it…” I look away from his eyes. They were a nice shade of gray.
“Ah, I kind of figured, but it’s alright” He holds me by the chin, and I see a smile on his face.
“Wha – I don’t get –“
“You were giving me the cold shoulder this whole time, you’re definitely distant, sorta hesitant, but I still think you’re pretty cool.”
“Really?”
He nods. “Of course, I don’t have any real feelings for you; I just thought you’re really cool for kicking Shannon’s ass. You’ll be great girlfriend, but not just for me. So friends?”
“You’re pretty cool yourself” I say and fist bumped him.
“I should get cha home, Kellin’s probably ripping his hair out.” he laughed.
“Oh you’re probably right, didn’t even realize the time.”
“Wanna hang out some other time, I’d love to introduce you to the team, they could use a girl that doesn’t want to have sex all the time.”
“Hey, I’m entitled to the Bro-Code and the Girl-Code, I got your back” I replied, and gave him a grin.
***
“Kellin, I’m home!”
“Fucking finally, I was so damn worried about you.”
“It’s like 8 o clock you twat, here got cha some fries.” I shove the bag in his chest and sat next to him.
“So tell me about the date, do I have to kill him?”
“Well he kissed me, but wait let me finish, I told him I didn’t feel the zing, he understood, and it turned out pretty alright.”
“Okay, good. Oh Forever 21 called, you got the job babe!”
My little grin turned into a giant sadistic smile. I started jumping around and screaming everywhere. After my little victory screech, I sit back down. “When do I start?” I ask. “They said either tomorrow or maybe Saturday.” I just nodded and watched TV.
“Children I am home!” my mom calls out.
“Hey mom” Kellin and I say in unison.
“What do you guys want for dinner?”
“Lasagna” we say in unison… again.
We laughed at our little harmony and started setting up the table. Kellin kept shut about my little Austin date because we both know that mom would freak out over it and start cooing me and giving a speech about how I’m growing up and all – it’s just something we want to avoid.
After dinner I decided to sleep in Kellin’s room again, I just felt really lazy with the whole bus routine. He was already knocked out, so I just slipped into the space next to him and slept too. What a day.
***
“Kat, let’s go!” I hear Kellin yell.
Today I settle on wearing the girly clothes I got from Forever 21 and I must confess they do look good on me. And they were right about my legs, they look goooooood. I was wearing black shorts and the gray half shirt thing, and regular converse. I didn’t bother with the makeup because I’m not really use to that yet – when they applied make up on me in the store it just felt so weird.
I put on some perfume though. IT SMELLS SO NICE. “KAT!” I hear Kellin roar. Okay enough with the pampering Katherine, your brother’s going to shoot himself pretty soon. I sighed. Face: alright, clothes: awesome, hair: okay as always, and bag – ah there it is. I grab it and got out.
“What took you so long?” he hummed.
“This” I motioned to my appearance.
“You look so different, I swear I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this” he laughed.
“But I don’t look bad right?”
“Baby sis, quit being so concerned, you look beautiful as always.”
“You’re saying that because you’re my brother” I fake pouted.
“Mhmm yeah…” He jested and I punch him.
The bus stop was just a few more steps away and I was glad. The walking did benefit my health but it was really tiring. I see some of the sophomores and freshmen here, but didn’t really pay attention to them because that thing was stealing my attention.
Kellin traces my line of vision and sees Mark too. His eyebrows furrow and blocked my way. He gave the look and I just nodded. The bus is finally here and we waited till everyone got on. I grab onto Kellin’s arm and pulled him to an empty seat way in the front. Mark was somewhere in the end and I seriously didn’t want him being that close to me.
“Kell, I’m going to work later okay?”
“You want Starbucks I can drop some over”
“Sure”
We had small talk the whole time and I know just know that Mark was staring. Gosh, I’d love to rip his eyes out. “Kellin, I think he’s staring…” “He is, but ignore it, okay?” I nod and just looked out the window.
The bus comes to a stop and we all get down, but that’s when I felt it again. That little fainting spell, I shook my head quickly and it went away. Seriously man, what is up with me?
“You alright?”
“Yeah” I reply and we head for the cafeteria.
“Oh my god you look so pretty!!!” Carly shriek and embraced me.
“Damn Valentine, you look so different” Chris comments
“It’s just a bit of perfume and a change in clothing” I answer
“Yeah, but you’d have every guy crawling for you in this place.” Lance joked.
“As much as I want to use men for my personal gain you all know I’m not that evil”
We small talked until the bell rang. Kellin and I walk to our classes and parted after he dropped me off. Renaldo was here, and I actually like his class because I have so much going on in my mind – I guess putting them into words is my only escape. On the board it read:
“Opinion on life”
Wow, this is perfect. I smiled while pulling out my notebook. I see Renaldo looking at me and gave an approving nod.
***
He gave us 45 minutes to write our work, and he would choose one student to present theirs. I guess my paper work’s presentable; I pretty much made it short and straight to the point.
“Ms. Valentine, would you like to present?” I nodded and walked up to the little podium
I look around; I almost forgot that Shannon was in my class. She wasn’t mocking me in anyway, just giving me a plain look. I clear my throat and started:
“Life is fragile – it can end at any moment and yet we live it so recklessly. Even as simple as rushing a red light could perhaps cut our time short.
My opinion in life is simple – it’s unfair. Not everyone gets what they want, but yet others take things for granted.
Life can be good or bad or somewhere in the middle. It can also be painful, sad, or just really depressing.
I can’t really dictate what life is because each and every one of us has a different perspective.
But if you were to ask me, life is unfair. You either become really sad about it or really happy about it – if not then somewhere in between. You don’t always get what you want because you really don’t know what it is you crave for.”
I sighed and received a good amount of applause. The bell rang and I return to my desk to get my bag. “Good job Valentine” Renaldo mumbles as I got out. I got out and felt someone hold my elbow, I turn around and there’s Mark. UGH WHAT THE FUCK?!
“Hey babe”
“Leave me alone” I growled and started walking away.
“Come on I just want to talk to you”
“She said to leave her alone didn’t she?” I turn and there was Kellin. I run to his side. “You bother my sister one more time and I’ll end you”
Eyes were on us now. “Kellin stop…” I whispered.
They had a little stare off until I pulled him away. Mark just gives a smirk and took off with his friends. Kellin was still pissed, I could tell since his fists were balled and I can see his jaws clenching. We make it to Axel’s class, but I didn’t go in yet.
“Go, you’re gonna be late”
“Calm down, please?”
He nods and kisses my forehead. I never liked it when Kellin was pissed mostly because I was never acclimatized to it. I enter class and took my seat.